Rough and finish tool-path generation for NC machining of freeform surfaces based on a multiresolution method.pdf

Computer-Aided Design 36 (2004) 1231–1239 /locate/cad Rough and finish tool-path generation for NC machining of freeform surfaces based on a multiresolution method Z. Yin* School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Room 404, Shanghai 200030, China Received 4 March 2003; received in revised form 16 December 2003; accepted 9 January 2004 Abstract Progressive fitting and multiresolution tool path generating techniques are proposed in this paper, by which multi-level (LOD) models fitting for different subsets of sampled points are obtained, and then multiresolution rough-cut and finish-cut tool paths are generated based on the LOD models. The advantages of the proposed method are: (1) the user need not care for data reduction in CAD modeling; (2) final result is obtained by interpolating two lower-level reconstructed surfces, and each lower multiresolution CAD representation can be used to generate rough-cut tool paths; (3) different manufacturing requirements utilize different level models to generate tool paths; (4) selective refinement can be applied by interpolating selceted areas at different levels of details. The key avantage of the prograssive fitting algorithm is that it can use different level surfaces to generate adaptive rough-cut and finishi-cut tool path curves directly. Therefore, based on the proposed techniques, tool path length is reduced. Sharp concers are smothed out and large tools can be selected for rough machining. The efficiency of this algorithm has been demonstrated, and it results in a 20% reduction in machining time. q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All ri