ETES is an extrusion tool
management environment maintaining a database of existing tools and automatically
finding the most appropriate tools for reuse. Image processing, pattern
matching and non-linear optimization techniques are utilized. The system
has its own graphical editor and a database management system. The product
has been marketed to extrusion tools manufacturers worldwide.
Extrusion Tools Expert Selector
is part of an intelligent CAD/CAM system developed to design, manufacture
and operate aluminum extrusion tools. ETES covers layout, geometry
and tools management system. Its main features are:
database with tool parameters and tool graphical design
support of various types of extrusion tools: dies, backers, bolsters, etc.
pattern matching for automatic selection of the best tools for reuse
best fitting for tongues maximum support
a finite-element analysis subsystem for stress analysis of critical areas (tongues)
internal graphical editor for shapes editing and manual fitting of matched tools
import/export from CAD/CAM files for seamless integration with existing software systems
import from scanned images for easy data entry of tools for which designs in electronic form do not exist
planning calculator for optimization
of production parameters and costs
internal graphical editor
user friendly interface
context sensitive help
ETES is developed to satisfy
the specific needs of aluminum extrusion tooling. ETES facilitates
and accelerates the production process. It also facilitates the design
of tools and ensures low maintenance costs and competitive prices.
Although ETES operates a specific
production process, it contains modules and algorithms which may have much
more general use.
One of these modules is the pattern
recognition module. It analyses complex graphical or multidimensional
parametric information. Such analysis can be applied in:
mail sorting
inspection for quality control
assembly of mechanical parts
best fitting of mechanical parts
analysis of aerial and satellite images
analysis in nuclear physics
automated radiograph scanning
robotics system
blood cell counting, etc.
The other module with generic application
is the image processing module. It performs various manipulations
to generate a vector representation of object shapes in an image. In combination
with pattern matching, image processing can be used for classification
and recognition of objects from photographs and other images.
ETES runs in MS Windows. The
design of the system is object-oriented and is implemented in C++. CodeBase
library is used for the database management.
