Scallop-conformed Iso-planar Tool Path Generation Algorithm For Sculptured Surface Machining With Arbitrary Milling Cutter

The application of sculptured surface in aerospace, automobile, material and mechanical manufacturing and other fields becomes more and more extensive, andthe NCmillingis the most important technology in sculptured surface machining. In the process of NCmilling,the tool path quality directly affects the machining quality and machining efficiency.This paper is based on the iso-planar method of too path generation algorithms,using the 3D shape-generating profile to calculate the scallop points and iso-scallop curves as the basis for step-over adjustment. We implement the algorithm of iso-planar for both 3-axis and 5-axis machining, which can also be used for the entire 6-parameter APT cutters. Based on the above research, a software prototype system is developed and the generated tool paths meet the maximum scallop requirements, and solves the problems like low machining efficiency, inaccuratescallop calculation and non-applicability of all cutters of traditional iso-planar method.This papertakes the mold with typical sculptured compound surfaces as the case, appliedthe CAM software that had integrated the algorithm to generate finishing toolpaths by adjusting the cutting parameters and cutter parameters. Then we analyze the paths with UG software, find that the scallop between paths meet the maximum scallop requirements and each path is smoothing.