STEP-based CAD/CAPP integration for finish machining operations.

This chapter presents various CAD/CAPP integration methodologies adopted in Feature Recognition Module (FRM) of a “Finish Machining – Computer Aided Process Planning system” (FM-CAPP). The FRM contains three sub modules to process the inputted STEP AP203/214 data of a 3D CAD model. They are (i) Interfacer developed for STEP AP203/214 formats (IFST) (ii) Feature Identifier (FI) and (iii) Machinable Volume Identifier for Finish cut (MVI). Methodologies are explained for all the three sub modules to recognize features of type normal, interacting, tapering, interacting-tapering and curved base. Finally, a case study is presented to validate the adopted integration methodology