Rational two-parameter families of spheres and rational offset surfaces

The present paper investigates two-parameter families of spheres in R³${\mathbb{R}}^3$ and their corresponding two-dimensional surfaces Φ$\Phi$ in R⁴${\mathbb{R}}^4$. Considering a rational surface Φ$\Phi$ in R⁴${\mathbb{R}}^4$, the envelope surface Ψ$\Psi$ of the corresponding family of spheres in R³${\mathbb{R}}^3$ is typically non-rational. Using a classical sphere-geometric approach, we prove that the envelope surface Ψ$\Psi$ and its offset surfaces admit rational parameterizations if and only if Φ$\Phi$ is a rational sub-variety of a rational isotropic hyper-surface in R⁴${\mathbb{R}}^4$. The close relation between the envelope surfaces Ψ$\Psi$ and rational offset surfaces in R³${\mathbb{R}}^3$ is elaborated in detail. This connection leads to explicit rational parameterizations for all rational surfaces Φ$\Phi$ in R⁴${\mathbb{R}}^4$ whose corresponding two-parameter families of spheres possess envelope surfaces admitting rational parameterizations. Finally we discuss several classes of surfaces sharing this property.     

Generating cutter swept envelopes in five-axis milling by two-parameter families of spheres

This paper presents an efficient parametric approach of determining the shape of the envelope surface by a generalized cutter that follows five-axis tool path during NC machining. In this approach the cutter is modeled as a canal surface. By considering the tool motions the cutter is decomposed into a set of characteristic and great circles which are generated by two-parameter families of spheres. The center of a sphere from these families is described by two parameters which represent the spine curve and the tool path, and the radius of the sphere is described by one parameter representing the spine curve. Considering the relationship between characteristic and great circles the grazing points on the tool surface are identified. Analytically it is proven for the NC cutter geometries that any point on the envelope surface is located at the intersection of the characteristic and great circles. Then based on the proofs a closed-form solution for computing the grazing points generated by a surface of revolution is presented. The presented methodology is reduced to a simpler parametric form when the NC cutters are described by pipe surfaces.     

On the convexity of parametric Bézier triangular surfaces

In this paper, we discuss the convexity of parametric Bézier triangular patches, give some sufficient conditions of it to be convex, which only depend on the edge vectors and twist vectors. All the conditions we obtained can be served as the extension of the convexity preserving conditions of functional Bézier triangular patches.