Tool path generation device, tool path calculation method, and tool path generation program

1. A tool path generation device that calculates a tool path to be used by a machine tool device that machines a workpiece using at least one tool, said tool path generation device comprising:

an affecting value calculation section that calculates a chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value that affects increase and decrease in chatter vibration caused in a structure formed by the tool, the workpiece, and the machine tool device;

a machining condition decision section that decides machining conditions based on the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value calculated by the affecting value calculation section, the machining conditions comprising at least one of feed direction, pick feed and tool attitude; and

a tool path calculation section that calculates the tool path based on the machining conditions decided by the machining condition decision section, wherein:

if a direction of the chatter vibration and the vibration characteristics of the structure are not known, the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value is based on a cutting width or a regenerative width,

if a direction of the chatter vibration or vibration characteristics of the structure is known, the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value is based on the chatter vibration increase width, and

wherein the machine tool uses the at least one tool to machine the workpiece with the calculated tool path.

2. The tool path generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the cutting width and the regenerative width are included in a cross section of an uncut chip of the workpiece which is cut by the tool and which is perpendicular to a cutting direction of the tool, the cutting width being a width of a contour portion representing a surface newly generated as a result of current cutting performed by the tool, and the regenerative width being a width of a contour portion representing a surface generated as a result of previous cutting performed by the tool.

3. The tool path generation device according to claim 2 , wherein the affecting value calculation section calculates the magnitude of the cutting width or the regenerative width as the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value in a case where none of the vibration characteristics of the structure, the direction of the chatter vibration, and a magnitude and a direction of a specific cutting resistance of the workpiece are specified or estimated.

4. The tool path generation device according to claim 2 , wherein a machining system has high stability in a case where the magnitude of the cutting width or the regenerative width is small compared to a case where the magnitude of the cutting width or the regenerative width is large.

5. The tool path generation device according to claim 1 , wherein when the direction of the chatter vibration or the vibration characteristics are known, the affecting value calculation section calculates, as the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value, a magnitude of a chatter vibration increase width that is based on at least one of:

a first angle formed between:

both:

(a) a cutting direction of the tool; and

(b) a direction between a direction of extension of a cutting width and a direction of extension of a regenerative width, the cutting width and the regenerative width being included in a cross section of an uncut chip of the workpiece which is cut by the tool and which is perpendicular to a cutting direction of the tool, the cutting width being a width of a contour portion representing a surface newly generated as a result of current cutting performed by the tool, and the regenerative width being a width of a contour portion representing a surface generated as a result of previous cutting performed by the tool, that is, a plane including both the direction (a) and the direction (b); and

the direction of the chatter vibration; and

a second angle formed between a plane perpendicular to a direction of a resultant cutting force applied from the tool to the workpiece during machining, and the direction of the chatter vibration.

6. The tool path generation device according to claim 5 , wherein the chatter vibration increase width is calculated based on at least one of the first angle and the second angle and a magnitude of the cutting width or the regenerative width.

7. The tool path generation device according to claim 5 , wherein the affecting value calculation section calculates the magnitude of the chatter vibration increase width as the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value in a case where at least the direction of the chatter vibration or the vibration characteristics of the structure are specified or estimated.

8. The tool path generation device according to claim 5 , wherein a machining system has high stability in a case where the magnitude of the chatter vibration increase width is small compared to a case where the magnitude of the chatter vibration increase width is large.

9. The tool path generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the affecting value calculation section calculates a magnitude of a machining process gain of a machining system of the structure as the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value when the direction of the chatter vibration and a magnitude and a direction of a specific cutting resistance of the workpiece are specified or estimated.

10. The tool path generation device according to claim 9 , wherein the machining system has high stability in a case where the magnitude of the machining process gain is small compared to a case where the magnitude of the machining process gain is large.

11. The tool path generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the affecting value calculation section calculates a magnitude of an open-loop transfer function of a machining system of the structure as the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value when the vibration characteristics are known.

