Toolpath strategies and management to optimize energy consumption on 3-axis CNC milling machine

Abstract

CNC milling machine is a production machine which widely used to manufacture many kinds of products. In the process of milling machining, the time needed to produce a component must be as minimum as possible to minimize the costs and its impacts on the environment. One of energy consumptions used in CNC milling machines is to supply electric motors for each axis of motions. Cutting energy consumption can be minimized by optimizing the cutting parameters, such as the cutting toolpath. Modelling and comparing the total energy consumption of the cutting process from different cutting toolpaths and strategies are important in selecting the right toolpath that has the smallest energy consumption. To achieve this goal, this study models the energy consumption during the cutting process. The model is then used to evaluate and compare different cutting toolpaths from different cutting strategies. Three prismatic and one sculptured part were used to examine the model of cutting energy consumption. A Graphical User Interface is also developed to simplify the comparison and evaluation process. Through this process it will be possible to predict energy consumption in the cutting toolpath and hence enable the selection of the right toolpath to reduce energy consumption in machining.