Path Generation for High Speed Machining Using Spiral Curves

Abstract

As high speed machining is becoming more and more important in modern machines shops, generating efficient cutter path for high speed machining is highly desirable. For this type of path, it should have the least number of sharp turns as well as the second derivatives along the path is controllable is preferred. Archimedean spirals have no sharp turn, and the step-over between adjacent segments can also be controlled to a predefined value. A clothoid spiral has the property that the second derivative varies linearly with the length of the curve. Therefore, these spiral curves can be used to generate paths with constant cutter engagement values as well as maintain smooth movements while performing cornering and linking movements. In this paper, we will introduce a detailed approach which covers a 2D region in a very efficient manner by using the combination of Archimedean and clothoid spirals.

Keywords:

• Path Planning
• High Speed Machining
• Archimedean Spiral
• Clothoid Spiral