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ComputerAided_Design_Engineering_amp_Manufactur.pdf

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FIGURE 2.8<br />

fixture for the machining of the first mounting hole as well as the node code and the reference mark<br />

engraving. The other is set with reference to the node mounted on the rotary table. During the generation<br />

of the NC programs, necessary information, such as machinability data, tool-change codes, offset codes,<br />

etc., is automatically extracted from a data base that can be accessed and modified by authorized personnel<br />

with a given password.<br />

The NC program begins with commands to the CNC machining center and rotary table for the machining<br />

of the first mounting hole in the node mounted in the fixed fixture. In addition, a node code of the node<br />

(e.g., T1 for the hole configuration shown in Table 2.1) is engraved on the flat of the mounting hole. If the<br />

mounting hole is a reference hole, a reference mark is also engraved on the flat. Both the node code and<br />

the reference mark are used in the assembly of the space frame. Once the mounting hole requirement has<br />

been determined, the orientation of every hole to be machined with respect to the mounting hole is<br />

appropriately transformed. If two mounting holes are required, two sets of hole configuration will be<br />

defined, appropriately transformed to the reference system based on each mounting hole. Figure 2.9 lists a<br />

s<strong>amp</strong>le section of an NC program for the machining center. The first section of the program includes NC<br />

instructions for the machining of the mounting holes. The corresponding NC program for the rotary table<br />

to rotate (in two axes) the holes to the correct vertical orientation for the drilling of the holes is partially<br />

listed in Figure 2.10.<br />

2.3 Curve Fitting for NC Machining<br />

In general, current CNC machines are capable only of linear and circular interpolations. General curves<br />

to be produced by CNC have to be approximated by fitting with lines, circular arcs, or a combination<br />

of both, to some given tolerance. 14–23 The aim is to obtain the least number of linear or circular segments<br />

required to approximate the curve to reduce the length of the NC program and the time to produce the<br />

approximate curve. Piecewise fitting using linear segments is very commonly used and reported, 24–28 as<br />

this approach is simplest to implement and fastest to compute. The resultant surface finish is, however,<br />

poor because of discontinuities between the piecewise-fitted segments. Linear approximation also tends<br />

to require a significantly larger number of segments than circular-arc approximation, unless the curvature<br />

of the curve to be fitted is small. 29,30 The circular-arc approximation may be applied in a piecewise manner<br />

to a predetermined set of points whereby the deviation of the arc from the points that it serves to replace<br />

© 2001 by CRC Press LLC<br />

Machining center for machining of space frame nodes.

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