Web-based CBR (case-based reasoning) as a tool with the application to tooling selection

Over the past few years, manufacturing companies have had to deal with an increasing demand for feature-rich products at low costs. The pressures exerted on their existing manufacturing processes have lead manufacturers to investigate internet-based solutions, in order to cope with growing competition. The decentralisation phenomenon also came up as a reason to implement networked-application, which has been the starting point for internet/intranet–based systems. Today, the availability of powerful and low cost 3D tools, database backend systems, along with web-based technologies, provides interesting opportunities to the manufacturing community, with solutions directly implementable at the core of their businesses and organisations. In this paper a web-based engineering approach is presented to developing a design support system using case-based reasoning (CBR) technology for helping in the decision-making process when choosing cutting tools. The system aims to provide on-line intelligent support for determining the most suitable configuration for turning operations, based on initial parameters and requirements for the cutting operation. The system also features a user-driven 3D turning simulator which allows testing the chosen insert for several turning operations. The system aims to be a useful e-manufacturing tool being able to quickly and responsively provide tooling data in a highly interactive way

A method to Formalise the Rapid Prototyping Process

Facing the increasing complexity of the product design area, (reduction of cycle times, introduction of simultaneous engineering, introduction of digital mock-up, ... ) a research department which wants to define a rapid prototyping process is confronted to the problem of the tools’ choice. Therefore, we will propose in this article, a method allowing to conceive such a process. In a first chapter, we present the rapid prototyping area in the product design environment, in a second chapter we will propose our method illustrated by an industrial case

Manufacturing code generation for rotational parts in a feature based product modelling environment

An important element for the integration of CAD/CAM is the representation and handling of data used during the design and manufacturing activities. The use of features and product modelling techniques bring a better handling of this data and provide CAD/CAM with an excellent platform for integration. The thesis explores the use of a predefined set of features in a product modelling environment for the design and machining of rotational components. Theword features in this research implies a set of functional, geometrical and technological information with a unique form. Those features are pre-defined and comprise of a limited number of elements which carry the information related to design and manufacturing activities. The thesis is divided into three main parts. The first part contains a review of topics related to the research e. g. group technology, component features, CAD/CAM and also contains a literature survey of related research works. In the second part the "features" are defined and presented. Also the product modelling environment is explained and the basic rule based procedures which are used to automatize the operation planning activities are presented. In the last part a description of the case-studies used for automatic NC code generation is presented followed by a discussion of the results. Lastly, the conclusions are drawn and ideas for further work presented

LinuxCNC – Napredni sustav CNC upravljanja: primjena i kritički osvrt

Ovaj rad prikazuje osvrt na implementaciju upravljačkog sustava otvorene arhitekture, tzv. Enhanced Machine Controller-a (EMC2), koji je primijenjen na glodalici kao ispitnom postavu. Razvoj ispitnog postava motiviran je edukacijskim i istraživačkim potrebama, osobito u području razvoja i analize algoritama za nadzor i upravljanje procesima obrade odvajanjem. EMC2 sustav je razmatran s obzirom na kompatibilne hardverske komponente i mogućnosti prilagodbe specifičnostima obradnog stroja, kao i mogućnostima za industrijsku primjenu. U radu su također prikazane tehničke karakteristike ispitnog postava i upravljačkog sustava

STEP COMPLIANT APPROACH FOR TURN-MILL OPERATIONS

Current machine tools have incurred challenges on limitation such as part programming complexity of G and M code, weak integration of digital machine tools and coverage of universal data modeling for product and manufacturing resources. In response to this manufacturing system requirement, Standard for Exchange of Product data (STEP) and its implementation on developing an interface for the next generation of machine tool controllers (STEP-NC) has become a concern of research interest and performed on basic manufacturing technology limited to a unit domain such as turning, milling or Wire EDM. Therefore; extending this STEP implementation on multipurpose machine tools such as turn-mill machines is mandatory since the machines are the main component in these industries. The research work offers a STEP-NC compliant interface supporting turn-mill machining environment identified as SCSTMO

Feature based workshop oriented NC planning for asymmetric rotational parts

This thesis describes research which is aimed at devising a framework for a feature based workshop oriented NC planning. The principal objective of this thesis is to utilize a feature based method which can rationalize and enhance part description and in particular part planning and programming on the shop-floor. This work has been done taking into account new developments in the area of shop floor programming. The importance of the techniques and conventions which are addressed in this thesis stems from the recognition that the most effective way to improve and enhance part description is to capture the intent of the engineering drawing by devising a medium in which the recurring patterns of turned components can be modelled for machining. Experimental application software which allows the user to describe the workpiece and subsequently generate the manufacturing code has been realized