New image processing algorithm to recognition of the profile of micro-mills

The geometric parameters of the flute profile of micro-mills have a great influence on both the strength characteristics of the tool and the cutting process. This explains the need for high-precision control of the shape of the flute profile. In modern CNC controlling and measuring machines, a non-contact measurement technique is implemented using high precision reflected light cameras operating based on the principle of contrast autofocus. The existing methods of recognition of the flute profile have large errors associated with the low efficiency of the contrast focusing method in the case of control of a section of several subsections. The proposed recognition algorithm is based on the search for local focus points obtained as a result of the analysis of images from the reflected light camera. This method is shown to provide high accuracy control of the flute profile of micro-mills.