Trajectory generation and optimization for five-axis on-the-fly laser drilling: A state-of-the-art review

The process of on-the-fly laser drilling is capable of achieving high throughputs and offers a highly productive approach for producing predefined groups of holes (clusters) to be laser drilled on freeform surfaced parts (e.g., gas turbine combustion chamber panels), current machine tool controllers are not equipped with appropriate trajectory functions that can take full advantage of the achievable laser drilling speeds. While the problem of contour following has received previous attention in time-optimal trajectory generation literature, on-the-fly laser drilling presents different technological requirements, needing a different kind of trajectory optimization solution. This paper presents industrial state of the art and a literature review in the area of trajectory generation/planning and optimization for robots and in particular, machine tools, and laser drilling technology.