Tool path optimization for energy efficient machining using exhaustive and simulated annealing

Computer Numerical Control machines are the main machine tool used in machining process. The optimization of numerical control machining processes can significantly improve the energy performance of machining to achieve sustainability. In this paper, an energy consumption model has been built to take the energy consumption into account as the optimization aim and a Gcode based approach has been developed to achieve the optimization of tool path connection. In the approach, exhaustive algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm are used to achieve the optimization where energy consumed in the numerical control machining process is used as the performance criteria. A case study from practical manufacturing is given. The experiment results prove that our approach is valid to achieve energy efficient machining process.