Tool dwell time computation in computer-controlled surfacing based on constrained optimization

Computer-controlled surfacing has been used for the improvement of the form accuracy of surfaces fabricated by precision machining. This method relies on repeated measurement and correction of the surface form error. Surface correction needs as input the dwell time of all the tool locations on the surface. Past attempts at dwell time computation involved approximations and assumptions with no guaranteed goodness of the solution. This paper proposes to formulate the problem from the perspective of constrained optimization. Practical process limitations and considerations are reflected in the formulation of cost terms and constraints. Commercial numerical packages are available for solving such optimization problem.