Case-Based Process Planning
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Abstract
This research focuses on developing
a case-based process planner which combines the advantages of the variant
and generative approaches to process planning.
The case-based process planner operates on general 3D prismatic parts,
represented by a collection of features (eg: slots, pockets, holes, etc.).
Each feature subplan is developed and then merged into the
global process plan in the appropriate sequence. Abstracted feature subplans
correspond to cases, which are used in subsequent planning operations to
solve new planning problems. The abstracting and storing of feature subplans
as cases is the primary mechanism by which the planner learns from its
previous experiences to become
more effective and efficient.
The computer-aided process planner is designed to be extensible and flexible
through the effective use of object-oriented principles.