Experimental investigation on various tool path strategies influencing surface quality and form accuracy of CNC milled complex freeform surface

Four tool path strategies such as equal-interval tool paths, parallel tool paths, parallel–tangency tool paths, and freeform tool paths are proposed in computer numerical control milling of a complex freeform surface. The objective is to understand how 3D tool paths influence their machining efficiency, surface quality, and form accuracy. In this study, their scallop heights were less than or equal to 15 μm. First, their scallop heights distributions and 3D tool path distances were theoretically analyzed; then, four tool path strategies were investigated with reference to machining efficiency, surface texture height, surface roughness, and form errors. It is shown that scallop heights distribution can be used to display the surface texture state and predict tool path distance. Experimental results indicate that the surface texture height, the surface roughness, and the form errors were nearly identical on the machined flat location and surface for various tool path strategies, whereas their surface quality and form accuracy are easily destroyed on the abrupt ones except for the parallel tool paths. Although the freeform tool paths produce the shortest tool path distance through 3-axes driving mode, the parallel tool paths offer the best surface quality and form accuracy through 2-axes driving mode. This is because the 3-axes driving and its vector changes on abrupt location easily lead to large machine vibration and movement errors. It is confirmed that the parallel tool path strategy with 2-axes driving mode can improve the surface quality and form accuracy in actual milling of a complex freeform surface.     

变径细长轴类零件的旋风铣削方法研究

提出了一种用旋风铣削代替车削加工变径细长工件的加工方法。介绍了该方法的加工原理和刀具与工件的相对运动关系,设计了数控变径旋风铣床。此加工方法可以有效地提高变径细长工件的径向尺寸精度、表面质量及生产效率,减小工件表面的形状误差,具有广泛的工程意义。     

NC Machining of Freeform Pockets with Arbitrary Wall Geometry Using a Grid-Based Navigation Approach

A tool path must be determined in an efficient manner to generate NC (numerical control) code for machining. This is particularly important when machining freeform pockets with arbitrary wall geometry on a three-axis CNC machine. In this paper, a grid-based 3D navigation algorithm for generating NC tool-path data for both linear interpolation and a combination of linear and circular interpolation is presented for three-axis CNC milling of general pockets with sculptured bottom surfaces. The pocket surface is discretised by defining a grid and the navigation algorithm plans the tool motion. The grid size and the cutter diameter are chosen so that a predefined tolerance for surface roughness is satisfied. The grid-based navigation algorithm is simulated graphically and verified experimentally.     

Barrel cutter design and toolpath planning for high-efficiency machining of freeform surface

Improvement of machining efficiency is always one of the most interesting problems in CNC machining. Traditionally, the ball-end cutter is widely used in sculptured surface machining for the highly flexible controllability. But the process efficiency is low especially for freeform surface machining, which generally needs multiple tool-paths. To improve the machining efficiency of multi-axis flank milling of freeform surface, a novel barrel cutter design method is proposed in this paper. There are two principle parameters determining the revolution surface of the barrel cutter: the radius of the generatrix curve and the maximum rotating radius. The main work in this paper is to calculate the two parameters for strip-width-maximization machining without local over-gouging. Firstly, the curvature properties are introduced by the geometry model of the barrel cutter. Then the contact condition between the barrel cutter and the freeform surface is analyzed, relationship between cutter parameters and surface curvature is derived. To avoid the over-gouging, based on the curvature constraint, the designed surface is fitted into the cutter surface by surface approximation theory, so that the cutter surface can approach to the designed surface as close as possible. After that, toolpath planning method for milling of freeform surface with the barrel cutter is presented. Finally, machining implementations are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

刀具半径补偿中的少切现象与对策

探讨了在数控铣削加工中,利用刀具半径补偿功能编程对工件进行加工时,工件产生少切削现象的原因,并提出了相应的解决措施。     

EQUIVALENT NORMAL CURVATURE APPROACH MILLING MODEL OF MACHINING FREEFORM SURFACES

A new milling methodology with the equivalent normal curvature milling model machining freeform surfaces is proposed based on the normal curvature theorems on differential geometry. Moreover, a specialized whirlwind milling tool and a 5-axis CNC horizontal milling machine are introduced. This new milling model can efficiently enlarge the material removal volume at the tip of the whirlwind milling tool and improve the producing capacity. The machining strategy of this model is to regulate the orientation of the whirlwind milling tool relatively to the principal directions of the workpiece surface at the point of contact, so as to create a full match with collision avoidance between the workpiece surface and the symmetric rotational surface of the milling tool. The practical results show that this new milling model is an effective method in machining complex three- dimensional surfaces. This model has a good improvement on finishing machining time and scallop height in machining the freeform surfaces over other milling processes. Some actual examples for manufacturing the freeform surfaces with this new model are given.     

