Development of an integrated computer-aided process planning system for press working products

This paper describes research work in developing an automated computer-aide d process planning system for a hot forging or blanking product by press wo rking. The computer-aided process planning system written in AutoLISP on Au toCAD using a personal computer and in i-DEAS; Drafting Programming,a Langu age an the I-DEAS Master Series Drafting with workstation ill hot forging a nd blanking requires many kinds of technical and empirical skills. An appro ach to the computer-aided process planning system is based on knowledge-bas ed rules and a process knowledge base consisting of design rules is built. Rased oil the investigation and collection of knowledge of the processes, t he methodology adopted to develop this system is elaborated in this paper. This integrated computer-aided process planning system is composed of two m ain modules: hot forging and blanking modules. It is designed by considerin g several factors, such as the complexities of the blank geometry, the punc h and dir profiles, the availability of press equipment, and standard parts , Results obtained using the modules enable the designer and manufacturer o f forging or blanking dies to be more efficient in this field. (C) 2001 Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.