Method and system for computing toolpaths for machining pockets

A system for computing a toolpath for machining a pocket on a raw material body, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores processor-executable instructions, which, on execution, cause the processor to:
• render a 2-dimensional (2D) pixel representation corresponding to a cross-section of each of a machining tool and the pocket;
• determine a start point for the toolpath from the 2D pixel representation, wherein the toolpath comprises a plurality of segments;
• for computing each of subsequent segments in the toolpath,
• determine tool engagement values corresponding to a plurality of potential moves of the machining tool with the raw material body based on the 2D pixel representation;
• and
• one of,
• selecting, from the plurality of potential moves, a move with a corresponding tool engagement value closest to a required tool engagement value;
• or
• selecting, as a next move, a move that follows a boundary of the pocket, when the determined tool engagement value is not positive;
• identify a set of cutting sections and a set of non-cutting sections based on the engagement value at each toolpath segment;
• identify a plurality of trochoidal region groups from the set of cutting sections and a plurality of boundary region groups from the set of non-cutting sections in the raw toolpath, wherein the plurality of trochoidal region groups comprises a plurality of approximately parallel curvilinear cutting sections, and wherein the plurality of boundary region groups comprises a plurality of overlapping non-cutting sections;
• for each of the plurality of trochoidal region groups in the raw toolpath, join an end point of a first curvilinear cutting section with a start point of a second curvilinear cutting section through a link move to obtain a trochoidal toolpath;
• and
• compute a complete toolpath from the raw toolpath based on the trochoidal toolpath and the plurality of boundary region groups.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for computing a toolpath for machining a pocket on a raw material body, the computer-executable instructions configured for:

• rendering a 2-dimensional (2D) pixel representation corresponding to a cross-section of each of a machining tool and the pocket;
• determining a start point for the toolpath from the 2D pixel representation, wherein the toolpath comprises a plurality of segments;
• for computing each of subsequent segments in the toolpath,
• determining tool engagement values corresponding to a plurality of potential moves of the machining tool with the raw material body based on the 2D pixel representation;
• and
• one of,
• selecting, from the plurality of potential moves, a move with a corresponding tool engagement value closest to a required tool engagement value;
• or
• selecting, as a next move, a move that follows a boundary of the pocket, when the determined tool engagement value is not positive;
• identifying a set of cutting sections and a set of non-cutting sections based on the engagement value at each toolpath segment;
• identifying a plurality of trochoidal region groups from the set of cutting sections and a plurality of boundary region groups from the set of non-cutting sections in the raw toolpath, wherein the plurality of trochoidal region groups comprises a plurality of approximately parallel curvilinear cutting sections, and wherein the plurality of boundary region groups comprises a plurality of overlapping non-cutting sections;
• for each of the plurality of trochoidal region groups in the raw toolpath, joining an end point of a first curvilinear cutting section with a start point of a second curvilinear cutting section through a link move to obtain a trochoidal toolpath;
• and
• computing a complete toolpath from the raw toolpath based on the trochoidal toolpath and the plurality of boundary region groups.