Method for rendering, evaluating and optimizing a surface quality based on CNC program data
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorAlexander Haupt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed to rendering a three-dimensional view of a workpiece shape based on a point set using a normal vector representation. The distribution of the normal vectors can be analyzed by a centered view of the normal vectors, which can be done manually and/or automatically. These structures give a first indication of the surface quality. In addition to the centered representation, the normal vectors can also be directly overlaid on the path, which facilitates the determination of local flaws. In addition, a pseudo-surface view can be generated based on the position of the normal vectors.
Claims25
A method for enhancing a surface quality of a workpiece to be machined by high-speed machining based on CNC program data before the workpiece is actually machined, the CNC program data including a set of points defining a surface in space, with the set of points including path points describing a space curve, said method performed by a program executed by a general purpose computer, the method comprising the steps of
- determining and rendering associated normal vectors for a plurality of adjacent path points by forming two vectors from three consecutive path points and arranging a normal vector of an intermediate path point of the three consecutive path points as a vector product perpendicular on a plane spanned by the two vectors, wherein an orientation of the normal vector with respect to a side of the plane is selected depending on a curvature of the space curve at the intermediate path point;
- indicating surface regions having a high surface quality by normal vectors pointing in a substantially identical direction;
- indicating surface regions having flaws by normal vectors pointing in different directions;
- and
- optimizing the surface quality is by manipulating CNC program data until at least a majority of normal vectors point in the same direction.
A method for enhancing a surface quality of a workpiece to be machined by high-speed machining based on CNC program data before the workpiece is actually machined the CNC program data including a set of points defining a surface in space with the set of points including path points describing a space curve, said method performed by a program executed by a general purpose computer, the method comprising the steps of
- determining and rendering associated normal vectors for a plurality of adjacent path points;
- indicating surface regions having a high surface quality by angle-bisecting vectors pointing in a substantially identical direction;
- and
- indicating surface regions having flaws by angle-bisecting vectors pointing in different directions,
- wherein an angle-bisecting vector is determined by forming two vectors from three consecutive path points and arranging a normal vector of an intermediate path point of the three consecutive path points as a vector product perpendicular on a plane spanned by the two vectors, and wherein the normal vector is rotated by an angle of 90° into the plane, so that the angle-bisecting vector is located at a half angle enclosed between the two vectors,
- wherein the surface is optimized by manipulating the CNC program data until at least a majority of angle-bisecting vectors point of the same direction.
The method of claim 8, wherein the path points associated with adjacent normal vectors having a large angle are rendered with markings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.