Patent ID: 7451013

Claim:
A method for generating a tool path for milling a region of a workpiece by a single milling cutter, the tool path including one or more passes, the method comprising the steps of: storing a parameter from which a predetermined value of cutter engagement is determined; using a size of the milling cutter and the predetermined value of engagement to compute a shape of at least one of the one or more passes such that an engagement of the milling cutter traversing the tool path is controlled over the tool pass; and outputting instructions for controlling the milling cutter to mill the workpiece in accordance with each one of the one or more passes, wherein the region is circular and wherein the one or more passes comprise a plurality of concentric circles, and wherein a radius of each one of the concentric circles is determined such that an engagement of the milling cutter milling each one of the concentric circles is substantially equal to the predetermined value of engagement, further including the steps of: (a) defining a largest one of the concentric circles on a first boundary; (b) determining if a smallest one of the concentric circles coincides with a second boundary; and (c) if the smallest concentric circle does not coincide with the second boundary within a predetermined value, selecting an engagement for determining the radius of each one of the concentric circles which is incrementally smaller than the predetermined value of engagement and repeating steps b and c until the smallest concentric circle coincides with the second boundary within the predetermined value.