Abstract: 3D contour tool path can improve the efficiency and quality of numerical control (NC) machining. Harmonic map method is an important approach for 3D contour tool path generation. However, the starting locations of the tool paths are not located in the expected point and the tool paths are non-uniform in most cases. A generation algorithm of 3D contour tool path based on methodology of improved harmonic map is proposed. Experimental results show that this algorithm can solve the problems that the start of the tool paths are not located in the expected point and that the tool paths are non-uniform and can guarantee all the CC points are lying on the edges of machined surface.

Key words: 3D contour tool path, Harmonic map, Triangular mesh