Path smoothing for five-axis machine tools using dual quaternion approximation with dominant points

Abstract Local corner smoothing method is commonly adopted to smooth linear (G01) tool path segments in computer numerical control (CNC) machining to realize continuous motion at transition corners. However, because of the highly non-linear relation between the arc-length and the spline parameter, and the challenge to synchronize the tool tip position and tool orientation, real-time and high-order continuous five-axis tool path smoothing and interpolation algorithms have not been well studied. This paper proposes a real-time C3 continuous corner smoothing and interpolation algorithm for five-axis machine tools. The transition corners of the tool tip position and tool orientation are analytically smoothed in the workpiece coordinate system (WCS) and the machine coordinate system (MCS) by C3 continuous PH splines, respectively. The maximum deviation errors of the smoothed tool tip position and the tool orientation are both constrained in the WCS. An analytical synchronization algorithm is developed to guarantee the motion variance of the smoothed tool orientation related to the tool tip displacement is also C3 continuous. The corresponding real-time interpolation method is developed with a continuous and peak-constrained jerk. Simulation results verify that the maximum deviation errors caused by the tool path smoothing algorithm are constrained, and continuous acceleration and jerk of each axis are achieved along the entire tool path. Comparisons demonstrate that the proposed algorithms achieve lower amplitude and variance of acceleration and jerk when compared with existing methods. Experiments show that the proposed five-axis corner smoothing and interpolation algorithms are serially executed in real-time with 0.5-ms cycle.

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Influence of Tool Length and Profile Errors on the Inaccuracy of Cubic-Machining Test Results

Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing ◽

10.3390/jmmp5020051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Zongze Li ◽

Hiroki Ogata ◽

Ryuta Sato ◽

Keiichi Shirase ◽

Shigehiko Sakamoto

Keyword(s):

Machine Tools ◽

Test Accuracy ◽

Test Results ◽

Machining Error ◽

Tool Profile ◽

Machining Test ◽

The Difference ◽

Side Error ◽

Profile Errors ◽

Five Axis

A cubic-machining test has been proposed to evaluate the geometric errors of rotary axes in five-axis machine tools using a 3 × 3 zone area in the same plane with different tool postures. However, as only the height deviation among the machining zones is detected by evaluating the test results, the machining test results are expected to be affected by some error parameters of tool sides, such as tool length and profile errors, and there is no research investigation on how the tool side error influences the cubic-machining test accuracy. In this study, machining inaccuracies caused by tool length and tool profile errors were investigated. The machining error caused by tool length error was formulated, and an intentional tool length error was introduced in the simulations and actual machining tests. As a result, the formulated and simulated influence of tool length error agreed with the actual machining results. Moreover, it was confirmed that the difference between the simulation result and the actual machining result can be explained by the influence of the tool profile error. This indicates that the accuracy of the cubic-machining test is directly affected by tool side errors.

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Study of Machining of Gears with Regular and Modified Outline Using CNC Machine Tools

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14112913 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (11) ◽

pp. 2913

Author(s):

Rafał Gołębski ◽

Piotr Boral

Keyword(s):

Machine Tools ◽

Coordinate Measuring Machine ◽

Optical Microscope ◽

Numerical Control ◽

Cnc Machine Tools ◽

Cnc Milling ◽

Cnc Machine ◽

Cylindrical Gears ◽

Measuring Machine ◽

Five Axis

Classic methods of machining cylindrical gears, such as hobbing or circumferential chiseling, require the use of expensive special machine tools and dedicated tools, which makes production unprofitable, especially in small and medium series. Today, special attention is paid to the technology of making gears using universal CNC (computer numerical control) machine tools with standard cheap tools. On the basis of the presented mathematical model, a software was developed to generate a code that controls a machine tool for machining cylindrical gears with straight and modified tooth line using the multipass method. Made of steel 16MnCr5, gear wheels with a straight tooth line and with a longitudinally modified convex-convex tooth line were machined on a five-axis CNC milling machine DMG MORI CMX50U, using solid carbide milling cutters (cylindrical and ball end) for processing. The manufactured gears were inspected on a ZEISS coordinate measuring machine, using the software Gear Pro Involute. The conformity of the outline, the tooth line, and the gear pitch were assessed. The side surfaces of the teeth after machining according to the planned strategy were also assessed; the tests were carried out using the optical microscope Alicona Infinite Focus G5 and the contact profilographometer Taylor Hobson, Talysurf 120. The presented method is able to provide a very good quality of machined gears in relation to competing methods. The great advantage of this method is the use of a tool that is not geometrically related to the shape of the machined gear profile, which allows the production of cylindrical gears with a tooth and profile line other than the standard.

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