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US 6,745,100 B1Granted
Computerized system for generating a tool path for a pocket
AssigneeDassault Systemes
InventorEtienne Lermuzeaux
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for generating a path to be followed by a cutting tool in a milling situation. Using a novel geometric concept suited to a milling situation called “focal areas,” a toolpath is generated in which the cutting tool remains in constant contact with material to be cut, thus minimizing wear and shock loading of the tool. In addition, the toolpath is optimized so as to trace a short path, thereby minimizing cutting time. The toolpath generator is particularly useful in high speed milling applications.
Claims12
A computer system operation method for use with a system for defining a path of a tool for cutting a pocket in a part in a milling situation, the method comprising:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket, said focal area comprising a relative centroid for a portion of the pocket to be cut;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles;
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
5 more elements
A computer system operation method for use with a system for defining a path of a tool for cutting a pocket in a part in a milling situation, the method comprising:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles wherein said computation of said machining bed comprises:
- a) designating a storage location for storing one or more pass profiles defining a machining bed, selecting an initial pass profile, and designating said initial pass profile as a current pass profile;
- b) calculating a new pass profile at an offset distance from the current pass profile;
- c) if the new pass profile is included in a focal area, reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in an area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- d) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by a user, inflating the focal area, and reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the inflated focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in the area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- e) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is not within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by the user, storing said new pass profile in the machining bed and designating said new pass profile as the current pass profile;
- and
- f) repeating steps b) to f) until a reshaped new pass profile is created in step c) or d);
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
12 more elements
A computer data signal embodied in a digital data stream comprising data representing a toolpath to be followed by a cutting tool of a milling machine for cutting a pocket in a part, wherein the computer data signal is generated by the method comprising the steps of:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket, said focal area comprising a relative centroid for a portion of the pocket to be cut;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles;
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
5 more elements
A computer data signal embodied in a digital data stream comprising data representing a toolpath to be followed by a cutting tool of a milling machine for cutting a pocket in a part, wherein the computer data signal is generated by the method comprising the steps of:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles wherein said method of computation of said machining bed comprises:
- a) designating a storage location for storing one or more pass profiles defining a machining bed, selecting an initial pass profile, and designating said initial pass profile as a current pass profile;
- b) calculating a new pass profile at an offset distance from the current pass profile;
- c) if the new pass profile is included in a focal area, reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in an area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- d) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by a user, inflating the focal area, and reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the inflated focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in the area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- e) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is not within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by the user, storing said new pass profile in the machining bed and designating said new pass profile as the current pass profile;
- and
- f) repeating steps b) to f) until a reshaped new pass profile is created in step c) or d);
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
12 more elements
A CAD/CAM/CAE apparatus comprising:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory device for storing data;
- and
- an output device;
- wherein the central processing unit runs an application program comprising code prescribing a method for determining the path to be followed by a cutting tool of a milling machine for cutting a pocket in a part, said method comprising:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket, said focal area comprising a relative centroid for a portion of the pocket to be cut;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles;
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
10 more elements
A CAD/CAM/CAE apparatus comprising:
- a central processing unit;
- a memory device for storing data;
- and
- an output device;
- wherein the central processing unit runs an application program comprising code prescribing a method for determining the path to be followed by a cutting tool of a milling machine for cutting a pocket in a part, said method comprising:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles wherein said method of computation of said machining bed comprises:
- a) designating a storage location for storing one or more pass profiles defining a machining bed, selecting an initial pass profile, and designating said initial pass profile as a current pass profile;
- b) calculating a new pass profile at an offset distance from the current pass profile;
- c) if the new pass profile is included in a focal area, reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in an area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- d) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by a user, inflating the focal area, and reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the inflated focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in the area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- e) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is not within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by the user, storing said new pass profile in the machining bed and designating said new pass profile as the current pass profile;
- and
- f) repeating steps b) to f) until a reshaped new pass profile is created in step c) or d);
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
17 more elements
Computer executable code stored on a computer readable medium, the code comprising means for causing a computer to define a path of a tool for cutting a pocket in a part in a milling situation, said code further comprising means for causing a computer to execute the method comprising:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket, said focal area comprising a relative centroid for a portion of the pocket to be cut;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles;
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
5 more elements
Computer executable code stored on a computer readable medium, the code comprising means for causing a computer to define a path of a tool for cutting a pocket in a part in a milling situation, said code further comprising means for causing a computer to execute the method comprising:
- computing one or more focal areas for said pocket;
- identifying a set of potential start and end points within said pocket for the milling process and selecting a start point;
- computing one or more machining beds each comprising one or more pass profiles said code further causes said computer to takes steps for computing said machining bed comprising:
- a) designating a storage location for storing one or more pass profiles defining a machining bed, selecting an initial pass profile, and designating said initial pass profile as a current pass profile;
- b) calculating a new pass profile at an offset distance from the current pass profile;
- c) if the new pass profile is included in a focal area, reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in an area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- d) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by a user, inflating the focal area, and reshaping the new pass profile as the union of i) the inflated focal area in the vicinity of the focal area, and ii) the new pass profile in the area away from the vicinity of the focal area, and storing said reshaped new pass profile in the machining bed;
- e) if the new pass profile is not included in a focal area and is not within a minimum distance between pass profiles as defined by the user, storing said new pass profile in the machining bed and designating said new pass profile as the current pass profile;
- and
- f) repeating steps b) to f) until a reshaped new pass profile is created in step c) or d;
- merging machining beds linked to a single focal area;
- computing transitions between pass profiles within each merged machining bed;
- calculating a tool path within each merged machining bed by linking said pass profiles within said merged machining bed with said transitions;
- and
- linking machining beds.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.