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1989
Conference Paper
Titel
New tools in CAPP
Abstract
The use of computer aids in work planning lags far behind computerized production and it is only in recent times that widespread interest in this area has been shown. Different software concepts have to be devised, dependent in particular on the degree of automation and the complexity of the parts being used. The EXPLAN project (Expert System Utilization for Computer-Assisting Production Plan Generation and Support of NC Programming) is one of the four sub-projects in the "Factory of the Future". The object of the project is to relieve production planners of routine work through the use of state-of-the-art software technology, to improve the uniformity of work plans and the speed at supports the planner in the following tasks: - generation of new work plans - generation of alternative work plans - updating of work plans. In the EXPLAN System, initially the geometry-oriented data stored in the CAD system were converted into so-called processing elements in accordance with production tec hnology criteria and made available to the work planning system. These processing elements (PE) can be assigned directly with the aid of the appropriate knowledge bases and with account taken of the parameters involved to production procedures, tools, etc. Because initial clamping is the central problem in milling/drilling work and one whose solution determines the planning of most other processes, this area was the first to be tackled. The result of the rough planning is a list with clamping configurations to which all feasible processing operations, including redundant ones, are assigned in each case. At the start of the detail planning stage the optimal sequence of elementary operations in the given spindle position is coordinated with the processing element using the knowledge base. Finally, the elementary operations for machines and clamping configurations are structured to form work operations and output with the defined tool types and parameters, estimated machining cycle times