Tool Path Generation Algorithm for Five-axis NC

Machining with a Toroidal Cutter

CHEN Liangji¹  CHENG Junwei¹  WANG Yongzhang²

(1. Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Zhengzhou Institute of Aeronautics, Zhengzhou 450015；
2. School of Electromechanical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001)

Abstract: The theory of differential geometry is applied to study interference-free tool path generation for five-axis machining with a toroidal cutter. The distributing functions of curvature of tool and work-piece surfaces are respectively deduced. With the two functions, calculations of feeding step length, machining interval and adjacent cutter contact point etc. are carried out and condition of identifying whether gouging or not is established. Using the condition, the cutters’ attitude angles can be updated to avoid interference. The paths calculation to a real surface is carried out and it can be seen from the results that the proposed method can effectively avoid gouging and shorten total length of machining paths.

Key words: Five-axis machining  Tool path generation  Interference

CLC No: TG659

黑龙江省科技攻关基金资助项目(GB05A501). Received 20070128, received in revised form 20071028

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