Mechatronics encompass a holistic approach to the design, development, production, maintenance and disposal of complex engineering systems, products and processes. The control and modelling of the manufacturing process are carried out in a networked environment allowing for realistic real time control and simulation. This is achieved through the declarative definition of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) components, the standardisation of CIM interfaces and the object-orientated approach to model development and data management. The development ofthe Modular Mechatronic CIM control system is aimed at intelligently scheduling, controlling and monitoring manufacturing processes in realtime over Internet capable networks. Modular Mechatronics is an alternative design approach that requires the decomposition of a project into separate modules, identifiable by their individual mechatronic functionality. Modular Mechatronic control for Internet manufacturing produces an efficient and effective solution for CIM processes. This approach allows a remote user to monitor and control CIM processes in real time over the Internet allow for a supervisory control structure to control and manage these processes. The modular mechatronic design approach has been applied to the development of the CIM Internet control system, to optimise the overall function ofthe CIM system. A flexible, low cost Modular Mechatronic design approach was used to develop the CIM architecture and computer interface network, which served as the backbone of the Modular Mechatronic CIM control system. The modular designed control system was used to control CIM components in real time over the Internet. The Modular Mechatronic building block development allows for future integration of other CIM components. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Mass producing custom products requires an innovative type of manufacturing environment. Manufacturing environments at present do not possess the flexibility to generate mass produced custom products. Manufacturers’ rapid response in producing these custom products in relation to demand, yields several beneficial results from both a customer and financial perspective. Current reconfigurable manufacturing environments are yet neither financially feasible nor viable to implement. To provide a solution to the production of mass customised products, research can facilitate the development of a distinctive hybrid manufacturing cell, composed of characteristics inherent in existing manufacturing paradigms. Distinctive hybrid manufacturing cell research and development forms an environment where Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) cells operate in a Reconfigurable Manufacturing environment. The development of this Hybrid Reconfigurable Computer Integrated Manufacturing (HRCIM) cell resulted in functionalities that enabled the production of mass customised products. Manufacturing characteristics of the HRCIM cell were composed of key Reconfigurable Manufacturing System (RMS) features and CIM capabilities. This project required hardware to be used in developing an integrated HRCIM cell. The cell consisted of storage systems, material handling equipment and processing stations. Specific material handling equipment was enhanced in its functionality by incorporating RMS characteristics to its existing structure. The hardware behaviour was coordinated from software. This facilitated the autonomous HRCIM cell behaviour which was derived from the mechatronic approach. The software composed of HRCIM events that were defined by its unique programming language. Highlighted software functionalities included prioritisation scheduling that resulted from customer order input. Performance data, extracted from each type of equipment, were used to parameterise a simulated HRCIM cell. During operation, the cell was frequently introduced to an irregular flow of different product geometries, which required different processing requirements. This irregularity represented mass customisation. The simulated HRCIM cell provided detailed manufacturing results. Significant results consisted of storage times, queueing times and cycle times. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

No description available.

Microelectronic systems packaging involves layout dimensions of the order of microns. During manufacturing, process variations will cause parameters to deviate from their nominal values. As a result, the manufactured circuit may no longer meet the specifications it is designed to satisfy. When producing high volume of electronics, assembly yield becomes very important. This is where tolerance margins of the design parameters play an important role. This means that the performance specifications should be satisfied if the process variations are within the given tolerance margin of design parameters. Research has been done on circuit level design for manufacturability methods. The main objective of the research is to study the layout level DFM methods for signal integrity issues and embedded Rf passive components and use design centering methodology to improve the output yield value. In this dissertation, emphasis is also laid on taking care of the regression error while calculating the yield value. With the developed method, the number of design iteration cycles to maximize yield is significantly reduced.

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 1997

Transfer of information between CAD models and downstream manufacturing process planning software typically involves redundant user interaction. Many existing tools are process-centric and unsuited for selection of a "best process" in the context of existing concurrent engineering design tools. A computer based Feature-Recognition (FR) process is developed to extract critical manufacturing features from engineering product CAD models. FR technology is used for automating the extraction of data from CAD product models and uses wire-frame geometry extracted from an IGES neutral file format. Existing hint-based feature recognition techniques have been extended to encompass a broader range of manufacturing domains than typical in the literature, by utilizing a combination of algorithms, each successful at a limited range of features. Use of wire-frame models simplifies product geometry and has the potential to support rapid manufacturing shape evaluation at the conceptual design stage. Native CAD files are converted to IGES neutral files to provide geometry data marshalling to remove variations in user modelling practice, and to provide a consistent starting point for FR operations. Wire-frame models are investigated to reduce computer resources compared to surface and solid models, and provide a means to recover intellectual property in terms of manufacturing design intent from legacy and contemporary product models. Geometric ambiguity in regard to what is ?solid? and what is not has plagued wire-frame FR development in the past. A new application of crossing number theory (CNT) has been developed to solve the wire-frame ambiguity problem for a range of test parts. The CNT approach works satisfactorily for products where all faces of the product can be recovered and is tested using a variety of mechanical engineering parts. Platform independent tools like Extensible Mark-up Language are used to capture data from the FR application and provide a means to separate FR and decision support applications. Separate applications are composed of reusable software modules that may be combined as required. Combining rule-based and case-based reasoning provides decision support to the manufacturing application as a means of rejecting unsuitable processes on functional and economic grounds while retaining verifiable decision pathways to satisfy industry regulators.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, March, 2001. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (MEng) - School of Engineering and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, 2004. / Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Engineering by Research, School of Engineering and Science, Swinburne University of Technology, 2004. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: p. 116-122.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio University, June, 1999. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, March, 1994. / Title from PDF t.p.