Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6107768?dq=6,125,447
Timestamp: 2018-01-18 22:07:14
Document Index: 578370144

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 212', 'art 214', 'art 214', 'art 213', 'art 213', 'art 71', 'art 73', 'art 73']

Patent US6107768 - Numerical control apparatus for a machine tool - Google Patents
A numerically controlled apparatus for a machine tool has a tool and machining condition automatically controlling function, and stores standard data of tools and machining conditions in a standard database. The input device of the apparatus inputs the users data of tools and machining conditions other...http://www.google.com/patents/US6107768?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6107768 - Numerical control apparatus for a machine tool
Publication number US6107768 A
Application number US 09/093,753
Also published as DE19516328A1, US5831407
Publication number 09093753, 093753, US 6107768 A, US 6107768A, US-A-6107768, US6107768 A, US6107768A
Inventors Sadami Ouchi, Takashi Kamiya, Akio Noda, Yoshinori Tsujido
Patent Citations (37), Referenced by (38), Classifications (15), Legal Events (5)
Numerical control apparatus for a machine tool
US 6107768 A
A numerically controlled apparatus for a machine tool has a tool and machining condition automatically controlling function, and stores standard data of tools and machining conditions in a standard database. The input device of the apparatus inputs the users data of tools and machining conditions other than the contents of the standard database, and the apparatus stores the data inputted with the input device in one or more user databases. The tool and machining condition automatically determining function of the apparatus determines tool and machining condition data by utilizing both of the standard database and one or more the user databases.
1. A numeric control apparatus for a machine tool for automatically determining a tool and a machining condition, the apparatus comprising:
a standard data database storing standard data for tools and machining conditions;
an input device for inputting a user's data for tools and machining conditions in addition to the standard data for tools and machining conditions;
at least one user database storing data input through said input device;
an automatic tool and machining condition determining means for determining tool and machining condition data from the standard database and the at least one user database; and
contradiction checking means for checking contradictions between newly entered data and existing data when renewing the data of the user database and the standard database.
2. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 1 comprising a display unit displaying contents of the standard data database and the user database during production of a numerical control program, data editing means for modifying the data displayed on said display unit, and database managing means re-determining the data for a tool and a machining condition determined before modifying by said data editing means.
3. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 1 comprising at least one tool and machining condition memory means for storing one of tool data and machining condition data in addition to the data stored in the standard data database and the user database, said automatic tool and machining condition determining means automatically determining at least one usable tool and corresponding machining conditions based on the tool data and the machining condition data stored in said tool and machining condition memory means.
4. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 3 wherein said automatic tool and machining condition determining means produces a display of at least one usable tool and machining condition on a display unit, the apparatus further comprising selecting means for selecting a machining condition corresponding to a tool to be used from the tools and machining conditions displayed on the display unit.
5. A numeric control apparatus for a machine tool for automatically determining a tool and machining condition, the apparatus comprising:
selecting means for selecting one of the standard data database and the user database as a database to be used before producing a numeric control program.
6. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 5 comprising a display unit displaying contents of the standard data database and the user database during production of a numerical control program, data editing means for modifying the data displayed on said display unit, and database managing means re-determining the data for a tool and a machining condition determined before modifying by said data editing means.
7. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 5 comprising at least one tool and machining condition memory means for storing one of tool data and machining condition data in addition to the data stored in the standard data database and the user database, said automatic tool and machining condition determining means automatically determining at least one usable tool and corresponding machining conditions based on the tool data and the machining condition data stored in said tool and machining condition memory means.
8. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 7 wherein said automatic tool and machining condition determining means produces a display of at least one usable tool and machining condition on a display unit, the apparatus further comprising selecting means for selecting a machining condition corresponding to a tool to be used from the tools and machining conditions displayed on the display unit.
9. A numeric control apparatus for a machine tool for automatically determining a tool and machining condition, the apparatus comprising:
a plurality of user databases and selecting means for selecting one of the user databases.
10. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 9 comprising a display unit displaying contents of the standard data database and the user database during production of a numerical control program, data editing means for modifying the data displayed on said display unit, and database managing means re-determining the data for a tool and a machining condition determined before modifying by said data editing means.
11. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 9 comprising at least one tool and machining condition memory means for storing one of tool data and machining condition data in addition to the data stored in the standard data database and the user database, said automatic tool and machining condition determining means automatically determining at least one usable tool and corresponding machining conditions based on the tool data and the machining condition data stored in said tool and machining condition memory means.
12. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 11 wherein said automatic tool and machining condition determining means produces a display of at least one usable tool and machining condition on a display unit, the apparatus further comprising selecting means for selecting a machining condition corresponding to a tool to be used from the tools and machining conditions displayed on the display unit.
This application is a Division of Ser. No 08/807,807, filed Feb. 26, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,407; which is a Continuation, of Ser. No 08/340,200, filed Nov. 15, 1994 now abandoned.
This invention relates to a numerically controlling apparatus for a machine tool comprising the function of automatically determining tools and machining conditions and the function of displaying and editing tool paths. (Hereinafter, terms concerning numerical control such as "numerically controlling", "numerically controlled", of course "numerical control" itself, and so forth are collectively denoted by "NC" for short.)
Next, the operation will be described thereof. When an operator uses the NC apparatus for a machine tool constructed as mentioned above, he inputs such data as material forms, working forms and so on into the apparatus, and divides each working region into working processes, and further makes up working process information in conformity with the procedures of the making up operations of NC programs. For instance, when he practices lathe working, he divides each working region capable of being worked with one tool (such as the working region of outside diameter turning, the working region of end face turning, the working region of inside diameter turning and the like) into working processes, then he gives working process information such as the kinds of working (or outside diameter cutting, end face cutting, etc.), the kinds of work materials (or cast iron, aluminum, etc.) and so on to each of those working processes. The working process information is made up to each working process. Then, according to the inputted working information, the NC apparatus for the machine tool automatically determines tools and machining conditions suitable for each working process on the basis of the data memorized in the tool and machining condition data memorizing means 201. For example, supposing that the working form is a hole having the diameter of 10 mm, a drill having the diameter of 10 mm is determined as the suitable tool to be used, and a machining condition to this work material is called out among the registered machining conditions as those for the drill being 10 mm in diameter as the suitable machining condition.
Next, the operation will be described thereof. When a user uses the NC apparatus for the machine tool constructed as mentioned above, he inputs the demanded specifications from a1 to an such as the working base area a1, working depth a2, the amounts of decreased electrode length a3, etc. and the demanded specifications from b1 to b3 such as machined surface roughness b1, the amounts of electrode consumption b2, working time b3, etc. into the NC apparatus for the machine tool through the input part 212 on the basis of the specifications required for objects to be worked. The machining condition generation part 214, which received the demanded specifications a1 to an and b1 to b3, generates at least one machining condition fitted to the demanded specifications, namely a machining condition train c1 to cm composed of electric conditions such as peak current values, pulse widths, pose time, polarities, using current waveforms, etc. at each working step and the amounts of bringing the electrode near to the final working surface (or electrode bringing amounts) etc., then the machining condition generation part 214 sets them into the output part 213. Besides, the output part 213 displays the set data on the cathode-ray tube display (or CRT: not shown), and outputs them to the floppy disk unit (not shown) or the NC device 218. Thereby, the machining conditions in the electric discharge are automatically set.
Because conventional NC apparatus for machine tools are constructed as mentioned above, they have problems that they require changing the contents of their databases in advance for reflecting the know-how possessed by skillful workers on the automatic determination, since they have respectively only one tool and machining condition data memorizing means, which is the basis of the automatic determination, or even if they have plural memorizing means, each of the memorizing means is a division of one memorizing means in contents, and that if the contents of the databases have been changed in advance, when the automatic determination based on standard data having no know-how is contrarily wanted, it is needed to restore the original data to the databases again.
