An algorithm of mapping the protrusion feature on the slanting face to its manufacturing feature volume in the process planning

Abstract

For the machining parts, the protrusion feature on the slanting face (PF-SF) is the most common machining feature. However, the machining information of the PF-SF cannot be easily obtained so that it reduces the efficiency of the process planning. Therefore, this paper proposes an algorithm to map the PF-SF to its manufacturing feature volume (MFV) based on the geometric reasoning method and the backward growing method. Based on PF-SF’s forming process and its typology relations, the PF-SF is divided into two types: single-volume protrusion feature and multiple volumes protrusion feature. Then, the PF-SF’s faces are recognized based on the developed geometric reasoning method. In order to obtain the MFV better, the PF-SF is divided into two sub-types based on its neighboring faces’ topological relation: the closed neighboring face set and the open neighboring face set. At last, the MFVs are formed by combining the recognized PF-SF faces with its extension neighboring faces or the created virtual plane. Two machined parts with the PF-SF are chosen as the case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed approach.