Non-productive time optimization for 5-axis EDM drilling using HVNTS algorithm

• Published in: International journal of production research Vol. 59; no. 16; pp. 5068 - 5082
• Main Authors: Wang, Jian, Xi, Xue-Cheng, Qin, Ling, Zhang, Ya-Ou, Zhao, Wan-Sheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis 18.08.2021; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: 5-axis EDM drilling; Algorithms; Chebyshev approximation; Drilling; Electric discharge machining; Five axis; hybrid variable neighbourhood search/tabu search (HVNTS); Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Neighborhoods; non-productive time; Optimization; pairwise inter-reshuffle (PIR); Process planning; Strategy; Tabu search; Travel time
• ISSN: 0020-7543; 1366-588X
• DOI: 10.1080/00207543.2020.1779961

This paper presents a hybrid variable neighbourhood search/tabu search (HVNTS) method and a neighbourhood generation strategy called pairwise inter-reshuffle (PIR) for process planning of 5-axis electrical discharge machining (EDM) drilling processes, which aims to minimize the total non-productive time of the machining process, including tool travelling time, tool switching time and Z-axis compensation moving time. To obtain a mathematical model of the non-productive time, a kinematic transformation and a Chebyshev distance function are then utilized. To solve the mathematical model efficiently, an HVNTS algorithm is applied as the model has a large number of 0-1variables. To improve the solution quality, the PIR method and a dynamic neighbourhood strategy are applied simultaneously and verified. The obtained simulation results demonstrate that the proposed basic and the improved HVNTS have a significant contribution in optimizing the non-productive time of the 5-axis EDM drilling process effectively.