Process planning based on feature recognition method

Abstract

Managing and controlling very complex manufacturing systems and vast volumes of accumulate knowledge, holonic manufacturing system is developed. This paper introduces a method, which utilizes feature-based modeling for defining a pre-process plan. The pre-process plan developed can be linked in a holonic system. This paper, the generic steps for making a product are called “pre-process plan”. The pre-process plan defines the required capabilities on a high level. All the resources have some sort of capability that represents the possible candidates for the product manufacturing. The feature recognition method offers geometric and non-geometric (such as shape, type, tolerance and material) information. Using feature information a pre-process plan can be defined. The fact that the pre-process plan does not strictly define the used processing methods allows the product to be manufactured on different machines based on their availability or other criteria. This is important in dynamic, adaptive production environment.