Automating set-up planning in machining operations

Abstract

Knowledge-based modelling and implementation of the various manufacturing planning processes represent an intensive research area. Manufacturing planning processes such as process planning and set-up planning have been automated to various extents using techniques such as production rules and neural networks. In a manufacturing environment such as a machine shop, experienced machinists have a wealth of knowledge and intuition for formulating set-up plans. However, the machinists are usually faced with the task of dealing effectively with real life complexities such as imprecise specifications and the absence of complete information. Hence, the development of a practical and feasible computer-aided set-up planning system requires the development of a more sophisticated methodology that deals explicitly with these complexities in the decision-making process. Fuzzy set analysis is one such tool that can handle these complexities in the problem-solving procedures of set-up planning. This paper presents a fuzzy-knowledge based computer-automated set-up planning system. Fuzzy set theory is used together with production rules and expert system techniques to represent the essential knowledge and model the planning process. The use of fuzzy set theory allows the uncertainties and complexities in the knowledge to be incorporated, and thus captures and models the impreciseness in human reasoning in set-up planning.