Incorporated tool selection system using object technology

Abstract

Tool selection is perhaps one of the most important functions in a process planning system because the selection of a tool affects the selection of machining parameters, jig and fixture selection, production rate, cost of the product, and the resulting accuracy. Therefore computer-aided tool selection (CATS) is an essential element within a computer-aided process planning (CAPP) system (C. Koulamas, Tool requirements in multi-level machining systems, International Journal of Production Research, 29 (2) (1991) 417–437.), and in turn in a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) environment. This paper proposes an object–oriented methodology for selecting the tooling parameters for parts in a CIM environment. As this system can be incorporated into both static and dynamic process planning systems, it is termed as Incorporated Tool Selection Systems (ITSS). The steps of the methodology are discussed in detail, together with an example.