Assembly model and design thinking: a study of assembly scheme based on gene model

Abstract

Purpose

Existing models of product assembly scheme design often ignore the constraint relations among design thinking. In order to grasp the functions of each part and the constraint relations among them in product assembly system macroscopically, further design and variation of product assembly system should be made according to design thinking. This paper seeks to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Through analyzing the similarity between biological organization system and product system and taking biology knowledge for reference, product assembly system was expressed as product function gene, product constraint gene, product function protein, product constraint protein and product cell and so on in this paper. The product gene model composed of product function gene groups and constraint genes was established and a modeling method based on it was proposed.

Findings

The author applied this method to model the 5‐DOF manipulator of complex diamond manufacturing special equipment with good results which proved the effectiveness of this modeling method.

Originality/value

By identifying constraint relations and design thinking in the gene model, the system makes the modification process which is conducted by the designers automatically identified and varied to achieve computer‐aided design and assembly.

Citation

Yixiong, F., Yicong, G., Zeyu, M. and Jianrong, T. (2013), "Assembly model and design thinking: a study of assembly scheme based on gene model", Assembly Automation, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 272-281. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-12-2013-067