Automatic Generation of Machining Sequence for Machined Parts Using Machining Features

As 3D solid modeling prevails, a range of applications have become possible and intensive research on the integration of CAD/CAM has been conducted. As a consequence, methods to recognize the machining features from CAD models have been developed. On the other hand, generating a machining sequence using the machining features is still a problem due to a combinatorial problem with a large number of machining features. This paper proposes a new method that utilizes the precedence constraints through which the number of the combinations is reduced drastically. This method can automatically generate machining sequences requiring the lowest amount of machining time. An airplane part was used to test the usefulness of the proposed method.