The P-map method -a new 3-D shape modeling method is proposed in this paper. The P-map method has many good properties for a 3-D CAD/CAM system ; it needs small memory, short processing time and has high precision of shape representing which are harmonized with each other. Based on the P-map method, we have developed a CAD/CAM system called PHP-CAD/ CAM (PHP = Personal High Performance) using a 16-bit micro-computer. This paper describes the concept and the properties of the P-map method. In

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... er to generate tool paths with high speed and high precision, a tool's touch-point theorem is also proposed. Based on the P-map method and the theorem, a new tool path generating algorithm has been developed.