ZHANG Hao,ZHANG Ruihua,YAO Huaping.Integrated Forming Technology for Manufacturing Wooden Automotive Exterior Models Based on Five-Axis Linkage Machining[J].Chinese Journal of Wood Science and Technology,2026,40(03):76-85.DOI: 10.12326/j.2096-9694.2026003.
This study presented an integrated molding approach for wooden automotive models using five-axis simultaneous CNC machining
in response to the pressing demand for physical prototypes that are efficient
economical
and environmentally sustainable in design validation. High-density fiberboard (HDF) was employed as the substrate
and a full digital process chain was established by optimizing tool-axis vector control and tool-path strategies to accommodate the specific characteristics of HDF. Furthermore
a“material-process-machining”synergistic control system was proposed
grounded in the performance attributes of HDF
enabling the integrated high‑precision fabrication of complex‑curved automotive body surfaces. This approach effectively could resolve the long‑standing bottlenecks of poor accuracy and inadequate surface quality in machining wood‑based materials with intricate geometries. Application and sustainability assessments revealed that the machining cycle was set at only 2 700 minutes
resulting in a reduction of over 60% compared with traditional clay modeling. The total cost could be reduced to one‑third that of clay models and two‑fifth that of resin‑based 3D‑printed counterparts. The change in key linear dimensions of the vehicle contour after 30 days of static placement was not larger than 0.3 mm
demonstrating outstanding dimensional stability. This rigid prototype solution offered high repeatability and was well suited for rapid multi‑scheme iteration during mid‑stage design
batch validation
preliminary aerodynamic evaluation
and high‑end display mock‑up production. Notably
as a recyclable wood-based material
HDF could facilitate a paradigm shift in prototype manufacturing-from consumable materials like clay toward a digitally traceable
full-process
and environmentally responsible production chain. This work provided a practical reference for the integration of intelligent manufacturing technologies at the intersection of wood science and automotive engineering.
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