Bae Systems, Inc.

David McMillan

Jonathan Michael Carberry

Austin James Cook

Craig Ashmore

Aron Derecichei

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for machining a workpiece (). The method comprises specifying a path along which a cutting tool () is moved during machining the workpiece (), the path comprising segments (); defining, for each segment (), an exit point on that segment (); defining, for each segment (), an exit path () from the exit point of that segment () to a point remote from the workpiece (); performing a machining process including moving the cutting tool () along the tool path and machining the workpiece (); and, during the machining process, when one or more criteria are satisfied: interrupting the machining process and, without machining the workpiece (), moving the cutting tool () to the exit point of the current segment () and then along the exit path () of the current segment ().

Segmented path following machining method and apparatus

Path following machining method and apparatus

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for machining a workpiece (). The method comprises: specifying a path along which a cutting tool () is to be moved during machining of the workpiece (), the path comprising a plurality of segments (); defining, for each segment (), an entry point and an entry path () from a point remote from the workpiece () to that entry point; moving a first cutting tool () along the tool path from a first point to a second point and machining the workpiece (); after the first cutting tool () has been moved to the second point, moving the first cutting tool () to a point remote from the workpiece (); moving a second cutting tool () along the entry path () of the segment () that contains the second point, and then from the entry point to the second point.

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Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

David McMillan