Algorithms for computer-aided generative process planning

Process planning is the function within a manufacturing facility that establishes the machining processes and parameters to be used so as to convert a piece-part from its initial form to the final form predetermined on an engineering drawing. Computer-aided process planning (CAPP) has become a major focus of manufacturing automation as it forms the interface between computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Issues in CAPP include part representation, process selection, alternative process-plan generation, intermediate surface and tolerance determination, and operation sequencing. This paper focuses on quantitative models for determining cutting dimensions and tolerances for intermediate surfaces, and on a heuristic for sequencing cutting operations.