Automation in CNC Code Generation and Tool Path Optimization for Micro-milling Machine

Recent scenario and technology moving rapidly towards the development of micro- devices in the millimeter to sub-millimeter range. Micro manufacturing plays an important role in recent development and application of miniaturized products. One of the tool based micro manufacturing process known as microendmilling has become an established process for manufacturing micro components in metal and metal alloys.  For the complicated contouring applications, manual part programming becomes cumbersome and is prone to errors. In this work an attempt has been made to overcome these problems by use of specially designed software. This software automatically generates CNC part programs, when the part geometry is defined. It reduces the time consumed by the operator to enter the program manually and also eliminate the programming errors. This software automate the computer numerical control (CNC) programming for micro-endmilling machine to perform point to point operation, straight cut operation and contouring operation. The development of this technique leads to reduce the cost of fabrication for the most of the microstructures and at the same time reduces the product time to market. Optimized tool path for pocket milling operation are also identified as parallel plane method based on surface roughness and machining time.