521 3D Model-Based Intelligent CAM System for EDM

抄録

The final objective of this research is to achieve a seamless integration of operation from the design stage to the actual machining, by building an electrical discharge machining computer-aided manufacture (EDMCAM) system applicable to complex 3D shapes. Most of the difficulties in achieving seamless integration originate from the complexity of the machining process, which is in turn due to the great diversity in the shapes of electrodes and workpieces. Now we have resolved these difficulties by fully addressing 3D shapes. This article presents an example of enhanced EDM-CAM system design, and describes a proto system actually built. This system features a number of advanced functions including simulation, from feature detection, and an intelligent algorithm, and these functions enables the system to generate machining conditions and to estimate machining times. Comparing the machining time thus estimated to actual one, the relative error was found to be reduced to about 20%, in contrast to conventional estimation errors as high as two times.