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This thesis presents a 3-axis milling tool path generation and
real-time simulation system, to facilitate concurrent
engineering for prismatic parts. The system directly uses or
generated NC feature data from an object-oriented feature-
based part model, which is created from a feature-based design
system and process planning expert system. The system examines
the planned cutting regions of a part model and decomposes them
into several cutting blocks. The cutting blocks are thus
planned to generate proper tool paths. During the step of
manufacturing process planning, cutters have been selected
based on the geometrical shapes of the decomposed cutting
blocks. Subsequently, the system generates a tool path for each
cutting block and the corresponding NC codes. The generated NC
codes are thus fed into a 3-D graphics simulation system to
animate cutting processes to verify the validity of the
resulting NC codes. Finally, the system compares the virtually
machined workpiece with the designated one to provide feedback
information for part designers or process planners.
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