CORNER SHAPE INSERTION METHOD

Abstract: The shape e.g. a chamber- or rounding-arc has a predetermined size to corners of a profile shape (OLF) consisting of a number of figure elements (S1-S8). The range of the profile shape (represented by dash lines) into which the corner shape is inserted is stipulated by designating two figure elements (S1,S5) inside the profile shape (OLF), and then the angle described between the adjacent figure elements inside the profile shape range is determined. Whether or not this angle is within a set range is examined and if it is, corner shapes (C2,C4) having a predetermined size is inserted between these figures elements.

Description: This invention relates to a method of inserting a corner shape and, more particularly, to a corner shape insertion method for inserting a corner shape such as a chamfered or rounded corner portion at a corner between figure elements of a profile comprising a plurality of figure elements. In an automatic programming system for creating NC data using an automatic programming language such as APT (automatically programmed tools) or FAPT, (a) a part program based on the automatic programming language is created by defining points, straight lines and circular arcs using simple symbols (this is referred to as "figure definition"), and defining a profile using these defined points, straight lines and circular arcs (referred to as "motion statement definition"), and (b) the part program based on the automatic programming language is subsequently converted into NC data, which comprises NC data (EIA codes or ISO codes) in a format capable of being executed by an NC unit. In such an automatic programming system, a profile OLF comprising figure elements S1 - S3 illustrated in Fig. 11 is defined by the following part program: P₁ = x₁, y₁ P₂ = x 2, y₂ P₃ = x₃, y₃ S₁ = P₁, P₂ S₂ = P₂, P₃ S₃ = P₃, P₁ ... The foregoing is a figure definition portion. S₁ S₂ S₃ ... The foregoing is a profile definition portion. PEND ... Program end Thereafter, the following operations and processing are performed in order to insert roundness at corners E₁ - E₃ between mutually adjacent figure elements: For example, in order to insert roundness of radius r₁ at the corner E₂ between elements S₁, S₂, the operator, by a prescribed operation, places the system in a rounding input mode, designates the corner E₂ in the rounding input mode and thereafter inputs a circular arc dimension (radius r₁). When this is done, the system defines the profile definition portion of the part program as S₁, r ₁R S₂ S₃ More specifically, r ₁R (where r₁ represents radius) indicating rounding is disposed between the two linear elements S₁, S₂ where roundness is inserted. Though the foregoing is for a case where a roundness arc is inserted at a corner, operation would be similar also in a case where a chamfered shape is inserted. There are cases where a roundness arc having the same dimensions or a chamfer having the same dimensions is inserted at all corners of a profile within predetermined limits (S1-S5 in Fig. 5). In such cases, the conventional method is such that the corners within these predetermined limits must be designated one at a time, after which the same numeric value must be entered in response to a message calling for input of dimensions. Such a case is disclosed in GB-A-2155661. A problem that arises is that the operation for inserting the corner shapes requires a exorbitant amount of time. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a corner shape input method through which the insertion operation can be performed quickly and easily when a chamfer having the same dimensions or roundness having the same dimensions is inserted at all corner portions within predetermined limits. According to the present invention there is provided a corner shape insertion method in an automatic programming method for creating, in the form of NC data defining a machining part program and capable of being executed by an NC unit, a machining profile comprising a plurality of figure elements, the corner shape insertion method comprising inserting a corner shape such as a chamfered or rounded corner portion having prescribed dimensions, at a corner between mutually adjacent figure elements of the profile after a step of specifying limits of the profile in which a corner shape is to be inserted, by designating two figure elements constituting start and end figure elements of the profile, the corner shape insertion method being characterised by: a step of setting angular limits defining an angular range, between mutually adjacent figure elements, within which a corner shape is to be inserted, as well as dimensions of the corner shape; a step of obtaining automatically the angles defined between each pair of mutually adjacent figure elements within said specified limits of the profile; a step of inserting the corner shape automatically, with said set dimensions, between the or each pair of said mutually adjacent figure elements, within said specified limits, for which the angle defined between them lies within said set angular range, and not inserting the corner shape if said angle defined between them lies outside said set angular range; a step of automatically checking whether there is a corner angle present, between said specified limits of the profile, which lies within said set angular range and which still requires a corner shape to be inserted; and if there is, a step of inserting the required corner shape whereas, if there is not, the corner shape insertion method is ended. