Interference detection for 3-axis mold machining

Interference detection is a crucial problem in NC tool path generation and cutting tool selection. Most researchers studied this problem from the view point of tool path generation or surface offset., which are very time consu ming. This paper proposes a new method to detect interference regions in 3- axis mold machining. With this method, the surface geometry is first analyz ed and local interference is detected in the concave and saddle surfaces. I t was found that if a surface is free of local interference, the global int erference can be detected from the surface boundaries. Theorems on global i nterference detection are given and proven in the paper. Algorithms on inte rference detection were developed and implemented in a CAD system. The algo rithms have been tested with several industry parts, and it is shown to be robust and efficient especially for the complex mold machining. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.