Towards AI-Enhanced Process Planning: Assessing Machine Tool Capability based on Part Design

The advent of the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, calls for an automated approach to manufacturing process planning, which begins with an appraisal of machine tool capacity to handle specific part geometries and microstructures. Once capabilities match requirements, the objective becomes to devise an efficient method for translating design elements into tangible components. The decline in the U.S. manufacturing sector's skilled labor force, due to an aging demographic and the loss of seasoned experts, underscores the critical need for a shift towards an Industry 4.0 autonomous paradigm. This work seeks to create and validate a framework that determines the manufacturability of design features by the available machinery and materials. The ultimate goal is to enhance process planning by ensuring a seamless conversion of designs into physical products, with a particular focus on the intricate details of geometry, microstructure, and cost.