IPPA: a knowledge assisted process planning system

Reports on the design and implementation of an intelligent process planning assistant (IPPA), a modular computer-aided process planning (CAPP) system offering knowledge-assisted planning of machining operations. A hierarchical efficient reasoning analysis methodology based on heuristic classification, feature modeling and constraint satisfaction is used for the IPPA knowledge model. Part of the implementation reported is related to IPPA modules (IPPA FEx, IPPA Class, IPPA /spl mu/Plan, IPPA Plan). IPPA FEx enables a direct mapping of computer-aided design (CAD) data into process planning data using an automated graph-based approach. IPPA Class concerns concepts and data hierarchical representation. IPPA /spl mu/Plan allows the definition and the instantiation of micro plans. IPPA Plan permits the ordering and the grouping of micro plans.