Abstract
An NC machine tool which is instructed machining operations by NC programs is widely employed in manufacturing systems. However, it is impossible .to change cutting parameters during machining operations, because cutting parameters are determined and coded as NC programs before the machining operation. This is the biggest problem to realize autonomous machining operations. The digital copy milling system which generates tool paths in real time is developed in our laboratory to realize autonomous machining operations. An NC machine tool associated with the digital copy milling system can perform autonomous machining operations unconstrained by NC programs. In this study, additional functions to detect and avoid tool collision are developed .for the digital copy milling system to achieve five-axis milling control. The experimental verification to show real time tool path generation for five-axis milling was performed successfully.
