scholarly journals Prompt Estimation of Die and Mold Machining Time by AI Without NC Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-358
Author(s):  
Hiroki Takizawa ◽  
Hideki Aoyama ◽  
Song Cheol Won ◽  
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Machining time estimation is essential for the due-date estimation of products as well as for production planning. Conventionally, machining time has been estimated by a computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system, which requires time and effort to create its numerical control (NC) program and requires machining expertise to operate it. In addition, among the problems with conventional methods, an error in the estimated machining time arises owing to the machine tool’s control characteristics. In this study, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system capable of estimating machining time promptly and simply based on shape data without requiring any NC program is developed. The input data to the AI system are color information regarding the machined depths, which are used to estimate the rough-machining time, and color information regarding the machined surface curvature distributions to estimate the finish-machining time. Color information on the machined depths and machined surface curvature distributions is created using three-dimensional computer aided design (3D CAD) data. To build the AI system, the shape data and machining time data accumulated at the machining site are used, so that the machining time estimated reflects the machining method, machining expertise, and the machine tool characteristics employed.

Author(s):  
Hiroki Takizawa ◽  
Hideki Aoyama ◽  
Song Cheol Won

Abstract Rapid estimation of machining time is necessary for flexible production scheduling and early responses regarding delivery date. It is also important for selecting the most suitable of a factory’s many machine tools. Usually, machining time is estimated based on an NC program. However, this takes time to generate and its estimation accuracy is not ideal because it cannot consider the control characteristics of the machine tool. This study proposes a new method for rapidly estimating die and mold machining time without generating an NC program: inputting curvature and machining depth distributions into AI as color information.


Author(s):  
Jian-wei Ma ◽  
De-ning Song ◽  
Zhen-yuan Jia ◽  
Guo-qing Hu ◽  
Wei-wei Su

Parts with complex curved surfaces are widely applied and the demands for the machining quality and the machining efficiency of such complex parts become increasingly higher. In order to realize high-speed and high-quality machining, the nonuniform rational B-spline interpolator is widely researched and demonstrated to be superior to the conventional linear or circular interpolators. However, the nonuniform rational B-spline toolpath NC files cannot be directly generated from the computer-aided design (CAD) models by using commercial computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. To deal with this problem, a conversion method from the cutter-location points to the nonuniform rational B-spline toolpath numerical control (NC) file is presented. To avoid the bad curve-fitting effect at sharp corners of the toolpath and to meanwhile reduce the computational burden, the cutter-location pre-processing method, consisting data segmentation and data simplification, is provided first. Then, the least-square method is employed to fit the cutter locations to the nonuniform rational B-spline curves, and an iterative fitting approach is proposed for linear/nonuniform rational B-spline hybrid toolpath generation. Finally, a user interface is designed for displaying the fitting results and outputting the NC file with nonuniform rational B-spline toolpaths. By using this method, nonuniform rational B-spline and linear toolpaths hybrid interpolation NC program can be generated for the high-speed machining of complex curved surface parts with the utilization of the nonuniform rational B-spline interpolator. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and the advantages of the presented method.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 3819
Author(s):  
Ting-Hsun Lan ◽  
Yu-Feng Chen ◽  
Yen-Yun Wang ◽  
Mitch M. C. Chou

The computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) fabrication technique has become one of the hottest topics in the dental field. This technology can be applied to fixed partial dentures, removable dentures, and implant prostheses. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of NaCaPO4-blended zirconia as a new CAD/CAM material. Eleven different proportional samples of zirconia and NaCaPO4 (xZyN) were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Vickers microhardness, and the milling property of these new samples was tested via a digital optical microscope. After calcination at 950 °C for 4 h, XRD results showed that the intensity of tetragonal ZrO2 gradually decreased with an increase in the content of NaCaPO4. Furthermore, with the increase in NaCaPO4 content, the sintering became more obvious, which improved the densification of the sintered body and reduced its porosity. Specimens went through milling by a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, and the marginal integrity revealed that being sintered at 1350 °C was better than being sintered at 950 °C. Moreover, 7Z3N showed better marginal fit than that of 6Z4N among thirty-six samples when sintered at 1350 °C (p < 0.05). The milling test results revealed that 7Z3N could be a new CAD/CAM material for dental restoration use in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 168781402110027
Author(s):  
Byung Chul Kim ◽  
Ilhwan Song ◽  
Duhwan Mun

Manufacturers of machine parts operate computerized numerical control (CNC) machine tools to produce parts precisely and accurately. They build computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) models using CAM software to generate code to control these machines from computer-aided design (CAD) models. However, creating a CAM model from CAD models is time-consuming, and is prone to errors because machining operations and their sequences are defined manually. To generate CAM models automatically, feature recognition methods have been studied for a long time. However, since the recognition range is limited, it is challenging to apply the feature recognition methods to parts having a complicated shape such as jet engine parts. Alternatively, this study proposes a practical method for the fast generation of a CAM model from CAD models using shape search. In the proposed method, when an operator selects one machining operation as a source machining operation, shapes having the same machining features are searched in the part, and the source machining operation is copied to the locations of the searched shapes. This is a semi-automatic method, but it can generate CAM models quickly and accurately when there are many identical shapes to be machined. In this study, we demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed method through experiments on an engine block and a jet engine compressor case.


