Method and device for composite machining based on tool-path pattern types with tool axis orientation rules

1. A computer-enabled method of determining a sequence of five-axis operations to be performed by a cutting tool of a machining station on a workpiece, the method comprising:

determining an area of the workpiece to be machined;

receiving a machining pattern;

defining an orientation of an axis of the cutting tool with respect to the workpiece;

receiving the orientation of at least one of the axes of the cutting tool;

defining one or more rules for at least one of: (a) approaching the workpiece; (b) departing the workpiece; and (c) linking two or more sub-areas of the determined area of the workpiece to be machined;

determining a sequence of movements of the cutting tool having five axes of operation, the determination based on the received machining pattern and the received orientation of at least one of the axes of the cutting tool, wherein the determined sequence of movements of the cutting tool is a member of a set of movements of the cutting tool, the set comprising a multiplicative product of a total number of available machining patterns and a total number of available orientations of the axes of the cutting tool; and

converting into one or more machine instructions at least one of: (a) the determined area of the workpiece to be machined; (b) the machining pattern; (c) the received orientation of at least one of the axes of the cutting tool; and (d) at least one of the defined rules for approaching the workpiece, departing the workpiece, and linking two or more sub-areas of the area of the workpiece to be machined.

2. The computer-enabled method of claim 1 wherein the machining pattern is based on a user selection from a first menu comprising a plurality of machining patterns.

3. The computer-enabled method of claim 1 , wherein the orientation of at least one of the axes of the cutting tool is based on a user selection from a second menu comprising a plurality of orientations of the cutting tool.

4. The computer-enabled method of claim 1 further comprising: outputting the sequence of movements of the cutting tool as one or more machine instructions.

5. A device for generating instructions for a machining tool, the device comprising:

input means for receiving a machining pattern;

input means for receiving a tool axis orientation;

a processing module having addressable memory, the processing module adapted to determine a sequence of movements of the cutting tool having five axes of operation, the determination based on a received machining pattern and the received axis of orientation wherein the determined sequence of movements of the cutting tool is a member of a set of sequences of movements of the cutting tool, the set comprising a multiplicative product of a total number of available machining patterns and a total number of available orientations of the axis of the cutting tool; and

means for outputting the determined sequence of movements of the cutting tool as one or more machine instructions.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the input means for receiving the machining pattern is at least one of: an electrical communication; a wireless communication receiver; a reader of a memory store; and a reader of portable media.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the input means for receiving orientation of the axis of the cutting tool is at least one of: an electrical communication; a wireless communication receiver; a reader of a memory store; and a reader of portable media.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein the means for outputting the determined sequence of movements of the cutting tool is at least one of: an electrical communication; a wireless communication transmitter; a writer to a memory store; and a writer to portable media.

9. The device of claim 5 further comprising a user interface adapted to receive a user selection from a first menu comprising a plurality of machining patterns.

10. The device of claim 5 further comprising a user interface adapted to receive a user selection from a second menu comprising a plurality of orientations of the axes of the cutting tool.

11. The device of claim 5 further comprising a user interface adapted to receive a user selection from a first menu comprising a plurality of machining patterns and from a second menu comprising a plurality of orientations of axes of the cutting tool.

12. The device of claim 5 further comprising input means for receiving a workpiece area definition wherein the input means for receiving the workpiece area definition is at least one of: a user interface; an electrical communication; a wireless communication receiver; a reader of a memory store; and a reader of portable media.

13. The device of claim 5 wherein the processing module is further adapted to determine the sequence of movements of the cutting tool based on the received machining pattern, the received orientation of the axis of the cutting tool, and a defined workpiece area to be machined.

14. A method of using a device for composite machining based on tool-path pattern types with cutting tool axis orientation rules for five axes of cutting tool operation comprising:

selecting, via a user interface of the device, from a set of available choices of tool-path pattern types, wherein a displayed set of available choices of tool-path pattern types is independent of a user selection from a displayed set of available choices of tool axis orientation rules;

selecting, via the user interface of the device, from a set of available choices of orientation rules of the axis of the cutting tool, wherein the displayed set of available choices of orientation rules of the axis of the cutting tool is independent of a user selection from the displayed set of available choices of tool-path pattern types; and

receiving a sequence of movements of the cutting tool, wherein the received sequence of movements of the cutting tool, within the five axes of cutting tool operation, is a member of a set of sequences of movements of the cutting tool, the set comprising a multiplicative product of a total number of available tool-path pattern types and a total number of available orientations of the axis of the cutting tool.