An algorithm for surface design and tool path generation in wire-cut electrical discharge machining

This paper proposes a CAD/CAM mathematical foundation to design ruled surfaces for wire-cut electrical discharge machining (EDM). This method combines the boundary planes concept, the coordinate representation of lines, control lines and design function to generate free form ruled surfaces. The tool motion and offset surface can also be generated simply by the same approach for computer numerical control (CNC) wire-cut EDM. The algorithm, being different from conventional methods, can present a surface or tool path concisely and uniquely. A numerical example is given to illustrate the proposed approach.