Method and apparatus for generating tool paths
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsHayong Shin, Robert M. Trecapelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for generating tool paths for cutting a physical part. The present invention includes storing geometric data indicative of the geometric configuration of the part. A plurality of planes are used to slice the geometric data. Micro features of the part are recognized based upon the sliced geometric data. Macro features of the part are determined based upon groupings of the recognized micro features. Tool path data is generated based upon the determined macro features of the part. Thereupon, the tool path data is used for cutting the physical part.
Claims18
A computer-implemented method for generating tool paths for cutting a physical part, comprising the steps of:
- storing geometric data indicative of the geometric configuration of said part;
- slicing said geometric data by a plurality of planes;
- assigning levels to said sliced geometric data;
- recognizing micro features of said part based upon said sliced geometric data;
- grouping said recognized micro features into macro features based upon a geometric characteristic of said recognized micro features;
- determining a machine feature type for each of said macro features;
- storing machining sequence rules for prioritizing machining operations;
- determining a machining sequence for the part based on the machine feature type associated with each of the macro features and the machining sequence rules, thereby generating tool path control data;
- and
- using said tool path control data for cutting said physical part.
A computer-implemented apparatus for generating tool paths for cutting a physical part, said physical part having a geometric configuration which is associated with geometric data to indicate said geometric configuration, comprising:
- a z-map model builder for slicing said geometric data by a plurality of planes and for assigning levels to said sliced geometric data;
- a micro feature classifier for recognizing micro features of said part based upon said sliced geometric data;
- a macro feature classifier for grouping said recognized micro features into macro features based upon a geometric characteristics of said recognized micro features, and determining a machine feature type for each of said recognized micro features;
- and
- a process plan generator for generating tool path control data based in part upon the machine feature type for each of said macro features of said part;
- wherein said tool path control data is used for cutting said physical part.
A computer-implemented method for generating tool paths for cutting a physical part, comprising the steps of:
- storing geometric data indicative of the geometric configuration of said part;
- storing machining sequence rules for prioritizing machining operations;
- slicing said geometric data by a plurality of planes;
- recognizing micro features of said part based upon said sliced geometric data;
- grouping said recognized micro features into macro features based upon a geometric characteristic of said recognized micro features;
- determining a machine feature type for each of said macro features;
- determining a machining sequence for cutting the part based on the machine feature type for each of the macro features and the machining sequence rules, thereby generating tool path control data;
- and
- using said tool path control data for cutting said physical part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.