Space cutter radius compensation method for free form surface end milling

The numerical control (NC) program for multi-axis end milling depends on the parameters of the tool, in particular, the radius of the tool. When there is any tool dimensional change due to various reasons, the user needs to re-generate the NC program, which is a time-consuming procedure. In this article, a cutter radius compensation method for multi-axis end milling is proposed. It takes a general NC program as the input, recovers the normal vectors of the machined surface from the NC program via surface reconstruction, and uses these vectors as compensation vectors to realize space cutter radius compensation. The proposed algorithm of shape reconstruction and normal vector computation has a linear complexity in terms of the number of cutter center location points in the NC program. Thus, real-time computation and compensation is possible. Our method also provides a way to restore the machined surface if the CAD model of the machines surface is not accessible. This has other applications, such as interference detection and manufacturing simulation. The compensation algorithm is shown to be very effective in reducing the number of undercut points through simulation with the software VERICUT and with real milling for real-world NC programs.     

Surface topography analysis in high speed finish milling inclined hardened steel

The surface texture of a milled surface is an inherently important process response in finish milling. It is one of the most commonly used criteria to determine the machinability of a particular workpiece material. However, literature survey on the study of the surface topography analysis relating to the cutter path orientations when high speed finish inclined milling is scant. Previous works were either involved in conventional milling of easy-to-cut workpiece materials or machining at different workpiece inclination angles. Furthermore, none of the previous work has detailed the true surface topography of the machined surface with regards to the cutter condition. Instead, the works provided quantitative values in terms of the Ra value. This article is concerned with evaluating cutter path orientations on an inclined workpiece angle of 75° to simulate finish milling of free form moulds and dies. Surface topography effects are assessed with regards to different cutter path orientations on its surface. The aims of this study are to provide an in-depth understanding on the surface texture produced by various cutter path orientations when high speed finish inclined milling hardened steel at a workpiece inclination angle of 75° using surface topography analysis and determine the best cutter path orientation with respect to the best surface texture achieved. 3D topography maps together with 2D surface profiles are used to assess the experimental results. The conclusion is that milling in a single direction vertical upward orientation gave the best workpiece surface texture.     

对数螺线铲齿成形铣刀切削性能试验

传统的阿基米德螺线齿背的铲齿成形铣刀在重磨前刀面后,切削刃上各点的后角将发生变化,从而影响刀具切削性能的稳定。若改用对数螺线作为铣刀铲背曲线,则克服了阿基米德螺线的不足。本文在两种不同铲背曲线成形铣刀的铣削对比试验基础上,分析了重磨前后铣削力、刀具磨损、工件尺寸精度以及表面粗糙度的变化状况,试验结果表明重磨后,与阿基米德螺线成形铣刀相比,对数螺线成形铣刀能改善刀具的切削性能稳定性。     

自由曲面数控加工刀具的研究

对自由曲面数控加工中的刀具进行了较深入的研究。从刀具有效半径和切削速度的角度,对平头立铣刀在五坐标自由曲面加工中的加工效率与切削性能进行了分析。提出了球头刀和平头刀的刀位计算方法,并对叶片曲面的刀具轨迹进行了仿真模拟。     

数控加工中基于自由曲面表面特性的刀具路径安排

目前CNC上的轨迹控制功能仍主要是直线和圆弧插补,因此当加工自由曲面时,大多只能采用直线或圆弧逼近算法来对曲线进行逼近处理。针对数控加工的实际需求,现在数控系统技术人员对数控机床插补器进行研究并开发出了许多曲线和曲面插补功能。基于曲线插补,在保持进给速度尽可能恒定的条件下,对刀位路径和刀位速度进行离线的曲线拟合,以便于得到用于数控加工的刀位文件。这种方法能有效解决进给速度的波动问题,并能有效压缩刀位文件。为此,提出几种算法来拟合刀位路径和刀位速度轮廓曲线。曲线和曲面插补在数控代码数据量和逼近误差方面都有较大的改善。     

侧铣表面点位轮廓误差预测方法

曲面加工工艺中需要对关键点位的轮廓度误差即点位轮廓误差进行预测,为了提高预测精度,提出了一种侧铣表面点位轮廓误差预测方法.首先利用刀触点和刀位点之间的几何关系,计算得到侧铣扫掠面上的轮廓点阵列;然后结合轮廓度误差的测量原理,利用NURBS曲面拟合方法构建了理想和实际加工表面模型,推导了预测点法线与实际加工表面交点的求解...     

S形刃口球头铣刀加工的误差分析

文章探讨了研制S形球头铣刀的意义，在加工刀具的前刀面和后刀面的数学模型基础上，研究了误差数学模型，并探讨了工业实现的可行性机构，给出了相关的数学公式和加工数据，最后给出加工可行的各参数误差范围，得出结论用2轴可以实现在传统上用4轴数控机床才能加工的S形球头铣刀，并可以保证加工精度。     

Geometric error compensation for five-axis ball-end milling by considering machined surface textures

Arbitrarily adjusting tool poses during error compensation may affect the quality of surface textures. This paper presents one tool center limitation-based geometric error compensation for five-axis ball-end milling to avoid the unexpected machined textures. Firstly, the mechanism of cutter location generation with cuter contact (CC) trajectory is analyzed. Due to zero bottom radius of ball-end cutter, CC points of the surface are only related to the tool center of the cutter. Realizing that, tool center limitation method of ball-end milling is established based on the generation of movements of all axes in order to ensure the machined textures. Then, geometric error compensation of ball-end milling is expressed as optimizing rotation angles of rotary axes by limiting tool centers of cutter locations. Next, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is intergraded into the geometric error compensation to obtain the compensated numerical control (NC) code. The limited region for particles of rotation angles is established, and moving criterion with a mutation operation is presented. With the help of the tool center limitation method, fitnesses of all particles are calculated with the integrated geometric error model. In this way, surface textures are considered and geometric errors of the machine tool are reduced. At last, cutting experiments on five-axis ball-end milling are carried out to testify the effectiveness of the proposed geometric error compensation.     

