Computerized tool path generation
AssigneeSolidcam Ltd.
InventorsMichael Berman, Doron Osovlanski, Christopher Calderone, Anthony Calderone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerically controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the method including the steps of selecting a maximum permitted engagement angle between a rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, selecting a minimum permitted engagement angle between the rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, and configuring a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the engagement angle gradually varies between the maximum permitted engagement angle and the minimum permitted engagement angle.
Claims80
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerically controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a maximum permitted engagement angle between a rotating cutting tool and said workpiece;
- selecting a minimum permitted engagement angle between said rotating cutting tool and said workpiece;
- and
- configuring a tool path for said tool relative to said workpiece in which said engagement angle gradually varies between said maximum permitted engagement angle and said minimum permitted engagement angle.
An automated computer-implemented apparatus for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- a tool path configuration engine operative for configuring an asymmetric spiral tool path for a tool relative to said workpiece in which the engagement angle gradually varies cyclically between a preselected maximum permitted engagement angle and a preselected minimum permitted engagement angle.
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a region of said workpiece to be removed by a rotating cutting tool;
- and
- configuring an asymmetric spiral tool path, having at least two sequential loops, each of said loops having a stepover which increases and decreases cyclically therealong, for said rotating cutting tool in said region of said workpiece, which asymmetric spiral tool path maximizes the portion of said region of said workpiece which is removed by said rotating cutting tool moving along said asymmetric spiral tool path.
An automated computer-implemented apparatus for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
- a tool path configuration engine operative for:
- selecting a region of said workpiece to be removed by a rotating cutting tool;
- and
- configuring an asymmetric spiral tool path, having at least two sequential loops, each of said loops having a stepover which increases and decreases cyclically therealong, for said rotating cutting tool in said region of said workpiece, which spiral tool path maximizes the portion of said region of said workpiece which is removed by said rotating cutting tool moving along said asymmetric spiral tool path.
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a region of said workpiece to be removed by a rotating cutting tool;
- selecting a first portion of said region to be removed by an asymmetric diverging spiral tool path;
- and
- configuring at least one trochoidal-like tool path only for removing remaining portions of said region which lie outside of said asymmetric diverging spiral tool path;
- and wherein said selecting a first portion of said region and said configuring are operative to minimize the machining time necessary to remove said region.
An automated computer-implemented apparatus for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the apparatus comprising a tool path configuration engine operative for:
- selecting a region of said workpiece to be removed by a rotating cutting tool;
- selecting a first portion of said region to be removed by an asymmetric diverging spiral tool path;
- and for
- configuring at least one trochoidal-like tool path only for removing remaining portions of said region which lie outside of said asymmetric diverging spiral tool path;
- and wherein said selecting a first portion of said region and said configuring are operative to minimize the machining time necessary to remove said region.
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece by removing portions of said workpiece which are not to be included in said object, the method comprising the steps of:
- considering the cross section of a desired object to be fabricated from a workpiece;
- defining isolated regions of said cross section on said workpiece surface which are not to be removed as islands;
- commencing configuring of a tool path in a region not having islands;
- and
- upon said tool path encountering an island, configuring a moat tool path which defines a moat surrounding said island.
An automated computer-implemented apparatus for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the apparatus comprising a tool path configuration engine operative for:
- considering the cross section of a desired object to be fabricated from a workpiece;
- defining isolated regions of said cross section on said workpiece surface which are not to be removed as islands;
- and for
- commencing configuring of a tool path in a region not having islands;
- and
- upon said tool path encountering an island, for configuring a moat tool path which defines a moat surrounding said island.
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece by removing portions of said workpiece which are not to be included in said object, the method comprising the steps of:
- identifying at least one open region for which a first machining time needed to remove said region is longer than a second machining time needed to divide said region into two independent regions by removing a separating channel by a rotating cutting tool between said two independent regions and removing said two independent regions;
- and
- defining in said region at least one separating channel extending between two points on edges of an external boundary of said region, thereby dividing said region into at least two independent regions.
An automated computer-implemented apparatus for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece by removing portions of said workpiece which are not to be included in said object, the apparatus comprising a tool path configuration engine operative for:
- identifying at least one open region for which a first machining time needed to remove said region is longer than a second machining time needed to divide said region into two independent regions by removing a separating channel by a rotating cutting tool between said two independent regions and removing said two independent regions;
- and for
- defining in said region at least one separating channel extending between two points on edges of an external boundary of said region, thereby dividing said region into at least two independent regions.
An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece by removing portions of said workpiece which are not to be included in said object, and comprising the steps of:
- identifying at least one semi-open region for which a first machining time needed to remove said region by employing a trochoidal-like tool path is longer than a second machining time needed to isolate said region by removing separating channels between said region and all closed external boundary segments of said region and removing the remainder of said region;
- and
- defining in said region to be removed at least one separating channel between said region and all closed external boundary segments of said region, thereby defining a remaining open region to be removed.
An automated computer-implemented apparatus for generating commands for controlling a computer numerical controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece by removing portions of said workpiece which are not to be included in said object, the apparatus comprising a tool path configuration engine operative for:
- identifying at least one semi-open region for which a first machining time needed to remove said region by employing a trochoidal-like tool path is longer than a second machining time needed to isolate said region by removing separating channels between said region and all closed external boundary segments of said region and removing the remainder of said region;
- and for
- defining in said region to be removed at least one separating channel between said region and all closed external boundary segments of said region, thereby defining a remaining open region to be removed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.