Planning of computer numerical control (CNC) machining operations with the aid of a digital computer

A system for planning of computer numerical control (CNC) machining operations with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:

• a storage device, comprising:
• a geometric model of a part to be machined, the geometric model defining surfaces of the part;
• parameters for a plurality of CNC machining tools, the parameters for each CNC machining tool comprising a plurality of orientations at which the CNC machining tool is able to longitudinally traverse a rotating cutting edge;
• and
• a maximal set of translations for each of the CNC machining tools, each translation comprising one of the orientations of the CNC machining tool where the CNC machining tool's orientation will avoid collisions between the rotating cutting edge and the surfaces of the part and a maximal sub-volume of material removable from the part by the CNC machining tool in the CNC machining tool's orientation for the translation;
• and
• a processor and memory within which code for execution by the processor is stored, further comprising:
• a search engine, comprising:
• a set of states, each state identifying one of the CNC machining tools, one of the orientations of the CNC machining tool, and each of the states describing a negative volume of the part, with one of the states representing an initial state;
• a set of actions, each action identifying one of the CNC machining tools, one of the orientations of the CNC machining tool, and each of the actions describing the maximal sub-volume of material removable from the negative volume of the part in one of the states by the CNC machining tool in the CNC machining tool's orientation;
• and
• a transition module configured to repetitively transition, starting at the initial state, from one of the states to another of the states until a goal condition is met by choosing one of the actions as guided by a heuristic that is based on an aggregate cost associated with the chosen actions and the negative volume that remains after subtracting the maximal sub-volume for the action chosen;
• a process planner configured to form a process plan comprising each of the actions chosen when the negative volume that remains is minimal;
• a programming module configured to program at least one of the CNC machining tools with the process plan downloaded and comprising machining operations by the CNC machining tool based on the process plan;
• and
• the at least one CNC machining tool configured to operate per the machining operations in the downloaded process plans by machining off the part the maximal sub-volumes through traversals of the rotating cutting edge over the surfaces of the part.