Generation of five-axis cutter paths for turbomachinery components

A simple, yet useful algorithm is developed to generate tool paths with global interference checking for five-axis point milling of turbomachinery components. Based on the projected distance between the surface data and the cutter-axis of a cylindrical ball-end mill, interference between the surface of a workpiece and the cutter can be detected. Given the cutter contact points of the surface and the cutter's size, it can produce the cutter location data without incurring interference through relatively rotating and tilting the workpiece. Applications of the developed procedure to five-axis machining of centrifugal compressor impellers with 13 and 15 blades are illustrated to demonstrate the usefulness and reliability of the approach.

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