An approach of using primitive feature analysis in manufacturability analysis systems for micro-milling/drilling

Syaimak Abdul Shukor (1) , Dragos Axinte (1)

1 School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering

MASs have been developed to enable the evaluation of easy of manufacture parts during the design stage enabling the reduction of costs and time to market of the designed products. The objective of this paper is to explore a new technique which is Primitive Features Analysis in assessing the manufacturability of proposed designs and to demonstrate further its implementation in developed MAS explicitly for a custom-built miniature 4-axis machine tool. In the introduction to this paper, the definition, methodology and importance of MAS are discussed. PFA analyses the defined primitive features of the proposed design based on their positions, interactions and geometrical details. The analysis is supported by a database containing rules and constraints that are specific to micro-machining processes; these account for primitive features orientations/interactions as well as machining conditions and workpiece materials. First, an index is evaluated for each primitive feature to reflect its manufacturability while taking into account key quality output measures (e.g. tolerance). Then, the overall manufacturability index is calculated taking into consideration the possible interactions/constraints among neighbouring primitive features of the desired component. The PFA technique was implemented within a unique algorithm consisting of data input mechanism, Initial Assessment , Single Feature Analysis and Coupled Feature Analysis by use of Visual Basic.NET®. The new MAS is able to illustrate the analysis of the PFA technique and it provides outputs such as redesign suggestions and manufacturability indices. Finally, the paper discusses on the advantages, possible limitations of this approach followed by suggestions for future developments.

Mots clés: Physical Sciences

Syaimak Abdul Shukor, Dragos Axinte. An approach of using primitive feature analysis in manufacturability analysis systems for micro-milling/drilling. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 2009, 22 (08), pp.727-744. ⟨10.1080/09511920802632176⟩. ⟨hal-00513413⟩