Evaluation of Tool Paths and NC Codes Generation for PCB Drilling Operations

PCB 홀 천공순서의 평가 및 NC 코드의 생성

The process of determining the optimal tool path in PCB(printed circuit board) drilling operations is identical with that of solving a TSP(traveling salesman problem). However, the optimal solution will be ruined when a drill bit needs tracking back in its tool paths. The back tracking occurrences shorten a life of the main spindle and result in inaccurate mechanical movements. In this study, the performances of four heuristics(Nearest Neighbor, Convex Hull, Greatest Angle and Most Eccentric Ellipse) are evaluated to obtain feasible tool paths along with less number of back trackings for a large number of holes(more than 2000holes/bit) and to generate corresponding NC codes for a given CNC drill. Also, the operations of these algorithms are visualized to show a user the graphic image of tool visitation with PCB holes on a computer screen.