METHOD OF PREPARING NC DATA

Abstract: A question (MEQ) whether the finishing point of machining is (i) a point which is in agreement with the starting point of machining, (ii) a point that has exceeded the starting point of machining by a predetermined amount DELTA alpha , or (iii) a point before the starting point of machining by the predetermined amount DELTA alpha is included in the interactive screen (DIM), and the data of finishing point of machining ((i) or (ii) or (iii)) is input from a keyboard (12). Then, a processor (11a) in a system body (11) automatically calculates coordinate values of the finishing point of machining based on the above data of finishing point of machining, coordinate values of a starting point of machining separately input and the data of path, and prepares NC data that arrive at the finishing point of machining along a predetermined path.

Description: This invention relates to an automatic processing method of creating NC data for wire-cut electrical discharge machining. In wire-cut electrical discharge machining, a blank is formed with a machining starting hole in advance, a wire is extended through the hole and paid out, the blank is moved relative to the wire, an electrical discharge is produced by applying a high voltage across the wire and the blank while the aforementioned relative movement is taking place, and the blank is machined by the energy of the electrical discharge. In creating the NC data for such wire-cut electrical discharge machining, the machining starting point of a part profile, the part profile data (path data) and the machining end point must be specified in addition to various auxiliary information (approach method, withdrawal method, wire severing method, etc.). To accomplish this, the conventional practice is to directly enter, by means of a keyboard or the like, the coordinates of the machining starting point, the coordinates of the machining end point, and path data including the type of path (straight line or circular arc) and path end point in each path block. Though machining starting point and part profile (path data) can be readily grasped from a design drawing of the part, the machining end point cannot be determined from the design drawing. Accordingly, each machining end point is manually computed, the coordinates thereof found and then entered. As shown in Fig.10, a machining end point M E can be (i) a point which coincides with a machining starting point M S [see Fig. 10(a)]; (ii) a point obtained by moving past the machining starting point M S by a predetermined amount Δα [see Fig. 10(b)]; or (iii) a point short of the machining starting point M S by a predetermined amount Δα [see Fig. 10(c)]. In Fig. 10, PT represents a wire electrode path, and H denotes a machining starting hole. The wire path patterns in Figs. 10(a), (b) and (c) are indicated by the solid lines in Figs. 10(d), (e) and (f), respectively. In the case of (i), the coordinates of the machining end point M E can be obtained in a simple manner since the machining starting point M S and machining end point M E coincide. In the cases of (ii) and (iii), however, the coordinates of the machining end point must be found by a manual calculation based on Δα and the path data. Calculating the coordinates is very troublesome, especially when the machining end point M E resides on a circular arc. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic processing method of creating NC data for wire-cut electrical discharge machining, using:- input means which obtains input data from an operator including a machining starting point and path data; storage means which stores predetermined data; and a processor which creates NC data in accordance with the input data and stored data; characterised in that:- said input means further obtains machining end-point information which indicates whether a machining end point is (i) a point which coincides with the machining starting point, (ii) a point a predetermined amount past the machining starting point, or (iii) a point the predetermined amount short of the machining starting point, said predetermined amount being stored in said storage means; and in that said processor automatically computes coordinates of the machining end point by using said machining starting point, said path data and said machining end point information. Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention may provide an automatic processing method of creating NC data for wire-cut electrical discharge machining, by means of which the coordinates of machining end points need not be manually calculated and entered each time. As a result, operability is excellent and machining end points can be determined without error. Reference is made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an automatic programming system for practicing the method of the invention; Fig. 2 is a flowchart of an example of processing according to the invention; Figs. 3 to 9 are examples of dialog screens according to the invention, in which: Fig. 3 shows an initial setting screen, Fig. 4 shows a machining starting-point setting screen, Figs. 5 to 7 show figure element setting screens, Fig. 8 shows a straight-line setting screen, and Fig. 9 shows an arc setting screen; and Fig. 10 is a view for describing the positions of machining end points. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an automatic programming system for practicing the NC data creation method for wire-cut electrical discharge machining according to the invention. Numeral 11 denotes the main body of the system, in which numeral 11a designates a processor (CPU), 11b a ROM storing a loading program and the like, and 11c a RAM which stores a system program read in from a floppy FL for the purpose of creating NC data, various parameters (e.g., Δα), and the results of processing. In the case where the machining end point is past the machining starting point or short of the machining end point, Δα is the distance between the two points [see Figs. 10(b) and (c)]. Numeral 12 denotes a keyboard, 13 a graphic display unit, 14 a disk controller and 15 an NC data output unit for outputting created NC data to an external storage medium (NC tape). The floppy FL stores the system program for storing NC data as well as parameters and the like. Fig. 2 shows an example of processing according to the present invention, and Figs. 3 through 9 are examples of dialog screens. Processing exemplifying the invention will now be described in accordance with Figs. 1 through 9. It should be noted that the system program, parameter (Δα) and the like are assumed to have already been read into the RAM from the floppy FL. When the system for creating NC data for wire-cut electrical discharge machining is started, the processor 11a causes an initial setting dialog screen shown in Fig. 3(a) to be displayed on the graphic display unit 13. In response to the prompts, a comment CM, machining limits, wire severing method and auxiliary information such as approach and withdrawal amount and approach and withdrawal angle are entered successively in a prompt area QAR. At the moment the abovementioned auxiliary information is entered, a prompt MEQ shown in Fig. 3(b) is displayed in the prompt area, in response to which the operator enters machining end-point information. Specifically, machining end-point information is entered indicating whether the machining end point is (i) a point which coincides with the machining starting point [Fig. 10(a)]; (ii) a point obtained by moving past the machining starting point by a predetermined amount Δα[Fig. 10(b)]; or (iii) a point short of the machining starting point by the predetermined amount Δα[Fig. 10(c)]. The foregoing is step 101 of the flowchart. When the initial settings have finished being made, a part profile input screen (a screen for any figure) shown in Fig. 4 is displayed, and coordinates XS, YS of the machining start point as well as the approach method are entered (step 102). When entry of the coordinates of the machining started point ends, the processor 11a displays the screen for any figure shown in Fig. 5, namely the part profile input screen, on the display unit 13. In Fig. 5, FEL represents a "FIGURE LIST DISPLAY AREA" which displays element numbers in the order entered as well as the type of figure element (straight line, circular arc, etc.). When an element number is entered on the dialog screen of Fig. 5, the processor causes the prompts shown in Fig. 6 to be displayed below the "LIST DISPLAY AREA" FEL. If add or revise is selected and entered on this dialog screen, then a dialog screen inquiring with regard to the type of figure element or whether figure input has ended is displayed, as shown in Fig. 7. The type of figure element (straight line or circular arc) or "END" is entered on the dialog screen shown in Fig. 7. The foregoing is step 103 of the flowchart. When the straight line is selected and entered, the processor 11a causes a dialog screen for specifying the straight line to be displayed, as shown in Fig. 8, in response to which data specifying the straight line are entered (step 104). When the circular arc is selected and entered, the processor 11a causes a dialog screen for specifying the circular arc to be displayed, as shown in Fig. 9, in response to which data specifying the circular arc are entered (step 105). Thereafter, processing from step 103 onward is repeated until the entire part profile (path) has been entered. When input of the part profile ends and "END" is selected and entered, the processor 11a creates NC data for wire-cut electrical discharge machining one block at a time using the already entered data (step 106). When creation of NC data up to a block which is one block prior to the last block is completed and the coordinates of the machining end point become necessary, the processor automatically computes the coordinates (X E ,Y E ) of the machining end point using the machining end-point information entered at step 101, the preset parameter Δα and the path data, creates NC data for moving the wire up to the machining end point and then terminates processing. Thus, in accordance with the present invention as set forth above, it is arranged to enter machining end-point information which indicates whether a machining end point is (i) a point which coincides with a machining starting point, (ii) a point a predetermined amount past the machining starting point, or (iii) a point a predetermined amount short of the machining starting point, compute coordinates of the machining end point from the machining end-point information, separately entered coordinates of the machining starting point and path data, and create NC data for arriving at the machining end point along a path specified by the path data. Accordingly, there can be provided an NC data creation method in which it is unnecessary to manually calculate and enter the coordinates of the machining end point, as a result of which operability is excellent and machining end points can be obtained without error.

