Sequencing interactive features in process planning using episodal associative memory

One of the problems in feature-based process planning is the sequencing of features. Features must be given an order for removal. This order, or sequence, is partially dependent on the geometric relationships between the features, if the geometric relationships between features are such that they dictate a particular sequence, the features are said to have an interaction. Identifying these interactions is an important first step in creating the process plan. An approach to solving this problem using constructive solid geometry operations and the episodal associative memory (EAM) is demonstrated. EAM is an approach to the construction of a memory that can efficiently and accurately associate a given problem or idea to relevant information in memory. Groups of features that have similar geometric relationships are clustered together by the EAM.<<ETX>>