Smooth Spiral Cutting Operation Strategy for High Speed Machining

In five-axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining of sculptured surface parts, the application of high-speed machining (HSM) is recognized as an economically viable manufacturing technology. Compared with the traditional CNC machining, high-speed machining not only can improve processing efficiency, but also effectively improve the surface quality. To meet the demands of high speed machining, this paper presents a spiral cutting operation strategy for high-speed machining. Based on the constant scallop height tool path, the initial contour-parallel tool path is firstly, created. Then, the spiral path is generated as a kind of the diagonal curve between the offset curves by the initial tool path. At last, the tool path smoothing technology is applied to the generated tool path. This path strategy can ensure higher level of quality of the surface being machined, and has the longer single tool-path and less tool-path sharp corners. Therefore, the smooth spiral tool path can maintain the needs of high-speed machining. Based on these techniques, experimental results are given to verify the proposed approach.