Integrated CAD/CAM Approach for Parametric Design and High Precision Fabrication of Planar Curvilinear Structures.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Surface Engineering

Background:

• Curvilinear V-grooves are vital for functional surfaces in fluidics, tribology, and optics.
• Challenges exist in accurately and repeatably fabricating these complex geometric features.
• Existing CAD/CAM systems lack specialized support for curvilinear V-groove design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated CAD/CAM integrated framework for designing and fabricating functional surfaces with curvilinear V-grooves.
• To address the geometric complexity and fabrication challenges associated with these structures.
• To enable precise manufacturing using multi-axis single-point diamond cutting (SPDC).

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive CAD/CAM framework was designed, comprising three main functional blocks and seven secondary modules.
• The framework integrates the entire process from V-groove geometry definition to the cutting phase.
• Multi-axis single-point diamond cutting (SPDC) was employed for fabrication.

Main Results:

• The framework successfully automated the design and fabrication of curvilinear V-grooves.
• Sinusoidal V-grooves were fabricated on a flat surface to validate the process.
• The capillary flow functionality of a fabricated curvilinear pattern was tested and confirmed.

Conclusions:

• The developed integrated framework provides a versatile and automated solution for fabricating functional surfaces with curvilinear V-grooves.
• This advancement facilitates surface engineering applications requiring precise V-groove geometries.
• The study demonstrates the practical relevance and effectiveness of the proposed CAD/CAM approach.