An optimization model of machining process route for low carbon manufacturing

Process route planning selects and defines the whole machining process involved in transforming workblanks into end products. Our research finds that the decisions of processing methods, machines, cutting tools, and sequence of process stages during process route planning have significant impact on carbon emissions of the following manufacture processes. Firstly, a carbon emission and efficiency estimation model of process route is established to achieve the goal of reducing carbon emissions as well as increasing efficiency based on the machining features analyzing. Then, the mathematical model to express process route optimization problem is developed with objectives on minimizing the total carbon emission and total process time. A non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm is introduced to solve this problem, and a simulation study on a machine motor seat is conducted in order to verify the feasibility and practicability of the proposed model. The result of the experiment shows that our model can achieve the goal of reducing emission as well as maintaining system efficiency.