Case-Based Reasoning and Intelligent Variation Approach in Fixture Design

Case-based reasoning and rule-based reasoning are two techniques using the experience to resolve problems in fixture design. Each method has some shortcoming when it is employed separately. A hybrid method of case-based and rule-based reasoning can eliminate the drawbacks of each method and provide a better way for fixture design. In this paper, a retrieval mechanism of case-based reasoning in fixture design is analyzed. An improved algorithm taking the influence of fixture structure into account is proposed for calculating the similarity of fixture cases. A reuse mechanism of fixture cases is discussed from different levels and different groups. The expanded conception of fixture case is proposed. Moreover, variation level and variation method based-on the expanded fixture cases are studied. Finally, a real case is presented to demonstrate that the hybrid of case-based reasoning and rule-based intelligent variation approaches can improve the re-usability of the fixture cases.