ComputerAided_Design_Engineering_amp_Manufactur.pdf
ComputerAided_Design_Engineering_amp_Manufactur.pdf
ComputerAided_Design_Engineering_amp_Manufactur.pdf
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2.<br />
machining facility (e.g., gang milling), (b) by using multiple spindle machine tools, or (c) by using<br />
more than one machine during the same operation time (e.g., automatic transfer line). The knowledge<br />
base consists of a set of constraining rules that identifies all those features that can be machined<br />
in one operation. The constraining rules depend on the feature accessibility criteria, machinability<br />
conditions, and fixturing considerations for machining different features. For simultaneous machining<br />
operations, rules are defined mainly to guarantee an interference-free operation. The main<br />
criterion to allow multiple features to be machined simultaneously is that all of the involved machining<br />
operations must be mutually exclusive, i.e., the condition of generation of one feature should<br />
not depend on the existence of another feature of the same group. Furthermore, knowledge regarding<br />
the constraints imposed by fixturing devices and cl<strong>amp</strong>ing positions for simultaneous machining<br />
operations is also provided in this knowledge base. The second component of the knowledge base<br />
deals with sequencing of machining operations. Most manufacturing features require more than one<br />
manufacturing operation for obtaining the desired functional properties of the finished workpiece.<br />
Some precedence relations always exist among the machining operations, which are also stored in<br />
the knowledge base. These precedence relationships are established on the basis of the following<br />
criteria: (a) precedence requirements due to a unidirectional chain of process operations, (b) precedence<br />
relationships between machined surfaces due to surface quality and datum considerations,<br />
and (c) precedence relationships among part features depending on accessibility and cl<strong>amp</strong>ing<br />
considerations.<br />
Generation of workpiece orientations for machining: Stable workpiece orientations are determined<br />
on the basis of the workpiece configuration and the set of machining operations that are<br />
to be performed on it. The orientation must comply with the standard fixturing rules and should<br />
allow interference-free, concurrent operations. This knowledge base consists of two components;<br />
one part corresponds to the determination of orientation and location of the workpiece with<br />
respect to the machine spindle, and the other determines the required resting and cl<strong>amp</strong>ing points<br />
on the workpiece. This knowledge base should also be capable of dealing with the issues of fixture<br />
selection from a standard fixture library.<br />
All of the above data bases and knowledge bases have been incorporated in the BBPP system.<br />
Knowledge Representation and Reasoning<br />
Frames and rule-based knowledge representation schemes are considered to be the most appropriate<br />
means of storing the different data types pertaining to the knowledge and data bases (described earlier).<br />
Factual knowledge is best represented by frames while problem solving knowledge is best described<br />
through declarative statements in the form of production rules. A forward chaining inference strategy<br />
using the blackboard architecture concept for problem solving has been adopted for developing the<br />
process plan. The process plans are evolved through the interactions of different domain experts (in the process<br />
planning domain) who use the blackboard data base for developing different segments of the process plan.<br />
The blackboard approach to problem solving reflects the cooperative problem solving approach normally<br />
followed by process planners (shop floor personnel). The process plan starts with the raw stock and<br />
involves different machining processes to transform the raw stock into the finished part. The process<br />
planning system requires an explicit representation of the geometrical and technological information of<br />
the part in order to make different process planning decisions. Thus, a product data model (PDM) of<br />
the part is required at each stage during the formulation of the process plan. It uses a feature-based<br />
representation scheme for representing the part geometry. 17 Along with the geometrical and topological<br />
information of the part, it also provides the surface finish and variational information (tolerance information)<br />
for the process planning procedure. The PDM of the part has been specifically designed for this<br />
purpose and is composed of two segments. The first segment consists of specifications of the raw stock<br />
used for manufacturing the part while the second segment consists of the specifications of the finished<br />
workpiece model of the part. The finished workpiece model consists of a collection of specifications,<br />
which is used for characterizing the different form features of the part (Table 1.2).<br />
© 2001 by CRC Press LLC