Feature extraction from STEP (ISO 10303) CAD drawing files for metalforming process selection in an integrated design system

Abstract This paper addresses a fundamental issue of component manufacture. In particular, it deals with the question of how to get designers to design parts where they may not be familiar with the processes used to manufacture them. The paper describes the development of a CAD linked stand alone computer-based metalforming process module which can be used by design engineers to identify cost effective manufacturing options in conjunction with work reported in [Forming feature representation and process selection in cold extrusion, in: Proccedings of to the Ninth International Conference on Metal-Forming, Birmingham, UK, 125–126 (2002) 456–463].