Method and apparatus for generating machining information, and computer product

A computer-readable recording medium stores therein a computer program that causes a machining information generating apparatus to implement generating machining information for a determination of a necessary tool when a tool path for machining is created in a computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system from CAD data relating to workpiece generated in a computer aided design (CAD) system, the computer program causing a machining information generating apparatus to execute:

• a shape analyzing procedure that obtains the CAD data and creates an equation model that takes into account a volume of an uncut amount based on the CAD data;
• a machining example database searching procedure that searches a machining example database, which stores information of machining examples including an equation model taking into account an uncut amount and a tool used for machining for each machining example, wherein the equation model is handled as characteristics for machining, for a machining example in which the equation model most closely approximates the equation model created by the shape analyzing procedure;
• and
• a machining tool determining procedure that searches a tool database, which stores information of tools, for a tool most relevant to the tool of the machining example searched by the machining example database searching procedure, and generates the machining information.

A machining information generating method for generating machining information for a determination of a necessary tool when a tool path for machining is created in a computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system from CAD data relating to workpiece generated in a computer aided design (CAD) system, comprising:

• obtaining the CAD data and creating an equation model that takes into account a volume of an uncut amount based on the CAD data;
• searching a machining example database, which stores information of machining examples including an equation model taking into account an uncut amount and a tool used for machining for each machining example, wherein the equation model is handled as characteristics for machining, for a machining example in which the equation model most closely approximates the equation model created by the creating of the equation model;
• and
• searching a tool database, which stores information of tools, for a tool most relevant to the tool of the machining example searched by the searching of the machining example database, and generating the matching information.

A computer implemented method, comprising:

• creating an equation model taking into account a volume of an uncut amount of a workpiece based on CAD data;
• searching a machining example database storing machining examples and retrieving, based on the search, a machining example that most closely approximates the created equation model;
• and
• searching a tool database storing tool data and determining, based on the search, a tool that most closely matches the retrieved machining example.