类回转体曲面数控加工刀位轨迹规划

针对类回转体曲面高速进给数控加工,提出螺旋线驱动方式下圆环刀具加工轨迹的规划方法。构造螺旋线作为类回转体曲面的导动线,根据曲面上已知接触点轨迹的切线方向估算后续导动点对应的初始接触点。计算初始接触点处圆环刀具的刀心位置,再计算初始刀心位置与后续导动点对应的目标刀位点分别在圆周方向以及轴向的距离差值,利用相邻刀位点与相邻接触点存在的准相似关系,得到接近目标接触点的搜索方向和步长,经过迭代得到目标接触点和刀位点。在分析接触点处曲面曲率和圆环刀曲率的基础上,给出圆环刀加工误差计算方法。将所提出的算法用于鞋楦的五轴数控轨迹规划中,计算结果表明,该算法搜索效率较高,具有理论和实际应用价值,并通过鞋楦的五轴数控加工试验验证了算法的有效性。     

自由曲面五轴变步长数控加工刀轨生成方法

为了在满足逼近误差要求的同时最大程度减少冗余刀轨,对自由曲面提出了一种五轴变步长数控加工刀轨生成方法.首先对刀触点轨迹基于线性误差计算出初始刀触点点集,再以局部干涉调整前倾角的方式计算出无干涉刀位点和刀轴矢量;以最大非线性误差刀位处到刀触点轨迹的最小值作为相邻刀位点之间的逼近误差,并基于数据点自适应离散法计算逼近误差;...     

Multi-cutter selection and cutter location (CL) path generation for five-axis end-milling (finish cut) of sculptured surfaces

This paper presents an optimization method for planning five-axis end milling (finish cut) of sculptured surfaces with multi-cutters. Compared to single-cutter machining, the application of multi-cutters can produce much shorter cutter location (CL) paths and, hence, reduce the machining time. The work presented in this paper focuses on the selection of an optimal multi-cutter set that is utilized to finish different regions of a design surface, followed by the generation of CL paths for each region/cutter combination. The planning starts by identifying all the feasible cutters that form all the possible multi-cutter sets by evaluating their accessibility. The candidate multi-cutter sets are then extracted by maintaining every cutter's cutting region sufficiently large. Based on a proposed method for machining time estimation without generating the tool path, the optimal multi-cutter set with the best cutting efficiency is selected. The iso-planar CL paths are then generated for the cutters in the optimal set for machining their allocated surface regions. Examples are given to show the validity and robustness of the developed methods.     

Design and implementation of a real-time NURBS surface interpolator

In recent years, various parametric curve interpolators have been proposed for high-speed and high-accuracy machining. However, these methods are based on a constant cutter location (CL) velocity. Hence, the cutter contact (CC) velocity along the surface tends to vary, resulting in a nonuniform machining performance. Furthermore, machining complex surfaces requires the provision of a large number of tool paths and therefore the associated NC data files are generally very large. To overcome these limitations, the current study presents a novel real-time NURBS surface interpolator which ensures a constant CC velocity along the CC paths and its intervals. A PC-based real-time motion control network utilizing SSCNET is developed to achieve the goal of multi-axis synchronous motion. In this study, both the NURBS surface interpolator algorithms and the SSCNET communication protocols are realized by Embedded XP with the RTX real-time kernel. The experimental results confirm that the proposed real-time NURBS surface interpolator is capable of achieving a satisfactory performance.     

Optimal CNC plunge cutter selection and tool path generation for multi-axis roughing free-form surface impeller channel

Plunge milling is the most effective way for rough machining of impeller parts, but previous research had not considered the optimization of plunge cutter selection and tool path. In this paper, a new method for optimizing the plunge cutter selection and tool path generation in multi-axis plunge milling of free-form surface impeller channel is proposed in order to improve the efficiency in rough machining. Firstly, in the case of fixing a rotation axis at a certain angle in five-axis machine, a mathematical representation is formulated for the geometric model of the cutter interfering the impeller, and an optimization model of the cutter size is established at a cutter contact point on the impeller channel surface, so the largest tool could be determined. Secondly, by analyzing the machine tool movement characteristics, the geometric constraint model of the plunge tool path which relative to the largest tool, step distance, and row space is established, and a tool orientation calculation method of impeller channel machining is given, and then, the plunge tool path and tool orientation could be obtained. Finally, the generated tool path and tool orientation are simulated and verified in practical processing. Simulation and experimental result shows that the rough machining efficiency of the impeller part is improved up to 40 % with this method.     

