Technological processes design on the basis of part elements features

Process planning of a given mechanical component depends on the part itself (topology, geometry, technology), the context (availability, capacity of production means) and the planner (knowledge, experience). It is shown that complete genericity of an automatic process planning system can be achieved by providing the facility to algorithmically extract low level, manufacturing knowledge free and parts-only dependent features (the tool features). The scope of feature extraction in advanced CAD/CAM systems is given at first. Then an original feature hierarchy is proposed compatible with current practices in process planning. This process automation is shown to be derived from tool features extraction and the subsequent ordering their atomic features into setup-features and machine features, with respect to the technological relationships among features, inherited from the functional dimensioning of the component. In the following, an accent is put on the tool-feature extraction methodology, presenting the current status of the prototype system PLANET and the future work is introduced.

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