Agent-based micro machining system with cusp-height-minimized tool sequence

Agent technology can provide a systematic way to design and implement efficiently distributed intelligent manufacturing systems. Multi-agent system has been recognized as a promising paradigm to integrate a number of agents with different functions. In micro machining field many researchers have been studied the machining characteristics since the influence of underlying mechanisms are fundamentally different from macro-scale machining. This paper presents an agent-based micro machining system. To cover the process planning step for micro machining, basic agents such as cutting tool selection, tool-path generation, and machining cost estimation were implemented. To build and integrate these distributed agents, Java Agent Development Framework (JADE) was used. Throughout this system the selection of optimal roughing tool for semi-finishing stage was implemented by providing automated process planner for micro machining to the engineers. Machining data bases were constructed to store the information of materials, tools, and capability of available machine tools. A designed part can be uploaded to the Micro Machining (MM) agent as a Stereo Lithography (STL) format. MM agent can provide process parameters for 3-axis micro milling and tool sequence for cost-optimal machining automatically. Machining Cost Estimation agent can calculate micro machining cost for the designed part. To test the multi-agent system, a surface of micro-surface feature was fabricated with micro end-mills.