Multi-User NC Machining Simulation over the WWW

The realisation of a virtual manufacturing system requires an open network environment to perform 3D graphics simulation or virtual reality information processing among multiple users. This paper introduces a prototype system that employs Java, the virtual reality modelling language (VRML) and the external authoring interface (EAI) to perform NC machining simulation. A client/server paradigm is adopted to construct a multi-user enabled interactive environment. A novel method is presented to update dynamically the geometry of a workpiece being cut in a VRML-based scene. In addition, the prototype system is analysed in terms of functionality and performance.