Absolute gouge avoidance for computer-aided control of cutter paths

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method of eliminating surface gouging in computer-aided control of cutter paths comprising the, steps of: (a) generating three-dimensional computer images of a surface to be emulated and of a revolving cutter head; (b) imposing an x-y coordinate grid work onto each image and assigning a z coordinate to the cutter depth and surface height for each grid; (c) while digitally moving the cutter head over the emulated surface, determining the highest sum of z coordinates for each grid within the superimposed area; and (d) using such highest sum as the lowest z coordinate for a cutter reference point at each such digital position of the cutter, the highest sum being adjusted for any difference …