US 10,289,096 B2 · Computer controlled work tool apparatus and method

Abstract

A polishing machine is described in which a surface treatment tool is moved across the surface of a workpiece in accordance with a predefined tool-path, in order to carry out the desired treatment process. The tool-path is non-periodic and preferably pseudo-random. Various techniques are described for generating data representing the tool-path to be followed. A technique is also described for determining optimum control parameters used to control the polishing machine for a given tool-path. The surface treatment may be a shaping technique in which material is removed from the surface, or a technique for adding material to the surface of the workpiece, or a technique for modifying the surface or a region under the surface of the workpiece.

Claims48

Dependent claims

An apparatus for performing a surface treatment on an area of a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:

a surface treatment tool having a treatment footprint;
a tool-path generator comprising:
a memory configured to store surface model data defining a three-dimensional (3D) surface area of a workpiece to be worked;
a rules database comprising a plurality of rules relating to tool-path generation;
and
a tool-path determiner configured to determine data representing a 3D tool-path along the 3D surface of the workpiece area to be worked in accordance with rules from said rules database, wherein said surface model data defines said surface in a two-dimensional (2D) projection and wherein said tool-path determiner is configured to determine data representing a 2D path within said 2D projection and is configured to project the data representing said 2D path into 3D to define said data representing said 3D tool-path;
and
means to move the surface treatment tool relative to the workpiece along the determined 3D tool path such that the footprint of the treatment tool passes over all points of the area.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Computer controlled work tool apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Computer controlled work tool apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48