Abstract
This paper discusses a simulation system for verifying 3-Axis NC tool paths generated by generic APT-like cutters. The system consists of five components a parametric surface converter that converts model parametric surfaces to z-map representation, a tool-path generator, a generic APT-like cutter model, an intermediate surface and an animator/simulator. The end result is a system that can take as input a CAD model surface, generate the tool path(s) necessary to cut the model surface from some stock material and verify the paths correctness and provide other state information. The system itself is implemented in OpenGL for the Windows 95/98/NT operating systems. The simulator has been fully implemented while work is still being done on the tool-path generation and model surface conversion at the time of this writing. Novel aspects of this project include the use of OpenGL (the standard and most portable 3-D graphics library available today) and the use of a generic APT-like cutter.
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