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US 8,676,372 B1Granted
Tool path generation for machining operations
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJared Lee Bolin, Ryan Lee Hanks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing machining. A desired level of engagement of a tool may be identified with a workpiece. A tool path for the tool may be generated relative to the workpiece. The tool path may have a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path. The number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path may be based on the desired level of engagement.
Claims33
A computer-implemented method for managing machining operations, the method comprising:
- identifying with a processor unit a desired level of engagement of a tool with a workpiece using an engagement plot of an axial depth of cut versus a radial depth of cut;
- and
- generating, using the processor unit, a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the tool path has a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path and in which the number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path is based on the desired level of engagement.
A method for machining an aircraft part from a workpiece, the method comprising:
- identifying a desired level of engagement of a tool with a workpiece when the tool is used on a particular machine to perform machining operations on the workpiece using an engagement plot of an axial depth of cut versus a radial depth of cut for a selected speed of rotation for the tool on the particular machine in which the workpiece is comprised of a material selected from aluminum, titanium, steel, plastic, and wood;
- generating a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the tool path has a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path and in which the number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path is based on the desired level of engagement wherein the desired level of engagement is defined by the engagement plot showing stability between the axial depth of cut and the radial depth of cut for the tool used with the particular machine at the selected speed of rotation for the tool in which a level of engagement in the number of levels of engagement is selected from at least one of the axial depth of cut and the radial depth of cut for the selected speed of rotation;
- selecting a feed rate for the tool;
- and
- performing the machining operations on the workpiece with the tool using the feed rate for the tool and the tool path in which operating the tool using the tool path with the number of levels of engagement reduces a number of inconsistencies that are out-of-tolerance on a surface of the workpiece to a desired number of inconsistencies that are out-of-tolerance after the machining operations are completed.
2 more elements
A method for performing machining operations, the method comprising:
- identifying a desired level of engagement of a tool with a workpiece using an engagement plot of an axial depth of cut versus a radial depth of cut;
- selecting a tool path for forming a part from the workpiece;
- and
- performing the machining operations on the workpiece using the tool in which the tool moves on the tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece with a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path in which the number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path is based on the desired level of engagement.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a computer system comprising a processor unit configured to:
- identify a desired level of engagement of a tool with a workpiece using an engagement plot of an axial depth of cut versus a radial depth of cut and generate a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the tool path has a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path and in which the number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path is based on the desired level of engagement.
An apparatus comprising:
- a machine;
- and
- a tool connected to the machine, wherein the machine is configured to perform machining operations on a workpiece using a tool in which the tool moves on a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece with a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path in which the number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path is based on a desired level of engagement of the tool with the workpiece, wherein the desired level of engagement is identified using an engagement plot of an axial depth of cut versus a radial depth of cut.
A system for machining an aircraft part from a workpiece, the system comprising:
- a computer system configured to identify a desired level of engagement of a tool with the workpiece when the tool is used on a particular machine to perform machining operations on the workpiece using an engagement plot of an axial depth of cut versus a radial depth of cut for a selected speed of rotation for the tool on the particular machine in which the workpiece is comprised of a material selected from aluminum, titanium, steel, plastic, and wood;
- generate a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the tool path has a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path and in which the number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path is based on the desired level of engagement wherein the desired level of engagement is defined by the engagement plot showing stability between the axial depth of cut and the radial depth of cut for the tool used with the particular machine at the selected speed of rotation for the tool in which a level of engagement in the number of levels of engagement is selected from at least one of the axial depth of cut and the radial depth of cut for the selected speed of rotation;
- and select a feed rate for the tool;
- and
- a machine with the tool in which the machine is configured to perform the machining operations on the workpiece with the tool using the feed rate for the tool and the tool path to form the aircraft part from the workpiece in which operating the tool using the tool path with the number of levels of engagement reduces a number of inconsistencies that are out-of-tolerance on a surface of the workpiece to a desired number of inconsistencies that are out-of-tolerance after the machining operations are completed.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.