Efficacious integration of such CAx technologies as CAD, CAM and CAPP still remains a problem in engineering practice which constantly attracts research attention. Design by feature model is assumed as a main factor in the integration effort in various engineering and manufacturing domains. It refers principally to feature clustering and consequently operation sequencing in elaborated process plan designs. The focus of this paper is on CAPP for parts manufacture in systems of definite processing capabilities, involving multi-axis machining centres. A methodical approach is proposed to optimally solve for process planning problems, which consists in the identification of process alternatives and sequencing adequate working steps. The approach involves the use of the branch and bound concept from the field of artificial intelligence. A conceptual scheme for generation of alternative process plans in the form of a network is developed. It is based on part design data modelling in terms of machining features. A relevant algorithm is proposed for creating such a network and searching for the optimal process plan solution from the viewpoint of its operational performance, under formulated process constraints. The feasibility of the approach and the algorithm are illustrated by a numerical case with regard to a real application and diverse machine tools with relevant tooling. Generated process alternatives for complex machining with given systems, are studied using models programmed in the environment of Matlab software.

The article presents the possibilities++ of using Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology in the manufacturing of turbine blades with small diameter holes. The object under investigation was gas turbine blade with small diameter cooling holes and holes for generating longitudinal vortices. A turbine blade model was produced by means of Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technology and subsequently validated in terms of detection and accuracy of the obtained holes. The application of the computer tomography and digital radiography technique resulted in obtaining a series of cross-sections of the turbine blade model with a series of holes. Particular attention was pointed out at the investigation of the locations of micro-holes with a diameter of 0.3 mm. It turned out that it was impossible to make such small holes by the RP method. In the following part the results of the study on the possibilities of making the micro-holes using electrical discharge method have been presented. In addition, proposition of further works such as the development of the considerations and issues discussed in this article, has been offered.

In the shipbuilding industry, it is difficult to create CAD models of existing or prototype parts, especially with many freeform surfaces. The paper presents the creation of the CAD 3D model of a shipbuilding component with the application of the reverse engineering technology. Based on the data obtained from the digitization process, the component is reconstructed in point cloud processing programs and the CAD model is created. Finally, the accuracy of the digital model is estimated.

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