• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.109-114
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• 2011

An impeller is difficult to machine because of severe collision due to the complex shape, overlapping and twisted shape that form impeller blades. So, most CAM software companies have developed CAM module for manufacturing impeller in addition to their CAM software. But it is not still easy for inexperienced users to machine impellers. The purpose of this paper is the development of automatic CAM module for manufacturing impeller(E-ICAM) which is based on visual basic language and it is used CATIA graphical environment in order to be easily machining impellers. Automatic CAM module for manufacturing of impellers generates tool path, and proposes recommended cutting condition according to the material of stock and tool. In addition, it has also included a post processor for 5-axis control machining. Therefore the user can easily machine impellers using this automation module.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.705-711
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• 2015

Five-Axis machines can generate undesirable defects such as the undercutting and overcutting errors that frequently occur in the three-axis machining process. It is therefore necessary to develop a program for NC-code generation, whereby the cutter posture is considered to decrease the occurrence of defects. In previous studies, the Easy-Impeller CAM(E-ICAM), an automatic CAM program used for the five-axis machining of impellers, was developed; however, when E-ICAM is used to machine an impeller, it is possible to gouge the hub and blade. Therefore, the aim of this study is the establishment of a formula for each type of endmill to minimize gouging according to the cutter posture, in consideration of several factors that affect accuracy in the machining of an impeller. This study also aimed to improve the performance and accuracy of E-ICAM in the manufacturing of impellers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

An impeller is difficult to machine due to the complex, overlapping and twisted shapes that form the blades of an impeller. Therefore, most CAM software companies have developed a CAM module for manufacturing an impeller in addition to their CAM software. However, it is not easy for inexperienced users to machine impellers. The purpose of this paper is to outline the development of an automatic CAM module for the manufacturing of an impeller (E-ICAM) which is based on visual basic language and which uses a CATIA graphical environment in order to simplify the machining of impellers. The automatic CAM module generates a tool path and proposes the recommended cutting condition according to the stock and tool material. In addition, it includes a post-processor for five-axis control machining. Therefore, a user can easily machine impellers using this automation module. There are two types of impellers: the closed and open types. The closed-type impeller consists of the body and cover parts. To combine these two parts, it is necessary to create tap holes on the shroud of the body. Therefore, in the study, a drilling CAM program for a closed-type impeller is developed and manufactured by creating NC data from the developed drilling program. After manufacturing the test specimen, its compatibility was verified.