Expert system for removing visible faults on thermoformed parts

The paper presents the main characteristics of an expert system, called HEFEST, created to help the operator of a thermoforming machine to remove visible faults during thermoforming. The expert system attempts to reach conclusions comparable to those that would be reached by the human specialist faced with such problems. A special learning capability upgrades its performance in the course of actual use. HEFEST also has the added facility of handling multiple faults.