An intelligent computer-aided assembly process planning system

This paper presents an intelligent computer-aided assembly process planning system (ICAAPP) developed for generating an optimal assembly sequence for mechanical parts. The system employs a graph set technique for creating an assembly model. The set includes an attributed topological graph, nit attac hment constraint graph, a tolerance graph and a special process constraint graph. In the generation of assembly sequences for any product, the critica l problems To be addressed include determining the base part, selection of subassemblies, defining all necessary constraints, and quantifying and solv ing these constraints. In the ICAAPP system, algorithms have been developed for the selection of the base part, defining of the subassemblies, and det ermination of the constraint values. A simple mechanical assembly is used t o illustrate the feasibility of the proposed algorithms.