Intelligent Sequence Optimization Method for Hole Making Operations in 2M Production Line

摘要

This paper is concerned with the optimization of the tool path in a production line consisting of two machine tools. Existing computer - numerical control (CNC) time estimation methods are based either for a single machine or a single operation. As current methods don't illustrate the necessity of the multiple operations with more than one machine, this paper presents a new method for CNC machining time estimation which predicts the optimal tool path sequence with minimal time for a 2M production line. The optimized sequence is determined by employing the most reliable hybrid method i.e., Genetic Algorithm (GA). Attention was focusing on the hole making operations where a hole may need multiple cutting tools to get the process finished. Each of the machines can do certain set of operations. So the non-productive time between two machines should be minimized and it is obtained by this intelligent sequence optimizer. This proposed technique is developed on a modified travel salesman problem algorithm with preceding constraints. The work also introduces a computational program based on this methodology. The numerical simulation conducted in this research shows that the proposed approach is feasible and practical. It is beneficial especially in real-time manufacturing process outlining and scheduling multiple systems.