Avoiding feed fluctuation for five-axis interpolation using 3D clothoid and B-spline

For the CNC machine tools, the feedrate fluctuation may excite the vibration of the machine structures and damage the surface of machined parts. This paper presents a novel interpolation solution for 5-axis machining to avoid feedrate fluctuation. The path of TCP is globally smoothed through the 3D clothoid, whose interpolation parameter is just the curve length. The path of tool orientation is fitting with the B-spline, which can reach any order of continuity under the requirement. The effectiveness of the proposed interpolation method is verified through the simulation and the experimental test on a 5-axis machine tool. Compared with the state-of-the-art, the proposed method attenuates the feedrate fluctuation with more order of magnitude.