Towards Knowledge-Based Computer Aided Process Planning for 5-Axis CNC Machining

This paper presents a beginning study on knowledge-based computer aided process planning for 5-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machining. There is a deficient on research effort that integrates the knowledge-based computer aided process planning for 5-axis CNC machining although there is another research that has integrated surface recognition into it. Therefore, this research utilizes the surface recognition by assigning each surface with its own knowledge-based computer aided process planning. The aims of this study are to develop an initial programming for knowledge-based computer aided process planning and to test the developed programming with a product. The method involves five steps of process planning, i.e. design input, material selection, process selection, tool selection and cost estimation. Through machining parameters consideration in the process planning steps, the knowledge based proposed for each step will be associated to each other in order to become a knowledge-based computer aided process planning. This approach has considered several parameters that involve in machining process such as cutting speed, tool diameter, spindle speed, feed rate, material removal rate, volume removal, cutting time, cost unit and cost per cutting. These parameters are determined in the steps for a subsequent manufacturing process.