Tool path generation for five-axis sculptured surface machining with a toroidal cutter. (25th October 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Tao; Li, Changping; Wang, Haichun
• Is Part Of: International journal of machining and machinability of materials. Volume 8:Number 3/4(2010)
• Page Start: 372
• Page End: 383
• Publication Date: 2010-10-25
• Subjects: sculptured surfaces -- curvature -- toroidal cutters -- tool path generation -- 5-axis machining -- five-axis machining -- optimisation -- tool position -- tool orientation -- simulation; Machining -- Periodicals; Metals -- Machinability -- Periodicals; 671.35
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-5711

Abstract

This paper presents an algorithm to generate tool paths for five-axis sculptured surface machining with a toroidal cutter based on optimal tool position and orientation. The toroidal cutting surface offers a large range of radius of curvatures. Furthermore, the cutter orientation varies depending on the curvature of surface. Thus, the proposed method is much better than the conventional method with a fixed orientation. To verity the usefulness of the developed algorithm, a computer simulation program is coded using C+ + language. The proposed method can be integrated into CAM systems to improve five-axis sculptured surfaces machining.