ExtractionofmachiningfeaturesforCAD.doc

Extraction of machining features for CAD/CAM integration J.Gao·D.T.Zheng·N.Gindy Abstract Feature-based CAD/CAM integration is a technology used to realize automatic transmission and conversion of component information among CAD, CAPP and CAM applications. A feature is the medium of information transmission in the integration. Since a process planning downstream application has a different viewpoint from the component designer, feature conversion or feature extraction methodology is used to create a machining feature model based on the design feature model. One of the major difficulties in generating machining features is the preservation of feature integrity because of feature interactivity. The most current research, therefore, focuses on the planar-type form feature conversion. This paper discusses the problem of feature interactivity and proposes a feature-based approach to generating hole-series machining features from a design feature model. Hole-series features are important machining features for gearbox components used in machine tools. These kinds of features cannot be obtained directly from a design feature atabase. A constraint-based method is developed in this paper to define a hole-series feature model based on the geometric and topological information extracted from the design database. In addition, a STEP file is generated to interface the converted machining feature model with the downstream CAPP application. The implemented feature conversion system is verified by considering its application to some component examples and the developed prototype CAPP system. Keywords CAD/CAM integration · Constraint · Feature conversion · Feature interaction · Fundamental feature · STEP interface 1 Introduction Feature-based design and manufacturing systems have been widely used in mechanical component CAD/CAM systems. Feature-based CAD/CAM integration is a technology used to realise automatic transmission and conversion of component information for CAD