Advanced CAM System : Determination of Fixturing Forces for a Workpiece Based on Estimation of Cutting Force

Abstract

CAM systems which can determine cutter locations and generate NC programs for machining are indispensable for operating machine tools. As the feed rate of cutting tools, the spindle speed, and the depth of cut, etc. are usually determined by CAM operators, or determined using available databases, it is often not the optimum value, and therefore may be corrected by machining experts according to their experience and intuition. In addition, since the clamping force of workpieces is also determined according to the experience and intuition of operators, workpieces may not always be secured by the optimum clamping force. The objectives of this study were thus to propose a method to determine the optimum feed rate of cutting tools and optimum clamping force of workpieces by the estimation of cutting force and to verify the usefulness of this method through cutting tests.