Furthermore, the conventional NC apparatus for the machine tool display the working paths of their tools on the display screens of their display units, transforming and executing correction processes from the beginning to the end in the order, and consequently, it is possible to recognize the working paths of their tools in conformity with the entire NC programs, but it is impossible that an operator makes them display only a local working path to a certain working region. Moreover, because the conventional NC apparatus for the machine tool do not memorize the displayed working path data of tools and have not means for identifying the correspondences with their NC programs, the operator who wants to modify the displayed working path data of tools or the visible outlines of working regions has to judge which portions of the NC programs the working paths of tools or the visible outlines of working regions wanted to be modified correspond to the working path data, and has to modify the NC programs after that. Consequently the conventional NC apparatus for a machine tool have a problem that the efficiency of the operations of making up NC programs is bad.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a NC apparatus for the machine tool capable of modifying its NC programs by enabling an operator to appoint working prohibition regions on the display screen of its display unit, and further by enabling-him to check whether the working paths of the tool to the working regions appointed by him interfere with the set working prohibition regions or not, or by enabling him to modify the working paths of the tool not so as to interfere with the working prohibition regions in case of their interfering.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an NC apparatus for a machine tool comprising an experimental working generation part determining a working experiment item, an experimental working indication part giving an indication necessary for working experiment to a worker, an experimental working result analysis part analyzing the result of the working experiment, and a machining condition generation part generating a machining condition on the basis of the result by the analysis of the experimental working result analysis part.
As stated above, in the NC apparatus for a machine tool according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the experimental working generation part determines the repetition frequency of the working experiment and the machining condition used at one time of the experiment, the experimental working indication part gives the indication to the worker, and the experimental working result analysis part analyses the experiment result.
FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram showing an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 11 designates a tool and machining condition memorizing means (or standard database), reference numeral 12 designates a customized tool and machining condition memorizing means (or user's own database), reference numeral 3 designates an input device, reference numeral 4 designates a working process information inputting means, reference numeral designates a tool and machining condition automatically determining means, reference numeral 6 designates an NC data generating means, and reference numeral 7 designates an NC device. The customized tools and machining conditions mean the tools and the machining conditions personally inputted, or edited after the automatic determination, by a user or a worker.
FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 designates a standard database, reference numeral 2 designates a user's own database, reference numeral 4 designates a working process information inputting means, reference numeral 5 designates a tool and machining condition automatically determining means, reference numeral 6 designates an NC data generating means, reference numeral 7 designates an NC device, reference numeral 21 designates a database managing means re-determining the data of tools and machining conditions having been determined before the modification in accordance with the modified data, and reference numeral 22 designates a data editing means modifying the data in the databases. In addition to them, there is equipped a display unit (not shown) displaying the contents of the aforementioned standard database 1 and the aforementioned user's own database 2 during making up NC programs.
FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 1 designates a standard database, reference numeral 2 designates a user's own database, reference numeral 4 designates a working process information inputting means, reference numeral 5 designates a tool and machining condition automatically determining means, reference numeral 6 designates an NC data generating means, reference numeral 7 designates an NC device, reference numeral 31 designates a database editing means modifying the data of the standard database 1 or the user's own database 2, and reference numeral 32 designates a contradiction checking means checking a contradiction between newly registered data and the existing data in case of renewing the data of the user's own database 2 or the standard database 1, and displaying the contradicting contents on the display unit in case of judging that there are contradicting data.
FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1 designates a standard database, reference numeral 2 designates a user's own database, reference numeral 4 designates a working process information inputting means, reference numeral 5 designates a tool and machining condition automatically determining means, reference numeral 6 designates an NC data generating means, reference numeral 7 designates an NC device, and reference numeral 41 designates a selecting means. The selection means 41 is to appoint either the aforementioned standard database 1 or the aforementioned user's own database 2 for use before an operator makes up an NC program.
