CLAVIER's central purpose is to find the most The use of composite materials, especially in aerospace applications, is on the increase because of their unique weight and strength qualities. Depending on the orientation of the graphite fibers, a part can be extremely flexible in one direction but rigid in another. In addition, a part made from composite material is both lighter and stronger than aluminum. The increased use of graphite parts, as well as the high cost of a spoiled part (as much as $50,000 for a single part), has put greater reliability and efficiency demands on a relatively new and complex manufacturing process. Composite part fabrication requires two major steps: layup and curing.

Recently we attended the Unearthed Data Science event in Melbourne. A gold mining company -- Newcrest Mining -- provided operating data for a number of its plants, with the aim that some of the teams attending could provide useful solutions grounded in Data Science. One particular system caught our eye -- the autoclaves. This ore is rich is sulphide minerals (sulfide if you're American) such as iron pyrite (FeS2) (aka "Fool's Gold"). Sulphides inhibit the processing techniques used to extract gold from ores, so it's ideal if you can get rid of them.

CLAVIER is a case-based reasoning (CBR) system that assists in determining efficient loads of composite material parts to be cured in an autoclave. CLAVIER's central purpose is to find the most appropriate groupings and configurations of parts (or loads) to maximize autoclave throughput yet ensure that parts are properly cured. CLAVIER uses CBR to match a list of parts that need to be cured against a library of previously successful loads and suggest the most appropriate next load. As one of the first fielded CBR systems, CLAVIER demonstrates that CBR is a practical technology that can be used successfully in domains where more traditional approaches are difficult to apply.

's central purpose is to find the most The use of composite materials, Composite part fabrication requires two especially in aerospace applications, is on the major steps: layup and curing. Layup is the increase because of their unique weight and painstaking process in which multiple layers strength qualities. Depending on the orientation of graphite and fiberglass composite material of the graphite fibers, a part can be are fitted by hand on the exterior of a contoured extremely flexible in one direction but rigid mold. In addition, a part made from takes from two to seven days, depending on composite material is both lighter and the size of the mold and the skill of the technician. The increased use of In the second step, curing, the molded graphite parts, as well as the high cost of a composite material is hardened by pressurized spoiled part (as much as $50,000 for a single heating in a large convection autoclave.