Simulation model for CNC machining of sculptured surface allowing different levels of detail

Recently, CNC machining simulations require exponentially increasing computational time and memories of the computers, which have become a significant challenge for both computer hardware and software. This paper presents a novel geometric model for CNC machining simulations, which is called Level of details based on G-Code, or G-LODs for short. The G-LODs uses a type of progressive mesh to construct the surface simulation grid (SSG). The SSG can be adopted to simulate the CNC machining processes at proper level of details. So theoretically simulations based on the G-LODs will not excessively occupy the computational and storage resources of computers. Based on the SSG, the G-buffer method is used to construct the solid model of the parts. The methodology of how to construct the G-LODs is established. In conclusion, several simulation examples based the G-LODs are presented.