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ComputerAided_Design_Engineering_amp_Manufactur.pdf

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FIGURE 2.1 Tool paths generated for machining of turbine blade.<br />

• CAD-based interactive NC programming —The raw and final parts are created on the CAD system<br />

and the desired set of processing operations to be performed is interactively selected or entered<br />

by the programmer from a given set of menu commands. 1–3 The processing operations (e.g., cutting<br />

tool paths) are then simulated on the high resolution graphics monitor for visual feedback or<br />

verification before the system is prompted to generate the required NC programs. Very complex<br />

shapes can be simulated and postprocessed for three-axis to five-axis machining, such as the<br />

turbine blade shown in Figure 2.1 for four-axis machining. 3<br />

• Computer-automated part programming (CAPP)—The computer decides the processing requirements<br />

on the part and subsequently generates the corresponding NC program required to execute<br />

the required processing tasks.<br />

The last two approaches require the translation of geometric data from the CAD-represented part to<br />

extract geometric features to be generated, the corresponding processes required, and the tool paths. The<br />

most common processes under computer numerical control are machining operations. Except for the last<br />

approach, the NC programmer has to employ the expertise of a machinist in processing a part. In general,<br />

he must be familiar with the sequence of machining operations, the required cutting tools, feeds and<br />

speeds, and the basic programming methodology. Besides visualizing the entire process, the programmer<br />

must also be familiar with the particular machine being programmed. To automate the generation of NC<br />

programs from given geometry of a part defined in a CAD system, an effective computer-aided process<br />

planning system is required to determine the type of machining operations, corresponding machine tools,<br />

and fixtures for each type of machining operations (e.g., on a single machine): feasible machining<br />

sequences, cutter passes, and cutting conditions for both the roughing and finishing stages.<br />

In this chapter, the focus of the CAPP is on the translation of a given part geometry to the required<br />

NC program for a single machine. The issues of tool-path generation are also presented. CNC machines<br />

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC

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