A feature-based inspection and machining system

This paper describes an architecture for a system for machining and inspect ing mechanical piece parts and an implementation of it called the Feature-B ased Inspection and Control System (FBICS). In EPICS, the controller of a m achining center or coordinate measuring machine uses a standard feature-bas ed description of the shape of the object to be made as a principal input f or machining and/or inspection. FBICS is a hierarchical control system and performs automated hierarchical process planning. FBICS serves: (1) to demo nstrate feature-based inspection and control in an open-architecture contro l system; (2) as a testbed for solving problems in feature-based manufactur ing; and (3) to test the usability of STEP methods and models. (C) 2001 Pub lished by Elsevier Science Ltd.