CNC Process Flow with Programming

[himber]

I am building a set of PPAP documents (Process Flow, PFMEA, Control Plan) for our CNC machining operations. I've already build these documents for our additive manufacturing operations, and in those documents I included steps that create the build files for the 3D printers.
My question is: should I also include CAM programming in the steps for the CNC process? All the example process documents I've seen surrounding machining so far do not include CAM programming.

 

[Michael_M]

I do not know about the PPAP side (I don't have to do any of that.......stuff) but for the process mapping, I would think you would have too since the CAM system is used to make the part and if there is a failure in the CAM system, you can make a bad part.

 

[himber]

My manufacturing engineer and I are in agreement with you Michael. The next question is, where to include it in the process map. So far, we've landed on including it as a "Post to machine" step right after retrieving material from inventory.

The actual CAM programming (as an offline process) happens concurrently with other steps (e.g., Incoming material inspection, move material to inventory, etc.). This made it very difficult to properly place a "Write CNC program with CAM software" step.

 

[Golfman25]

My manufacturing engineer and I are in agreement with you Michael. The next question is, where to include it in the process map. So far, we've landed on including it as a "Post to machine" step right after retrieving material from inventory.

The actual CAM programming (as an offline process) happens concurrently with other steps (e.g., Incoming material inspection, move material to inventory, etc.). This made it very difficult to properly place a "Write CNC program with CAM software" step.

I would put it as a side/support process. Do you reuse any programs for repeat orders?

 

[himber]

Yes, we do reuse programs. How would a support process be documented in a Process Flow Diagram?

 

[Golfman25]

Yes, we do reuse programs. How would a support process be documented in a Process Flow Diagram?

Off to the side, feeding into the normal process flow. Or I suppose you could use some sort of if/then decision making -- if you have a current program, skip, otherwise create a program.