Computer Aided Process Planning Data Management Based On Product Data Management

Computer Aided Process Planning(CAPP) is a technology of preparing the machining process plan of parts utilizing computer. Its task is choosing reasonable machining methods and order for the part being manufactured. CAPP is the link between Computer Aided Design(CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing(CAM) in CIMS. It's not only the information resource of plan scheduling and production management, but also the information hinge of enterprise branches. The data control and management of CAPP is an essential part of CAPP. This thesis puts forward a CAPP data management module based on our own enterprise's circumstances using C++ language codes and the Pro/E software. This module expands the functions of Pro/E. The various designing and machining experiences of engineers and manufacturing methods in Pro/E are combined together to realize the simulate process of parts machining. Therefore, the potential problems in design and machining can be found and solved promptly. This method increases the quality, responsibility and efficiency of CAPP greatly, and is verified through our enterprise' s actual use. This technology of relying on Pro/E to do the second exploiting is one of the hottest topics in domestic and overseas manufacturing industry.The main research works of this thesis are as follows:1. Integrate effectively the CAD/CAM products and process planning data of our enterprise taking the Visual C++ as an integration platform.2. A software package of process planning data management is set up. It is designed on Visual C++6.0 as its realizing platform. It can control and visit safely the CAD/CAM data in Pro/E and other data in our enterprise's databases to establish automatically various process planning information databases and work out process planning data files. It can be used in the integration with Pro/E. Its high efficiency and flexibility are verified through our own enterprise's actual use. 3. A consumer interface between user and computer is set up. Various enterprise process planning information databases(such as machine tools database, fixtures database, cutters database, machining parameters database etc.) can be set up or modified conveniently through it. The problem of disposing different graphs, the combination with the databases and software practicability is solved better.4. A CAPP data management example is finished. Realize the integration of CAD/CAPP/CAM through putting the numerical machining data of a cover part into the CAPP data management module.