An Image-Based Approach of Generating Automatic Toolpath for Profile Milling

This paper presents a novel approach for generating machining toolpath for milling operation directly from the given drawing image of the desired 2D profile. An image processing algorithm is implemented using python environment in which coordinates of the 2D profile are extracted to generate toolpath. The graphical user interface is also developed to ease the controlling and changing of machining-related parameters. The developed algorithm has been validated by simulating the generated toolpath using 'CNC Simulator Pro software.' The obtained results show that the developed algorithm is capable of generating a toolpath for any given 2D profiles.