Integration of Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Process Planning.

Abstract

In recent years, CAD/CAM systems have gained wide acceptance in industry. As experience in the use of these systems builds up, it is becoming increasingly evident that for most effective operation, they must be integrated. Process Planning, being responsible for the conversion of design speciflcation to manufacturing instructions, is essential to this integration process. Research is being conducted to enable geometric data trom a CAD database to be accessed by process planning programs for use in generating appropriate process plans for a given part. The resulting process planning data is then translated into an NC program which can be used to machine the part.