Högskolan i Skövde

Manufacturing companies are faced with challenges associated with the fluctuating demand in consumer purchases. As a result, broader families of varyingly manufactured products are on the rise, which poses a significant workload problem for production engineers involved with process planning. The aim of this paper is therefore to introduce Feature-based Machining, as an endorsed CAM-based method to alleviate such workload involved when planning for machining processes.

Feature-based Machining does this by eliminating conventional work steps associated with Computer-aided Manufacturing, such as defining cutting parameters, tool associations, feeds and speeds, tool-path generation, and more. By recognizing features over a given workpiece, several pre-taught operations can be automatically generated in response, following an established library of machining knowledge. The methodology of preparing Feature-based Machining is an extensive process that is to be detailed comprehensively in this project, so that future projects and industries may adopt it as a resolute method towards process planning.

Moreover, relevant subjects such as sustainability, ethical concerns and innovation are also to be reflected on from the perspective of Feature-based Machining, to provide for fruitful discussion surrounding strategies and implementation.Furthermore, it is also relevant to discuss the intuitiveness and transparency of computer[1]aided software, as it relates to any issues or hurdles that may be encountered during the process of applying Feature-based Machining.

Despite such challenges, this project has resulted in a visual framework of recognizing features and applying processes across a family of crankshaft workpieces, where the utility of Feature-based Machining has proven significantly promising for industries of the future, as a result. Future work is also encouraged to follow up on the significance of Virtual Commissioning to this part, as well as a thorough review of Feature-based Machining as a modern subject.