Geometric planning and analysis for hybrid re‐configurable molding and machining process

Emerald - 2008
AdityaKelkar1, BahattinKoc2
1Optessa USA, Aberdeen, New Jersey, USA
2University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA

Tóm tắt

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to develop geometric algorithms and planning strategies to enable the development of a novel hybrid manufacturing process, which combines rapidly re‐configurable mold tooling and multi‐axis machining.

Design/methodology/approach

The presented hybrid process combines advantages of both reconfigurable molding and machining processes. The mold's re‐configurability is based on the concept of using an array of discrete pins. By positioning the pins, the reconfigurable molding process allows forming the mold cavity directly from the object's 3D design model, without any human intervention. After a segment of the part is molded using the reconfigurable molding process, a multi‐axis machining operation is used to create accurate parts with better surface finish. Geometric algorithms are developed to decompose the design model into segments based on the part's moldability and machinability. The decomposed features are used for planning the reconfigurable molding and the multi‐axis machining operations.

Findings

Computer implementation and illustrative examples are also presented in this paper. The results showed that the developed algorithms enable the proposed hybrid re‐configurable molding and multi‐axis machining process. The developed decomposition and planning algorithms are used for planning the reconfigurable molding and the multi‐axis machining operations. Owing to the decomposition strategy, more geometrically complex parts can be fabricated using the developed hybrid process.

Originality/value

This paper presents geometric analysis and planning to enable the development of a novel hybrid manufacturing process, which combines rapidly re‐configurable mold tooling and multi‐axis machining. It is expected that the proposed hybrid manufacturing process can produce highly customized parts with better surface finish, and part accuracy, with shorter build times, and reduced setup and tooling costs.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Chang, Y.C., Pinilla, J.M., Kao, J.H., Dong, J., Ramaswami, K. and Prinz, F.B. (1999), “Automated layer decomposition for additive/subtractive solid freeform fabrication”, Proceedings of the Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, Austin, Texas, USA, pp. 111‐20.

Chen, Y.H. and Song, Y. (2001), “The development of a layer based machining system”, Computer Aided Design, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 331‐42.

Chen, Y.H. and Yang, Z.Y. (2001), “Process planning for layer based machining”, paper presented at ASME 2001 Design Engineering Technical Conference (DETC/DFM – 21165), Pittsburgh.

Choi, B.K. (1991), Surface Modeling for CAD/CAM, Elsevier, New York, NY.

Dong, J., Kao, J‐H., Pinilla, J.M., Chang, Y.‐C. and Prinz, F.B. (1999), “Automated planning for material shaping operations in additive/subtractive solid freeform fabrication”, paper presented at Solid Freeform Symposium, Austin, TX.

Faux, I.D. and Pratt, M.J. (1981), Computational Geometry for Design and Manufacture, Halsted Press, Chichester Horwood, NY.

Hur, J., Lee, K., Hu, Z. and Kim, J. (2002), “Hybrid rapid prototyping system using machining and deposition”, Computer Aided Design, Vol. 34 No. 10, pp. 741‐54.

Kelkar, A., Koc, B. and Nagi, R. (2003), “Rapidly re‐configurable mold manufacturing of free‐form objects”, paper presented at ASME DETC2003, Design and Manufacturing Conference, Chicago, IL, September.

Kelkar, A., Nagi, R. and Koc, B. (2005), “Geometric algorithms for rapidly reconfigurable mold manufacturing of free‐form objects”, Computer Aided Design, Vol. 37 No. 1, pp. 1‐16.

Kim, J., Park, F.C. and Lee, J.M. (1999), “A new parallel mechanism machine tool capable of five‐axis machining”, CIRP Annals, Vol. 48 No. 1, pp. 337‐40.

Kim, J., Cho, K.S., Hwang, J.C., Iurascu, C.C. and Park, F.C. (2002), “Eclipse‐RP: a new RP machine based on repeated deposition and machining”, Journal of Multibody Dynamics, Vol. 216 No. 1, pp. 13‐20.

Koc, B. (2004), “Adaptive layer approximation of free‐form models using marching point surface error calculation for rapid prototyping”, Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 10 No. 5, pp. 270‐80.

Koc, B. and Lee, Y.S. (2002), “Adaptive ruled layers approximation of STL models and multi‐axis machining applications for rapid prototyping”, Journal of Manufacturing Systems, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 153‐66.

Lee, Y‐S. and Koc, B. (1998), “Ellipse offset approach and inclined zig‐zag method for multi‐axis roughing of ruled surface pockets”, Computer Aided Design, Vol. 30 No. 12, pp. 957‐71.

Merz, R. (1994), “Shape deposition manufacturing”, PhD thesis, University of Technology, Vienna.

Piegl, L. and Tiller, W. (1995), The NURBS Book, Springer Verlag, Berlin.

Pinilla, J.M., Kao, J.H. and Prinz, F.B. (1999), “Process planning and automation for additive‐subtractive solid freeform fabrication”, Proceedings of the Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, University of Texas, Austin, TX, pp. 245‐58.

Ramaswami, K. (1997), “Process planning for shape deposition manufacturing”, PhD thesis, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.

Ruan, J.Z., Zhang, J. and Liou, F.W. (2001), “Support structures extraction for hybrid layered manufacturing”, paper presented at ASME 2001 Design Engineering Technical Conference (DETC/DFM), Paper No. DAC‐21098, Pittsburgh.

Yang, Z.Y., Chen, Y.H. and Sze, W.S. (2002), “Layer based machining – recent development and support structure design”, Journal of Engineering Manufacture, Vol. 216 No. 7, pp. 979‐91.

Zhang, J. and Liou, F.W. (2001), “Adaptive slicing for a five‐axis laser aided manufacturing process”, paper presented at ASME 2001 Design Engineering Technical Conference (DETC/DFM – 21157), Pittsburgh.

Choi, B.K. and Jerard, R. (1998), Sculptured Surface Machining – Theory and Applications, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

Kulkarni, P. and Dutta, D. (2000), “On the integration of layered manufacturing and material removal processes”, Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, Vol. 122 No. 1, pp. 100‐8.

Ramaswami, K., Yamaguchi, Y. and Prinz, F.B. (1997), “Spatial partitioning of solids for solid freeform fabrication”, Proceedings of the 1997 4th Symposium on Solid Modeling and Applications, Atlanta, pp. 346‐53.