Pravin Khurana

Integration of CAD, CAPP and Process Modeling Using XML Technologies

Integration of CAD (Computer Aided Design), CAPP (Computer Aided Process Planning) and Process Modeling activities plays a vital role in enabling concurrent product and process design. Typically each of these functions is performed in its own dedicated software environment. The integration will require interfacing several disconnected processes and software components built in different languages, and platforms. This paper presents an integration methodology, validated using a case study, in which a steering housing was analyzed and its process planning and design tasks were integrated using several software tools. The first integration task was to generate a feature based CAD model (in Unigraphics) and map these design features to a set of manufacturing features. Feature based design was performed using the Horizontal Modeling™ approach developed at Delphi. Features developed using this approach were then mapped to manufacturing features using APPS, a software tool developed at Delphi Dynamics and Propulsion Innovation Center. This task involved interrogation of the geometric CAD model to generate geometric and tolerance information and represent them in a format suitable for feature-based process planning. The second task of integration is generation of feasible “production-intent” process plans. This task is performed using APPS and IMPlanner process planner, a knowledge based software tool developed at Ohio University. The third and final task of integration is automated generation of in-process CAD models. This task involved the integration of Delphi process design techniques to generate CAD models (in Unigraphics) to represent the component at each stage of the manufacturing process. Evaluation of these steps through the case study has identified the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed integration methodology, which is reported in this paper.© 2006 ASME

Rule-Based Process Selection of Hole Making Operations for Integrated Process Planning

Process selection as a part of CAPP has captured significant attention in CAPP research. Procedures have been developed for backward and forward algorithms in process selection. Most of these procedures lack the complete integration of process selection into CAPP system. In this paper, we present the results of the development and prototype implementation for process selection module for hole making operations for integration with Math Based Manufacturing System already in use in industrial partner. We have developed architecture and implemented module for rule-based machining process selection of hole making operations. The architecture enables the interface from the Process Selection prototype to Math Based Manufacturing System (APPS). The prototype also includes the user interface for interaction with the process selection procedure. Actions for starting prototype from APPS, performing process selection steps and sending the result back to APPS have been developed and implemented.© 2005 ASME