An enhanced machining simulator with tool deflection error analysis

This paper presents a machining simulator for an NC machining application that is being developed in the IRCCyN laboratory Compared with current machining simulators, the most distinguished feature of the machining simulator is its ability to analyze errors caused by tool deflections. The errors are reflected on a 3-D solid simulation model during the simulation process so that errors generated by the previous tool passage can be considered in the error calculation for the next tool passage. After simulation, the errors can be quantified in various ways by comparing the simulation model with the original geometry model. The analyzed errors can be used as input data in developing optimization algorithms for removing or reducing errors.