Apparatus and method for creating tool path

Abstract

When creating other tool path from two tool paths for cutting a work accurately and efficiently, the data on the first tool path is composed of a position vector and a direction vector of a tool for use when the work is cut while moving the tool. The data on the second tool path is composed of a position vector and a direction vector of the tool for use when the work, which has been cut according to the first tool path, is further cut. A computer uses the first tool path data and second tool path data to calculate a position vector and a direction vector of a medium tool path that is between the first tool path and second tool path.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tool path creation method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving first tool path data indicating a position and a direction of a tool when a work is cut while moving the tool and second tool path data indicating the position and the direction of the tool when, after cutting the work according to the first tool path, the work is further cut while moving the tool;    creating third tool path data indicating the position and the direction of the tool, based on the received first and second tool path data, for use when the work is cut after the work is cut according to the first tool path but before the work is cut according to the second tool path; and    outputting the created third tool path data.    
     
     
         2 . A computer program causing a computer to: 
 acquire first tool path data indicating a position and a direction of a tool when a work is cut while moving the tool and second tool path data indicating the position and the direction of the tool when, after cutting the work according to the first tool path, the work is further cut while moving the tool;    create third tool path data indicating the position and the direction of the tool, based on the acquired first and second tool path data, for use when the work is cut after the work is cut according to the first tool path but before the work is cut according to the second tool path; and    output the created third tool path data.    
     
     
         3 . A tool path creation apparatus comprising: 
 a memory unit for storing first tool path data indicating a position and a direction of a tool when a work is cut while moving the tool and second tool path data indicating the position and the direction of the tool when, after cutting the work according to the first tool path, the work is further cut while moving the tool; and    means for creating, based on the first and second tool path data, N-stage (N is a natural number) third tool path data indicating the position and the direction of the tool for cutting the work, each of said N-stage third tool path data being data on a tool path between the first tool path and the second tool path.    
     
     
         4 . The tool path creation apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second tool path data each contains a plurality of pairs of a position indicating a moving path of the tool and a direction of the tool at the position, said tool path creation apparatus further comprising: 
 means for making adjustment so that a number of the pairs included in the first tool path data becomes equal to a number of the pairs included in the second tool path data,    wherein said means for creation uses a first tool path pair and a second tool path pair, which correspond each other, to create a third tool path pair of the position of a moving path of the tool and the direction of the tool at the position.    
     
     
         5 . The tool path creation apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the pairs included in the first, second, and third tool path data each comprise a position vector and a direction vector, and 
 wherein said means for creation establishes the direction vector of an ith(1≦i≦N) third tool path into a direction determined by dividing a difference between the position vector of the first tool path and the position vector of the second tool path into a ratio i:N+1−i.    
     
     
         6 . The tool path creation apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first tool path is a tool path for cutting into a work shape and the second tool path is a tool path for cutting into a finishing shape.