Toolpath Generation for CNC Milled Parts Using Genetic Algorithms

摘要

As manufactured products become increasingly more complex, generating machining toolpaths to manufacture these products are also becoming more complicated. Toolpath generation algorithms struggle when dealing with large numbers of data points due to the complex features on a design. In this research, a genetic algorithm is proposed to solve a variation of the travelling salesperson problem to generate a machining toolpath. Genetic algorithms are a more flexible approach to generating toolpaths as it is independent of the geometry of the part. Novel algorithms for the fitness function and mutation operator are proposed to ensure an optimal toolpath is generated without the genetic algorithm converging prematurely.