Automatic Numeric Control Programming System for Locators

Locators are important parts for clamping and locating auto-bodies in the jigs of an automobile welding line. Their diverse shapes and number lead to the complexity of the toolpath planning for them. Thus the efficiency of the numeric control(NC) for them is important to the productivity of automobile welding lines. An automatic NC programming system for locators has been developed. Manufacturing features are automatically extracted from the design features of locators and the assembly relationships between them and other parts. Toolpaths are generated automatically using knowledge-based approach. NC code files transmission, task assignment and the monitor of machine states in workshop are achieved through the distributed numeric control(DNC) system. The key technologies of the system are studied in detail. This system has been put into the enterprise's production.