基于定向距离理论的五轴加工刀具轨迹规划算法

针对环形刀五轴加工自由曲面的残留误差问题,在传统等残留高度算法的基础上,提出了一种基于定向距离理论的等最大残留高度刀具轨迹规划算法。首先根据微分几何理论计算已知刀触点的初始侧向行距,并在侧向行距方向进行偏置得到相邻刀触点;然后以基于定向距离理论的残高误差计算模型对相邻刀触点间的实际残高值进行计算;最后通过迭代计算规划出等最大残留高度的相邻刀具轨迹。如此循环,从而获得整个曲面的刀具轨迹。实验结果表明,相对于商用软件MasterCAM9.0,该算法在充分保证曲面加工质量的同时最大限度地减小了刀具轨迹的总长度,从而提高了加工效率。     

从测量的散乱数据点云直接生成数控刀具路径的研究

提出了一种直接从测量的散乱数据点云用球头刀对自由曲面进行三轴数控加工时生成刀具路径的方法。不同于现有散乱点云基于逆向工程的刀具路径生成方法,本法考虑并估计了曲面加工误差和粗糙度。将散乱数据点云向XY平面投影,以获得的投影边界为刀具路径的主方向,然后根据曲面所需的加工误差和残留高度要求划分该投影数据点云,得到一系列刀位网格单元。通过最小化每个刀位网格单元的加工误差以确定每个刀位网格的节点位置,加权平均相关联刀位网格节点来对齐相邻刀位网格单元的边缘。为了缩短加工时间,裁去刀位路径上多余的线段,最终生成高效合理的数控加工刀具路径。已用实测的数据点云验证了本法直接生成刀具路径的有效性。     

Effect of tool tilt angle on machining strip width in five-axis flat-end milling of free-form surfaces

This paper examines the effect of tool tilt angle on machining strip width in the determination of optimal tool orientation and feed direction in five-axis flat-end milling. The machining strip width is evaluated using the swept profile of the flat-end mill, avoiding both local and global gouging of the tool. An optimization problem is formulated to maximize the machining strip width over feasible gouge-free tool orientations for a constant-feed direction. By solving the optimization problem and analyzing the geometry of the machining strip width, it is shown that identifying the optimal tool tilt angle, instead of following the common practice of setting the tool tilt angle as zero, can significantly increase the machining strip width, especially for 3D free-form surface machining. The optimization has also been extended to identify the optimal feed direction that maximizes the machining strip width at a given cutter contact (CC) point. The minimum curvature direction has been considered as the optimal feed direction at a CC point by researchers. Our results indicate that although the minimum curvature direction is mostly not the optimal feed direction in free-form surface machining, the minimum curvature direction does represent a good approximation of the optimal feed direction at a CC point, in particular for a free-form surface with low-curvature relative to the tool size.     

基于机床运动学约束球头刀多轴加工刀轴矢量优化方法

针对目前航空发动机叶片进排气边加工精度和表面质量较差的问题,提出了一种基于机床运动学约束球头刀多轴加工刀轴矢量优化方法。建立刀位优化变量与刀位数据之间的关系方程,同时建立刀位数据与机床回转轴角度之间的运动变换方程,从而推导出刀位优化变量与机床回转轴角度之间的关系方程。通过求解上述方程得到球头刀多轴加工复杂曲面的刀轴矢量计算公式。在此基础上,给出球头刀多轴加工刀轴矢量优化方法和刀轨生成方法。同时,以某航空发动机叶片为例,分析了本文算法和Sturz算法对机床回转轴角度的影响。分别利用本文算法和Sturz算法生成该叶片进气边加工的刀轨,并在五轴数控机床上进行加工试验。试验结果表明,该算法能够避免加工过程中机床回转轴的大幅波动,使机床轴运动更加平稳和光滑,从而提高曲面的加工质量和加工效率,具有一定的实际应用价值。     

Adaptive tool-path generation on point-sampled surfaces

In this paper, we present a new approach to generate tool paths for machining point sampled surfaces using a direct projection algorithm, which is based on generating tool paths along planar intersection curves. In our implementation, a guide surface, with simple geometry like planes or cylinder surfaces, is first created according to the bound volume of the point cloud and initial tool paths are planned on it in terms of the motion pattern of the cutters. For each point of the initial tool paths, then, the corresponding cutter contact point (CC) of the point set surface is located by projecting the point onto the point cloud using the direct projection algorithm. In order to obtain adaptive cutter location points (CL), a least squares-based curve fitting method is applied to approximate the CC points using piecewise cubic Bezier, and a numerical method derived to estimate the length of the curve is used to adjust the position of the points along the curve, and make them evenly spaced on the curve with equal arc lengths. In addition, considering that offset curves or surfaces are necessary for locating CL points in many applications, such as machining using ball end milling cutter, torus ended milling cutters, an offset strategy for cubic Bezier curves is also studied. By testing the proposed method on several point clouds, it has been demonstrated to be promising.     

