STEP-based integration of feature recognition and design-by-feature for manufacturing applications in a concurrent engineering environment

Abstract

Manufacturing applications typically require that a part be created in a design-by-feature system and described through STEP-based manufacturing features. This paper presents a manufacturing feature recognition processor that utilises the high-level information retrieved from a design-by-feature system to generate a STEP-based manufacturing feature model efficiently. In the processor, the interacting and interrelating relationships between features are represented and handled, so problems such as the low efficiency and error proneness of traditional feature recognition systems are overcome. Post-processing of manufacturability evaluation can dynamically evaluate the recognised features and provide feedback for the design-by-feature system to modify an initial poor design plan. The processor generates a neutral file defined in STEP EXPRESS to describe the manufacturing feature model for the downstream activities to share the information. The design feature models and feature recognition processor are wrapped in an agent-based concurrent engineering environment to exchange information and coordinate their activities in a distributed way.