# US 10,307,887 B2 · Systems and methods for determining a tool path for automated flexible fork peening > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,887 B2 - Document ID: US10307887B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/096,641 - Filed: 2016-04-12 - Published: 2016-08-04 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-07 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Raja Kountanya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307887B2 ## CPC - B24C 1/10: for compacting surfaces, e.g. shot-peening (for deforming sheet metal, tubes or profiles B21D31/06; as a metallurgical treatment C21D7/00, C22F1/00) - B21D 7/02: over a stationary forming member; by use of a swinging forming member or abutment - B21D 43/10: by grippers {(B21D43/055, B21D43/057, B21D43/145 take precedence)} - B24B 39/006: {Peening and tools therefor} - B24C: ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS ## Abstract Systems and method for tool path approximation may comprise approximating the outer surface of a part to be worked. The outer surface may be approximated by a plurality of airfoils. Moreover, the system and methods approximate a tool path based on a cutting tool and convert the tool path to accommodate a non-cutting processing tool. The tool path may be implemented on a computer numerically controlled machine that is configured to control a flexible fork peening tool. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: defining, by a computer based system for defining a tool path, curve boundaries of a part surface for an interval length on a first side of the part and a second side of the part; creating, by the computer based system, drive surfaces on the first side and the second side based on the defined curve boundaries; creating, by the computer based system, a first tool path on the first side for a barrel tool; defining, by the computer based system, a second tool path for the second side of the airfoil; converting, by the computer based system, the first tool path for a zigzag motion to a pinching motion; determining, by the computer based system, a one to one correspondence between the first side and the second side; and synthesizing, by the computer based system, the first tool path based on a geometry of a processing tool. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first tool path may comprise a first non-cutting motion at the start of the tool path and a second non-cutting motion at the end of tool path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the processing tool is a flexible fork peening tool. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the processing tool is capable of being mounted on and moved by a computer numerically controlled machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the computer numerically controlled machine is a 5-axis machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the 5-axis machine has a locking spindle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first tool path aligns the processing tool with a surface of a part to be worked. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising defining, by the computer based system, a plurality of curve boundaries for a plurality of airfoil surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising defining a first point and a second point along the curve boundary. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first point and the second point define a depth the processing tool will move relative to the part to be worked. ### Claim 11 A system comprising: a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine comprising a spindle configured to spin about a rotational axis, a flexible fork peening tool comprising a chuck, wherein the chuck of the flexible fork peening tool is removably coupled to the spindle of the CNC machine, wherein the flexible fork peening tool is constrained from rotating about the rotational axis of the spindle, and wherein the CNC machine is configured to move the flexible fork peening tool along a first tool path that is an approximation of a part to be worked. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the CNC machine is a 5-axis machine with 5 degrees of freedom. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the flexible fork peening tool has a first degree of freedom comprising elongation motion between a first arm and a second arm, a second degree of freedom comprising rotational motion about a first centerline of a body, a third degree of freedom comprising rotational motion about a second centerline of the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the flexible fork peening tool comprises a first roller and a second roller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising: a processor in electronic communication with the CNC machine; and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible non-transitory memory having instructions thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: defining, by the processor, curve boundaries of a part surface for an interval length on a first side of the part to be worked and a second side of the part to be worked; creating, by the processor, drive surfaces on the first side and the second side based on the defined curve boundaries; creating, by the processor, the first tool path on the first side for the first roller; defining, by the processor, a second tool path on the second side for the second roller; converting, by the processor, the first tool path from a zigzag motion to a pinching motion; determining, by the processor, a one to one correspondence between the first side and the second side; and synthesizing by the processor, the first tool path based on a geometry of a processing tool, wherein the first tool path insures substantially uniform contact of the first roller and the first side, wherein the second tool path insures substantially uniform contact of the second roller and the second side. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the spindle spins the chuck. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the CNC machine further comprises a stabilizing roller pin that is configured to contact a portion of the flexible fork peening tool in response to the spindle spinning about the rotational axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the stabilizing roller pin is configured damp a vibration of the body of the flexible fork peening tool in response to the contact between the stabilizing roller pin and the portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first tool path or the second tool path is defined by a plurality of airfoils that approximate the part surface.