Product data modelling for the computer integrated manufacturing of plate bending process in shipbuilding

The current plate bending process in shipbuilding is carried out manually b y skilled workers with only minimal manufacturing information. To improve p roductivity, the concept of a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) syste m is developed for the automation and computerization of the bending proces s. The objective of this paper is to present a product data modelling proce ss by use of an object-oriented methodology for the development of the CIM system. The CIM system developed here consists of an information database, a control system, and an automated machine. In this paper, a product data m odel is proposed for the CIM database system by employing the four phases o f basic objects, relationships and attributes, constraints and model integr ation. The data model is described using EXPRESS and EXPRESS-G languages. B ased on the constructed database, the control system is designed and implem ented with engineering analysis, networking, measuring and other features. The main function of the control system is to provide real-time manufacturi ng information and to control the machine in an integrated manner. Associat ed with the proposed CIM concept for plate bending, an automated machine ha s been developed and integrated with the control system to give a complete working system. An example experimental test is presented to provide the fu nctions of the system and to verify the data and seamless information flow in the system.