A review on tool orientation planning in multi-axis machining

Tool path planning is critical to fully realise the producing capabilities of multi-axis machine tools and improve the precision and efficiency in multi-axis machining. Up to now, more than 400 articles have been published for tool path planning of multi-axis machine tools. Among them, most of the articles mainly focus on the topology of tool path while few studies are conducted for planning of tool orientation. Moreover, the factors that affect the planning of tool orientation are derived from multiple aspects, such as interference, collision and cutting strip width, which poses great challenges on tool orientation planning. To generate a time-optimal tool path with high machining precision, there is an urgent need to ascertain the influences of tool orientation arrangement on the multi-axis machining process. Therefore, in this work, a literature review on tool orientation planning of multi-axis machine tools is implemented. The main factors that influence the planning of tool orientations are systematically summarised, and the advantages and disadvantages of the corresponding methods related to these factors are discussed. Some research issues and challenges encountered in the tool orientation planning are identified. Furthermore, the methodologies that have potential to address the research issues in the future are prospected.