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US 6,676,344 B1Granted
Methods and apparatus for machining workpieces
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorMartin P Amatt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method for machining a workpiece, and for identifying a sequence of steps for machining a workpiece, a final shape required for the whole or part of the workpiece (is identified at 34), a three dimensional envelope shape is generated around the required shape (36), differences between the current shape and the envelope shape are generated at (38) to allow a sequence of cuts to be generated at (40) and a tool path at (42) from which the current stock part can be cut down to the envelope shape. The definition of the current stock is then updated at (44) and the sequence repeated until the workpiece has been machined to the required shape.
Claims30
A method for machining a workpiece, the method comprising:
- identifying an initial shape of at least one part of the workpiece;
- identifying a final shape required for the at least one part of the workpiece;
- generating an envelope shape, the envelope shape wholly containing the final shape and being wholly contained within the initial shape of the at least one part of the workpiece;
- and
- identifying a sequence of machining steps to form the workpiece from the initial shape to the envelope shape,
- wherein the identification of each machining step of the sequence of machining steps takes into account the previous machining steps of the sequence of machining steps to minimize tool movement during machining.
3 more elements
A method for machining a workpiece, the method comprising:
- performing a first procedure on a workpiece, the first procedure including
- identifying an initial shape of at least one part of the workpiece,
- identifying a final shape required for the at least one part of the workpiece,
- generating an envelope shape, the envelope shape wholly containing the final shape and being wholly contained within the initial shape of the at least one part of the workpiece,
- identifying a sequence of machining steps to form the workpiece from the initial shape to the envelope shape,
- wherein the identification of each machining step of the sequence of machining steps takes into account the previous machining steps of the sequence of machining steps to minimize tool movement during machining;
- and
- performing a second procedure on the workpiece, with the second procedure being the same as the first procedure, and with the envelope shape of the first procedure being an initial shape for the second procedure.
5 more elements
A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for machining a workpiece, said program comprising:
- identifying an initial shape of at least one part of the workpiece;
- identifying a final shape required for the at least one part of the workpiece:
- generating an envelope shape, the envelope shape, wholly containing the final shape and being wholly contained within the initial shape of the at least one part of the workpiece;
- and
- identifying a sequence of machining steps to form the workpiece from the initial shape to the envelope shape,
- wherein the identification of each machining step of the sequence of machining steps takes into account the previous machining steps of the sequence of machining steps to minimize tool movement during machining.
3 more elements
A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for machining a workpiece, said program comprising:
- performing a first procedure on a workpiece, the first procedure including
- identifying an initial shape of at least one part of the workpiece,
- identifying a final shape required for the at least one part of the workpiece,
- generating an envelope shape, the envelope shape wholly containing the final shape and being wholly contained within the initial shape of the at least one part of the workpiece,
- identifying a sequence of machining steps to form the workpiece from the initial shape to the envelope shape,
- wherein the identification of each machining step of the sequence of machining steps takes into account the previous machining steps of the sequence of machining steps to minimize tool movement during machining;
- and
- performing a second procedure on the workpiece, with the second procedure being the same as the first procedure, and with the envelope shape of the first procedure being an initial shape for the second procedure.
5 more elements
An apparatus for machining a workpiece, the apparatus comprising;
- means for identifying an initial shape of at least one part of the workpiece;
- means for identifying a final shape required for the at least one part of the workpiece;
- means for generating an envelope shape, the envelope shape wholly containing the final shape and being wholly contained within the initial shape of the at least one part of the workpiece;
- and
- means for identifying a sequence of machining steps to form the workpiece from the initial shape to the envelope shape,
- wherein the identification of each machining step of the sequence of machining steps takes into account the previous machining steps of the sequence of machining steps to minimize tool movement during machining.
3 more elements
An apparatus for machining a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- means for identifying a first initial shape of at least one part of the workpiece,
- means for identifying a final shape required for the at least one part of the workpiece,
- means for generating a fist envelope shape, the first envelope shape wholly containing the final shape and being wholly contained within the first initial shape of the at least one part of the workpiece,
- means for identifying a sequence of machining steps to form the workpiece from the first initial shape to the fi envelope shape,
- wherein the identification of each machining step of the sequence of machining steps takes into account the previous machining steps of the sequence of machining steps to minimize tool movement during machining;
- and
- means for identifying the first envelope shape as being a second initial shape for generating a second envelope shape.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.