A WWW computer integrated manufacturing environment for rapid prototyping and education

This paper describes an overview dagger of a system integration project in which the development of a multimedia educational tool for designing simple mechanical parts has resulted in new procedures for Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). The new procedures utilize the Internet for seamless integration of Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP), and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). The result is a WWW-based CIM environment that not only promotes Design for Manufacturability, but seeks to decrease manufacturing time in a rapid prototyping service based on milling (Sarma 1995, Sarma et at, 1996). Furthermore, the environment utilizes multimedia to display process histories which are generated through the feedback of sensor data collected during fabrication. Remote designers can use this knowledge to monitor the manufacturing process and to redesign if necessary. The paper begins with the description of a specific case study called Reuleaux!, which allows students to design interesting parts while at the same time simplifying some of the downstream process planning and fixturing issues that occur in machining.