Method of generating cutting path of complex curved surface

摘要

Data for specifying each three-dimensional curved surface (12a, 12b, 12c) constituting a complex curved surface (11, FIG. 1) are inputted, and one curve (CV) on the X-Y plane is specified. The curve CV comprises two or more elements (CV1-CV4). The complex curved surface (11) is intersected by planes or sections (SSi) extending from lines of reference (elements CV.sub.1, CV.sub.2 . . . ) on the X-T plane that are i-th (i=1, 2, . . . ) elements (CV.sub.2, CV.sub.2 . . . ) (CVi) in the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction among a number of elements constituting the curve (CV). Thereafter, a cutting path is generated by adopting a path (SC1→SC2→SC3→SC4) for moving a tool along the section curves formed by intersections between each plane or section SSi and surfaces of the complex curved surface, each section curve corresponding to the above-mentioned elements in the order of the elements.