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for practicing the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view for describing the principal portions of a menu chart; Fig. 3 is a flowchart of processing for inserting a corner shape according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a dialog screen illustrating a profile; Fig. 5 is a dialog screen illustrating the range of the profile in which corner shapes are to be inserted; Fig. 6 is a dialog screen for inputting angular limits defined by mutually adjacent figure elements, as well as corner radius; Fig. 7 is a dialog screen illustrating the profile after the corner portions are inserted; Fig. 8 is a view for describing messages displayed when specifying the limits of a profile; Fig. 9 is a view for describing a method of computing a corner angle in a case where a figure element is a circular arc; Fig. 10 is a dialog screen for inputting angular limits defined by mutually adjacent figure elements, as well as chamfer dimensions; and Fig. 11 is a view of a profile for describing a prior-art method. Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for practicing the present invention. Numeral 101 denotes a ROM storing a loading program and the like, 102 a processor for executing automatic programming processing, and 103 a RAM for storing a system program read in from a floppy FL, as well as various parameters and results of processing. Numeral 104 denotes an NC data memory for storing finally created NC data having an executable format. Numeral 105 a keyboard, 106 a display unit (CRT), 107 a disk controller, and 108 a tablet device having a tablet surface 108a to which a menu chart 108b having menu items is affixed. Prescribed menu items are picked by a tablet cursor 108c. A graphic cursor on a display screen is moved by moving the cursor 108a on the tablet surface. FL represents a floppy disk. On the display screen of the display unit 106, OLF represents a profile, S i (i = 1, 2 ..., 8) denote figure elements constituting the profile, C2, C4 are corner shapes (rounded shapes), CS is a graphic cursor, and M1 denotes a message for entering prescribed data. Fig. 2 is a view for describing the principal portions of the menu chart 108b, in which numeral 1 denotes a "POINT/POINT GROUP DEFINITION" section, 2 a "STRAIGHT-LINE DEFINITION" section, 3 a "CIRCLE DEFINITION" section, 4 a "SPECIAL-SHAPE DEFINITION" section, and 5 a "SHAPE EDITING" section. The "SHAPE EDITING" section 5 is provided with "CORNER R: COLLECTIVE INPUT" T₁, which indicates an item for inserting rounded portions en bloc, and "CHAMFER: COLLECTIVE INPUT" T₂, which indicates an item for inserting chamfered portions en bloc. When the range of the profile (the dashed-line segment of the profile OLF) in which corner shapes are to be inserted is specified by designating two figure elements S i , S j (e.g., figure elements S₁, S₅) in the profile OLF, the angles defined by mutually adjacent figure elements within the limits of the profile are obtained. If the angles are within set angular limits, the corner shapes C2, C4 of the prescribed dimensions are inserted between the figure elements defining the angles. Fig. 3 is a flowchart of processing for corner shape insertion according to the present invention, and Figs. 5 through 7 are examples of dialog screens of the present invention. The corner shape insertion method of the invention will now be described in accordance with this flowchart and the examples of the dialog screens. It is assumed that the part program for specifying the profile OLF shown in Fig. 4 has already been created and stored in the RAM 103, and that the profile is being displayed on the display screen 106 is a prescribed color (e.g., green). The operator selects the item T₁ "CORNER R: COLLECTIVE INPUT" (Fig. 2) from the menu chart 108b on tablet 108 (step 101). When this is done, the processor 102 displays the graphic cursor CS on the display screen 106 and makes it possible to select the profile in which a corner R (a rounded arc) is to be inserted. In a case where a plurality of profiles are to be defined, the processor 102 displays a message calling for selection of a profile. Accordingly, the operator aligns the graphic cursor CS with the profile OLF requiring insertion of roundness arcs, thereby selecting this profile (step 102). When the profile OLF has been selected, the processor 102 successively displays messages M2, M3, M4 (Fig. 8) for specifying the limits of the profile in which the roundness arcs are to be inserted, and the operator responds to these messages by designating the limits of the profile (step 103). Specifically, in response to the message M2 [Fig. 8(a)], the operator aligns the graphic cursor CS with the figure element S₁ to pick this element, thereby designating the figure element S₁, which is the start of the limits. In response to the message M3 [Fig. 8(b)], the operator picks the figure element S₅, thereby designating the figure element S₅, which is the end of the limits. Further, in a case where the profile OLF is a closed shape, arc keys (an ↶ key and an ↷ key) on the keyboard 105 are used to designate whether the profile range embraced by the two designated figure elements S1 and S5 is a profile segment in the clockwise direction or a profile segment in the counter-clockwise direction. For example, if the direction is counter-clockwise, with the initially designated figure element serving as a reference, the arc key (↶ key) indicating the counter-clockwise direction is pressed in response to the message M4 [Fig. 8(c)]. By thus designating the foregoing profile limits, processor 102 identifies the limits within which the corner shapes are inserted and causes the figure elements within this range (indicated by the dashed-line portion in Fig. 5) to be displayed in a color (e.g., blue) different from that of the other figure elements (step 104). Next, the processor 102 displays a message M1 (Fig. 6), which is for specifying the angular limits of the corner to be rounded and the dimensions of the roundness, in a form superimposed on the profile (the illustration of the profile is deleted from Fig. 6). Accordingly, the operator responds to the message M1 by designating a lower-limit angle  min (e.g., 0°) and an upper-limit angle  max (e.g., 90°) and designating a numerical value "2" of the arc radius (step 105). When the dimensions of roundness and the angular limits of the corner have been specified, the processor 102 performs the operation 1 → i, obtains an angle  i (Fig. 5) defined by i-th and (i-1)th mutually adjacent figure elements