An intelligent system for automatic modeling of progressive die

The present paper describes an intelligent system AUTOPROMOD developed for automatic modeling of progressive die. The proposed system utilizes interfacing of AutoCAD and AutoLISP for automatic modeling of die components and die assembly. The system comprises eight modules, namely DBMOD. STRPRMOD, BPMOD, PPMOD, BBDSMOD, TBDSMOD, BDAMOD and TDAMOD. The system modules work in tandem with knowledge-based system (KBS) modules developed for design of progressive die components. The system allows the user firstly to model the strip-layout and then utilizes output data files generated during the execution of KBS modules of die components for automatic modeling of progressive die. An illustrative example is included to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed system. The main feature of the system is its facility of interfacing die design with modeling. A semiskilled and even an unskilled worker can easily operate the system for generation of drawings of die components and die assembly. System modules are implementable on a PC having AutoCAD software and thus its low cost of implementation makes it affordable for small and medium sized stamping industries. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.