Direct tool-path generation from massive point input

Abstract The paper presents an algorithm and methodologies for the direct numerical control (NC) cutter path generation from a point cloud. Different from the existing approach, it will generate the cutter path without any reconstruction of the surface patch. Based on the scanned data, a ball nose cutter is assumed to move over the points with a specific cutter diameter. A sphere (shape of cutter) with a specific radius is formed by two or more digitized points. The approach combines point pairs to form rows of spheres. By joining the centre of spheres with are splines, the preliminary tool path is calculated. Finally, the exact tool path is found by means of a general compensation algorithm.