Tool path optimization in postprocessor of five-axis machine tools

Generally, tool path is generated in a computer-aided manufacturing software considering only the geometry of machining parts. It is converted into numerical control (NC) codes in the postprocessor based on the particular machine kinematics. For some special types of five-axis machine tools, e.g., non-orthogonal five-axis machine tools, the generated NC codes may produce unqualified parts because of the existence of the non-linear error. Conventional commercialized postprocessors usually do not have the function of non-linear error checking. Observing that the tool path is a non-smooth trajectory full of corners and a series of connected line segments, cubic spline interpolation is applied to smooth the tool path at regular points in this study. The cutter tip center points are computed by the cubic spine interpolation, while the cutter posture vectors are obtained via linear interpolation. At the splines (for regular points) and the line segments (feature points), more points are chosen to be converted into NC codes to reduce the non-linear error, which is called data densification. Using the cubic spline to smooth the tool path and the data densification to reduce the non-linear error, a novel tool path optimization algorithm in postprocessor is proposed. Experiments were carried out on an inclined rotary spindle axis non-orthogonal five-axis machine tool. It shows that the proposed tool path optimization provides improved accuracy and surface quality.