Web/Internet Supported
Collaborative
Design & Manufacture
Professor Daizhong Su
Advanced Design and Manufacturing
Engineering Centre
Nottingham Trent University
Two Asia-wide projects supported
by the European Commission
• Asia-Link project
-- Human resource development in
Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering
• Collaboration platform within the
virtual research institute
• Asia IT&C project
-- Web-enabled collaborative design &
manufacture
The EU Asia Link Project
• An international collaborative project supported by European
Commission Asia-Link programme: Human Resource
Development in Mechanical & Manufacturing.
• 222,715 Euros
• Project consortium:
– The Nottingham Trent University, UK (Leader)
– Lappeenranta University of Technology, FINLAND (Partner)
– Chongqing University, CHINA (Partner)
• Duration: 3 years from September 2003
The EU Asia IT&C Project
• An international collaborative research project supported by
European Commission Asia IT&C programme: Webenabled Collaboration in Intelligent Design & Manufacture.
• 381,500 Euros
• Project consortium:
– The Nottingham Trent University, UK (Leader)
– Foundation Labein, SPAIN (Partner)
– Harbin Institute of technology, CHINA (Partner)
– Chongqing University, CHINA (Partner)
• Duration: 3 years from December 2003
Major tasks of the research
•
Development of a Web-enabled collaborative
environment
•
Remote-execution of large size ICT tools
/programmes / packages
•
Web-based collaborative computer aided
design
•
Web-based collaborative manufacture
•
Distributed product design
Fundamental Architecture of WEE
Management Server
User Interface
User Tier
Web Server
Tier
Application
Tier
NTU Server
LABEIN Server
HIT Server
CQU Server
RE
PDM
CAM
CAD
An example of application server
Remote-execution of large size
programmes / packages
• Two approaches based on
– CGI
– COBAR
• An example:
– Gear design optimisation
Gear Optimisation
Visual Basic
Input files
Output files
GA written in C++
Optimisation
Gear design optimisation
• Based on BS and ISO
• More than 60 design variables
• Optimisation
– Genetic algorithm
– 5 objective functions
– Currently 9 optimoisation parameters
Distributed gear design activities
Gear Design
Application
Factors
Profile
geometry
Tool
parameters
Noise
Materials
GUI
Lubrication
Stress analysis
View
Results
Anti-fatigue
Program Structure (CGI)
User
Server
CGI -
HTML
Parse the data
- Calculations
• User interface
write
• Input form
Send data to Server
Input files
read
Submit
Display result to user
Optimisation
write
JavaScript
Output files
• Validate data
Result
Problems with Multi-user
Server
User 1
Input files
User 1
Optimisation
Output files
User 1
Problems with Multi-user
Server
User 1
Input files
User
User12
User 2
Optimisation
Output
Outputfiles
files
User
User1 2
Problems with Multi-user
Server
User 1
Input files
User
User12
Optimisation
Users need to be
identified !!!
Output
Outputfiles
files
User
User1 2
cgi-bin
Server
Optimisation
I/O files
I/O files
I/O files
CGI files
CGI files
CGI files
HTML files
HTML files
HTML files
User 1
User 2
User 3
Remote execution based on Servlet
Client
Server
Login
Welcome Page
Stop
Login Servlet
N
Unregistered
user page
Valid user?
Input files
Y
Input interface in
HTML page
Stop
Result pages
Parameters
Main Servlet
Executable
Program
Result Servlet
Output files
Server
Main Servlet
Input Files
Instance 1
User 1
Instance 2
  
User 2
Optimization
Result Servlet
Instance 1
Instance 2
Output
Files
  
A problem in multi-user situation
Server
Main Servlet
User 1
User 1 Folder
Instance 1
Input files
Instance 2
Output files
……
User 2
Optimization
Result Servlet
Instance 1
Instance 2
……
User 2 Folder
Input files
Output files
Online CAD 2/5
Online Collaborative CAD (1)
Designer 1
Designer 2
Designer n
AutoCAD
AutoCAD
AutoCAD
DLM
DLM
DLM
NetMeeting
NetMeeting
NetMeeting
Internet
Structure of the online collaborative CAD system
Catch data of entities
modified, added or
deleted
Processing the data
Send message to remote
system by using
function of component
AutoCAD
NetMeeting
(Computer at
Location A)
Internet
Receive data from
remote system by using
function of component
Processing the data
Reduce entity graphics
and display
Major function of the DLM
AutoCAD
NetMeeting
(Computer at
Location B)
Online CAD 3/5
DLM
AutoCAD
• ObjectARX
– Development tool of AutoCAD released
by Auto Desk Co
– Written in C++
– Directly define AutoCAD internal data
structure, graphical programs and user
commends within the AutoCAD open
structure.
