Planning Method of Tool Posture for Complex Shape Deep Groove Machining

-Development of Automatic Planning Method Considering for the Rotation Axis Movement in Tool Move Back Inside of Deep Narrow Grooves-

Abstract

Finishing machining process for complex deep groove, continuous 5-axis controlled machining process is widely used to keep tool posture against workpiece surface. In such process, a ball end mill moves back and forth to machine both sides of the groove. Then, a problem about drastic reduction of actual feed rate is caused by rapid acceleration on rotation axes. In this research, we propose an automatic planning method for tool posture in narrow grooves machining without rapid motion of the rotation axis. In the proposed method, tool posture candidate without collision for each cutter location is estimated as machinable range on temporal spatial images. Then, a continuous change of the rotation axis is determined in the machine coordinate system.