A case-based reasoning approach for non-traditional machining processes selection

To sustain in the modern era of rapid manufacturing development, it becomes necessary to generate complex shapes on materials which are highly temperature and corrosion resistant, hard to machine, and have high strength-toweight ratio. Generation of complex shapes on those materials using conventional machining processes ultimately affects surface finish, material removal rate, accuracy, cost, safety etc. Non-traditional machining (NTM) processes have the capability to machine those advanced engineering materials with satisfactory results. But, selection of the most appropriate NTM process for a particular machining application is often a complicated task. Case-based reasoning (CBR), a domain of artificial intelligence, is a paradigm for reasoning new problems from the past experience. In CBR, a memory model is assumed for representing, indexing and organizing past similar cases, and a process model is supposed for retrieving and modifying the past cases and assimilating the new ones. This paper primarily focuses on the application of CBR approach for NTM process selection. Based on different process characteristics and process parameter values, the past similar cases are retrieved and reused to solve a current NTM process selection problem. For this, a software prototype is developed and three real time examples are cited to illustrate the application potentiality of CBR system. © 2016 PEI, University of Maribor. All rights reserved.