Toolpath calculations

Abstract

Before you can start to write a CNC part program manually, you may have to carry out various calculations to determine the tool centre line path in order to machine the required shape. These calculations may be needed to determine the intersect points of arcs and lines, arc centres and tangency points of lines on arcs or circles, and so on. If you are going to write programs manually, you will need a good knowledge of mathematics, trigonometry and geometry. These are not discussed in this workbook, since they are covered in the accompanying core book. If you feel you are on uncertain ground here, there are plenty of mathematical textbooks to which you can refer.