A Hybrid Computer-Intelligent and User-Interactive Process Planning System for Four-Axis Computer Numerical Control Turning Centers

本基金资助四轴计算机数控车削中心的计算机辅助工艺规划研究。在这种新一代数控机床中，多炮塔和主轴的存在引入了早期机床中不存在的工艺规划考虑和复杂性。本研究的目标是研究一种混合工艺规划框架，该框架集成了计算机智能决策以及不同层次的交互式专家用户输入，以便在大型组合解决方案空间中快速确定最佳工艺计划。这项研究将与工业界密切合作，包括：(1)制定和发展工艺计划生成和优化的表示方案、算法和方法，以及(2)通过应用于实际工业数据来演示和验证工艺计划技术。在四轴数控车削中心环境下出现的工艺方案优化问题是独特的，与经典的优化问题不同。将使用基于禁忌搜索的优化方法。由于缺乏四轴数控车削中心的工艺规划系统，这些高度灵活的机器在工业中通常用作批量生产一个或两个零件的专用机器。这个项目的成功完成可能会导致一个过程规划系统的可用性，这将使加工各种各样的零件变得方便，从而增加这些机器在工业中的接受和使用。这反过来又可以使公司缩短制造交货时间，提高对客户的响应能力，从而在全球市场上更具竞争力。

This grant provides funding for research on computer-aided process planning for four-axis computer numerical control (CNC) turning centers. The presence of multiple-turrets and spindles in this new generation of CNC machines introduces process planning considerations and complexities that are non-existent in earlier machine tools. The goal of this research is to investigate a hybrid process planning framework that integrates computer-intelligent decision-making along with interactive expert user input at various levels so that an optimal process plan can be identified quickly in a large combinatorial solution space. This research will be done in close collaboration with industry and will entail: (1) formulation and development of representation schemes, algorithms and methods for process plan generation and optimization, and (2) demonstration and validation of the process planning technology by application on real industry data. The process plan optimization problem that arises in the context of four-axis CNC turning centers is unique and does not match classical optimization problems. A Tabu Search based optimization approach will be used. Because of the lack of process planning systems for four-axis CNC turning centers, these highly flexible machines are being used in industry typically as dedicated machines for mass production of one or two parts. The successful completion of this project could lead to the availability of a process planning system that would make it convenient to process a large variety of parts and thereby increase the acceptance and use of these machines in industry. This in turn could enable companies to reduce their manufacturing lead times and enhance their responsiveness to customers and thereby become more competitive in the global marketplace.