Manufacturing systems synthesis using knowledge discovery

A new model is proposed to mathematically discover the embedded knowledge governing the relationships between product features and the needed manufacturing capabilities, from available manufacturing data. This knowledge is used to synthesize new manufacturing capabilities and systems for new products. The model independently encodes manufacturing capabilities and product features digitally, associates classification trees of systems and products, simplifies manufacturing capabilities and product features' relationships to obtain a "Synthesis Matrix", and finally uses that matrix for future system synthesis and product design. A case study of milling machines and machined parts is used for demonstration. (C) 2011 CIRP.