An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerically controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the method including the steps of selecting a maximum permitted engagement angle between a rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, selecting a minimum permitted engagement angle between the rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, and configuring a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the engagement angle gradually varies between the maximum permitted engagement angle and the minimum permitted engagement angle.

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 that extend based on a CAD solid model representing the geometry of the object to be manufactured. The intermediate machining path surfaces 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.

A method for generating a numerical control program includes first-fourth steps. In the first step, elements related to the shape of a material are created on the basis of information related to the shape of the material. In the second step, processing is executed in which the elements related to the shape of the material which were created in the first step are read into areas to be subjected to processing in the third step. In the third step, a tool path is generated for each element read in the second step. In the fourth step, the tool paths generated for each element in the third step are connected.

An automated computer-implemented method for generating commands for controlling a computer numerically controlled machine to fabricate an object from a workpiece, the method including the steps of selecting a maximum permitted engagement angle between a rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, selecting a minimum permitted engagement angle between the rotating cutting tool and the workpiece, and configuring a tool path for the tool relative to the workpiece in which the engagement angle gradually varies between the maximum permitted engagement angle and the minimum permitted engagement angle.

This tool path generating method, which generates a tool path for machining a corner section at which a recess section machined in a workpiece intersects with the outer circumferential surface of the workpiece, includes: a step for calculating a virtual traveling direction, which is a movement direction of a point on the rotational axis line of a rotating tool when the recess section is machined; a step for calculating the position of the corner section from the virtual traveling direction and shape data of the workpiece; and a step for generating a tool path for machining along the calculated position of the corner section.

Methods, systems, and devices for determining a machining process in a CAM system where the determining is based on CNC machine capabilities, user defined process constraints, and CNC machine configurations.

Methods, systems, and devices for determining an optimized toolpath in a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system, wherein the optimized toolpath comprises a toolpath associated with a part of a workpiece and wherein the optimized toolpath is configured for a computer numerical control (CNC) machine.

A tool path generation method for generating a second tool path by performing a smoothing process on a first tool path for processing a work with a machine tool includes a change rate calculation step of calculating a curvature change rate of the first tool path at a plurality of moving points (P.sub.n) of the first tool path. The tool path generation method includes: a weight calculation step of calculating a moving average weight on the basis of the curvature change rate of the first tool path at each of the moving points (P.sub.n); and a step of calculating coordinate values of the moving average of the moving points (P.sub.n) using the weight at each of the moving points (P.sub.n), and setting the coordinate values of the moving average of the moving points (P.sub.n) as moving points of the second tool path.

A machining path creating device for wire electric discharge machines creates a machining path for machining a keyway in a side surface of a round hole. The machining path creating unit compares a keyway depth and a diameter of the round hole input by an operator. The machining path creating device determines that the input keyway depth is a cut depth when the input keyway depth is smaller than the diameter of the round hole and that a value obtained by subtracting the diameter of the round hole from the input keyway depth is the cut depth when the input keyway depth is larger than the diameter of the round hole.

A method and control apparatus for generating control data for controlling a tool on a machine tool for machining a clamped-in workpiece, the machine tool having a control apparatus and a tool for controlling the tool, comprising: generating a path program using a setpoint geometry of generated setpoint parameters, the path program describing a path having supporting points and line elements; controlling the machine tool according to the generated path program; detecting actual parameters by a feedback loop; iteratively optimizing the path program using the detected actual parameters for generating a new path program with a new path, the new path program being dynamically supplied in real time and the new path program dynamically changing and/or dynamically replacing the previous path program; providing CAM functionality for changing an order of the supporting points; and embodying both the path program and the new path program as a CNC program.