Generation of five-axis cutter paths for turbomachinery components

A simple, yet useful algorithm is developed to generate tool paths with glo bal interference checking for five-axis point milling of turbomachinery com ponents. Based on the projected distance between the surface data and the c utter-axis of a cylindrical ball-end mill, interference between the surface of a workpiece and the cutter cart be detected. Given the cutter contact p oints of the surface and the cutter's size, it carl produce the cutter loca tion data without incurring interference through relatively rotating and ti lting the workpiece. Applications of the developed procedure to five-axis m achining of centrifugal compressor impellers with 13 and 15 blades are illu strated to demonstrate the usefulness and reliability of the approach.