Engagement milling
AssigneeSurfware, Inc.
InventorsAlan Diehl, Robert B. Patterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method using a computer for generating a spiral-like tool path for milling a region of a workpiece is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: creating a family of concentric indexed circular arcs at each of two or more separate and distinct selected points within the region; determining parameters of a first set of blends to connect together the circular arcs of adjacent families of the circular arcs having an identical index to form a plurality of isoloops; determining parameters of a second set of blends for blending between adjacent isoloops to form the spiral-like tool path, and generating instructions for controlling the milling cutter in accordance with the generated tool path.
Claims18
A method for generating a spiral-like tool path for milling a region of a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating a family of concentric indexed circular arcs at each of two or more separate and distinct selected points within the region;
- determining, using a computer, parameters of a first set of blends to connect together the circular arcs of adjacent families of the circular arcs having an identical index to form a plurality of isoloops;
- determining, using a computer, parameters of a second set of blends for blending between adjacent isoloops to form the spiral-like tool path, and
- generating instructions for controlling a milling cutter to mill the region in accordance with the generated spiral-like tool path.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium for having an executable program for generating a spiral-like tool path for milling a region of a workpiece stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a computer to perform the steps of:
- creating a family of concentric indexed circular arcs at each of two or more separate and distinct selected points within the region;
- determining parameters of a first set of blends to connect together the circular arcs of adjacent families of the circular arcs having an identical index to form a plurality of isoloops;
- determining, parameters of a second set of blends for blending between adjacent isoloops to form the spiral-like tool path, and
- generating instructions for controlling a milling cutter to mill the region in accordance with the generated spiral-like tool path.
A machine for generating a spiral-like tool path for milling a region of a workpiece comprising:
- a computer coupled to a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to generate the tool path by the steps of:
- creating a family of concentric indexed circular arcs at each of two or more separate and distinct selected points within the region;
- determining parameters of a first set of blends to connect together the circular arcs of adjacent families of the circular arcs having an identical index to form a plurality of isoloops;
- determining, parameters of a second set of blends for blending between adjacent isoloops to form the spiral-like tool path, and
- generating instructions for controlling a milling cutter to mill the region in accordance with the generated spiral-like tool path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.