ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FOR AUTOCLAVES AND BONDING PRESSES

A microcomputer based diagnostic system for thermoset cure processing autoclaves and bonding presses was developed and tested in a rotorcraft manufacturing facility. Various expert system methodologies were studied for this application. Embedded and stand-alone inference engines were tested as prototypes and reviewed by the users. Dedicated diagnostic expert system platforms were prototyped and analyzed. As a result of the development process, a relatively new form of programming known as hypermedia was tested and shown to be easier to implement, more acceptable to users and more economical than “traditional” diagnostic expert systems. Hypermedia was used to blend graphics, scanned photographs, and text into an effective and easy to use diagnostic tool for engineers, operators and maintenance personnel responsible for the daily operation of computer controlled autoclaves and bonding presses.