Knowledge Based Engineering

Knowledge Based Engineering is a state-of-the-art computer programming technique which enables engineering design and analysis processes to be modelled. The resulting process model, including best practice, engineering guidelines and engineering rules, can then be run automatically resulting in time savings of up to 95%.

Hyfo's applications are developed by Corus Automotive who have been working with Knowledge Based Engineering for 5 years and have pioneered the use of KBE for the manufacturing feasibility analysis of hydroform designs. The application, which won the Knowledge Based Organisations prize for innovation at the International ICAD User Group conference held in Detroit, 2000, enables an initial feasibility assessment to be generated automatically in under 60 minutes.

KBE is used by most of the major manufacturing companies worldwide. Early adopters were Boeing, Pratt & Whitney and General Motors but have now been joined by companies such as Ford Motor Company, Airbus, Rolls Royce Aero. Significant time savings have been attributed to the use of KBE by these, some claiming lead time reductions of up to 95%.

Hydroform KBE assesses a hydroform design for manufacturing feasibility. In contrast to numerical simulations which simulate the manufacturing process, Hydroform KBE assesses the product geometry and applies manufacturing feasibility knowledge to estimate manufacturing feasibility. Because of this, model preparation time is negligible and an automated report on manufacturing feasibility can be generated in under 60 minutes. Hydroform KBE can also link to Tube Bending KBE to make an allowance for the Tube Bending process when estimating overall manufacturing feasibility.

Tube Bending KBE is used to assess manufacturing feasibility of prebend designs, often one of the most critical aspects of overall Hydroform manufacturing feasibility. Tube Bending KBE can also generate solid models of the prebend tooling.