Five-axis tool path generation for 3D curves created by projection on B-spline surfaces

This paper presents a new tool-path-generating methodology for five-axis machining of 3D curves that are projected from 2D planes onto free-form part surfaces. In our approach, the scanning for mapping is planned directly on parameter domain. The DXF pattern was scaled to parametric dimension and transferred to parametric domain, and thus, all entity coordinates were transferred from X,Y to (u,v). By using a B-spline surface equation algorithm, the projected curves were obtained on a free-form surface for tool path generation. 2D pattern models were delineated with the DXF format; 3D free-form surfaces were delineated with the STEP-AP214 format and the “B_Spline_surface_with_knots” entity was used to define the free-form B-spline surface geometry. Windows® based software written in Borland® Delphi has been developed according to the presented algorithm. Cutter contact (CC) data and surface normals for CC points were obtained with this software. The obtained CC data and surface normal data were transferred to cutter location (CL) data and the tool path verification is obtained by simulation successfully.     

A CL surface deformation approach for constant scallop height tool path generation from triangular mesh

In this paper, we present a cutter location (CL) surface deformation approach for constant scallop height tool path generation from triangular mesh. The triangular mesh model of the stereo lithography (STL) format is offset to the CL surface and then deformed in accordance with the deformation vectors, which are computed by the slope and the curvature of the CL surface. In addition, the tool path, which is computed by slicing the deformed CL surface, is inversely deformed by those same deformation vectors to a tool path with a constant scallop height. The proposed method is implemented, and a tool path is generated and tested by simulation and by numerical control (NC) machining. The scallop height was found to be constant over the entire machined surface, demonstrating much better quality than that of mesh slicing, under the same constraints for machining time.     

An accurate surface error optimization for five-axis machining of freeform surfaces

This paper presents an accurate surface error interpolation algorithm for five-axis machining of freeform surfaces. One of the most important steps in the interpolation process is to calculate the next cutter contact (CC) point according to the present one. In this paper, the next CC point is calculated by an accurate chord evaluation method. This method is developed based on the cutting simulation process, which can be vividly described as firstly planting dense grasses on the tool path curve and then cutting them when the tool moves by. The left lengths of the grasses either positive or negative are considered to be the machining error. The method is accurate also because the tool geometry and the tool orientation changes during five-axis machining are taken into consideration. With this method, the chord errors between CC points are controlled uniform along the tool path. The proposed interpolation algorithm is compared with the commercial CAM systems like PowerMILL and UG. The results show that the proposed algorithm can significantly reduce the number of cutter locations meanwhile confine the chord error. A real cutting experiment is implemented, and the result indicates its promising value in industrial applications.     

多轴加工无干涉刀具路径生成算法研究

多轴数控加工中刀具路径的计算直接影响加工零件的精度和加工效率。本文介绍了一种平底刀多轴无干涉刀位轨迹生成算法,在刀轴方向上消除干涉量。首先对参数曲面进行三角离散化,根据曲面相应点的法矢布置初始刀具位姿。构造曲面和刀具的OBB模型,通过包围盒间的快速相交测试得到刀具与曲面的干涉三角片,在此基础上,采用解析方法计算刀具与干涉三角片在刀轴方向上的干涉量,修正刀位点,最后得到无干涉刀位轨迹。     

Optimising tool positioning for achieving multi-point contact based on symmetrical error distribution curve in sculptured surface machining

The multi-point tool positioning algorithms produce much larger machining strip width than the single-point algorithms and apparently reduce the actual machining time. This paper presents a tool positioning algorithm for multi-point machining of sculptured surface, which is excellent at dealing with both of concave and convex surfaces. The proposed method is based on the middle-point error control (MPEC) method, which means the connection point between cutter and surface corresponds to the middle point of error distribution curve. Usually, only one cut contact (CC) point can be obtained with this method. Thus, the proposed method improved the MPEC method for achieving two CC points. At first, the shape of error distribution curve is investigated, and its asymmetry is evaluated. Secondly, the error distribution curve becomes symmetrical after the cutter is rotated with a roll angle, and the cutter is separated with surface at the same time. Finally, the minimum tilt angle is found, and two CC points are obtained without gouging. Machining experiment is conducted to verify the proposed method, and the result reveals that the machining strip width is increased apparently and the tool position is almost unchanged after the adjustment with proposed method. Simulation, measurement, and analysis are also given in the part of the experiment.     