12. The tool path generation device according to claim 11 , wherein the affecting value calculation section calculates the magnitude of the open-loop transfer function as the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value in a case where all of the vibration characteristics of the structure and a magnitude and a direction of a specific cutting resistance of the workpiece are specified or estimated.

13. The tool path generation device according to claim 11 , wherein the machining system is stable in a case where the magnitude of the open-loop transfer function is less than 1, the machining system is unstable in a case where the magnitude of the open-loop transfer function is more than 1, and the machining system has higher stability as the magnitude of the open-loop transfer function is smaller.

14. The tool path generation device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the machining condition decision section includes a stabilizing feed direction decision section that decides a chatter vibration stabilizing feed direction based on the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value, the chatter vibration stabilizing feed direction being a feed direction of the tool with respect to the workpiece or of the workpiece with respect to the tool that does not increase the chatter vibration; and

the machining condition decision section decides machining conditions based on the chatter vibration stabilizing feed direction.

15. The tool path generation device according to claim 14 , wherein the stabilizing feed direction decision section decides the stabilizing feed direction by deciding the feed direction such that an angle formed between:

at least one of:

a plane including both:

(a) a cutting direction of the tool; and

(b) a direction between a direction of extension of a cutting width and a direction of extension of a regenerative width, the cutting width and the regenerative width being included in a cross section of an uncut chip of the workpiece which is cut by the tool and which is perpendicular to a cutting direction of the tool, the cutting width being a width of a contour portion representing a surface newly generated as a result of current cutting performed by the tool, and the regenerative width being a width of a contour portion representing a surface generated as a result of previous cutting performed by the tool; and

a plane perpendicular to a direction of a resultant cutting force applied from the tool to the workpiece during machining; and

the direction of the chatter vibration is small.

16. The tool path generation device according to claim 14 , wherein:

the machining condition decision section further includes a machining feed direction select section that selects a machining feed direction that is different from the chatter vibration stabilizing feed direction for a location at which machining cannot be performed using the chatter vibration stabilizing feed direction; and

the machining condition decision section decides machining conditions based on the chatter vibration stabilizing feed direction and the machining feed direction.

17. The tool path generation device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the machining condition decision section further includes a feed rate select section that selects an upper limit value of an allowable feed rate as a feed rate of the tool with respect to the workpiece or of the workpiece with respect to the tool; and

the machining condition decision section decides machining conditions based on the feed rate selected by the feed rate select section.

18. A tool path generation method for calculating a tool path to be used by a machine tool device that machines a workpiece using at least one tool, the method comprising:

calculating a chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value that affects increase and decrease in chatter vibration caused in a structure formed by the tool, the workpiece, and the machine tool device;

deciding machining conditions based on the calculated chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value, the machining conditions comprising at least one of feed direction, pick feed and tool attitude; and

calculating the tool path based on the decided machining conditions, wherein:

if a direction of the chatter vibration and the vibration characteristics of the structure are not known, the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value is based on a cutting width or a regenerative width,

if a direction of the chatter vibration or vibration characteristics of the structure is known, the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value is based on the chatter vibration increase width, and

wherein the machine tool uses the at least one tool to machine the workpiece with the calculated tool path.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing a tool path generation program for calculating a tool path to be used by a machine tool device that machines a workpiece using at least one tool, the program comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a computer, perform a method that comprises:

calculating a chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value that affects increase and decrease in chatter vibration caused in a structure formed by the tool, the workpiece, and the machine tool device;

deciding machining conditions based on the calculated chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value, the machining conditions comprising at least one of feed direction, pick feed and tool attitude; and

calculating the tool path based on the decided machining conditions, wherein:

if a direction of the chatter vibration and the vibration characteristics of the structure are not known, the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value is based on a cutting width or a regenerative width,

if a direction of the chatter vibration or vibration characteristics of the structure is known, the chatter vibration increase and decrease affecting value is based on the chatter vibration increase width, and

wherein the machine tool uses the at least one tool to machine the workpiece with the calculated tool path.