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Symbolic calculus for volumetric reasoning about process plans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2009

Huaming Lee
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
Jon Scott
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
Jon Sims Williams
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
David Cox
Affiliation:
Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom

Abstract

A symbolic calculus for reasoning about process plans is proposed in this paper. The main focus of attention is the selection and sequencing of material removal operations for components in accordance with the design geometry. This is a central issue in automated process planning. The proposed symbolic calculus defines a computational formalism for symbolic manipulation of feature volumes, so that reasoning about volumetric removals can be treated in a logical manner by using well-defined procedures of algorithmic synthesis. This potentially encourages a more generic approach to the automation of outline and detailed process planning. The underlying philosophy is that a properly interpreted object topology upon the feature model allows the logical synthesis of volumetric removal sequences. The number of sequences is constrained by algorithms within the planning system that consider part geometry as expressed by features. This reduces the problem space associated with plan synthesis. Some of the geometrically viable sequences have the potential for further development to form viable machining removal sequences, or outline process plans.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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