**Case Studies**

[3] Mustard, F. (2000). Early childhood development: The base for a learning society', Chapter presented at the HRDC or OECD Meeting, December 7, in Ottawa, Canada.

[4] Piaget, Jean and Inhelder, Barbel (1995). A Psicologia da Criança' [in Potuguese-'Citi‐ zenship Education, Guidelines for Education for Sustainability- Earth Charter], 2nd

[5] Portuguese Ministry of Education- Ministério da Educação (2006). Educação para a Cidadania, Guião de Educação para a Sustentabilidade- Carta da Terra', Ed.: Minis‐ tério da Educação, Direcção-Geral de Inovação e de Desenvolvimento Curricular, 59

[6] Rutter, M. (2002). The interplay of nature, nurture and developmental influences: The challenge ahead for mental health', Archives of General Psychiatry 59, (11),

[7] Ryan, C. (2009). Design for Sustainability- a step-by-step Approach, Part II Chapter III A 'Quick-Start' approach to D4S, United Nations Environment Programme, Delft

[8] Wallon, Henri (1981). A evolução psicológica da criança' [in Portuguese- The Psy‐

ed. Porto: Edições Asa

184 Advances in Industrial Design Engineering

University of Technology.

chology of the Child], Lisboa: Edições 70, , 144.

pp.

996-1000.

**Chapter 9**

**Design for Automotive Panels**

**Supported by an Expert System**

Chun-Fong You, Chin-Ren Jeng and Kun-Yu Liu

Chun‐Fong You, Chin‐Ren Jeng and Kun‐Yu Liu

Figure 1. Production process for automotive panels

Producing panels Yes

**2. Expert system**

**Figure 1.** Production process for automotive panels

planning.

type, and other information that is necessary when designing a die.

system to read the digital surface model, and then output the die layout using Java3D.

and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The production process for automotive panels (Fig. 1) has changed dramatically with advances in computer technology. To shorten the automotive development schedule, industry has been using computer-aided design (CAD) and digital model analysis to replace the traditional design method based on human experience. This can reduce the design error rate and improve

car company Preprocess Die face design and

Die assembling

Die designing Yes Styrofoam die

> Die machining

The production process for automotive panels (Fig. 1) has changed dramatically with advances in computer technology. To shorten the automotive development schedule, industry has been using computer‐aided design (CAD) and digital model analysis to replace the traditional design method based on human experience. This can reduce the design error rate and improve production

process planning

FEM analysis No

The entire process from obtaining a panel's file to producing that panel takes about one year, or even much more time. Die design companies that have the shortest schedules and highest quality can occupy a dominant position in the automotive industry.

Tryout Modify

No

The stamping die for automotive panels is a cold stamping die; the input is a plane blank; and the output is the panel shape required by a car company. During production, the punch closes the upper mold and lower mold for various tasks. The goal of process planning is to determine how many dies are needed and the content of each die, including stamping direction, tasks, cam

© 2013 You et al.; licensee InTech. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

© 2013 You et al; licensee InTech. This is a paper distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution,

© 2013 You et al; licensee InTech. This is a paper distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study combines practical experience with an expert system, and focuses mainly on preprocess steps and process planning. The system, which is called computer‐aided process planning (CAPP) (Marri et al., 1998), is programmed in Java language. The system uses the Spring Solid System developed by the Solid Model Laboratory, National Taiwan University, as the backbone of the CAD

The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) was proposed in the 1980s, and the processing method for computer information is evolving toward that of the human brain. Because many difficulties are associated with the use of AI, an expert system is used to solve problems in particular fields. Generally, it can provide such information as the judgments of experts. Unlike Dynavista and CATIA/VAMOS, which are expert systems developed for die design, no software exists that uses an expert system for process

**Design for Automotive Panels Supported by an Expert System**

Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/52010

production efficiency (Choi et al., 1999).

efficiency (Choi et al., 1999).

Panel's file from

manufacturing

Lost foam casting

**1. Introduction**

Taiwan, ROC

**1. Introduction**
