Increasing the Accuracy of Off‐Line Generated Tool Paths by Compensation of Workpiece Tolerances

Due to its high flexibility and its high accuracy laser machining has become the common process to perform three‐dimensional cutting on deep‐drawn workpieces especially when small lot sizes are to be machined. In the last few years the programming of laser machines has changed from teach‐in to off‐line programming, where the tool path definition is done in a CAM system based on a CAD model of the workpiece. Owing to tolerances in workpiece geometry and positioning, the off‐line programmed tool paths often do not fit exactly the surface of the real workpiece. In this publication, a software system is proposed which adapts the CAD models to their corresponding real workpiece by compensating deviations in shape and location. As a result cutting quality and accuracy are improved.