Abstract
High speed machining (HSM) can contribute greatly in the manufacturing of products. With high speed machining, complex contour surfaces can be machined so accurately that little or no finishing operation is necessary. High speed machining offers a practical way to minimize cutting force and therefore minimize workpiece deflection. Commercial considerations are also driving industry toward higher rates of productivity by using high speed machining. A knowledge-based system, FASTCUT, has been developed to obtain technical information about high speed machining. This knowledge-based system offers specific knowledge of various aspects about high speed machining, such as machining parameters, cutting tool materials, stability analysis during high speed machining, etc. It can calculate cutting parameters, evaluate machining performance, and select cutting tool materials for different combinations of cutting speeds and workpiece materials for high speed machining. It also provides insight into stability analysis during high speed machining for the manufacturing of products. A hierarchical structure has been established for the knowledge base. This system also offers graphics display for visualization of high speed machining concepts. FASTCUT also offers the shortest paths for all the questions so that users can get the information about high speed machining very quickly. Backward chaining is used in the inference engine in FASTCUT. In simple words, FASTCUT is very beneficial for high speed machining for products.