Implementation of a “backwards planning” technique in the automation of process planning

It is essential to automate the process-planning function to achieve true integration of CAD and NC machining for computer-integrated manufacturing. Several planning techniques have been used for this purpose and the popular method called the “bottom-up” approach or “backwards planning” has been successfully used in developing an expert process-planning system called EXCAP. This paper describes the implementation of this approach, providing details and examples of the model-updating module which enables the planning to be executed automatically for turned components.