Tool path generator for computer aided manufacturing

Abstract

A technique is provided for utilizing a computer system to generate tool paths for the computed aided machining (CAM) in at least four axis of a selected workpiece or part, particularly a complex part having hidden surfaces. The technique involves storing in the computer system both a surface point representation of a workpiece, which representation contains a unique code for each surface point, and a representation of the tool for which the paths are to be generated. The workpiece surface is viewed from a discrete number of orientations and a map of surface points visible from each of the orientations is generated. The map is then used to obtain selected most promising access directions for access to voxels in the delta volume to be removed or for access to surface points for a finishing operation. Such most promising access directions may for example be obtained by thinning an access cone for the voxel/point. Collision detection is then performed for the tool along each of the most promising access directions and the directions adjusted to eliminate collisions, resulting in a legal direction for each voxel/point. The legal directions are then connected into the tool paths, with collision detection preferably being performed on the tool paths and the tool paths adjusted to avoid detected collisions. Tool paths may be individually generated for successive slices of the delta volume. The tool paths generated may be stored on a machine readable medium.

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