Intelligent monitoring and decision control system for peripheral milling process

The aeronautic and automotive industries demand high quality products. Different aluminium alloys are used to produce them exploiting high speed machining (HSM) systems. HSM needs intelligent features such as monitoring and decision control. A framework that consists of four modules: data acquisition system, cutting tool monitoring, surface roughness prediction and intelligent planning module is presented. The planning module exploits genetic algorithms and Markov decision processes. This module supports and guides the operator in the operation of the CNC. Early results validate the benefits of this system in peripheral milling process, with a decrease between 18 % and 60 % in the operation costs.