DIGITIZING METHOD

Abstract: The three points that are received latestly, are denoted by P1, P2 and P3 in the order in which they are received. In this case, the point P2 is not digitised when an angle theta between a vector P1P2 and a vector P2P3 is greater than a predetermined angle theta-MAX.

Description: This invention relates to a digitizing method in which contactor position data is accepted while tracer control is being performed. More particularly, the method relates to a digitizing method in which it is possible to accept position data conforming to a profile even if there is bite-in at a corner portion or the like. A digitizer is available in which a contactor is moved along a model by tracer control, the present position of the contactor is monitored and the three-dimensional shape of the model is digitized by accepting contactor position data at a predetermined time interval. If the contactor is a tracer head equipped with a stylus in this method of digitizing a three-dimensional shape by tracer control, the stylus is moved along the model without biting into the model. However, the motion of the tracer head holding the stylus is similar to the dotted line in Fig. 4, and the points indicated by the large dots are digitized as the path of the contactor ST. Consequently, when NC data is created using these digitized points and machining is performed in accordance with this NC data, a problem that arises is that bite-in occurs at the corner so that machining conforming to the shape of the model cannot be carried out. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a digitizing method that enables digitizing conforming to the shape of a model even if the contactor bites into the model at a corner or the like at the time of digitizing. The invention relates to a digitizing method for moving a contactor along a model on the basis of tracer control and digitizing probe position data upon accepting the data as a predetermined reference. In this digitizing method, when three points most recently accepted are P₁, P₂ and P₃ in the order of acceptance, the point P₂ is not digitized if an angle ϑ defined by a vector P₁P₂ and a vector P₂P₃ is larger than a predetermined angle ϑ MAX . Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a view for describing the general features of the method of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus (a digitizer) for executing digitizing processing according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a flowchart of processing according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a view for describing bite-in; and Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a system for controlling a machine tool using digitized position data. Fig. 1 is a view for describing the general features of the method of the present invention. P₁, P₂, P₃ represent three machine positions most recently accepted, ϑ denotes an angle defined by a vector P₁P₂ and a vector P₂P₃, and ϑ MAX represents a maximum allowable angle. Thus, let the three points most recently accepted be P₁, P₂ and P₃ in the order of acceptance. The angle ϑ defined by the vector P₁P₂ and the vector P₂P₃ is computed, the point P₂ [Fig. 1(b)] is not digitized when ϑ is greater than the predetermined angle ϑ MAX . When ϑ is greater than the predetermined angle ϑ MAX , on the other hand, all three of the points P₁, P₂ and P₃ [Fig. 1(a)] are digitized. Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus (a digitizer) for executing digitizing processing according to the invention. In Fig. 2, numeral 1 denotes a digitizer equipped with a digitizing function for accepting the present position of a tracer head while tracer control is being formed, as will be described below. The digitizer 1 has a processor 1a, a ROM 1b storing a control program, a RAM 1c for storing digitized data, and a working memory 1d. Numeral 2 denotes an operator's panel having functions for inputting various operation signals and setting tracing conditions, tracing areas, tracing method and the like. Numerals 10X, 10Y, 10Z denote DA converters for converting velocity data (digital values) along respective axes commanded by the digitizer 1 into respective analog velocity signals V x , V y , V z . Numerals 11X, 11Y, 11Z denote X-, Y- and Z-axis servo circuits, respectively, 12X, 12Y, 12Z denote X-, Y- and Z-axis servomotors, respectively, 13X, 13Y, 13Z represent pulse generators for generating single pulses X f , Y f , Z f , respectively, each time the corresponding motors rotate through a predetermined angle, and 14 denotes a present position register for reversibly counting the pulses Xf, Y f , Z f , in accordance with the direction of movement, to store the present positions along the respective axes. Further, TH represents a tracer head, SR a stylus, and MDL a model. Fig. 3 is a flowchart of processing according to the invention. The processing of the invention will now be described in accordance with Figs. 1 through 3. When the system is started by pressing a button on the operator's panel 2, the processor 1a of the digitizer 1 executes well-known tracer control processing using the tracing method, tracing conditions and tracing area data set in advance by the operator's panel 2, thereby generating velocity commands along the respective axes to control the movement of the tracer head TH in such a manner that the stylus SR moves along the model MDL. The tracing method is assumed to be surface tracing in the X-Z plane (where X is the feed axis and Z is the tracing axis). When the tracer head moves, the pulse generators 13X, 13Y, 13Z generate the respective pulses X f , Y f , Z f , which are applied to the present position register 14. Here the present position X a , Y a , Z a is updated by performing the following operations, which depend upon the direction of movement: Xa ± 1 → X a , Ya ± 1 → Y a , Za ± 1 → Z a Since the tracing method is assumed to be surface tracing in the X-Z plane, movement in the Y direction occurs only at the time of pick-feed. In concurrence with tracer control, the processor 1a successively stores the present position (X a ,Y a ,Z a ) of the tracer head, which is received from the present position register 14 every sampling time ΔT, in the working memory 1d as the coordinates of the points P₁, P₂, P₃ (see Fig. 1) (step S101). It should be noted that a case in which the point data is stored in the RAM 1c or a case in which NC data is created based on the point data is referred to as digitizing. Next, the angle ϑ defined by the vectors P₁P₂ and P₂P₃ is computed (step 103). When the angle ϑ has been obtained, this angle is compared with a preset angle ϑ MAX (step 105). If ϑ≦ϑ MAX holds [Fig. 1(a)], the position data for point P₂ is stored in the RAM 1c or NC data making the line segment P₁P₂ a path is created and stored in the RAM (step 107). Thereafter, the point P₂ is adopted as the point P₁, and the point P₃ is adopted as the point P₂ (step 109). If ϑ>ϑ MAX is found to hold at the step 105 [see Fig. 1(b)], this is construed as indicating that bite-in has occurred. As a result, the bite-in point P₂ is discarded and point P₃ is adopted as point P₂. The point P₁ is kept as it is (step 111). When the processing of step 109 or step 111 ends, whether or not digitizing processing has ended, or in other words, whether or not all tracing in a tracing area has ended, is checked (step 113). If this has not ended, the point to be sampled from the present position register 14 next is adopted as point P₃ (step 115). This is followed by repeating the processing from step 103 onward. The foregoing relates to a case in which NC data is created using digitized position data. However, it is also possible to adopt an arrangement in which pulse distribution processing is performed in realtime using digitized position data, thereby moving the movable element of a machine tool to carry out machining conforming to the shape of a model. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a system for such a case, in which portions the same as those in Fig. 2 are designated by like reference characters. Fig. 5 differs from Fig. 2 in that there are provided a pulse distributor 21 for each axis, a servo circuit 22 for each axis, and a machine tool 23. When the digitizer 1 digitizes position data (absolute data), an incremental value along each axis is obtained from the preceding digitized position, the incremental value is inputted to the pulse distributor 21, and the movable element (e.g., a tool) of the machine tool 23 is moved by performing well-known axis control, thereby carrying out machining conforming to the shape of the model. In accordance with the invention as described above, the arrangement is such that when three points most recently accepted are P₁, P₂ and P₃ in the order of acceptance, the point P₂ is not digitized if an angle ϑ defined by a vector P₁P₂ and a vector P₂P₃ is larger than a predetermined angle ϑ MAX . Accordingly, even if the contactor bites into the model at a corner or the like, digitizing conforming to the shape of the model can be performed, and machining conforming to the shape of the model can be carried out in accordance with the digitized NC data or by realtime control using digitized position data. It is described hereinabove that the points are accepted at a predetermined time interval. However, an arrangement can be adopted in which points are accepted whenever a predetermined distance is travelled or whenever an error exceeds an allowable value.

