Computer-Integrated Design and Manufacturing of Packaging Machines

Abstract

Automated packaging machines must be constantly redesigned to accommodate ever changing packing. There is little time to make these changes and no room for error. In this work, computer-integrated design and manufacture of a packaging machine has been conducted. A knowledge base system has been developed, which checks for errors in user input, updates all assemblies per the user input, checks for part interferences in the assembly, holds the new design to accepted design standards, and sends warning messages to the user’s computer screen in the event of a problem. The knowledge base then creates new intelligent part numbers. These part numbers provide the informational link from Engineering to Production as they contain all the new part information needed to make the parts. These part numbers are entered into a program that automatically creates the new tool paths for the CNC mill. The entered part number is automatically milled into the part to insure the correct part was entered. The cost of design and manufacture is then reduced substantially. This knowledge base also extends into sales for quoting and for new job creation which expedites the entire process.