New approach to process planning using feature-based techniques

In this paper, we proposed a new strategy to process planning for parts with complex manufacturing procedure. Different from previous works, on the one hand, features are defined as high-level features and low-level ones. In the high-level features, only some key parameters such as types of operations, manufacturing resources used like machining tools, cutters and instruments need to be taken into consideration. In contrast, the alterative operation plans in detail are given as the low level features, and the relation between the high-level feature and the low-level ones is specified. On the other hand, the features are extended including machining features and non-machining ones like jointing and forming according to the requirements of manufacturing tasks. By this way, the process plans need to be performed at different levels so that the successful manufacturing experiences can be collected and reused easily. One of advantages of the proposed method is that the manufacturing data embedded in the feature can be transformed and integrated with the traditional, document-based manufacturing process; another advantage is the process plan proposed could be easily changed to other machine tools if some unpredictable issues happened in the shop floor. A prototype has been developed and applied in the Shaanxi Heavy Cart Limited Company, at the northwest of China.