【正文】 ed environment. A KBE application is further specialized, and typically has the following ponents of geometry, configuration, and engineering knowledge: – Geometry – there is very often a substantial element of puteraided design (CAD). Most of the software used to create KBE applications either has CAD capabilities built in, or is able to integrate closely with a CAD package. – Configuration – this refers to the matching of valid binations of ponents. – Engineering knowledge – this enables manufacturing and other considerations to be built into the product design. When a candidate application area requires a high degree of integration of the above elements, KBE is likely to be the best method for its integration. KBE is sometimes termed rulebased engineering, as within the discipline, knowledge is often represented by rules. These may be mathematical formulae or conditional statements, and although simple in concept, they may then be bined to form plex and powerful expressions. KBE systems, on the other hand, are usually provided with specialized geometrical capabilities, with the ability to embed engineering knowledge within a product model. The following examples of typical KBE applications demonstrate some of the considerable benefits to be gained from its use. 1) Lotus engineering. This used the integrated car engineer (ICE) system in the design of the Lotus Elise. ICE consists of a vehicle layout system, and modules to support the design of suspension, engines, powertrain, wheel envelope and wipers [ 17]. 2) The Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. This uses KBE as a tool to capture airplane knowledge to reduce the resources required for producing a design [18]. 3) Jaguar cars. The pany’s KBE group devised a system that reduced the time taken to design an inner bon from 8 weeks to 20 min [19]. Problem to solve in a CAPP system based on KBE A stamping CAPP system should deal with all knowledge including geometry, nongeometry, engineers experience, rules and criteria, results of tests and numerical simulation, or even successful cases, because of the plexity of automobile body panels. The knowledge is involved in diverse fields, such as metal forming technology, metal forming mechanics, modern design methodology, numerical simulation technology, and artificial intelligence. Accordingly, the CAPP system has to solve the problems with expression and application of all knowledge, and integration of all multidisciplinary design. A CAPP system is essentially a set of instructions and guidelines on how to perform a plex procedure. It details the individual subtasks, how they should be carried out, in what order, and how the work should be documented. Furthermore, as system requirements change, new solutions tend to evolve from existing ones, so puter applications and their descendants can outlive the personnel involved in their initial development. All in all, a stamping CAPP system for automobile panels based on KBE should readily solve the following problems: (1) Representations for all knowledge. (2) Reasoning based on all this knowledge. (3) Appropriate operation features acquired from stamping features and process rules incorporated with form ability analysis. (4) Process routes based on process sequencing and process bination knowledge. (5) The control or management of process procedures for rapid response to all changes. 3 Framework of a CAPP system The integrated master model for a CAPP system To solve all corresponding problems mentioned above, the integrated ma ster mode l is advanced at the system level t o control and frame t he CAPP system for automobile panels. I t is a mon concept and framework to generalize and specialize the function, course control , process planning circumstance, and act iv it ies involved in t he development o f an integrated and intelligent system into abstract groups, and to make t he m carry out all contents and processes. This mode issue table for knowledge expression and application, process controlling, information integration, change response , etc .The intelligent master model (IMM) of stamping process planning for automobile panels is posed of a knowledge base, process control structure (PCS), process planning optimization (PPO), process information model (PIM), and linkable environment (LE), which are integrated and bined based on KBE. The structure of the IMM is shown in Fig. 1. The IMM of process planning is not only the foundation of intelligent CAPP for automobile panels, but also the integration of knowledge and methods, which bines the KBE system with the process planning. With this model, KBE acts as a knowledge source to drive PCS, PIM, and LE, which makes process planning integrated and associative. The PIM is a dynamic expanded information model, in which the information can be added and updated along with process planning. Using knowledge multiexpression format, the integrated information model of process planning is built based on a feature model. For the hierarchy and framework of the features, semantic and object oriented methods are adopted to express knowledge and establish an information model in which process knowledge, . database, parameter, rules, and experience, act as rules and attributes of the objects, and where whole product knowledge acts as a framework for relationships of objects. With a process information model, the process planning can be pleted through knowledgereasoning and decisionmaking based on knowledge encapsulated in the objects. The PCS is a key point to ensure process planning is integrated and consistent。 it manages the process information model, process planning to generate stamping process plans and detail design, and controls the changes of the planning. In IMM, the PCS es into being dynamically along with the process