The ability to share data among the numerous software applications used to design and analyze products is an important aspect of computer integrated manufacturing. In the past, data sharing has been implemented by direct translation of data files, through neutral data formats, and through central shared databases. This paper describes a data sharing architecture that addresses some of the limitations of these systems. It employs a database management system as a central repository for part data in an application independent format. A configurable translator, called Datatrans, is used to transfer data between the database management system and native application data files. In this way software from multiple independent vendors or legacy software can be supported, because applications need not incorporate code specific to any database management system nor have knowledge of the centralized database schema. The translator uses grammars to define and recognize the data to be translated. The grammar is augmented with commands that are passed to the front-end of the database management system or to application programs to store and retrieve data. Thus the query language and the application commands serve as a high level interface to the underlying database and application data files. Entity transformations that are beyond the scope of a grammatical description are performed by database methods, which are available to all applications. An implementation of the system demonstrates the feasibility of this approach.
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March 2002
Technical Papers
A Grammar Driven Data Translation System for Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Glen L. Niebur, Assistant Professor,
Glen L. Niebur, Assistant Professor
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
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Thomas R. Chase, Associate Professor
Thomas R. Chase, Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
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Glen L. Niebur, Assistant Professor
Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, The University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556
Thomas R. Chase, Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Contributed by the Design for Manufacturability Committee for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received Feb. 1999. Associate Editor: S. Kota.
J. Mech. Des. Mar 2002, 124(1): 136-142 (7 pages)
Published Online: February 1, 1999
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Received:
February 1, 1999
Citation
Niebur, G. L., and Chase, T. R. (February 1, 1999). "A Grammar Driven Data Translation System for Computer Integrated Manufacturing ." ASME. J. Mech. Des. March 2002; 124(1): 136–142. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1434268
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