An improved approach for determination of index positions on CNC magazines with cutting tool duplications by integrating shortest path algorithm
研究了数控机床自动换刀装置中刀具在刀盘上的位置优化问题，提出一种结合最短路径算法的新方法，确保子问题最优解，并设计了两种元启发式算法生成高效方案。
Optimisation of automatic tool changer (ATC) indexing problem, where cutting tools are allocated to the stations on a turret magazine of a CNC machine, is one of the challenging problems in machining. The aim of the problem is to minimise the total indexing time of ATC. This problem becomes even more challenging if duplication of cutting tools is allowed and a bidirectional ATC is used. The problem has a unique feature which has not been stressed yet by other researchers, that is, although ATC indexing (master problem) is the main optimisation problem, objective function evaluation of this problem is a standalone optimisation problem (sub problem) indeed. Although an approximation algorithm does not guarantee optimality for the master problem, the subproblem must be solved optimally; otherwise, deficiencies arising from ill-defined objective function might be encountered. Considering this interesting future, a novel methodology, which employs a shortest path algorithm, is developed. Thus, the subproblem of this complicated problem can be optimally solved. Moreover, two metaheuristics, based on threshold accepting and descent first improvement greedy methodologies, are proposed for generating efficient solutions. Finally, several benchmarking instances are generated and solved to test the proposed algorithms.