Implementation of a Test Plan Ontology for Incremental Sheet Metal Forming Made with Models for Manufacturing (MfM) Methodology

Models for Manufacturing (MfM) is a methodology currently under development with a novel approach to applying Ontology-Based Engineering concepts to manufacturing. MfM is based in a 3-Layer Model (3LM) framework: a Data layer that collects all the information, e.g. in databases, an Ontology layer for ontological definition containing the domain knowledge, and a Service layer comprising all necessary software services. The Ontology layer is the core of the 3LM framework and is made up of 4 models: Scope, Data, Behaviour, and Semantic models. The 3LM framework is supported by user-friendly modelling tools and guarantees independence between the 3 layers. This work aims to evaluate the MfM methodology through the development of a real use case based on previous work by the authors: an experimental test plan to study sheet metal formability in hole-flanging operations by Single-Point Incremental Forming (SPIF). The test plan includes the definition of the main geometrical parameters of the specimens, the generation of the forming tool paths and G-code for a CNC machine, the evaluation of the manufactured parts and the analysis of the material formability. The paper presents the definition of the Ontology layer for the developed use case using various graphical modelling tools and a simple implementation of Data and Service layers as well as the interfaces between the 3 layers. The conclusions of the work highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the application developed and point out the main lines of future development of the MfM methodology.