Generation method for five-axis NC spiral tool path based on parametric surface mapping

A new spiral tool path generation algorithm for 5-axis high speed machining is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the voltage contours are calculated to satisfy the machining parameters in the mapping parametric domain by means of the electrostatic field model of partial differential equations. Secondly, the mapping rules are constructed and the machining trajectory is planned out in the standard parametric domain in order to map and generate the spiral trajectory in the corresponding parametric domain. Finally, this trajectory is mapped onto the parametric surface for the obtainment of the spiral tool path. This spiral tool path can realize the machining of complicated parametric surface and trimmed surface without tool retractions. The above-mentioned algorithm has been implemented in several simulations and validated successfully through the actual machining of a complicated cavity. The results indicate that this method is superior to the existing machining methods to realize the high speed machining of the complicate-shaped cavity based on parametric surface and trimmed surface.