Help with an engineering optimization problem?

[lilmul123]

Homework Statement

The link to the problem is here: http://i.imgur.com/wyOsoSB.png

The Attempt at a Solution

I'm not completely sure about my work so far so please bear with me. My professor is very poor at professing the subject so I'm trying to learn from the book. Please let me know if I'm incorrect at any point.

I have determined that since R1, R2, R3, and R4 are given, they are not part of the design to be minimized. What matters is the length and height of the plate (a and b) and the location of the origin of each circle (so x1,y1 and x2,y2, etc.).

This is where I start to get confused. So the objective function to be minimized would be ab - [ pi(R12 + R22 + R32 + R42 ], correct? Because ideally, we want to have as least amount of scrap as possible? What would be my constraints be?

 

[BruceW]

yep. good so far. for the constraints.. just think about what you want the stamp to look like. what constraint does this place on the relative positions of the circles to each other, and to the edge of the rectangular plate?