Research On Adaptive Tool Path Generation Technology Based On Loop Subdivision

Complex geometric parts with free form surfaces are widely used in aerospace,die-mold and automotive industries. The CNC machining of these sculptured partsis of one of the key technologies during production. Triangular mesh surface isbecoming popular in CAE systems owing to its fast and flexible, simple datastructure and topological flexibility. The research of tool-path planning ontriangular mesh surface is important for scattered data points NC machining andrealizing the integration of CAE/CAM，which can shorten the manufacturing cycle.Tool-path planning method on triangular mesh surface is studied in this paper,aimed at improving the accuracy and efficiency of the triangular mesh CNCmachining. In order to get constant precision tool path，the error is looking as acontrol condition of the original triangular mesh adaptive subdivisio n by using theprinciple of the Loop subdivision, and tool path is obtained on the subdivided mesh.Some details investigated in this paper are stated as follows.(1) The quick obtaining the boundary of the triangular mesh is discussed. Theboundary of the mesh, in which the irregular data is distributed or cannot beobtained directly from the point is obtained based on the proposed boundaryextraction method.(2) Combining the linear error and rotational error generated from themovement of the tool on the mesh surface as the design tolerance. Under thecondition of satisfying the required accuracy, adaptively subdividing the triangularmesh by controlling the design tolerances. Finally, The position of the cuttercontact points in each of the tool path is optimized, and the corresponding cutterlocation points are generated. A adaptive subdivided method of Loop tool pathalgorithm based on triangular mesh surface is proposed.(3) The machining precision and efficiency of the proposed algorithm isanalyzed and tested with different triangular mesh surfaces. Comparative resultsbetween constant scallop-height tool path planning methods indicate that thepresented algorithm is of higher accuracy.