Global tool path planning method for smooth and length-optimal machining based on vector fields

As a newly developing method, tool path generation based on vector fields often requires pre-partitioning of the surface, leading to non-smooth paths at the boundaries between surface segments. To tackle this challenge, we propose a novel global tool path planning method based on vector fields. Our approach eliminates the need for pre-partitioning of the surface and incorporates considerations to achieve uniform variance of the scallop height while ensuring path smoothness. As a result, our method enables the generation of smooth paths globally while simultaneously achieving length optimality. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method, as it achieves both smoothness and length optimality compared to state-of-the-art methods.