Integrated Process Planning Based on 3D Product Models

Abstract

One of the major barriers to the integration of CAD, CAPP and CAM is insufficiency and incompatibility of product model data among various application systems. This paper presented an effective approach to achieve integrated process planning with CAD and CAM under a product data management environment based on 3D product models. The system architecture and the processes of an integrated process planning system (3D-IPP) were constructed using feature information and specific CAD/CAPP/CAM integration technologies based on feature. A feature-based product information model is designed as the information source for the 3D-IPP. A feature-based integrated process planning method was developed based on group technology, intelligent decision-making algorithms and parametric operation templates in numerically controlled (NC) programming. The procedures of intelligent process route planning and parametric NC operation planning were addressed. The 3D-IPP system and its implementation provide an effective solution to strive for complete information sharing among application systems of CAD, CAPP and CAM.