An original approach for the memorisation and the generation of rapid product development processes

This paper introduces a knowledge-based environment dedicated to the choice of rapid product development processes. Rapid product development processes are not limited to layer-manufacturing machines, but they also integrate CAD, reverse engineering, indirect methods for metallic and plastic part manufacturing, etc. The aim of the proposed knowledge-based environment is to propose, from a detailed functional specification, different alternatives of rapid product development processes, which can be ordered and optimised when considering a combination of different specification criteria (cost, quality delay, aspect, material, etc.).