Process definition of preformed part machining for taking benefit of parallel kinematic machine tool kinematic performances

In the automotive or aeronautical industries, few parallel kinematic machine tools (PKM) are used in high-speed machining (HSM). However, the dynamics of these machine tool structures could be relevant for HSM since their acceleration potential is much higher than serial kinematic machine tools. However, a particularity of PKM is to have kinematic performances depending on the tool pose in the machine workspace. Thus, this paper proposes a method to increase the productivity of performed part machining with PKM by taking advantage of their kinematic performances, with the aim of decreasing the time of the non-cutting tool movements. Process parameters defined by this method are the machined part setup, the planning of the machining operations, the control of potential redundant axis and the definition of the tool paths between cutting operations. The developed method is achieved in four successive steps based on a modelling of the kinematic behaviour of a given PKM. Each step leads to define one of the process parameters with regard to the decrease of non-cutting time. Thus, this method only requires common optimization algorithms that increase it robustness and its adaptability to different structures of PKM. It is illustrated with drilling operations on preformed parts with the Tripteor X7 machine tool developed by the PCI-SCEMM Company.