CATIA V5 PowerCopy for five axis machined pockets using Knowledge Based Engineering techniques

摘要

In recent years Knowledge Based Engineering (KBE) principles have been used to improve the engineering process of manufacturers of complex parts. In this paper the application of KBE principles for the development of a five axis machined pocket tool to support the design of complex machined parts at Fokker Areostructures will be discussed. KBE uses the principle of identifying, capturing, storing, and re-using engineering product and process knowledge to develop tools that improve the engineering process. It had been identified that correct definition of a five axis machined pocket can be time consuming and that minor flaws in the design can have a large impact on manufacturability. Based upon these conclusions a parametric five axis machined pocket definition that behaves according to the knowledge captured has been developed and made available for re-use through the CATIA V5 PowerCopy functionality. The development of the PowerCopy itself has been an iterative process with an initial small user group to test the first versions in an everyday environment. Experts on manufacturability of machined parts and design engineers have recognized that usage of the PowerCopy will increase quality and save time. The modelling method using the PowerCopy for five axis machined parts is currently used in actual projects at Fokker Aerostructures. Introduction of the method as a company standard will be done after evaluation of its usage in these projects. The consistent PowerCopy structure potentially also allows easy automation of downstream processes, for instance Numerical Controlled (NC) machining programming.