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Tool path planning for five-axis flank milling with developable surface approximation

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Abstract

This paper presents a novel approach that automatically generates an interference-free tool path for five-axis flank milling of a ruled surface. A boundary curve of the machined surface is subdivided into curve segments. Each segment works as a guide curve in the design method for developable Bézier surface that controls a developable patch for approximating the surface with available degrees of freedom. Geometric algorithms are proposed for calculating consecutive patches with G1 continuity across the patch boundary. A tapered tool can move along the rulings of these patches without inducing local tool interference as a result of their developability. The machining deviation is controlled by the surface approximation error. A machining test is conducted with the generated CL data and the result verifies the feasibility of the proposed approach. This work successfully transforms avoidance of tool interference into a geometric modeling problem and provides a simple solution. It thus demonstrates a good potential for the developable surface theory of five-axis flank machining .

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan

    Chih-Hsing Chu & Jang-Ting Chen

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  1. Chih-Hsing Chu
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  2. Jang-Ting Chen
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Chu, CH., Chen, JT. Tool path planning for five-axis flank milling with developable surface approximation. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 29, 707–713 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-005-2564-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-005-2564-6

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