Collision-free path planning for coordinate measurement machine probe

This paper focuses on the method of collision-free path of the coordinate measurement machine (CMM). In terms of the collision-free path, the cut face method is used to plan the displaced tracking along the boundary loop. In addition, the 'maximum angle between tangential vectors method' and the heuristic algorithm designated by the displacement characteristic among the feature faces are used to reduce the number of intermediary points. This can also reduce the distance of the displacement. The turning of the probe aims at the contact with the workpiece surface in the normal direction. If the contact position in the normal vector direction is impossible, the probe angle closest to the normal direction is adopted. The normal direction contact with the workpiece can, on the one hand, achieve better measuring position and, on the other hand, accompany with the cut face method and thus make a collision-free path possible.