Method for controlling the movement of a cutting tool relative to a workpiece, particularly for cutting of complex shapes, involves dividing tool path that has a varying angle into consecutive sections with constant tool angle

摘要

Method for controlling the relative movement of a cutting tool (4) relative to a workpiece (2), where the tool path (6) is sub-divided into a large number of path segments (61) along which the tool is moved. The alignment of the tool axis (43) within each path segment is constant, while it varies over the whole path. At the end of each path segment the tool is pivoted while it is not in contact with the workpiece surface until it is at the correct angle for the next path section at which point the tool is at the start point of the next path.