A Digital System Implement for Aircraft Sheet Metal Cutting

For aircraft sheet metal parts digital cutting, this paper uses IDEF0 to structure a digital system integrated with unfolding module, nesting module, cutting path planning module and NC cutting module, then analyzes data organization and process of the system application. In the system, an algorithm for the development of a doubly curved surface onto a plane is adopted, NC cutting process-oriented nesting algorithm is presented and rules of cutter path planning is developed. Furthermore, application examples of key technologies (unfolding, nesting, path cutter planning) are demonstrated and indicate that the system can realize digital cutting for aircraft sheet metal parts quickly and precisely.