Machining processes time calculating tool integrated in computer aided process planning (CAPP) for small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

The goal of process planning is to propose route sheets for previously designed parts. Process planning provides detailed information about a sequence of operations and parameters (cutting speed, feed rate, etc.). The objective of this work is to present computer-aided software to calculate cutting time and unproductive time when machine operations are designed and its integration in computer-aided process planning (CAPP). Results obtained from this tool application are compared with those results obtained from CAM software and with real times from the machine operation. The aim of the designed system is to be useful for small and medium enterprises (SME) working on machining processes. These kinds of enterprises cannot acquire and maintain standard CAPP systems, which are usually very expensive and difficult to work on. In order to validate the results several parts will be planned and machined and results are compared in order to adjust the designed tool software.