A user-friendly,interactive expert system for the injection moulding of engineering thermoplastics

An expert system for the injection moulding of engineering thermoplastics has been developed. The system performs off-line, on the factory floor, and can resolve operating deviations interactively with the user. The expert system is hierarchical and offers the corrective action which is easiest to achieve, rather than the most likely. This allows the operator the facility to attempt resolution of the deviation first, much the same as would occur currently. If the deviation persists then material changes will be offered. Finally, if the deviation is still present then mould changes will be offered. The corrective actions offered by the expert system are bounded by the recommended operating condition windows, but this restriction may be overridden by the user. Existing software packages are used to supplement the decision-making processes.