Freeform surface fiveaxis tool path planning based on equal residual height algorithm
                                                                                           XIAO Shanhua
                     (Department of Modern Manufacturing Engineering, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin 644003, China)

Abstract: Aiming at the problems of redundancy tool path code, low work efficiency and low surface quality in the machining process, the common tool path algorithms in surface machining were classified, and a highly correlated algorithm model was proposed to solve the aforementioned problems. More specifically, the angle value β and the fiveaxis tool axis inclination angle λq in the freeform surface machining were first calculated. Then, the fiveaxis tool path was generated by a complex freeform surface model of the propeller blade. After that, the generated path was compared with a fiveaxis general tool path that was generated by the highspeed dynamic milling (rotating fiveaxis) module of Mastercam software. The experimental results indicate that the proposed algorithm can shorten the tool path length of the fiveaxis freeform surface, improve the processing efficiency and the surface quality of the parts.

Key words: equal residual height model; tool axis inclination; Mastercam; propeller blade