Concurrent Multi-User Toolpath Generation via Spatial Partitioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current toolpath generation in CNC manufacturing is a time-consuming process typically performed by a single expert user, creating a significant bottleneck in industrial workflows and delaying product development.
Innovation Solution
A collaborative and concurrent engineering method that allows multiple users to generate machining sequences concurrently by providing machining target models to CAM clients, merging their instruction sequences into a single executable sequence for machine tools, and spatially partitioning models to enable simultaneous work on different regions of a part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If toolpath generation is performed by a single expert user, then the quality and precision of toolpath design is maintained, but the time required for toolpath generation increases significantly creating a bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the toolpath generation process into multiple independent segments that can be worked on simultaneously by different users. Multiple CAM clients are assigned different machining target models or different portions of the overall toolpath generation task, allowing parallel processing while maintaining quality standards through the server's coordination and merging of results.
2Productivity
If multiple users are allowed to work concurrently on toolpath generation, then the productivity increases and bottleneck is alleviated, but the complexity of coordinating and merging their work increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple CAM clients and the machine tools. The server receives machining target models, distributes them to CAM clients, merges the generated machining instruction sequences, and manages the overall workflow. This intermediary handles the coordination complexity centrally, allowing multiple users to work independently while the server ensures proper integration of their contributions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges machining instruction sequences generated by multiple CAM clients into a single coordinated sequence. The server combines the parallel outputs from different users into a unified toolpath that can be executed on the machine tool, effectively consolidating multiple independent workflows into one coherent process.
3Productivity
If custom programs are created to generate toolpath based on parametric designs, then the setup time for repeated parts is reduced, but the initial time required to create the custom program increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining machining target models and machining strategies that can be reused across multiple parts. Instead of creating custom programs for each repeated part, the system prepares generic machining target models in advance that can be instantiated and modified for different parts, eliminating the need for repetitive custom program creation while maintaining efficiency for repeated parts.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating a toolpath includes providing a plurality of machining target models based on a model of an engineering object, assigning the machining target models to CAM clients operated by users, receiving a machining instruction sequence from each CAM client, and machining a part by executing each of the machining instruction sequences on one or more machine tools. The machining instruction sequences may be merged into a single machining instruction sequence before being executed by a machine tool. The machining target models may be created manually or automatically generated. In certain embodiments, the machining target models are generated by spatially partitioning the model of the engineering object. In one embodiment, features that are allocated to a separate machining process are removed from the machining target models. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed herein.