The Turning Assistant: Automated planning for numerical control lathe operations

The complete electronic product definition for a manufactured part consists of all the information related to designing, producing, and inspecting that part. Efficient utilization of these articles of data would allow rapid production of the item using computerized machine tools and processes. National efforts such as CALS and PDES/STEP are underway to define standards for complete product models. However, today's Numerical Control (NC) machine tool programming alternatives are labor intensive and do not utilize the product model concept. Furthermore, the intelligence and applied expertise to make parts resides in a broad base of skilled craftsmen (and women), process engineers, and manufacturing experts. There is a need for tools which simplify the transitional tasks which prepare a design for manufacture.; The Turning Assistant is a feature based intelligent process planner for parts requiring NC lathe work. Operating conditions, part descriptions, and feature specifics are compiled using a CAD/CAM applications interface language. A knowledge processor prescribes specific strategies for machining each feature based on the inputs and rules accumulated through literature review and meetings with experts. The result is a composite (multiple tools and operations) path which is automatically sequenced, post-processed, and verified for safety and accuracy. User feedback mechanisms, an interface to QUATTRO for compiling job and labor statistics, and an operations setup chart generator serve to extend the system beyond simply developing part programs.; Computerized manufacturing planners will only be accepted if an end user has the ability to interact with, and modify the knowledge base responsible for prescribing operational steps. The people currently performing these tasks must be involved in the implementation and enhancement of any application aimed at automation. The Turning Assistant has proven successful at classifying and documenting the conditions and constraints necessary to determine turning strategies. It is also closely integrated with the CAD/CAM database and supplies very useful methods for collecting and sharing data between multiple stages of the production planning function.