• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2013

This paper presents a tool-path generation methods for an automated robotic system for skull drilling, which is performed to access to some neurosurgical interventions. The path controls of the robotic system are classified as move, probe, cut, and poke motions. The four motions are the basic motion elements of the tool-paths to make a hole on a skull. Probing, rough cutting and fine cutting paths are generated for skull drilling. For the rough cutting path circular paths are projected on the offset surfaces of the outer top and the inner bottom surfaces of the skull. The projected paths become the paths on the top and bottom layers of the rough cutting paths. The two projected paths are blended for the paths on the other layers. Syntax of the motion commands for a file format is also suggested for the tool-paths. Implementation and simulation results show that the possibility of the proposed methods.

• Journal of Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.123-137
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• 1993

In this paper, an integrated approach is proposed to generate gouging-free Cartesian tool paths for machining sculptured surfaces from 3D measurement data. The integrated CAD/CAM system consists of two modules : offset surface module an Carteian tool path module. The offset surface module generates an offset surface of an object from its 3D measurement data, using an offsetting method and a surface fitting method. The offsetting is based on the idea that the envelope of an inversed tool generates an offset surface without self-intersection as the center of the inversed tool moves along on the surface of an object. The surface-fitting is the process of constructing a compact representation to model the surface of an object based on a fairly large number of data points. The resulting offset surtace is a composite Bezier surface without self-intersection. When an appropriate tool-approach direction is selected, the tool path module generates the Cartesian tool paths while the deviation of the tool paths from the surface stays within the user-specified tolerance. The tool path module is a two-step process. The first step adaptively subdivides the offset surface into subpatches until the thickness of each subpatch is small enough to satisfy the user-defined tolerance. The second step generates the Cartesian tool paths by calculating the intersection of the slicing planes and the adaptively subdivided subpatches. This tool path generation approach generates the gouging-free Cartesian CL tool paths, and optimizes the cutter movements by minimizing the number of interpolated points.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.127-128
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• 2006

We introduce a novel approach for generating constant scallop height tool paths. We derive a Riemannian metric tensor from curvature tensors of a part surface and a tool surface. Then, we construct geodesic parallels from the newly constructed metric. Those geodesic parallels constitute an asymptotically-correct family of constant scallop height tool paths.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.75-81
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• 2003

Pocket machining is metal removal operation commonly used for creating depressions in machined parts. Numerically controlled milling is the primary means for machining complex die surface. These complex surfaces are generated by a milling cutter which removes material as it traces out pre-specified tool paths. To machine, a component on a CNC machine, part programs which define the cutting tool path are needed. This tool path is usually planned from CAD, and converted to a CAM machine input format. In this paper I proposed a new method for generating NC tool paths. This method generates automatically NC tool paths with dynamic elimination of machining errors in 2$\frac{1}{2}$ arbitrary shaped pockets. This paper generates a spiral-like tool path by dynamic computing optimal pocket of the pocket boundary contour based on the type and size of the milling cutter, the geometry of the pocket contour and surface finish tolerance requirements. This part programming system is PC based and simultaneously generates a G-code file.

• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2004

The subdivision surface is the limit of recursively refined polyhedral mesh. It is quite intuitive that the multi-resolution feature can be utilized to simplify generation of NC (Numerical Control) tool paths for rough machining. In this paper, a new method of parallel NC tool path generation for subdivision surfaces is presented. The basic idea of the method includes two steps: first, extending G-Buffer to a strip buffer (called S-Buffer) by dividing the working area into strips to generate NC tool paths for objects of large size; second, generating NC tool paths by parallel implementation of S-Buffer based on MPI (Message Passing Interface). Moreover, the recursion depth of the surface can be estimated for a user-specified error tolerance, so we substitute the polyhedral mesh for the limit surface during rough machining. Furthermore, we exploit the locality of S-Buffer and develop a dynamic division and load-balanced strategy to effectively parallelize S-Buffer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Tool path generation is a part of process planning in 3D printing. This is done before actual printing by a computer rather than an AM machine. The mesh geometry of the 3D model is sliced layer-by-layer along the Z-axis and tool paths are generated from the sliced layers. Each 2-dimensional layer can have two types of printing paths: (i) shell and (ii) infill. Shell paths are made of offset loops. During shell generation, twists can be produced in offset loops which will cause twisted tool paths. As a twisted tool path cannot be printed, it is necessary to remove these twists during process planning. In this research, An algorithm is presented to remove twists from the offset loops. To do so the path segments are traversed to identify twisted points. Outer offset loops are represented in the counter-clockwise segment order and clockwise rotation for the inner offset loop to decide which twisted loop should be removed. After testing practical 3D models, the proposed algorithm is verified to use in tool path generation for 3D printing.

• International Journal of CAD/CAM
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2009

As the point sampling technology evolves rapidly, there has been increasing need in generating tool path from dense point set without creating intermediate models such as triangular meshes or surfaces. In this paper, we present a new tool path generation method from point set using Euclidean distance fields based on Algebraic Point Set Surfaces (APSS). Once an Euclidean distance field from the target shape is obtained, it is fairly easy to generate tool paths. In order to compute the distance from a point in the 3D space to the point set, we locally fit an algebraic sphere using moving least square method (MLS) for accurate and simple calculation. This process is repeated until it converges. The main advantages of our approach are : (1) tool paths are computed directly from point set without making triangular mesh or surfaces and their offsets, and (2) we do not have to worry about no local interference at concave region compared to the other methods using triangular mesh or surface model. Experimental results show that our approach can generate accurate enough tool paths from a point set in a robust manner and efficiently.

• IE interfaces
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.223-235
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• 1997

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.

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.455-464
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• 2005

This paper discusses the methods of computing tool-paths for machining free-form surfaces on 3-axis CNC machines in die and mould making. In computational view this paper describes the characteristics and issues of the geometric information and the shape, which make computing tool-paths difficult. Important points that should be considered in devising a computing method are also discussed. A newly implemented method is explained and compared with an old method for a commercial CAM system. The implemented method is used in a commercial CAM system and the computing time for an example is presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.447-452
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• 2001

In most of the existing mechanistic models, the cutting process simulation is often restricted to a single path machining operation under a fixed cutting condition. Complex cutting processes such as die or mold manufacturing, however, are performed under two- or three-dimensional multiple tool paths. Since the tool paths in CNC machining are composed of line and arc segments, transient cuts are frequently occured due to the multiple paths. Even in steady cuts, the width of cut is varied with each segment. In this regard, this paper deals with the development of process simulation system for transient cuts, where continuously changing cutting configuration is computed, and then the cutting forces are predicted.