Novel path generation algorithm for high-speed pocket milling

A novel tool path generation algorithm is presented for high-speed pocket milling. A spiral fashion polyline is obtained by linear interpolation which is offset from the pocket boundary. The control points are then inserted into the polyline under exponential regularisation. Finally, the smooth tool path is generated via B-spline curve fitting. The tool path generated through this method can be directly used by the machine controller with a NURBS interpolation function, which avoids the time-consuming computation of dividing them into many short line segments. Compared with conventional methods of direction-parallel and contour-parallel path generation, the tool paths obtained by this algorithm have less cutting force fluctuation because they are Cncontinuous, smooth and have no direction jump. The engineering applications proved that the presented method can not only save machining time over the conventional algorithm, but also can avoid solving time-consuming scalar elliptic partial differential equations which are needed by existing spiral tool path generation method.