International Journal of Advanced Engineering and Technology

Authors
Morteza Sadegh Amalnik

Abstract
Electron Beam Machining (EBM) is a thermal process. This process is a steam of high speed electrons impinges on the work surface so that the kinetic energy of electrons is transferred to work producing intense heating. Depending upon the intensity of heating the work piece can melt and vaporize. In this paper, an intelligent knowledge based system (IKBS) is developed for manufacturability evaluation of electron beam machining (EBM) Process in computer based concurrent engineering environment. The system evaluates manufacturability and estimating machining cycle time and cost. The intelligent system gives valuable information to help designers and manufacturing engineers to improve design and process plan and production of the company. The intelligent system (IKBS) links with design feature library. The design specification is acquired through a feature based approach. The IKBS links with material database which holds attributes of more than 10 type of materials. It also link with EBM database which hold attributes of 3 types of EBM machine, and EBM process database which hold EBM machine parameters. For each design feature, IKBS provides information needed for manufacturability evaluation and estimation of machining cycle time and cost. The IKBS can be used as an advisory system for designers and manufacturing engineers for optimization of design and manufacturing.