Ontology-based information modeling method for digital twin creation of as-fabricated machining parts

The Digital Twin concept, as the cutting edge of digital manufacturing solution for modern industries, plays a significant role in the Industry 4.0 era. One key enabling technology for developing a DT is the information modeling of physical products, so as to combine the physical world with the cyberspace more extensively and closely. Therefore, the modeling approach to managing as-fabricated data of physical products, which faithfully reflects the product's physical status, emerges to be pivotal. This paper addresses the problem of modeling as-fabricated parts in the machining process, which is difficult to accomplish by relevant methods, and hinders the long-term data archiving and reuse of process data. Furthermore, to fill the gap, an ontology-based information modeling method of as-fabricated parts is proposed as the recommendation to create DTs for as-fabricated parts. It provides a simple and standardized process for companies to create DTs of as-fabricated parts by specifying the information classification, the contents to be modeled and the modeling method. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, a case study is undertaken in an aviation manufacturing plant at last. The result shows that the proposed information modeling methodology is readily to DT creation of as-fabricated parts.