Computer Aided Process Planning for Freeform Surface Sheet Metal Features in Automotive Industry

Abstract

This paper describes computer aided process planning for a freeform surface; sheet metal features. Automotive body panels are always manufactured using thin forming sheets; the developed CAPP system consists of two modules which are feature recognition module based on STEP AP203 and a process plan module; two additional modules for automotive panel CAPP system and cost estimation module are also incorporated in the system of punch and bending operation. Stamped or punched features in generative shape design are used to design automotive panels; the generative CAPP system is written in visual basic 2008 language and implemented in several case studies demonstrated in the present work. Feature recognition of punched; stamped internal features in free form surface recognized in base of data exchange files using STEP AP203 ISO-10303-21.