From computer-aided to intelligent machining: Recent advances in computer numerical control machining research

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide an introduction and overview of recent advances in the key technologies and the supporting computerized systems, and to indicate the trend of research and development in the area of computational numerical control machining. Three main themes of recent research in CNC machining are simulation, optimization and automation, which form the key aspects of *Corresponding author, Email: welcome.li@nuaa.edu.cn 2 intelligent manufacturing in the digital and knowledge based manufacturing era. As the information and knowledge carrier, feature is the efficacious way to achieve intelligent manufacturing. From the regular shaped feature to freeform surface feature, the feature technology has been used in manufacturing of complex parts, such as aircraft structural parts. The authors' latest research in intelligent machining is presented through a new concept of multi-perspective dynamic feature (MpDF), for future discussion and communication with readers of this special issue. The MpDF concept has been implemented and tested in real examples from the aerospace industry, and has the potential to make promising impact on the future research in the new paradigm of intelligent machining. The authors of this paper are the guest editors of this special issue on computational numerical control machining. The guest editors have extensive and complementary experiences in both academia and industry, gained in China, USA and UK.

Hole-making processes and their impacts on the microstructure and fatigue response of aircraft alloys

“…This makes the hole-making process on stacked structures remain a significant challenge. The emerging helical milling could be coupled with advanced automation/intelligent manufacturing technology [32][33][34] to minimize/eliminate the labor intensive and error-prone human operation. In addition, feature-based manufacturing parameter planning and optimization [35][36][37] could be considered in future aircraft holemaking processes to enhance accuracy, traceability and process control.…”

Globally optimal tool paths for sculptured surfaces with emphasis to machining error and cutting posture smoothness

“…Major themes of intelligent machining are automation, simulation and optimization (Li, Lee and Gao 2015). In order to contribute to the ongoing research for achieving intelligent sculptured surface tool path optimization this work aims at presenting a fully automated; generic methodology integrated by an intelligent algorithm for the optimization of sculptured surfaces.…”

A multi-perspective dynamic feature concept in adaptive NC machining of complex freeform surfaces

“…An interim feature may also change in response to changes of manufacturing resources and scheduling which normally require re-planning of the depth-of-cuts and the sub-features (machining regions) of the interim feature. To address the above dynamic characteristics that have not been reflected in current CAD models, the Multi-perspective Dynamic Feature (MpDF) concept is introduced by the authors to represent feature changes between various manufacturing operations [34]. Based on the concept, an MpDF model can be established to represent information about a particular feature with all of its interim features and respective subfeatures, which can be represented as:…”

“…There are many ways to divide the surface [27][28][29][30][31][32][33] and the one to be applied is determined based on the optimisation objective as described above. Recently, the research group of the authors has presented a tensor based surface subdivision method [34][35]. Each optimisation objective is represented as a rank two tensor.…”