Extracting Alternative Machining Features: An Algorithmic Approach

Automated recognition of features from CAD models has been attempted for a wide range of application domains. In this paper we address the problem of representing and recognizing the complete class of features in alternative interpretations for a given design. We present a methodology for recognizing a class of machinable features and addressing the computational problems posed by the existence of feature-based alternatives. Our approach addresses a class of volumetric features that describe material removal volumes made by operations on 3-axis vertical machining centers including: drilling, pocket-milling, slot-milling, face-milling, chamfering, filleting, and blended surfaces. This approach recognizes intersecting features and is complete over all features in our class; i.e., for any given part, the algorithm produces a set containing all features in our class that correspond to possible operations for machining that part. This property is of particular significance in applications w..