The proposed system is intended for computer-aided design of sheet metal cutting charts, single-stage and compound dies as well as plasma, gas and laser metal cutting processes on numerical control (NC) machine tools. The system makes it possible to increase metal recovery by 5-10% and reduce power consumption in metal cutting. It also provides a longer durability of cutting tools due to an automatic choice of optimal routes and modes of metal cutting. Besides, the system helps reduce many-fold the time of control program design and improve program operational reliability. The system comprises an input description language of work parts, software-to-software interface with the AutoCAD system, facilities for automatic and visual control of proper functioning of all the system elements, a work part description file, and a set of specifications. The system also includes software for:
· single-stage and compound die design, coiled material cutting charts, an optimal strip width, cutting force to choose a press having an appropriate pressure center power, and a cutting pitch;
· on-line design of rolled sheet cutting charts in accordance with the operating schedule of the blank production shop;
· choosing optimal cutting tool motion routes;
· manufacturing constraints and tolerances;
· control program design for thermal cutting on NC machine tools.
The software for automatic sheet metal cutting is integrated in the CAD/CAM system Tehran and AutoCAD.