Use of Part Features for Process Planning

Summary

Proposed paper discusses a feature based process planning system. This system uses part features as medium of communication between geometry description and process planning functions. Component is defined by the user in terms of its geometry and features to be machined. Component database is expressed in terms of feature codes and their parameters. For process planning, the system supports the facilities for machine tool selection, setup planning, tool selection and operation sequencing. Tool selection module makes on-line dialogue with user and informs the status of tool search. For operation sequencing, besides functional requirements, two type of feature interactions are also examined. Examination of these interactions helps in taking the corrective actions during part program generation and hence generating optimum operation sequences. Design of the system is based on the integrated database approach and is of direct relevance to many of the integrated CAD\CAM activities.