Claims: A digitizing method for moving a contactor (ST,SR) along a model (MDL) on the basis of tracer control and digitizing probe position data upon accepting the probe position data as a predetermined reference, characterized by: computing an angle ϑ between a vector P₁P₂ and a vector P₂P₃, where three points most recently accepted are P₁, P₂ and P₃ respectively as first, second and third probe position data points in the order of acceptance; comparing the angle ϑ with a preset angle ϑ MAX ; and not digitizing the second point P₂ when the angle ϑ is larger than the preset angle ϑ MAX , otherwise digitizing the second point P₂. A digitizing method according to claim 1, characterized in that when ϑ > ϑ MAX holds, processing is executed for performing adopting operations P₁ → P₁, P₃ → P₂ and treating a next point accepted as P₃. A digitizing method according to claim 1, characterized in that when ϑ < ϑ MAX holds, processing is executed for performing adopting operations P₂ → P₁, P₃ → P₂ and treating a next point accepted as P₃. A digitizing method according to claim 1, characterized by moving a movable element of a machine tool using digitized position data, thereby to perform machining conforming to the shape of a model.

Inventors: ITSUBO YOSHIHIRO FANUC UTSUGI-, ONISHI YASUSHI, TANAKA KUNIO, ITSUBO, YOSHIHIRO FANUC UTSUGI-RYO, ONISHI, YASUSHI, TANAKA, KUNIO
Applicants: FANUC LTD, FANUC LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: G05B19
IPC codes: G05B19, G01B21, B23Q33