Internet-based DFX for rapid and economical tool/mould making

Computer Internet communication technology offers tremendous potential for building computer communication and software platforms for rapid development of OKP products to meet global competition. In the past few years, a variety of Internet-based systems have been developed for the purpose of Rapid Product Development (RPD). Among these systems, Internet-based "Design for X (DFX)" systems have been recognized as efficient tools for implementing concurrent engineering and playing a key role in RPD. Internet-based DFX or IDFX systems can be applied by manufacturing companies to rapidly produce high-quality products with low costs and thus higher profits. However, the implementation of IDFX systems is not an easy task. The reason is that many new techniques are involved in the application of the IDFX and the PD processes are normally sophisticated and vary with product development environments. In this paper, as illustrated by case studies, two typical applications of IDFX, i.e. Internet-based design for manufacture (IDFM) and Internet-based design for cost (IDFC) systems, are proposed for rapid and economical tool/mould making. The structure and the key models of the systems are discussed.