BEAM TOOL PATHING FOR 3D COMPOUND CONTOURS USING MACHINING PATH SURFACES TO MAINTAIN A SINGLE SOLID REPRESENTATION OF OBJECTS

摘要

Computer based methods, systems, and techniques for planning and generating machining paths for a tool that manufactures a three dimensional object having beveled or "compound" contours from a workpiece. A computer aided design CAD /computer aided manufacturing CAM system creates intermediate machining path surfaces (632, 634, 636, 638) that extend based on a CAD solid model (500) representing the geometry of the object to be manufactured. The intermediate machining path surfaces (632, 634, 636, 638) extend to a shape that simulates a cutting beam (e.g., a waterjet, a laser beam, etc.) of the tool. For a flat workpiece, the machining path surfaces may extend from a top surface of the workpiece, which is a tool beam entrance surface, to a bottom surface of the workpiece, which is a tool beam exit surface. An operator is able to visualize the cuts to be made and the actual finished object geometry, without requiring the creation of multiple CAD solid models.