Toolpath generation method for four-axis NC machining of helical rotor

Purpose: This paper presented a method for generating the toolpaths for the machining of a helical rotor on five-axis machine tool. Design/methodology/approach: The geometry of the helical rotor is designed based on the ruled surfaces. Through the homogeneous coordinate transformation, the cutter location of the flank milling for four-axis machining can be generated. The postprocessor are developed for converting the cutter location file to the fouraxis numerical control program. Findings: The toolpath generated are verified through solid cutting simulation and a trial cut. The results show that the proposed method is valid and the machining process works well. Practical implications: As a result, modeling based on ruled surface is frequently used in constructing curved surfaces for aerospace industry and precision mechanical parts such as spatial cams, turbines, dies and molds, rotors of pumps, and centrifugal impellers. Originality/value: This paper describes multi – axis toolpath generation using the flank milling method for the helical rotor, the cutter location file can be generated with cylindrical and mill.