A low-code modular CAD system oriented towards machining features for STEP-NC compliant manufacturing

The next-generation STEP-NC technology requires automatic generation of machining strategies within manufacturing systems to implement flexible manufacturing in the future. Currently, the machining feature modeling based on STEP-NC is in its infancy, facing challenges such as cumbersome modeling processes, ineffective utilization of the STEP-NC standard, and low development efficiency. A low-code modular solution based on the STEP-NC data kernel for machining feature-oriented modeling is important to achieve more intelligent flexible manufacturing. This paper presents a low-code modular modeling method for machining features, based on the STEP-NC data structure and incorporating geometric, process, and machining information, aimed at part milling. A low-code modular CAD modeling platform based on STEP-NC was built using Rhino Grasshopper. Additionally, a toolpath generation algorithm was designed for milling feature models to enable the automatic generation of milling strategies. Finally, the feasibility of a low-code modular CAD system based on machining features for STEP-NC compliant manufacturing in engineering applications is validated through a case study involving part design, milling, and optimization.