A Framework for the Computer-Aided Planning and Optimization of Manufacturing Process Chains in the Context of Functionally Graded Components

Functional gradation denotes a continuous distribution of properties over the spatial dimensions of a component. These distributions are tailored with respect to later applications and require complex manufacturing processes. Therefore, a framework for the planning and optimization of manufacturing process chains for those components is presented. The framework is divided into three modules – the Component Description for the integration of graded properties into CAD models, the Expert System for the synthetization of alternative process chains and the Model-based Process Chain Optimization.