Process planning for machined parts typically requires that a part be
described through machining features such as holes, slots and pockets.
This paper presents a novel feature finder, which automatically gener
ates a part interpretation in terms of machining features, by utilizin
g information from a variety of sources such as nominal geometry, tole
rances and attributes, and design features. The feature finder strives
to produce a desirable interpretation of the part as quickly as possi
ble. If this interpretation is judged unacceptable by a process planne
r, alternatives can be generated on demand. The feature finder uses a
hint-based approach, and combines artificial intelligence techniques,
such as blackboard architecture and uncertain reasoning, with the geom
etric completion procedures first introduced in the OOFF system previo
usly developed at USC. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.