J. Madejski

The prototype of an expert system for the selection of high-speed steels for cutting tools

Abstract Experience gained by a team of researchers developing a database system designed as an aid for engineers and students who work out the tools made from the high-speed steels shows that this sort of system needs a flexible yet powerful user interface. To solve this task a front-end expert system module is being designed. Present design parameters assume that the intelligent add-on shall consist of some 500÷1000 rules enabling the user to compare the characteristics properties of various high-speed steels in respect to given applications, more, the technology generating module shall include the what-if option. To make all these new features as user friendly as possible it has been decided that the work should start with development of the linguistic task-oriented processor to enable the user to contact with the system in a subset of the natural language. To this end a prototype of a user interface was written in PROLOG and is presently being tested. In order to set the limits to the above mentioned task the dictionary was developed including all the necessary nouns, verbs, adjectives, numerals and sentence structures that are allowed to appear in the interface domain specific language.

Comparison of the thermal fatigue resistance and structure of the 47CrMoWVTiCeZr16-26-8 hot-work tool steel with X40CrMoV5-1 type one

Abstract Results of investigations are presented of structure and mechanical properties, as well as of the comparative tests of thermal fatigue resistance of the heat-treated multi-component Cr–Mo–W–V steels, assigned for the hot-work tools. It was found out that the investigated 47CrMoWVTiCeZr16-26-8 steel demonstrates higher mechanical properties than the X40CrMoV5-1 steel, however, it has lower impact strength and a similar thermal fatigue resistance.

Agents as building blocks of responsibility-based manufacturing systems

Abstract The paper presents the notion of agents as the new hardware and software elements of computer integrated manufacturing systems. Issues of the co-operation of agents are discussed. The role of sensors and mobility on the capability of the agents of executing complex tasks is presented. Examples of their emerging impact on technology are given.

Effect of the deposition parameters on the properties of the two-layer surface coatings obtained using magnetron sputtering

Abstract This paper presents the effect of the deposition parameters on the properties of the Ti+TiN, Ti+Ti(C x N x −1 ), and Ti+TiC two-layer surface coatings obtained using magnetron sputtering in a vacuum furnace with a controlled temperature on a sintered ASP 30 high-speed matrix. Results of the investigated coatings’ tests are presented, depending on the working atmosphere, distance from the magnetron shield, and vacuum furnace temperature. Their effect on the structural and mechanical properties of the coatings has been evaluated.

Computer aided system for selection of the high-speed steels and heat treatment technology synthesis of the tools

Abstract The significant variety of high-speed steels makes the problem of their proper usage very important. To this end a system has been developed to assist the synthesis of the proper technology for high-speed steels. The system offers assistance for numerous classes of users including manufacturing engineers designing new manufacturing processes, tool designers, scientific workers and students, etc. The system is a flexible one, being designed so that in future it may contain data about other classes of materials as well: the data acquisition and presentation module may be left intact. The system in its present state contains two sub-systems, the root system employed to handle the data being accessed by either of the dedicated sub-systems, in this case by the high-speed steels sub-system. The problem of selection of the proper high-speed steel for a given application lies in the abundant number of their makes, differing properties and relatively complex heat and thermochemical treatment. The problem of a proper selection of the right steel for a given tool is only partially solved by choosing one with apparently adequate properties, as they may not be obtained if the proper technology should not be employed. Numerous aspects of tool design influence the tool technology, making it impractical to use heat treatment and thermochemical treatment data extracted simply from the appropriate tables. Deep knowledge of the properties of the high-speed steels and of the conditions for their proper usage — being intricately interdependent — is not common amongst their users so that guidance in this field is imperative. The system enables a user to obtain information about the properties of all of the makes of steel available and about their applicability for given classes of tasks. It is possible to synthesise a proper heat treatment technology for a steel chosen to make a given tool. Several classes of system printouts are built in.