Online CAD 4/5
DLM
NetMeeting
• NM3SDK.exe
– NetMeeting’s software development
tool kid (SDK)
• Component Model Objects
– NetMeeting internal functions
– Each object access one interface
– Each interface support one object
Service-Oriented Collaborative CAD
Service-Oriented Collaborative CAD
Service-Oriented Collaborative CAD
A Case Study
Service-Oriented Collaborative CAD
A Case Study
Web-based collaborative CAD
(Multiple CAD Packages)
Pro-E
Pro-E
UG
SolidWork
AutoCAD
Ansys
Figure 4: Situation with direct data transfer
Neutral
File
UG
AutoCAD
SolidWork
Ansys
Figure 5 Situation using a neutral file
Web-based Collaborative CAM
CAD-CNC- PKM
Tool compensation
Compilation
Cutting position file
Workspace
Cutter space file
Simulation playing
file (.avi)
Interpolation
client
Parameters of PKM
Interfere calibration
CAM table
Movement Control
Server
3D Sculpt
Preprocessing
Cutter space files
Adjustment computing
Database
CAD Sculpt
Kinematics transform
Simulation
Working station
2D Sculpt
Parametric programming
NC codes
PKM
Case Study: Collaborative CAM
HIT-LABEIN
Parallel Kinematic Machine
Web-base Collaborative CAM
The system structure of Web-based PKM manufacturing simulating module
Database
Web Server
ASP
Preprocessor
ActiveX
Adjusting module
Control
MC module
ADO
VBScript
Database
request
Web Browser
Parametric module
Internet
PKM functions:
TCP/IP
Windows IIS
Web Browser
request
request
request
……
Server
Client
Web based collaborative CAM
3D CAD Model
Manufactured Model
Interoperation between different systems
IDL interface
IDL--C++ Mapping
IDL--java Mapping
Add client
program Code
Stubs
Skeletons
Gcc
Java
Java Client
Client
Client
ORB
Add object
implementation
Server
ORB
Client program
Windows
Object program
Linux
IIOP
Object
Object
Web Services for Supplier Selection
Get WSDL
Publish
WSDL
UDDI Registry
Permitted Organisations
Manufacturing Engineer
JAX-RPC
runtime
SOAP
Web
Interne
t
Server
JAX-RPC
runtime
SOAP
Supplier
Selection
System
Marketing Personnel
Design Engineer
R&D Personal
Service
Requestor
Service
Provider
Concluding Remarks
• Web-based collaborative design & manufacturing
–
–
–
–
WEE
Remote execution large size program/packages
Web-based collaborative CAD/CAM
Distributed product design
• Future work
– Integration Grid, Wireless computing
– Semantic CAD
– Cross platforms (for example, Windows – Linux)
International Conference on
Advanced Design & Manufacturing
8-10 January 2006, Harbin, China
Organised by the Asia IT&C and Asia-Link
project consortium
Sponsored by the European Commission Asia
Wide Section
• Computer supported collaborative work in
design will be one of the major topics of the
Conference as well as other topics in Design and
Manufacturing.
• Selected papers will be published in the Lecture
Notes of Computer Science, and refereed journals.
Proceedings will be arranged for inclusion in EI.
• Social Events:
– Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival’, one of the
four largest winter festivals in the world
– the ‘Ice and Snow Grand World’, which is regarded as
the ‘Disney Land’ of ice and snow.
– Tour to Harbin and surrounding areas
Harbin is modern and historical city, mixing with
traditional Chinese and Western styles
Thank You