车铣加工切削机理分析

车铣加工通过将车刀更换为铣刀,增加铣刀转动自由度,基于工件转动和铣刀转动的合成运动,完成对工件的加工.车铣加工具有断屑更容易、切削温度低、切削力小等优点,即使工件低速旋转,也能实现高速切削.对车铣加工的切削机理进行了分析,具体包括刀具磨损机理、切屑形成机理、工件表面质量、难加工材料切削等.     

铲齿铣刀刃磨后对螺旋槽加工精度的影响分析

螺旋槽多采用铲齿成型铣刀加工,刀具沿前刀面刃磨后刃形不变,但其直径将减小,使计算出的铣刀廓形发生变化,其加工的螺旋面端面廓形将产生误差。给出可求出工件端面的截形坐标计算式和实际加工的工件螺旋面方程式,可推算出工件截形与螺旋面的加工误差。     

高速铣削铝合金时切削力和表面质量影响因素的试验研究

对高速铣削典型铝合金框架结构工件时的切削力和加工表面质量进行了试验研究。在高速进给铣削时 ,当进给方向发生改变 ,机床的加减速特性将导致在拐角处进给量减小、铣刀切入角增大 ,从而引起切削力增大和加工振动。在恒切削效率条件下高速铣削铝合金的试验结果表明 ,高速铣削时宜采用较小的轴向切深和较大的径向切深 ,以减小铣削力、提高加工表面质量 ;刀具动平衡偏心量是高速铣削时引起轴向振纹的主要原因     

Form-truing error compensation of diamond grinding wheel in CNC envelope grinding of free-form surface

In computer numerical control (CNC) grinding of free-form surface, an ideal arc profile of trued diamond grinding wheel is generally employed to plan 3D tool paths, whereas its form-truing errors greatly influence the ground form accuracy. A form-truing error compensation approach is proposed by using an approached wheel arc profile to replace the previously designed ideal one. The objective is to directly compensate the trued wheel arc-profile errors. It may avoid the time consumption of traditional approach that compensates the measured coordinate point errors of workpiece to an iterative grinding operation. First, the 3D tool path surface was constructed to plan the 3D tool paths. Second, the CNC arc truing of grinding wheel was conducted to analyze the form-truing error distribution relative to the applied wheel arc profile. Then, the form-truing error compensation was carried out in CNC envelope grinding. Finally, the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm was used to match the measured coordinate points of workpiece to ideal free-form surface. It is shown that the 3D tool path surface constructed is practicable to plan arbitrary 3D tool paths for the form-truing error compensation. The ICP matching may be used to investigate 3D ground form error distribution. It is confirmed that the form-truing error compensation can directly improve the 3D ground form accuracy. It may decrease the 3D ground form error by about 20% when the 2D form-truing error is reduced by about 58% using the same truing conditions for CNC grinding.     

Cutter workpiece engagement region and surface topography prediction in five-axis ball-end milling

Based on the machining tool path and the true trajectory equation of the cutting edge relative to the workpiece, the engagement region between the cutter and workpiece is analyzed and a new model is developed for the numerical simulation of the machined surface topography in a multiaxis ball-end milling process. The influence of machining parameters such as the feed per tooth, the radial depth of cut, the angle orientation tool, the cutter runout, and the tool deflection upon the topography are taken into account in the model. Based on the cutter workpiece engagement, the cutting force model is established. The tool deflections are extracted and used in the surface topography model for simulation. The predicted force profiles were compared to the measured ones. A reasonable agreement between the experimental and the predicted results was found.     

A numerical study of the effects of cutter runout on milling process geometry based on true tooth trajectory

Cutter runout is a common phenomenon affecting the cutting performances in milling operations. To date, most of the milling process models considering cutter runout were established based on the circular tooth path approximation, which brought errors into the runout estimation. In this paper, a new approach is presented for modelling the milling process geometry with cutter runout based on the true tooth trajectory of cutter in milling. The mathematical relationship between the trajectories generated by successive cutter teeth with runout is analysed. The milling process geometrical parameters, including the instantaneous undeformed chip thickness, the entry and exit angles of a cutting tooth, and the ideal peripheral machined workpiece surface roughness, are modelled according to the true tooth trajectories. Numerical method is used to solve the derived transcendental equations. A simulation study of the effects of cutter runout on milling process geometry is conducted using the models. It was found that the change of cutter radius for a tooth relative to its preceding one is the most important factor in evaluating the effects of cutter runout.