Corner Transition Toolpath Generation Based on Velocity-Blending Algorithm for Glass Edge Grinding

Abstract Sharp corners usually are used on glass contours to meet the highly increasing demand for personalized products, but they result in a broken wheel center toolpath in edge grinding. To ensure that the whole wheel center toolpath is of G1 continuity and that the grinding depth is controllable at the corners, a transition toolpath generation method based on a velocity-blending algorithm is proposed. Taking the grinding depth into consideration, the sharp-corner grinding process is planned, and a velocity-blending algorithm is introduced. With the constraints, such as traverse displacement and grinding depth, the sharp-corner transition toolpath is generated with a three-phase motion arrangement and with confirmations of the acceleration/deceleration positions. A piece of glass with three sharp corners is ground on a three-axis numerical-control glass grinding equipment. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can protect the sharp corners from breakage efficiently and achieve satisfactory shape accuracy. This research proposed a toolpath generation method based on a velocity-blending algorithm for the manufacturing of personalized glass products, which generates the transition toolpath as needed around a sharp corner in real time.