A Virtual Lathe for Part Program Verification

Abstract

The simulation and verification of NC codes for CNC machining is very important in the highly competitive and automated industries no matter if the codes are generated by conventional programming [1–4]. In fact, a succession of long and complex preliminary actions is needed to use this kind of machine tool, increasing the costs of the production process as a whole. The aim of this work is to provide the operator with a rapid and effective tool to visualize the result of a turning operation with the intent of saving time, human resources and money.

In the paper a proper software, written in C language, is presented which through a polygon clipping algorithm and some OpenGL techniques, is able to simulate the machining using the numerical control verification module in a CN lathe.

Since the rendering image of simulated results can closely mimic the machined part, this research provides a better approach for a very fast NC simulation and verification on an inexpensive personal computer. In addition the model can also be displayed from different viewpoints and it can be manipulated for further applications.

This software can be used also as a visual postprocessor allowing the user to visualize the workpiece obtained from a part program produced from a CAM system.