A new strategy for direct tool path generation from measured points

Abstract

Conventional algorithms for tool path generation from measured points do not use multi-resolution and region-by-region strategies, the advantages of which have been demonstrated, to generate region-by-region tool paths. This paper presents a new strategy for generating tool paths from measured points directly by using multi-resolution and region-by-region strategies. Given a set of measured points, for rough-cuts we select a fewer number of measured points than control points to construct a coarse B-spline surface and then generate rough-cut tool paths. For finish-cuts, we select a large number of measured points as control points to construct a fine B-spline surface and then generate region-by-region finish-cut tool paths.

Keywords:

• Reverse engineering
• B-spline
• Tool path generation
• Measured points

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Teaching and Research Award Program for Outstanding Young Teachers in Higher Education Institutions of MOE, P.R.C. (TRAPOYT). We also thank the reviewers for several comments and suggestions which helped improve the quality of the paper.