ISSN:
1433-3015
Keywords:
Key words. NC machining; Rapid prototyping; Robotics; Solid modelling
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Rapid prototyping plays an important role in product development. There are two ways to realise rapid rototyping: one is to develop new prototyping equipment such as stereolithography apparatus (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), etc., and the other is to improve existing CNC techniques. In this work, a robot system for rapid prototyping, which is an enhancement of the CNC based method, is presented. A robot arm holding a milling tool is used to machine the prototype of a solid model drawn using a commercial CAD system. In this paper, Part 1, a strategy using the robot for rough machining is discussed and then an automatic tool-path generation method using a grid height array is presented. This method can generate tool paths for rough machining with different tolerances. As a verification of the proposed algorithm, a number of prototypes have been produced, which have demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of the algorithm. In a companion paper, Part 2, an approach to represent C-space by incorporating possible variations in tooling orientations is proposed. In order to reduce error on complex surfaces resulting from undercut or overcut operations, a curvature-matching algorithm is developed. Finally, experimental work using the collision-free planning strategy and simulation for the curvature matching algorithm is carried out.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s001700050111
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