Simulation of normal machining of 3D free-form surface by an orthogonal 3-leg parallel machine tool with 5-DOF

A novel orthogonal 3-leg parallel machine tool (PMT) with 5 DOFs is designed for normal machining a 3D free-form surface s. A CAD variation geometry approach is adopted for pre-solving the extension/rotation of the linear/rotational actuators and the pose of this PMT. First, a simulation mechanism of this PMT is created by using the CAD variation geometry technique. Second, a s and a guiding plane of the tool path are constructed, the tool axis of the PMT is kept perpendicular to s, and then a simulation PMT is created. Third, in the light of the two kinds of prescribed tool paths, the extension/rotation of the linear/rotational actuators and the pose of the PMT are pre-solved automatically and visualized dynamically.