NC process analysis–based intersecting machining feature recognition and reuse approach

Feature recognition is an effective instrument for transferring from 3D process design to actual manufacturing. However, existing feature recognition methods are incapable of recognizing intersecting features effectively and reasonably. To address this urgent industrial need, this paper proposes an NC process analysis–based intersecting machining feature recognition and reuse approach for models of 2 one-half dimensions from the perspective of analyzing the NC process data already existing to reproduce the process designer’s design intent. Firstly, the association principle between process information and feature geometry in the NC process data is described, and then the concept of intersecting machining feature interpretation set is proposed as a data structure to elucidate the decomposition mode of intersecting machining features from the perspectives of process and geometry. Secondly, the association between the machining operation and the feature face is constructed using the information extracted from the NC process and the association principle obtained. Then, through the analysis of faces associated with machining operations, the intersecting machining feature interpretation set consisting of sub-features is established to decompose the intersecting machining feature. Moreover, the machining intent and sub-feature graph are constructed in each sub-feature. Finally, the intersecting machining feature recognition method based on decomposition mode inheritance is proposed, which can achieve the recognition of query intersecting machining feature by inheriting the decomposition mode in the best-matched intersecting machining feature interpretation set. In the experiments, a prototype system based on CATIA is developed to verify that the method could be used in the recognition of intersecting machining features and meet the requirement of engineering applications.