Application and evaluation of VR-based CAPP system

This paper proposes an approach to an integrated CAPP/VR system. A desktop VR environment is used to explore the machining process element of CAPP. An architecture of a virtual CAPP system is proposed based on an incorporated VR design interface, which can respond to the dynamic manufacturing proces s. The key problems under discussion are to find an effective method to qui ckly capture the 3D information from the manufacturing environment, and to define a uniform and well-organised structure of the program layout for ach ieving improved sharing of VR resources. Examples of the simulation for cut ting process are supplied to demonstrate and verify the proposed CAPP/VR in tegration system. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.