The backward growing method for constructing 3D process models in the machining process planning

A 3D process model shows the manufacturing information intuitively in different machining stages. Efficiently and easily constructing 3D process model is one of the most important key technologies in 3D computer aided process planning system and it meets the requirements of the current 3D manufacturing environment. Thus, this paper focuses on creating the 3D process models (3D-PMs) based on the backward growing methodology. Firstly, the 3D-PM is analyzed and decomposed into two parts: the working procedure model and the process attribute information. Then, the WPM construction method is proposed by using the geometrical reasoning knowledge and it is composed by the removal material volume and the after processing model. Then the process attribute information is appended on the working procedure models based on the proposed rules. Finally, the results of taking a machined part as the study case verify the validity of the developed method.