The Development of the Intelligent Machining Cell

Abstract This paper presents an Intelligent Machining Cell in which the recognition of workpiece, planning of the machining process, and cutting abilities are integrated. The cell consists of the non-contact distance sensor, vision system, machining center, and the process and operation planning software connected with them. As the functions of the proposed cell, an arbitrary blank shape can be measured, then the proper machining process can be planned by comparing the measured blank shape and a geometric model of the product. By integrating the measuring system. process-planning software and machine tool, the required time of the process-planning and the set-up time of the cell can be simplified, arid the flexibility and adaptability of the cell for individual differences of the blank shape of the workpiece can be enhanced. The effectiveness of the blank shape recognition, automatic process and operation planning, has been shown through the case study.