Integrated CAD/CAM Approach for Parametric Design and High Precision Fabrication of Planar Curvilinear Structures

Curvilinear V-grooves are increasingly employed in functional surfaces with applications ranging from fluidics to tribology and optics. Despite their widespread use, the accurate and repeatable fabrication of curvilinear V-grooves remains challenging due to their inherent geometric complexity and th...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jonas T. Churchill-Baird, O. Remus Tutunea-Fatan, Evgueni V. Bordatchev
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Micromachines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/16/7/805
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Summary:Curvilinear V-grooves are increasingly employed in functional surfaces with applications ranging from fluidics to tribology and optics. Despite their widespread use, the accurate and repeatable fabrication of curvilinear V-grooves remains challenging due to their inherent geometric complexity and the lack of relevant commercial CAD/CAM systems. To address this, the present study proposes a CAD/CAM integrated framework capable of automating the design and fabrication of functional surfaces comprising curvilinear V-grooves generated by multi-axis single-point diamond cutting (SPDC). The framework is organized into three main functional blocks supported by seven secondary modules that encompass the entire process from V-groove geometry definition to cutting. The developed framework was practically validated by fabricating sinusoidal V-grooves on a flat surface and testing the capillary flow functionality of a curvilinear pattern. These results demonstrate the relevance of the integrated framework to curvilinear V-groove fabrication, thereby offering a versatile solution for certain types of surface engineering applications.
ISSN:2072-666X