An Algorithm for Generating Multi-Axis NC Machining Tool-Path on Scattered Point Cloud

Abstract

To achieve the accurate duplication of product in reverse engineering, we proposed an algorithm for generating multi-axis NC machining tool-path directly based on scattered point cloud. At first, we obtained the neighborhoods of tool-path section based on the dynamic spatial index of scattered point cloud and from which we selected the matching points. Then the tool-path section points can be obtained through intersection of the tool-path section and the lines which link the matching points, and the normal vectors of tool-path section points can be calculated based on the differential geometry property of local reference data. Finally we computed the cutter location points by means of projection method and sorted them based on the minimum spanning tree algorithm to form the tool-path. With the results of several experiments, the high precision and efficiency of this algorithm are verified.