Step-NC Compliant Approach for Workpiece Setup Planning Problem on Transfer Line

Given the current market dynamics, production system design plays a fundamental role in companies success. These activities are highly critical as many economical and technological issues must be considered. System configuration is a broad problem that involves different topics concerning workpiece, fixture and machine. In this paper an approach for the solution of the Setup Planning problem on transfer lines based on a STEP-NC compliant data structure is presented. The aim of the approach is to shorten the time needed for the process planning activity, automating some time-consuming activities without losing solution accuracy. In the proposed approach a CAM software tool is used for setting geometric and technological data regarding the product. Using this structure a method for the solution of the setup planning problem based on kinematic analysis and mathematical programming is proposed. The proposed approach has been tested on real cases.