The Use of Virtual Manufacturing Features in forward Manufacturing Process Planning

Abstract

Abstract. CAPP system is the missing link between CAD/CAM system. Two types of operation of CAPP systems can be distinguished. The first one is the backward process planning, where the part is transformed from its ready state to the stock state. The second method is the forward planning, where the stock is transformed into the finished part. Backward process planning allow for the greater degree of automation, but is difficult for the acceptation among the industrial users. One of the problem in the forward process planning is the necessity to use the manufacturing features which do not occur in the finished part, they occur only in the part intermediate states. The paper propose so called virtual manufacturing features to solve this problem.