Computer-aided Geometric Machining of a 3D Free Surface Using a 2UPU+SPR Spatial Parallel Machine Tool

Abstract

In order to facilitate and efficiently analyze by simulation during normal machining 3D free surface with 2UPU+SPR parallel machine tool, by using powerful modeling function of SolidWorks software to carry out modeling for three-dimensional entity of parallel machine tools. First, a spatial 2UPU+SPR parallel simulation mechanism is created by Computer-aided geometric method. Second, a 3D free surface and a guiding plane of tool path are constituted. Finally, the 2UPU+SPR spatial parallel simulation mechanism, the 3D free surface, and the guiding plane of tool path are combined together, and a novel spatial parallel 2UPU+SPR simulation machine tool is created for machining a 3D free surface. In the light of the specified tool path, the extensions of three driving limbs and the positions of the moving platform are solved dynamically by adopting the dimension-driving technique. The results of computer simulation prove that the computer-aided geometric approach is not only fairly quick and straightforward in developing or designing, but is also advantageous from the viewpoint of accuracy and repeatability.