Synchronous Adjustment of Milling Tool Path Based on the Relative Deviation

Abstract

In machining process, machining accuracy of part mainly depends on the position and orientation of the cutting tool with respect to the workpiece which is influenced by errors of machine tools and cutter-workpiece-fixture system. A systematic modeling method is presented to integrate the two types of error sources into the deviation of the cutting tool relative to the workpiece which determines the accuracy of the machining system. For the purpose of minimizing the machining error, an adjustment strategy of tool path is proposed on the basis of the generation principle of the cutter location source file (CLSF) in modern computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system by means of the prediction deviation, namely, the deviation of the cutting tool relative to the workpiece in computer numerical control (CNC) machining operation. The resulting errors are introduced as adjustment values to adjust the nominal tool path points from cutter location source file from commercial CAM system prior to machining. Finally, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the prediction model and the adjustment technique by two study cases.