Automatic Setup Planning and Its Application for Computer Aided Process Planning

This research based on the graph theory to implement the automatic setup planning system. The concept of hybrid-graph used to express the geometric relationship with different features. To simplify the hybrid-graph, a series of systematic logic algorithms were proposed. Tolerance relations played a key role in resolving setup sequences, and tolerance factor introduced to normalize the geometric tolerance and dimensional tolerance. Finally, the result of machining sequence from row material to finished product can be generated by traverse the graph.

After finishing setup planning, CAPP system will be integrated from the viewpoint of the inner and outer module. By communicating with machine module, tool module and fixture module internally, setup module follows the principle of machining precision to get both the machine and the tool can be minimal cost and maximum suitability. Accompanying the result of fixture planning, a generating CAPP system has been finished. CAPP system also complemented PDM by making connection with it.

This paper proposed three examples to verify the CAPP system, finished process planning and exported process sheets.