Abstract
We discuss the design synthesis problem of mechanical systems with an example of configuration design of chain-type mechanisms. Mechanisms are used as system elements in various products, and each mechanism system is composed of mechanism pairs. In the design process, the functional structure of mechanisms and their spatial configuration are determined. The former means the sequential chains of pairs, and the latter means the arrangement and geometry of mechanism elements. We propose a framework for simultaneously considering both issues for designing a certain level of complicated mechanism systems. The concepts of marker sequences and cell-based planar representation are introduced to manipulate a design. Each marker corresponds to an abstracted representation of a particular mechanism element. Each cell corresponds to a region for such a marker. The computational design process is organized by generating marker sequences, assigning markers to cells, refining both of them, and embodying the configuration and arrangement of mechanisms. Finally, a prototype CAD system implemented under the proposed concepts is applied to several design examples. In the conclusion, we show the necessity of fictitious media for representing and computerizing the conceptual and configurational phases of a design process.
