Application of ID3 algorithm in knowledge acquisition for tolerance design

Knowledge-processing technology can be used to aid engineering design. This paper presents the application of an ID3 algorithm in knowledge acquisition for the tolerance design of injection-molded parts. The overall structure of a knowledge-based system for tolerance design is briefly illustrated. After a classification of factors that influence tolerance has been made, some key attributes for collecting knowledge cases are studied through fuzzy representation and processing. The detailed procedure of utilizing an ID3 algorithm for tolerance-related knowledge acquisition is introduced, including calculating the information gain measure (entropy) and generating the final decision tree. The method can be easily applied to other engineering areas and the result has great value in practice. The advantages and disadvantages of this method are discussed in .