A Study On Ruled Surfaces For Five-Axis Machining

       It is significant to develop the machining technology for ruled surfaces that are widely used in the area of aerospace industries. In this study, Flank cutting is employed to machine the ruled surfaces instead of point cutting. Flank cutting is faster than the latter and can yield a surface that does not require additional work in some cases. This thesis deals generally with the fundamental principles of five-axis NC flank cutting and discusses methods of reducing surface discrepancies while a cylindrical or a conical cutter is used. A three-axis machine center equipped with a rotary and tilting CNC table is utilized, hence, the five-axis machining task can be performed.
      In this study, the error analyses for flank cutting of ruled surfaces are provided, and the effects of changing the design factors have been discussed. And, the CAD/CAM system for the machining of ruled surfaces has also been developed.
      By applying the results obtained in this study, ruled surfaces can be designed and machined easily.