this is actually a feature request for a milling strategy directed towards aerodynamic shapes which should be useful for 3D master pattern manufacturing for rc planes or drones both with large communities but also for all sorts of marine applications like ship hulls water tank models.
The strategy I have in mind could be called "steepest climb milling strategy" where the toolpath follows the gradient of the surface during the finishing operation.
Imagine you want to machine a model of the famous "Spitfire", a toolpath of this kind should create an aerodynamically excellent surface which could easily be hand finished achieving excellent aerodynamic properties while zigzag or cross patterns would be a compromise, the latter doubling machining time and all horizontal contour following strategies fail completely (except for roughing).
On an airfoil, the toolpath should start at the leading edge and end at the trailing edge or vice versa and should follow the contour of the airfoil cross section. In locations where wings intersect with body, the strategy becomes even more important to achieve an aerodynamically correct surface.
Side Note: In 3D printing airfoils are printed vertically because it's the only way to create an airfoil cross section on a 3D printer drawing layers of cross sections on top of each other - but also here, the wing/body intersection suffers even so the resolution of a 3D printer is very high. Due to shrinking, warping etc. the process unsuitable.
Hello,
this is actually a feature request for a milling strategy directed towards aerodynamic shapes which should be useful for 3D master pattern manufacturing for rc planes or drones both with large communities but also for all sorts of marine applications like ship hulls water tank models.
The strategy I have in mind could be called "steepest climb milling strategy" where the toolpath follows the gradient of the surface during the finishing operation.
Imagine you want to machine a model of the famous "Spitfire", a toolpath of this kind should create an aerodynamically excellent surface which could easily be hand finished achieving excellent aerodynamic properties while zigzag or cross patterns would be a compromise, the latter doubling machining time and all horizontal contour following strategies fail completely (except for roughing).
On an airfoil, the toolpath should start at the leading edge and end at the trailing edge or vice versa and should follow the contour of the airfoil cross section. In locations where wings intersect with body, the strategy becomes even more important to achieve an aerodynamically correct surface.
Side Note: In 3D printing airfoils are printed vertically because it's the only way to create an airfoil cross section on a 3D printer drawing layers of cross sections on top of each other - but also here, the wing/body intersection suffers even so the resolution of a 3D printer is very high. Due to shrinking, warping etc. the process unsuitable.
Klaus