Numerically Controlled Machining of Sculptured Surfaces

本研究的目的是增加目前在数控加工雕刻表面领域的知识库。本研究将几何仿真方法应用于三轴和五轴曲面的刀具轨迹生成。具体来说，正在探索以下问题：(1)将雕刻表面细分为用于NC刀具路径生成的多边形表示的最佳算法是什么？(2)使用点与多边形作为数控刀具轨迹生成的表面表示时，时间/精度的权衡是什么？(3)针对三轴加工开发的非等参刀具轨迹规划算法能否推广到五轴情况？(4)能否定义五轴刀具运动扫过的体积的高效、精确的几何模型？(5)并行算法能否应用于数控刀具轨迹规划问题？该项目是新罕布什尔大学机械工程系、达特茅斯学院数学和计算机科学系以及一家工业赞助商之间的跨学科合作。它具有极大地改善雕刻表面加工的潜力。在实践中，应提高金属成形模具的生产。

The goal of this research is to increase the current knowledge base in the field of numerically controlled (NC) machining of sculptured surfaces. This research applies geometric simulation methods to three and five axis sculptured surface tool path generation. Specifically, the following questions are being explored: (1) What are the best algorithms for subdivision of sculptured surfaces into a polygonal representation to be used for NC tool path generation? (2) What is the time/accuracy trade-off in using points versus polygons as a surface representation for NC tool path generation? (3) Can the non-isoparametric tool path planning algorithm developed for three axis machining be extended to the five axis case? (4) Can efficient and accurate geometric models of the volume swept by a five axis tool movement be defined? (5) Can parallel algorithms be applied to the NC tool path planning problem? This project is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of New Hampshire, the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Dartmouth College, and an industrial sponsor. It has the potential of greatly improving sculptured surface machining. In practice, it should enhance the production of metal forming dies.