Tool path transformation of tilted plane machining features for five-axis numerical control programming
Journal
Journal of the Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineers, Transactions of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, Series C/Chung-Kuo Chi Hsueh Kung Ch'eng Hsuebo Pao
Journal Volume
35
Journal Issue
6
Pages
493-498
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
Manufacturers in industries such as aerospace and the mold making are tasked with machining complex products with free-form surfaces requiring a high degree of precision. Five-axis machine tools, featuring two rotary axes, are most commonly selected for machining these kinds of products. Owing to increased global competition and rapidly changing market demands, determining the means to generate a five-axis numerical control (NC) program has become an issue of critical importance. Typical five-axis machined parts often include machining features such as holes and grooves on the tilted plane. These features are generally cut with five-axis positioning or 3+2 axis machining. In 3+2 axis machining, a 3-axis NC program is executed with the cutting tool locked in a tilted position using the two rotary axes of the machine. Although many advanced CAD/CAM systems provide functions with which to create tool paths for 3+2 axis machining, the price of these features far exceeds that of 3-axis machining. This work presents a methodology for defining a series of tilted planes to enable the easy transformation of a 3-axis tool to any tilted plane. The study developed a window-based transformation system written in Borland C++ Builder in which five-axis NC programs can be generated according to the definition of the tilted plane and the postprocessor developed in this study. Solid cutting simulation software, VERICUT?, is utilized to confirm the accuracy of the five-axis NC data. ? 2014, Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society. All right reserved.
Subjects
C++ (programming language)
Computer programming
Computer software
Cutting tools
Machine tools
Numerical control systems
Cutting simulation
Degree of precision
Five-axis machine tools
Five-axis numerical control
Global competition
Machining feature
Tilted plane
Transformation systems
Computer aided design
Type
journal article