New method for setup and fixture planning for box-shaped parts

Human process planners very often find the solution on the basis of their experience and engineering intuition. The reason is that the existing knowledge for the fixture solution is not available in explicit form (for example as formulas, logical diagrams, as a well-defined processes). It restricts the development of the appropriate fixture planning methods, in contrast with another design tasks. The researchers have already recognised the necessity of developing the planning systems which are able to solve the problem of conceptual design of fixtures. Although numerous CAFD (Computer Aided Fixture Design) techniques have been proposed and implemented, fixture design still continues to be a major bottleneck in the integration of CAD and CAM activities. This book, therefore, provides a new method for fixture planning and presents an expert system prototype for setup and fixture planning. The readership of the book are researchers in the field of manufacturing engineering, process planners, tool designers and mechanical engineering graduate students.