Application of nested arrays to databases for engineering design

ABSTRACT

A major problem facing the manufacturing industry in its quest for improved productivity is the integration of Computer-Aided-Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided-Manufacture (CAM) to form systems for "seamless design-to-manufacture" (SDTM). This article describes the use of APL2 to build such an integrated system, as opposed to trying to integrate existing systems which are commercially available. The main advantages offered by APL2 are due to the combination of extensive database services, provided by nested arrays in a large workspace, and the accessibility of such data to a rich set of sophisticated mathematical tools. An "Expert-System-Generator" (ESG[1]), built in APL2, makes it possible to build a customized SDTM system which circumvents many of the problems associated with the task of integration of separate commercial systems.

REFERENCES

• 1: L.E. Zeidner, A.C. Williams and Y. Hazony, "An Expert System Generator," lASTED Journal of Control and Computers, Vol. 15, No. 1 (1987).
• 2: Y. Hazony, "DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURE: A Geometric Modeler for Geometric Integrity," Manufacturing Review, vol 4, no 1, pp 33-43 (1991).
• 3: L.E. Zeidner, "AUTOMATIC PROCESS GENERATION AND THE SURROUND PROBLEM: Solution and Applications," Manufacturing Review, vol 4, no 1, pp 53- 60 (1991).
• 4: 7437 VM/SP Technical Workstation: User's Guide and Reference, IBM, SA23-0351-00 (1988).

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: APL

Additional Classification:
  F. Theory of Computation
  F.2 ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS AND PROBLEM COMPLEXITY
      F.2.2 Nonnumerical Algorithms and Problems
          Subjects: Computations on discrete structures

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.5 Computational Geometry and Object Modeling
          Subjects: Geometric algorithms, languages, and systems

  J. Computer Applications
  J.6 COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING
      Subjects: Computer-aided design (CAD)

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Languages