A Feature-based Approach to Path Planning for In-process Probing Operations in STEP-compliant NC Manufacture

摘要

With STEP-NC providing a way for seamless integration of the design, manufacturing, and quality control processes, the implementation of in-process measurement in this context has become a necessity for STEP-compliant NC manufacture. In the light of current research and development trends in this field, this paper proposes an approach to on-machine planning for in-process measurement, focusing on touch probing operations. Issues about the measured elements and the probing path planning are mainly addressed, and a prototype system is designed and implemented, which generates probing paths based on the information contained in the STEP-NC part program. The feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated with an example STEP-NC file.