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STEP-NC based high-level machining simulations integrated with CAD/CAPP/CAM

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Abstract

With the development of manufacturing, numerical control (NC) machining simulation has become a modern tool to obtain safe and reliable machining operations. Although some research and commercial software about NC machining simulations is available, most of them is oriented for G&M code. It is a low-level data model for computer numerical control (CNC), which has inherent drawbacks such as incomplete data and lack of accuracy. These limitations hinder the development of a real simulation system. Whereas, standard for the exchange of product data-compliant numerical control (STEP-NC) is a new and high-level data model for CNC. It provides rich information for CNC machine tools, which creates the condition for an informative and real simulation. Therefore, this paper proposes STEP-NC based high-level NC machining simulations solution integrated with computer-aided design/computer-aided process planning/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAPP/CAM). It turned out that the research provides a better informed simulation environment and promotes the development of modern manufacturing.

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Correspondence to Yu Zhang.

Additional information

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51205054), National Key Technology Research and Development Program During the Twelfth Five-year Plan (Nos. 2012BAF10B11, 2012BAF12B08).

Yu Zhang received his B. Eng. degree from Northeastern University of China in 2002. From 2002 to 2004, he worked at Coking and Refractory Engineering Consulting Corporation, China Metallurgical Group Corporation, China. From 2008 to 2010, he was engaged in the research work at University of Auckland, New Zealand. In 2011, he received his Ph.D. degree from Northeastern University, China. Now, he is working at Northeastern University, China.

His research interests include CAD/CAPP/CAM, STEP-NC and PLM.

Xiao-Lan Bai received her B.Eng. and M. Eng. degrees from Shenyang Aerospace University and Northeastern University, China in 2004 and 2007, respectively. She is currently a Ph. D. candidate in School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation at Northeastern University, China.

Her research interests include CAD/CAPP/CAM and pipe-routing layout.

Xun Xu received his B.Eng. and M. Eng. degrees from Shenyang Jianzhu University and Dalian University of Technology, China in 1982 and 1988, respectively. In 1996, he received his Ph.D. degree from University of Manchester, UK. He is now a professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand. He heads the Manufacturing Systems Laboratory and is the director of Intelligent & Interoperable Manufacturing Systems research unit in University of Auckland.

His research interests include CAD/CAPP/CAM, STEP, and STEP-NC.

Yong-Xian Liu received his B.Eng. and M. Eng. degrees from Northeastern University, China in 1969 and 1985, respectively. He is a professor at School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation in the Northeastern University, China. He heads the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Automation Technology in Northeastern University, and acts as the associate director and general engineer in the Liaoning CAD/CAM Engineering Technology Center.

His research interests include product rapid response design, manufacturing theory and technology.

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Zhang, Y., Bai, XL., Xu, X. et al. STEP-NC based high-level machining simulations integrated with CAD/CAPP/CAM. Int. J. Autom. Comput. 9, 506–517 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-012-0674-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11633-012-0674-9

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