Next, the operator selects either the standard database 1 or the user s own database 2 with the selecting means 41 before the tools and machining conditions are automatically determined (STEP ST32). When the tools and machining conditions are automatically determined, only the aforementioned selected database is used and the tools and machining conditions are automatically determined by the tool and machining condition automatically determining means 5 (STEP ST33). The automatically determined tools and the machining conditions corresponding to the tools are displayed on a display unit (not shown) (STEP ST34). The automatically determined tool and machining condition data are transformed into NC data by the NC data generating means 6 together with the working process information (STEP ST35) to be transmitted to the NC device 7 (STEP ST36).
FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of a machine tool NC apparatus of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1 designates a standard database, reference numeral 51 designates a user's own database attaching the importance of working accuracy, reference numeral 52 designates a user's own database attaching the importance of cutting time, reference numeral 53 designates a user's own database attaching the importance of tool life spans, reference numeral 4 designates a working process information inputting means, reference numeral 5 designates a tool and machining condition automatically determining means, reference numeral 6 designates an NC data generating means, reference numeral 7 designates an NC device, and reference numeral 54 designates a selecting means. The selecting means 54 is for appointing a database to be used among plural user's own databases 2.
FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 61 designates a tool and machining condition memorizing means memorizing the tools and the machining conditions concerning the tools attached to the magazine of a machine tool, reference numeral 62 designates a tool and machining condition memorizing means memorizing the tools and the machining conditions of the whole tools supervised at the tool warehouse of a factory, reference numeral 63 designates a tool and machining condition memorizing means memorizing the tools and the machining conditions made up from general recommended machining conditions and the like, reference numeral 4 designates a working process information inputting means, reference numeral 64 designates a tool and machining condition automatically determining means, reference numeral 65 designates the optimum tool and machining condition data determined out of the tools of the tool and machining condition memorizing means 61, reference numeral 66 designates the optimum tool and machining condition data determined out of the tools of the tool and machining condition memorizing means 62, reference numeral 67 designates the optimum tool and machining condition data determined out of the tools of the tool and machining condition memorizing means 63, reference numeral 68 designates a display unit, reference numeral 69 designates a selecting means, reference numeral 6 designates an NC data generating means, and reference numeral 7 designates an NC device. The aforementioned tool and machining condition memorizing means 61, 62 and 63 apparently memorize data different in contents or kinds respectively. These tool and machining condition memorizing means 61, 62 and 63 are equipped apart from the ordinary standard database and user's own database (both of them are not shown).
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 71 designates an experimental working generation part, reference numeral 72 designates an experimental working indication part, reference numeral 73 designates an experimental working result analysis part, reference numeral 74 designates a machining condition generation part, and reference numeral 75 designates a working machine.
Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the procedures of manipulations and operations, and the following description is based on basis of FIG. 18. At first, a worker selects the machining conditions which he wants to experimentally change and the values which he wants to optimize at that time, for example working time, surface roughness, the degree of consumption of tools, and so on, and he inputs the extent of the machining conditions and notches to be changed in an experiment.
Now, supposing that the worker wants to find the machining conditions having the optimum surface roughness, then he would concretely examine the changes in the surface roughness by changing the cutting speed and the machining fluid pressure. Supposing that the cutting speed is changeable from 200 notches, being the set value on a control panel, to the 300 notches in increments of every 25 notches, and the fluid pressure is changeable from 2 notches to 8 notches in increments of every 2 notches.
The worker selects the machining fluid pressure and the cutting speed out of all the parameters capable of being set on the control panel, which parameters are displayed on a display unit. The method of the selection is supposed to be, for example: moving the cursor on each item displayed on the screen in a table format, pushing down the input key on the item which he wants to select, and displaying the selected item with inverted characters as the result of the selection.
