Patent ID: 7487005
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: G05B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process planning method for determining a process for performing predetermined machining of a workpiece using a plurality of types of end mills, the method comprising the steps of: using a computing device to provide plural kinds of fixed cycles, defined as machining cycles, in which a tool path pattern can be fully determined by the computing device in an automated fashion according to shapes before and after the machining, and also to provide and fully determine plural kinds of machining features, defined as shapes, that can be obtained by one of, or plural combinations of the fixed cycles; extracting a region to be machined based on a difference calculated by the computing device between shapes of externally provided shape data of the workpiece before and after the machining; replacing, in an automated fashion, the extracted region with a plurality of combinations of the provided and fully determined plural kinds of machining features; selecting a combination of machining features from among the plurality of combinations of machining features from said replacing; arranging the selected machining features in order; allocating at least one fixed cycle to each of the selected machining features; and employing a computing device to apply an assessment function relating to a machining time and a life of the end mills to each combination of the machining features to which a fixed cycle is allocated in order to generate an assessment value; and selecting, in an automated fashion, a group of fixed cycles which improves efficiency of the machining process with respect to at least one machining parameter, based on said assessment value.