A CL surface deformation approach for constant scallop height tool path generation from triangular mesh

Abstract

In this paper, we present a cutter location (CL) surface deformation approach for constant scallop height tool path generation from triangular mesh. The triangular mesh model of the stereo lithography (STL) format is offset to the CL surface and then deformed in accordance with the deformation vectors, which are computed by the slope and the curvature of the CL surface. In addition, the tool path, which is computed by slicing the deformed CL surface, is inversely deformed by those same deformation vectors to a tool path with a constant scallop height. The proposed method is implemented, and a tool path is generated and tested by simulation and by numerical control (NC) machining. The scallop height was found to be constant over the entire machined surface, demonstrating much better quality than that of mesh slicing, under the same constraints for machining time.

Smooth tool path generation for 5-axis machining of triangular mesh surface with nonzero genus

“…Kim et al [5] gave a cutter location (CL) surface deformation-based method. This method deforms the CL surface to a new surface and then inversely maps the curves obtained by slicing the surface into iso-scallop tool path.…”

Double spiral tool-path generation and linking method for complex pocket machining

“…In this paper, the machining path interval is determined by means of the scallop-height method. As a mature method, simplified equations can be found in some references (e.g., Feng and Li, 2002;Kim and Yang, 2006).…”

Robotic approach to improve turbine surface finish

“…For the initial machining of the turbine blades, the tool's paths are generated such that the maximum scallop height does not exceed a given value [3][4]. For economical reasons, this value is set to 0.2mm at Alstom's fabrication plant.…”