A study on the development of post processor for five-axis machining using angle head spindle

Proper selection of a 5-axis machine tool configuration is important for effective machining of parts with complex shapes. However, it is difficult to process inner shape of cylindrical parts such as hydrostatic bearing in spite of 5-axis machining. It is essential to perform 5-axis internal shape machining with an angle head spindle in order to overcome these difficulties. This requires the development of a post-processor for 5-axis machining with an angle head spindle. To this end, the equations for 5-axis configurations with an angle head spindle were expressed by the inverse kinematics, and a windows-based postprocessor written with Visual Basic was developed according to the proposed algorithm. After developing the post-processor, it reliability was confirmed through comparison between develop post-processor and a commercial post-processor, cutting simulation, and real 5-axis machining of a specimen, that is similar to the inner pocket shape of a hydrostatic bearing.