Interference-Free Tool Approach Directions in Multi-Axis NC Machining of Sculptured Surfaces

자유 곡면의 다축 NC 가공시 간섭 없는 공구 접근 자세 영역

In this paper, an algorithm of computing interference-free tool approach directions(visibility cone) with consideration of tool volume at an arbitrary point of a sculptured surface is developed. The surface is first approximated into a polyhedron with smaller subpatches and the tool approach directions are evenly sampled so as to test accessibility. Then the visibility cone is computed by testing if each approach direction is interfered by other surface subpatches. The results are represented as the binary spherical map which transform geometric information on sphere into aogebraic one. The developed algorithm is implemented and tested by several sculptured surfaces, convincing it can be easily used as a tool for not only interference- free tool approach directions but also determining process planning of multi-axis NC machining of sculp- tured surfaces