On the Efficiency of NC Tool Path Planning for Face Milling Operations

Abstract

Face milling operations are important for producing flat machined surfaces. Existing methodologies to generate NC tool path for face milling are employed everyday by manufacturing industries without considering the impact of tool path selection. A systematic study has been conducted in order to identify those critical control parameters affecting length of cut in face milling operations. Basic polygons, from triangles to heptagons, were planned using both window frame and stair case milling procedures. For each polygon, each vertex was introduced as a possible starting point for a single run in the window frame milling. The cutting orientation was further examined for stair case milling by enumerating the tool sweep angle from 0 to 180 (and 180 to 0 as well) degrees from each vertex. The results are analyzed and important conclusions are drawn noting the efficiency of the cutting process.