Next, the extent of the working experiment, which is wanted by the worker, and its notch widths are inputted to each item. As mentioned above, because the cutting speed is changed from 200 notches to 300 notches in 25 notch increments and the cutting pressure is changed from 2 notches to 8 notches in increments of every 2 notches, such numerals as 200, 300, 25, 2, 8, 2 and so on are inputted with a ten-key keyboard, etc.
Next, the experimental working generation part 71 displays the number of experiments required, calculated from the aforementioned input results. In this case, if all combinations are selected, the number of experiments comes to 20. Although the order of the experiments is randomized in practice, the experiments are displayed as is, because the display is only for confirmation. This is shown in FIG. 19. The randomization is for excluding the possibility of the appearance of specified phenomena in case of continuously changing the parameters, and it is commonly practiced in experiments. In the case where there are many parameters that can to be changed and the notch increments are small, the number of experiments is explosively enlarged, the experiments should be allocated by utilizing an orthogonal table (which is utilized in the analysis of experimental data and so on) and the number of experiments should be kept constant, accordingly. The displayed number of experiments on the screen is controlled to be about 32 at the maximum in accordance with the kind of working machine, too. (It depends on the differences in working time, costs of the experiments, and so forth.) The reason of the restriction of the number for experiments is that so many experiments take much labor.
Moreover, when an experimental working is actually done, it is, of course, necessary to set the apparatus in a state so that the experiment numbers is displayed on the screen of the display unit, and so that the display of the experiment practiced at the time and a display of the experiments not practiced are made, and further that the operator can call out the display at any time when he needs it, even if the display are not made. Besides, the machining fluid pressures and the cutting speeds are automatically set in the NC apparatus.
Now, the worker executes 20 selected experiments to input the results into the experimental working result analysis part 73. In this case, the worker measures the surface roughness and inputs the result.
After all inputs are completed, as shown in FIG. 20, the experimental working result analysis part 73 begins to analyze the result. In this case, there cannot be found a relationship, called and interaction, between the surface roughness and the cutting speeds and a relationship between the surface roughness and the machining fluid pressures that are displayed in graphs accordingly. These graphs are shown in FIG. 21(a) and FIG. 21(b).
Rmax=A*Speed+C*Speed*Pressure+B*Pressure
was supposed, in order to execute a regression analysis, and the value of coefficient C was judged to be negligibly small (or the value is within the extent of errors statistically, and to differentiate them is meaningless), each graph is solely displayed accordingly.
Looking at these displays, the worker can know that it is better to set the machining fluid pressure higher, near 250 notches, in cutting speed, then he comes to select the maximum notch to be set, provided that the worker is expected to select a point of compromise with his own consideration for the relationship between the surface roughness to be obtained and the running cost in the case where machining fluid has a particular character and is very expensive. That means that this embodiment can help the achieve the worker's goals.
FIG. 22 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 22, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means generating tool paths on the basis of an NC program, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block adding an identifier so as to be able to identify by dividing the generated tool paths into fine segments by the working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means appointing desired regions to one or more working regions displayed on the display unit 81, reference numeral 87 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to the appointed working region extracting the tool paths corresponding to the appointed working regions, and reference numeral 88 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to the appointed working region specifying the tool paths corresponding to the existing extent of the appointed working regions to display the specified tool paths on the display unit 81.
Next, the operation will be described thereof. FIG. 24 illustrates a flow chart showing the procedures of manipulations and operations, and the description will be done on the basis of FIG. 24. At first, the apparatus reads in the NC programs made up by an operator (STEP ST61). The read NC programs are transformed into working blocks, and each of the transformed working blocks becomes tool path data (STEP ST62). That is to say, the coordinate value data in the data of the working blocks are transformed into a display coordinate system for displaying them on the display unit 81, and the coordinate data are added to the data of the working blocks to become the tool path data. Identifiers, being sequence numbers, are added to each of the made up tool path data so as to enable the high speed retrieval (STEP ST63).
FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 25, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 91 designates a grid space automatically determining means operating the spaces of dividing the appointed working region into grids (or two-dimensional grid-like state) on the basis of the existing extent of the appointed working region, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid dividing the appointed working regions and the tool paths corresponding to the appointed working regions into grids on the basis of the operated spaces for displaying them on the display unit 81, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means for appointing the displayed tool paths by the divided grid, reference numeral 97 designates a tool path editing means corresponding to a grid modifying the tool paths appointed by the grid selecting means 96 to give the apparatus editing data for making up a new NC program on the basis of the modified tool paths, and reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means.
FIG. 26 illustrates an example of the display screen of the present embodiment. As compared to the aforementioned NC program for lathes shown in FIG. 23, the ditch part is divided into grids, and the operator selects plural grids to the divided grids, and further the tool paths which were fed three times to Z-axis are fed four times by modifying, then the modified tool paths are shown in FIG. 26. It is of course possible to select single grid for modifying the coordinate values of the tool paths locally.
FIG. 28 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 28, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 91 designates a grid space automatically determining means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means, reference numeral 101 designates a visible outline of a working region modifying means corresponding to a grid modifying the visible outlines of the working regions appointed by the grid selecting means 96, and reference numeral 102 designates a tool path modifying means corresponding to a modified visible outline of a working region modifying tool paths in connection with the working regions modified by the visible outline of a working region modifying means corresponding to a grid 101.
FIG. 31 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 31, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 91 designates a grid space automatically determining means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 111 designates a selected grid magnifying means, and reference numeral 112 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a magnified grid.
FIG. 34 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 34, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 91 designates a grid space automatically determining means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means, reference numeral 111 designates a selected grid magnifying means, reference numeral 121 designates a grid space of a magnified grid automatically determining means operating the spaces of further dividing on the magnification extent in case of magnifying the grids appointed by the grid selecting means 96, reference numeral 122 designates a working region grid of a magnified grid re-dividing means re-dividing the working regions included in the appointed grids and the tool paths corresponding to the working regions into grids on the basis of the operated spaces, reference numeral 123 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 124 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid displaying the tool paths corresponding to the re-divided grids of the magnified grids, reference numeral 125 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 126 designates a grid of a magnified grid selecting means for appointing the displayed tool paths by the divided re-divided grid, and reference numeral 127 designates a tool path modifying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid.
Next, when the operator wants to further locally modify the tool paths corresponding to the visible outlines of the working regions displayed in a magnified state, he appoints the grids displayed in a magnified state to further divide (or divide one grid into further finer grids) (STEP ST147). And he determines the spaces of further dividing the grids displayed in a magnified state into grids in conformity to a certain evaluation criterion in accordance with the aforementioned existing extent (or the existing extent of the displayed part) of the working region displayed in a magnified state (or only the a part actually displayed in a magnified state) (STEP ST148). And, he further divides the displayed working region into grids to identify the part of the visible outlines of the working regions which part is included in the divided grids (STEP ST149). In this case, since the grids to be re-divided are only the part displayed in a magnified state, it is necessary to recognize the existing extent of them again. Besides, the tool path data corresponding to the visible outlines of the working region included in each grid (or grids after re-dividing) are identified by retrieving the identifiers and their coordinate values (the object of the retrieval is the tool paths memorizing memory corresponding to grids 94), and the tool path data and the visible outlines of the working region of each re-divided grid which tool path data and visible outlines are obtained by the retrieval are displayed on the display screen of the display unit 81 (STEP ST150). And, the displayed tool path data of each re-divided grid are memorized in the tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid 125.
FIG. 35 illustrates an example of the display screen of the present embodiment. FIG. 35 shows the modified tool paths in the case where the visible outlines of the working region and the tool paths in the working region displayed in a magnified state in the aforementioned FIG. 32 were further divided in grids and further the operator modified the cutting quantity of the tool path. In this example, the grids shown in FIG. 32 are further divided to four grids having the half spaces of the original grids. In the example of FIG. 35, the arrow marks showing tool paths exist at boundaries between grids. In this case, the tool paths are interpreted to be included in both grids. Provided that the arrow marks as the information of grids are distinguished by the existing boundaries of grids.
