An index system for modular fixture design: applied to case-based reasoning

An index system to exploit similarities among workpiece shapes or locating methods in modular fixtures is proposed in this paper. It is developed to apply to case-based reasoning (CBR) technology. An index system signifies all the important characteristics to classify a number of parts to different groups. Each group is identified by a multiple digit alphanumeric code. A seven-digit code is designed in this study to represent and classify the modular fixtures. Using this index system, past experience in modular fixture design is saved and then the design is also simplified by referring to past design cases. A CBR system, based on this index system, has been developed to assist in modular fixture design.