Quantifying manufacturability of component geometries using shape descriptors

A Do-It-Yourself (DIY) framework of part design and manufacturing is proposed. This framework relies on a digitally indexed part/process-plan library that can enable amateur fabricators in designing and manufacturing complex shapes with similar tolerance as professional counterparts. A methodology to do this is proposed, which involves automated identification of parts from the library that has similar functionality as desired. This step will be followed by automated modification of the corresponding process plans to produce the desired functionality while conforming to design and machine tool requirements. Some challenges associated with setting up such frameworks are realized. These include identifying methodologies for quantifying manufacturability of a final geometry from a starting billet shape using a specified manufacturing process. The utility of spherical harmonic based shape descriptors is analyzed for the same. Shortcomings of this shape descriptor are discussed.