Feature-based design evaluation and modelling for sheet metal

The goal of this research is to develop a designer system which will be capable of evaluating the product for life-issues, capturing designer\u27s intentions for a product, propagating the intentions to planning modules, and generating the process information which normally come from interpreting the geometry and designer intentions information for the product. This product modeler is developed for the domain of sheet metal products, and is restricted to non-multi-curved surface object. In order to accomplish this, principles, architecture and algorithms are studied and formulated to capture and propagate designer\u27s intentions as product information and life-cycle issues as constraints in the design of sheet metal components. Evaluation tools based on these principles and algorithms will be provided as part of product modeling framework for sheet metal. The tools can include methods to capture design intentions which involve geometry; design evaluation and analysis where the design is measured against some variables which can be established by a design rule checker; design advisory where the suggestions are provided to the designer based on design analysis; and then synthesis of the product based on initial design and advice. This work will result in a scheme for mapping from features onto operations and tools required for the operation. The underlying purpose is to provide a stand-alone designer system for sheet metal domain