Claims: An automatic processing method of creating NC data for wire-cut electrical discharge machining, using:- input means (12) which obtains input data from an operator including a machining starting point (M S ) and path data; storage means (11c, FL) which stores predetermined data; and a processor (11a) which creates NC data in accordance with the input data and stored data; characterised in that:- said input means further obtains machining end-point information which indicates whether a machining end point (M E ) is (i) a point which coincides with the machining starting point (M S ), (ii) a point a predetermined amount (Δα) past the machining starting point, or (iii) a point the predetermined amount (Δα) short of the machining starting point (M S ), said predetermined amount (Δα) being stored in said storage means (11c, FL); and in that said processor (11a) automatically computes coordinates of the machining end point (M E ) by using said machining starting point (M S ), said path data and said machining end point information. An automatic processing method as claimed in claim 1, further using display means (13) which displays dialog screens to the operator for assisting operation of said input means (12) by the operator. An automatic processing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said input means is a keyboard (12), said storage means comprises a magnetic disk (FL) and a random-access-memory (11c) storing data read from the magnetic disk (FL), and said display means is a graphic display unit (13). An automatic processing method as claimed in claim 3, comprising a further step of storing, before said step of obtaining input data, preset data of said predetermined amount (Δα) in a storage means (11c, FL).

Inventors: NAKAJIMA MASATOSHI FANUC DAI-, SEKI MASAKI, TAKEGAHARA TAKASHI, NAKAJIMA, MASATOSHI FANUC DAI-3 VIRA-KARAMATSU, SEKI, MASAKI, TAKEGAHARA, TAKASHI
Applicants: FANUC LTD, FANUC LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B23H7
IPC codes: B23H7, G05B19