New feature extraction and processing methods for the advanced knowledge based process planning of forming operations

A new method for the automated extraction, recognition and interpretation of forming features is presented. The motivation is to apply knowledge based engineering (KBE) methods more intensively on process planning procedures for forging, tube hydroforming and sheet metal forming. With a new thinning method three-dimensional (3D) CAD data is reduced to a 1D skeleton graph. By curvature based segmentation of the surface and the neighborhood relations further information are provided. Depending on the gained classification, analyzing algorithms can be performed again with an adapted level of detail. Herewith the process planning can be supported on a much higher level than before.