1、Chen Xuewen Zuo Siyu Chen Jun Ruan XueyuResearch of knowledge-based hammer forging design support systemAbstractDie design is experience-extensive in the field of plasticity engineering, in which knowledge and experience play a very important role in supporting the design process. In order to make g
2、ood use of the accumulated engineering knowledge, the methodology of knowledge-based hammer forging design support is elaborated in detail, including: engineering knowledge representation, knowledge acquisition and knowledge-based design support techniques. Based on these, a knowledge-based hammer f
3、orging design support system is developed using the API of SolidWorks. This prototype system is a design guide system, which provides the right knowledge to support the designer, make decision/selection and design the die step by step. This way, the computerized public and private knowledge can be g
4、reatly shared and reused, which improves the design efficiency, and avoids previous mistakes effectively. Finally, a case study is shown to elaborate how the system is operated.Keywords ：Design support ；Hammer forging ；Knowledge acquisition ； Knowledge-based engineering ；Knowledge representation1 In
5、troductionIn the present world, with severe global manufacturing competitionand the rapid development of computer technologies, in order to save product development cost and shorten the PD leadtime, its necessary to deploy the advanced CAD/CAM/CAE technologies in the field of forging industry. Durin
6、g the forging die design, the technicians have been accumulating fruitful experience and knowledge, which is very essential and valuable for the effective die design. The features of forging die design process are summarized as follows:（1）The die design process is a design decision-making process wi
7、th the final forging part as objective, during which not only multiple field knowledge is necessary, but also the problem solving know-how tips are indispensable.（2）The forging die fabrication is absolutely not mass production, and very often one die set is targeted for a new product. So each time t
8、he forging die design is not only an experiencebased, but also an innovative process 1.（3）The forging die design is complicated and iterative, and a feasible die design scheme should meet the engineering requirements about functionality, strength, durability and accuracy, etc. 1.Even though the CAD
9、technology has been widely used in forging die design, most are limited to improve engineering numerical calculation efficiency and enhance the convenient 2D drawing creation. Few research works have paid attention to making good use of engineering knowledge to set up an environment where engineerin
10、g calculation and routine knowledge utilization can be greatly relieved. Furthermore, an innovative idea can easily come true. There is still a potential space challenging the traditionalCAD technology to effectively assure the target of high quality, short cycle time and low cost. The enabling tech
11、nology is envisioned to fully integrate into CAE analysis and emerging knowledge-based technology, and build the knowledge-based hammer forging design support system.At present, modern forging die design processes still heavily rely on designers skills and experience. These designers own knowledge w
12、ill directly influence the design result of forging die 2. Therefore, many people have made efforts to integrate design knowledge and experience into forging die design system, so that, the system is able to provide the right knowledge support and help the designer to improve the forging die design
13、result. Kim et al. 3 developed an expert system to automate the processdesign of axisymmetric hot steel forging. The system can be used to design the geometries of the finisher, blocker, buster, billet and corresponding dies, and to calculate the required forging load, the volume and the strokes, ba
14、sed on the geometry of the product. It is a rule-based system developed in Fortran and AutoLISP and operated in AutoCAD environment. Kim et al. 4 developed an automated computer aided process planning system for a hot forging or blanking product by press working. The system is based on knowledge-bas
15、ed rules, and a process knowledge base of design rules is built. Choi and Kim 5 established knowledge-based design and CAPP system for cold and hot forging, the rules of hot forging and cold forging arecollected in this paper. Caporalli et al. 6 developed an expert system for hot forging design, the
16、 software ADHFD (automated design of hot forging die). This software was used to design flashless hot forging die of gear. All these people have conducted much research in developing computer aided design systems and integrating expert design knowledge into their systems. These systems can help engineers design forging die and improve their design results and enhance the reduction of design cycle time. However, most