within the limits of the profile (steps 106, 107), and checks to see whether the angle is within the set angular limits ( min -  max ) (step 108). If the angle (e.g., ₂, ₄) is within these limits, then the processor inserts the roundness arc having the arc diameter of 2 mm at the corner (e.g., E2, E4) between the i-th and (i+1)th figure elements defining the angle, and displays the result on the CRT 106 (step 109; see Fig. 7). Thereafter, the processor checks to see whether the foregoing processing has ended for all corners within the profile limits (step 110). If the answer is "NO", then the processor performs the operation i + 1 → i (step 111) and repeats the processing from step 107 onward. If the answer is "YES", then the processor ends the corner shape insertion processing. If, in the calculation of the angle  i defined by mutually adjacent figure elements, the figure elements include a circular arc, and the angle defined by a linear element Sa and the arcuate element Cb shown, for example, in Fig. 9 is calculated, a line segment Sb passing through an intersection P₁ of both elements and tangent to the arcuate element Cb is obtained, and the angle  i defined by the linear element Sa and line segment Sb is calculated. Though the foregoing description regards collective insertion of rounded portions, collective insertion of chamfered portions can be performed in the same manner. Specifically, when collectively inserting chamfered portions, the item "CHAMFER: COLLECTIVE INPUT" T₂ (see Fig. 2) is selected at step 101, then two figure elements constituting the profile OLF are designated in dialog fashion to specify the profile limits in which chamfered shapes are to be inserted, and the chamfer dimensions and angular limits of corners at which the chamfered shapes are to be inserted are similarly designated in dialog fashion (see Fig. 10). As a result, the processor 102 obtains the angles of mutually adjacent figure elements within this range of the profile. If an angle is within the set angular limits, the chamfered shape having the prescribed dimensions is inserted between the figure elements defining this angle. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the limits of a profile in which corner shapes are to be inserted are specified by designating two figure elements constituting the profile. At such time, angles defined by mutually adjacent figure elements within these limits of the profile are obtained. If an angle lies within a set angle, the corner shape having the prescribed dimensions is inserted between the figure elements defining the angle. As a result, when corners within certain limits are chamfered or rounded to the same numeric value, the insertion operation can be performed quickly and easily. As a result, NC data obtained on the basis of the profile can be created quickly and easily.

Claims: A corner shape insertion method in an automatic programming method for creating, in the form of NC data defining a machining part program and capable of being executed by an NC unit, a machining profile comprising a plurality of figure elements, the corner shape insertion method comprising inserting a corner shape such as a chamfered or rounded corner portion having prescribed dimensions, at a corner between mutually adjacent figure elements of the profile, after a step of specifying limits of the profile in which a corner shape is to be inserted, by designating two figure elements constituting start and end figure elements of the profile, the corner shape insertion method being characterised by: a) a step of setting angular limits defining an angular range, between mutually adjacent figure elements, within which a corner shape is to be inserted, as well as dimensions of the corner shape; b) a step of obtaining automatically the angles defined between each pair of mutually adjacent figure elements within said specified limits of the profile; c) a step of inserting the corner shape automatically, with said set dimensions, between the or each pair of said mutually adjacent figure elements, within said specified limits, for which the angle defined between them lies within said set angular range, and not inserting the corner shape if said angle defined between them lies outside said set angular range; d) a step of automatically checking whether there is a corner angle present, between said specified limits of the profile, which lies within said set angular range and which still requires a corner shape to be inserted; and if there is, a step of automatically inserting the required corner shape as given under step c) whereas, if there is not, the corner shape insertion method is ended. A corner shape insertion method according to claim 1, characterised in that said step of specifying the limits of said profile includes the following steps, in addition to the step of designating two figure elements constituting said profile, in a case where the profile is a closed shape: a step of designating, with one figure element serving as a reference, that direction is the clockwise direction if a profile segment embraced by said two figure elements represents limits of the profile in the clockwise direction, and that direction is the counter-clockwise direction if the profile segment embraced by said two figure elements represents limits of the profile in the counter-clockwise direction; and a step of specifying the limits of the profile, in which the corner shape is to be inserted, based on said two designated figure elements and said direction. A corner shape insertion method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by designating whether input is collective input of chamfers or collective input of roundness arcs, whereby chamfer shapes or rounded arcuate shapes are inserted as corner shapes between mutually adjacent figure elements.

Inventors: ARAKAKI TAKESHI, SEKI MASAKI, TAKEGAHARA TAKASHI, ARAKAKI, TAKESHI, SEKI, MASAKI, TAKEGAHARA, TAKASHI, ARAKAKI, TAKESHI F. MANSHON HARIMOMI 8-306
Applicants: FANUC LTD, FANUC LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G05B19
IPC codes: G05B19