Development Of Machining Database System For Automotive Industry

Nowadays, automotive manufacturing is being adjusted according to the challenge of market demand in terms of machining theory and process planning in the direction of Time, Quality, Cost and Service. The key technology of automotive manufacturing includes reasonable tool and cutting parameters selection, and computer aided process planning solution.In this paper, a B/S mode automotive metal machining database system is developed both in theory and applications. In the developing process, workpiece database, cutting tool database, cutting parameter database, machine database and cutting fluid database, etc. are all established. A series of function modules are also developed, such as STEP file transformation module, tool selection module, cutting parameter selection module, cutting parameter optimization module, process data management module, user data management module, besides, the system can also assist in developing of cutting process planning.The efficient use of Standard for the Exchange of Product Model data in Numerical Control information (STEP) flow between Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) controller utilizing XML, and ASP.NET server, and an SQL server database, and it can be shared in NET, converted into the XML format, or stored in database.Tool selection method based on features of auto parts is studied. This paper describles the tool selection activity based on feature geometry which is as interface between part design and process analysis. A feature based design environment is created including feature type, feature dimention and interconnection in features. The next stage of tool selection involves the information associated with each feature into machining operation requirements, which in turn is used to transform into database to extract all tools that may be used to complete a given operation. As a result, a tool list containing all available tools is formed. Proper cutting parameters are selected. Automotive metal machining database system based on tool-workpiece material matching can be used to select cutting parameter in the navigation mode and processing condition case, cutting parameters based on material matching and cutting tool selected by feature can also be selected.Cutting parameter optimum based on minimum production cost and maximum productivity. A mathematical model to optimize cutting parameters is developed through establishing the single path cutting object which meet specific constraints form miminum production cost and maximum productivity, and it is optimized by MATLAB software.The three-layer automotive machining database system has been developed on the WINDOWS platform.This topic receives fund from Major science and technology program of high-end CNC machine tools and basic manufacturing equipment (2009ZX04014-043, 2009ZX04012-031 and 2010ZX04017-012).