Abstract
This paper presents a path-planning optimization study for a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining center tasked with machining jobs involving a large number of holes to drill that are mostly arranged in concentric circular patterns. Benefits of this research may contribute to shortening the machining time in certain components used in heat exchangers, boilers, condensers, trammel screens and food separators. Optimization of tool travel distance and machining cost are typically overlooked aspects when generating tool paths and CNC codes from commercially available CAD software packages. Tool path travel distance minimization can be modelled Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP). Optimization algorithms have been heavily applied in the literature to the TSP with varying levels of success. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is one of the most prominent approaches that mimics the natural behavior of ant colonies. The research in this paper proposes a hybrid ACO that has a biasing mechanic designed to take advantage of the geometric hole-pattern arrangement, as well as a local search. Simulation examples show the proposed approach exhibiting superior performance compared to the classic ACO approach, a genetic algorithm (GA) approach, as well as the simple spiral path generated via commercial CAD software. The proposed approach is then applied to the drilling path planning of a two-thousand-hole food-industry separator plate.
Highlights
Total machining time and cost of production in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) drilling operations of large number of holes arrangements is of a significant concern to manufacturing companies
This paper presents a path-planning optimization study for a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining center tasked with machining jobs involving a large number of holes to drill that are mostly arranged in concentric circular patterns
Simulation examples show the proposed approach exhibiting superior performance compared to the classic Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) approach, a genetic algorithm (GA) approach, as well as the simple spiral path generated via commercial CAD software
Summary
Total machining time and cost of production in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) drilling operations of large number of holes arrangements is of a significant concern to manufacturing companies. Along with the opportunity of reducing the production via small improvements in the cutting conditions, the total travelled distance of the tool between drilling locations can be reduced through optimum path planning. Such reduction can account for up to 20% of the total machining time of the part, which in turn can have a significant impact on cost. This paper extends the approach in (Abbas et al, 2011) with a focus on the optimization of a CNC drilling tool path between holes lying in concentric circular patterns. The paper concludes with a brief discussion and prospective future extensions
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