Horizontally structured manufacturing process modeling: exterior linked representational embodiment

Abstract

A method of horizontally structured manufacturing process modeling for large process models comprising: selecting a blank for machining into an actual part; and establishing a coordinate system. The method also includes: creating a master process model in a first file comprising: a virtual blank corresponding to said blank and a manufacturing feature; virtual machining of the manufacturing feature into the virtual blank, the manufacturing feature exhibiting an associative relationship with the coordinate system; and generating a group reference link of selected manufacturing features of the master process model. The method also includes generating an in-process model in a separate file from the first file employing the group reference link, the in-process model exhibiting another associative relationship with the master process model. The method also includes generating manufacturing instructions to create the actual part by machining the manufacturing feature into the blank.