Author(s):  
L Q Tang ◽  
D N Moreton

The timing scroll is an important feeding mechanism on packaging lines. As packaging line speeds have increased and the shape of containers has become more diverse, the techniques used for the design and manufacture of such timing scrolls have become critical for successful packaging line performance. Since 1980, various techniques have evolved to improve scroll design, manufacture and the associated line performance. In recent years, as CAD (computer aided design), CAM (computer aided manufacture) and CNC (computer numerical control) techniques have evolved, scroll design and manufacturing techniques began to be linked with computer techniques. In this paper, a scroll design and manufacturing package is presented which can be run on a minicomputer, such as a μ-VAX on an IBM PC clone. This scroll package can produce a timing scroll for any type of container with a correct pocket shape and good dynamic characteristic. Tests using carefully chosen containers have been made using this package and the results indicate that the scrolls obtained by this package have the correct pocket shape and good line performance. However, the design of a good pick-up geometry for some container shapes remains a problem.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 168781401771038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isad Saric ◽  
Adil Muminovic ◽  
Mirsad Colic ◽  
Senad Rahimic

This article presents architecture of integrated intelligent computer-aided design system for designing mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms (IICADkmps). The system has been developed in C# program environment with the aim of automatising the design process. This article presents a modern, automated approach to design. Developed kmps modules for calculation of geometrical and design characteristics of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms are described. Three-dimensional geometrical parameter modelling of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms was performed in the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing/computer-aided engineering system CATIA V5. The connection between kmps calculation modules and CATIA V5 modelling system was established through initial three-dimensional models – templates. The outputs from the developed IICADkmps system generated final three-dimensional virtual models of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms. Testing of the developed IICADkmps system was performed on friction, belt, cogged (spur and bevel gears) and chain transmitting mechanisms. Also, connection of the developed IICADkmps system with a device for rapid prototyping and computer numerical control machines was made for the purpose of additional testing and verification of practical use. Physical prototypes of designed characteristic elements of mechanical power-transmitting mechanisms were manufactured. The selected test three-dimensional virtual prototypes, obtained as an output from the developed IICADkmps system, were manufactured on the device for rapid prototyping (three-dimensional colour printer Spectrum Z510) and computer numerical control machines. Finally, at the end of the article, conclusions and suggested possible directions of further research, based on theoretical and practical research results, are presented.


Author(s):  
Fernando Rangel ◽  
Jami J. Shah

This paper discusses the issues of integrating the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) programs in commercial software. Integration was achieved through implementation of a computer-aided process planning (CAPP) system within the commercial software. The part model was imported into, or designed in, the commercial CAD system. Manufacturing information was then extracted from the part model by the CAPP system using commercial Application Programming Interfacing (API) methods. The CAPP system then uses the extracted information to produce a process plan consistent with the requirements of the commercial CAM module to produce Numerical Control (NC) code. The internal integration was accomplished using commercial API methods that dynamically bind the CAD, CAPP, and CAM into a single continuous application. These APIs are implemented using the Orbix middleware following the CORBA standard. A case study demonstrating the integration is presented. Strengths and weaknesses of integrating the CAD and CAM domains using APIs and middleware are discussed.


Author(s):  
Antor Mahamudul Hashan ◽  
Abdullah Haidari ◽  
Srishti Saha ◽  
Titas Paul

Due to the rapid development of technology, the use of numerically controlled machines in the industry is increasing. The main idea behind this paper is computer-aided design (CAD) based low-cost computer numerical control 2D drawing robot that can accurately draw complex circuits, diagrams, logos, etc. The system is created using open-source hardware and software, which makes it available at a low cost. The open-source LibreCAD application has been used for computer-aided design. Geometric data of a CAD model is converted to coordinate points using the python-based F-Engrave application. This system uses the Arduino UNO board as a signal generator of the universal g-code sender without compromising the performance. The proposed drawing robot is designed as a low-cost robot for educational purposes and aims to increase the student's interest in robotics and computer-aided design (CAD) skills to the next level. The drawing robot structure has been developed, and it meets the requirements of low cost with satisfactory experimental results.


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