FIG. 38 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 38, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 91 designates a grid space automatically determining means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 111 designates a selected grid magnifying means, reference numeral 121 designates a grid space of a magnified grid automatically determining means, reference numeral 122 designates a working region grid of a magnified grid re-dividing means, reference numeral 123 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 124 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 125 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 126 designates a grid of a magnified grid selecting means, reference numeral 131 designates a visible outline of a working region modifying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, and reference numeral 132 designates a tool path modifying means corresponding to a modified visible outline of a working region of a magnified grid.
FIG. 42 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 42, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 91 designates a grid space automatically determining means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means, reference numeral 111 designates a selected grid magnifying means, reference numeral 121 designates a grid space of a magnified grid automatically determining means, reference numeral 122 designates a working region grid of a magnified grid re-dividing means, reference numeral 123 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 124 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 125 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 126 designates a grid of a magnified grid selecting means, reference numeral 131 designates a visible outline of a working region modifying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 132 designates a tool path modifying means corresponding to a modified visible outline of a working region of a magnified grid, and reference numeral 141 designates a grid magnification rate setting means.
FIG. 46 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 46, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means, reference numeral 111 designates a selected grid magnifying means, reference numeral 121 designates a grid space of a magnified grid automatically determining means, reference numeral 122 designates a working region grid of a magnified grid re-dividing means, reference numeral 123 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 124 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 125 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 126 designates a grid of a magnified grid selecting means, reference numeral 131 designates a visible outline of a working region modifying means corresponding to a grid of a magnified grid, reference numeral 132 designates a tool path modifying means corresponding to a modified visible outline of a working region of a magnified grid, reference numeral 141 designates a grid magnification rate setting means, and the reference numeral 151 designates a grid space setting means.
FIG. 51 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 51, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means, reference numeral 151 designates a grid space setting means, reference numeral 161 designates a working prohibition grid setting means, reference numeral 162 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a workable grid, reference numeral 163 designates a tool path generating means corresponding to a workable grid, and reference numeral 164 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a workable grid.
FIG. 55 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 55, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 91 designates a grid space automatically determining means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 97 designates a tool path modifying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means, reference numeral 171 designates a working prohibition region setting means, reference numeral 172 designates a workable region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 173 designates a tool interference judging means corresponding to a grid, and reference numeral 174 designates an interfering grid specifying means.
FIG. 59 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 59, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 151 designates a grid space setting means, reference numeral 181 designates a working information identifying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 182 designates a working information displaying means corresponding to a grid.
FIG. 62 illustrates a block diagram of an NC apparatus for a machine tool of an embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 62, reference numeral 81 designates a display unit, reference numeral 82 designates a data input device, reference numeral 83 designates an NC program reading means, reference numeral 84 designates a tool path generating means, reference numeral 85 designates a tool path identifying means classified by a working block, reference numeral 86 designates a working region setting means, reference numeral 92 designates a working region grid-like dividing means, reference numeral 93 designates a tool path extracting means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 94 designates a tool path memorizing memory corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 95 designates a tool path displaying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 96 designates a grid selecting means, reference numeral 98 designates an NC program making means, reference numeral 151 designates a grid space setting means, reference numeral 181 designates a working information identifying means corresponding to a grid, reference numeral 182 designates a working information displaying means corresponding to a grid, and reference numeral 191 designates a tool path modifying means corresponding to the modified working information.
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U.S. Classification 318/568.1, 318/568.25
International Classification B23Q15/00, G05B19/4093, G05B19/408, G05B19/4068
Cooperative Classification G05B2219/35522, G05B2219/36284, G05B19/40937, G05B19/408, G05B19/4068, Y02P90/265
European Classification G05B19/408, G05B19/4093M, G05B19/4068