The aim of this work is to develop and implement a model for facility layout design. The first step will be to study the traditional process of positioning, locating or distributing the different facilities, which will be done with the help of slicing trees. Afterwards, the connections between the facilities will be handled, looking for the shortest path that communicates them all, by the means of an expert system. Finally, the orientation of the original surface will be treated, using rules from Feng Shui. These three aspects and their different techniques will be integrated into a single application, joining as well the knowledge and experience from architects and engineers. The space distribution algorithm of the application itself provides excellent results. Apart from that, the application considers the routing problem, especially important in Architecture (not so important in industrial plan design, when there are no walls between facilities). The application also considers the orientation of the surface, which contributes to improve the comfortability of the building and power saving. The main advantage of the application is that, while being a good tool for solving the facility layout problem, it also considers the routing and orientation of the building.
PurposeThe main goal of this paper is to show how the automation of tasks in solid modelling with Catia V5 is approached, by means of macros, working under the Windows operating system and with the Visual BASIC programming language. A macro is a piece of code (written in a certain programming language) which groups a set of operations that define a certain task.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is divided into three parts. In the first one, the necessary concepts to begin working with macros are discussed: the programming languages (object‐oriented), compatible with Catia V5, are introduced. The handling of macros, like the one of the fundamental objects of the application, is explained as well. In the second part, the different objects on which the macros for solid modelling are based are described, explaining how they are used and how they are related to one another. In the third and last part, several applications which clarify the use of the studied tools, and which show the great utility of the macros, are included.FindingsUsing macros can automate design tasks which are performed repetitively, as well as carry out new operations (features) which facilitate the modelling process and which are not included in the order menu by default.Originality/valuePower and versatility of macros as a task‐automation tool is shown, as well as how simple, fast and efficient it is to program them in Visual BASIC.
This article presents a useful application for university courses in Engineering Graphics, and for manufacturing processes based on developing sheet metal. From the basis of a three-dimensional surface, the application can generate its development, as well as its area and perimeter that could be used by a conventional numerical control machine (CNC) to cut the sheet.
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