Local and Global Accessibility Evaluation with Tool Geometry

Accessibility analysis is an important step for the automatic generation of machining planning. One aim of accessibility analysis is to find a domain in which the tool can maneuver without colliding with the workpiece. Most approaches to accessibility analysis use rays or half-line projections that do not include tool geometry considerations. In this paper we present an approach for the global accessibility analysis that includes tool geometry. The paper demonstrates how local accessibility analysis forms an upper bound for the tool radius selection and how a global accessibility approach determines point and part accessibility. The results in this paper are limited to ball-endmill tool geometry. The paper also only considers tool–workpiece interference and collisions and does not consider tool holder geometry. Experiments on sample parts are shown to validate the approach.