Multi-User NC Machining Simulation over the WWW.pdf

Int J Adv Manuf Technol (2001) 18:1–6
 2001 Springer-Verlag London Limited
Multi-User NC Machining Simulation over the WWW
Z. M. Qiu1, Y. P. Chen1, Z. D. Zhou1, S. K. Ong2 and A. Y. C. Nee2
1School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; and
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
The realisation of a virtual manufacturing system requires an type system from the functionality and performance aspects.
work environment to perform 3D graphics simulation Lastly, a summary is given and future work is discussed.
or virtual reality information processing among multiple users.
This paper introduces a prototype system that employs Java,
the virtual reality modelling language (VRML) and the external 2. Background
authoring interface (EAI) to perform NC machining simulation.
A client/server paradigm is adopted to construct a multi-user Virtual manufacturing (VM) is a reflection of the recent dra-
enabled interactive environment. A novel method is presented matic changes in the manufacturing field. However, VM is
to update dynamically the geometry of a workpiece being cut regarded as evolutionary rather than revolutionary. It employs
in a VRML-based scene. In addition, the prototype system puter simulation, which is not a new field, to model
analysed in terms of fu