Development of a knowledge-based expert system for solving metal cutting problems

In metal cutting, the problems need to be well analyzed in order to take precautions before any unexpected results are encountered. This process plays a significant role in achieving consistent quality and in controlling the overall cost of manufacturing. However, it is a difficult task that needs an expert who has a great deal of information and experience in metal cutting. In the present paper, a knowledge-based expert system (COROSolve) that investigates problems that are encountered in three main metal cutting areas: turning, milling and drilling is developed. A great deal of metal cutting operations such as external/internal turning with negative/positive inserts, aluminum turning, parting bars/tubes, grooving, profiling, recessing and threading operations in turning; face milling, square shoulder milling, end milling, multi-purpose milling and side and face milling operations in milling; and drilling operations that use solid drills or drills with indexable inserts in drilling are taken into consideration. COROSolve gives recommendations for the cutting data (i.e., cutting speed, depth of cut, and feed) and updates the problem, cause and remedy database, thus the number of problems that the system can handle is increased.