Automated process planning for the manufacture of sliders

This paper presents a methodology of a computer-aided process planning system for an injection mould component, slider, which will facilitate the standardisation of process planning and significantly reduce lead-time. A combination of generative and variant approach is used for the development of the system. The input to the system is a 3D slider model. Firstly, the system classifies the slider types and extracts the feature parameters from the model. Each slider type refers to a standard process plan template, in which a set of processes in sequence is presented. Secondly, the system selects machines, cutters, fixtures and cutting parameters for each process in the plan template based on the actual dimensions of features and the available machining resources. The process plan execution is then simulated on the screen step by step. Although the system is developed for sliders, the approach is generic in nature and could be easily extended to include other mould components, such as lifters, mouldbases, etc. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.