This paper presents a prototype solid modeling-based automated process
planning system. In this system a three dimensional (3D) finished par
t is built by using a solid modeling package. The solid primitives (cy
linder, cone, block, wedge, sphere, and torus) are used to define the
removal volume. The process plan is then generated based on the recogn
ized solid primitives and production rules. This research was implemen
ted on a PC platform. The CAD interfaces for this system were develope
d by using the AutoCAD Advanced Modelling Extension (AME) software. Th
e solid primitives recognition program was written in the C language a
nd embedded in an expert system program developed by using the CLIPS s
oftware.