Method of creating curved surfaces

Details Method of creating curved surfaces Method of creating curved surfaces

1982-12-01

1985-10-08

Smith, Jerry

Boots, shoes, and leggings

318570, G05B 19415

Patent

active

045464278

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of creating the curved surface of a three-dimensional body and, more particularly, to a method of creating curved surfaces that is ideal for the preparation of a numerical control tape required for the numerically controlled machining of a three-dimensional metal mold or the like.
A curved surface of a three-dimensional metal mold or the like, when drawn out on the plane of a blueprint, is generally represented by a plurality of given section curves, but no data is shown for the shape of the area lying between a certain section curve and the next adjacent section curve. When carrying out numerically controlled machining it is essential that these two section curves be connected smoothly despite the fact that the shape of the area between them is not given. In other words, this means that machining must be performed by generating the curved surface between the two section curves from such data as that indicative of the section curves, punching an NC tape so as to incorporate the data concerning the generated curved surface, and then machining the workpiece in accordance with the instructions on the NC tape. To this end, the numerical control tape ordinarily is prepared by using a computer, and either of two methods can be adopted to create the curved surface, namely (1) a patch system in which processing is executed by partitioning a curved surface into minute portions, and (2) a system in which a two-dimensional curve made of straight line segments and arcs is modified for each pick-feed applied to a third axis.
The patch system (1), however, entails the processing of large quantities of data as well as highly complicated mathematical processing, and requires a large-scale computer system. The system (2) makes processing with a small-scale computer possible, but there is no three-dimensional tool offset capability and an excessive limitation upon tool movement direction and machining shape, making it impossible to create sophisticated three-dimensional bodies.
Accordingly, the inventors have already proposed a method of creating curved surfaces, comprising generating a plurality a intermediate sections and finding a section curve (intermediate section curve) on a curved body, based on the intermediate sections, in accordance with predetermined rules, from section data specifying given sections of a three-dimensional curved body and from data specifying section curves in said sections, and generating the curved surface of the three-dimensional body based on the plurality of generated intermediate section curves. In accordance with such a method, processing can be carried out with a small-scale computer and a sophisticated three-dimensional body can be created in a simple manner.
Heretofore, a three-dimensional curved body has been generated by partitioning the X, Y or Z axis in accordance with a partitioning quantity provided for the X, Y or Z axis irrespective of the position, shape, etc. of the curved surface, generating intermediate sections so as to contain partitioning points obtained from the partitioning operation, finding a section curve (intermediate section curve) in each of the intermediate sections, and generating the three-dimensional curved body on the basis of a plurality of the intermediate section curves. Machining has been performed by transporting a tool along the X, Y or Z axis through a cutting pitch decided in accordance with the partitioning quantity (which operation is referred to as a pick-feed operation), then transporting the tool along an intermediate section curve, followed by repeating the pick-feed operation and the tool movement along an intermediate section curve, whereby the desired three-dimensional curved body is created.
FIG. 1(a) shows an example of the conventional method, including steps of partitioning the Z axis in accordance with a given partitioning quantity, generating a plurality of intermediate sections Si (i=1,2 . . . n) so as to contain partitioning points di (i=1,2 . . . n), finding section curv

REFERENCES:
patent: 3882304 (1975-05-01), Walters
Society of Automotive Engineers 449A, Automotive Engineering Congress Detroit, Mich. (1962-1) (New York) J. B. Rankin [Computers and Numerical Control], p. 4, FIG. 10.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Method of creating curved surfaces does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method of creating curved surfaces, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of creating curved surfaces will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2223742