基于正向杜邦指标线的五坐标侧铣加工

为实现叶轮类零件的多坐标侧铣加工,通过引入正向杜邦指标线,利用鼓锥形刀对自由曲面的五坐标侧铣加工进行研究。针对具有严格凸切削刃的侧铣加工刀具,提出不发生局部干涉的充要条件是切触点处刀具曲面的正向杜邦指标线位于被加工曲面的正向杜邦指标线之内。给出利用鼓锥形刀侧铣加工自由曲面时实施干涉检查的判断准则以及消除干涉的修正方法,推导出具有严格凸切削刃的刀具在给定的残留高度下侧铣加工带宽的计算方法。在此基础上,利用等残留高度法实现鼓锥形刀侧铣加工自由曲面无干涉刀具轨迹的生成。算例表明,在相同残留高度下,鼓锥形刀侧铣较之球头刀加工效率提高37.44%,说明侧铣加工是提高切削效率和加工质量的一种有效途径。     

数控加工中定曲线方程轮廓的等弦高误差拟合算法研究

针对指定曲线方程轮廓,提出了等弦高误差拟合算法,通过指定弦高误差,应用非均匀递归插值方法获得刀触点,通过拟合轮廓等距偏置获得刀位点,算法简单可靠且效率相对较高,对削步长具有沿加工方向的曲率适应性,加工效率高。可应用于2轴及2.5轴轮廓加工以及线切割加工。     

Tool Positioning Algorithm Based on Smooth Tool Paths for 5-axis Machining of Sculptured Surfaces

The current research of the 5-axis tool positioning algorithm mainly focuses on searching the local optimal tool position without gouging and interference at a cutter contact(CC) point,while not considering the smoothness and continuity of a whole tool path.When the surface curvature varies significantly,a local abrupt change of tool paths will happen.The abrupt change has a great influence on surface machining quality.In order to keep generated tool paths smooth and continuous,a five-axis tool positioning algorithm based on smooth tool paths is presented.Firstly,the inclination angle,the tilt angle and offset distance of the tool at a CC point are used as design variables,and the machining strip width is used as an objective function,an optimization model of a local tool positioning algorithm is thus established.Then,a vector equation of tool path is derived by using the above optimization model.By analyzing the equation,the main factors affecting the tool path quality are obtained.Finally,a new tool position optimization model is established,and the detailed process of tool position optimization is also given.An experiment is conducted to machine an aircraft turbine blade by using the proposed algorithm on a 5-axis blade grinding machine,and the machined blade surface is measured with a coordinate measuring machine(CMM).Experimental and measured results show that the proposed algorithm can ensure tool paths are smooth and continuous,improve the tool path quality,avoid the local abrupt change of tool paths,and enhance machining quality and machining efficiency of sculptured surfaces.     

叶轮数控加工中的干涉检查

针对自由曲面离心叶轮多坐标数控加工中可能出现刀具与叶片干涉的问题,提出了一种干涉检查方法。首先计算出叶片曲面的等距面,等距面的偏移距离为刀具半径,再根据所给定的刀位数据得出刀轴的表达式,然后计算该等距面与刀轴是否有交点,如果有交点则存在干涉,否则计算叶片边界线到刀轴的最小距离,若此距离大于刀具半径则无干涉,否则存在干涉。该方法计算量小,对于叶轮数控加工编程中大量刀位数据的干涉检查,可以显著地节省计算机运算时间。     

截面包络法加工复杂螺旋面的几何仿真算法

以截面包络法数控加工螺旋面为例,给出了一种基于啮合基本定理的点接触包络加工表面的几何仿真算法。通过分析数控加工中刀具与工件的相对进给运动,得到刀触点的啮合方程式,由此可求得加工表面上的刀触点—几何仿真点。几何仿真的计算结果,用于螺杆加工的编程误差分析取得了良好的效果,对于提高数控编程精度具有重要意义