Abstract: Five-axis end milling machining is an important means to improve the processing quality and processing efficiency for parts with sculptured surfaces in the key industry and national defense areas. Around the three critical issues including tool positioning, tool path and tool orientation optimization, the recent research progress of tool path planning for five-axis end milling machining is summarized. Based on the number of the cutter contact (CC) point between the tool and the design surface, the tool positioning optimization strategy of five-axis end milling machining is divided into three categories that are single-point contact, multi-point contact and non-point contact. And the general mathematic model of the multi-point contact tool positioning optimization is established. The theories and methods of tool path, global interference detection and tool orientation optimization are systematically discussed. The deficiencies in current research are analyzed. It is pointed out that tool path planning of five-axis end milling machining should be carried out from the overall perspective as far as possible, and fully considers the kinematic and dynamic properties of machine tool. Meanwhile, the theory and application research for multi-point contact machining should be strengthened to indeed play its efficiency advantage in engineering practice.

Key words: end milling, five-axis machining, research progress, sculptured surface, tool path