An expert system for automatic extraction of machining features and tooling selection for Automats

This article reports on the design and implementation of an expert system for automatic identification of machined surfaces on symmetric rotational components manufactured on Automats. The OPS5PLUS expert system shell was used to represent the procedural knowledge to reason and extract both the internal and external part features and their dimensions in order to select form tools for machining. Details of the implementation are described, along with examples. The expert system can be integrated easily with other manufacturing applications, such as automated process planning and NC part programming