IKOOPPS: an intelligent knowledge‐based object‐oriented process planning system for the manufacture of progressive dies

: This article describes an intelligent knowledge-based object-oriented process planning (IKOOPP) system for the manufacture of progressive die plates. A die assembly is designed using a variety of standardised components based on a computer-aided design (CAD) system. A feature recognition module extracts all the pertinent geometrical properties and functional attributes of each machining feature from the CAD representation models. These properties and attributes are converted into an object-oriented representation. Knowledge of the functions of the machining feature allows process planning information to be automatically deduced. Specialised tool engineering knowledge are formulated as production rules or procedures to establish the required set of cutting tools, together with the machining allowances and sequence of operations.