Computer-aided Tooling Design for Manufacturing Processes

Abstract

Tooling design for manufacturing processes refers to direct tooling for making a part such as molds and dies for injection molded parts and metal stampings, or for supporting machining operations such as jigs and fixtures. This paper summarizes some of the R&D activities in those areas over a period of 20 years in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore. It is notable that increasing use of computer tools has turned what is used to be known as a “black art” into a discipline embracing both heuristic and scientific analyses.