Method of animation plotting of NC machining program

Details Method of animation plotting of NC machining program Method of animation plotting of NC machining program

1994-05-11

1997-03-11

Voeltz, Emanuel T.

Boots, shoes, and leggings

36447422, 36447426, 82118, 345115, 395173, G06F 1516, G05B 1918

Patent

active

056108427

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved method of animation plotting of an NC machining program.


BACKGROUND ART

There is known an animation plotting method in which an NC machining program simulates a profile of a workpiece viewed from the direction orthogonal to a spindle and the axis of a tool on a graphic display screen of an NC system. FIG. 6 depicts an example where, in turning a workpiece 100 rotated around a horizontal axis Z by a spindle with a cutting tool 101 such as a turning tool mounted along a vertical axis X, the profile of the workpiece is plotted on a graphic display screen 73 in accordance with a conventional animation plotting method.
The movement of the tool 101 during ordinary turning operation is limited to cutting in an X-axis direction and feeding in a Z-axis direction, and hence the change in outer diameter of the workpiece 100 rotating around the Z-axis is always constant. Thus, the NC machining program can be fully checked by merely plotting the turning condition of the workpiece 100 viewed from the direction of a Y-axis orthogonal to the Z-axis and the X-axis as shown in FIG. 6.
Recently, however, as shown in FIG. 5, there has become available an NC lathe having a multiplicity of tool rests, which are not only capable of performing the turning machining but also capable of performing the plane cutting and engraving on the planed outer peripheral surface of the workpiece 100 by controlling the position of the spindle for a desired rotational point (C-axis control). In this type of NC lathe, the tool 102 is displaceable in all directions of the X, Y and Z axes, and the machining surface on the workpiece 100 is not necessarily in parallel with the X-Z plane. It is therefore difficult for the conventional plotting method as is shown in FIG. 6, or for the plotting method of plotting the cutting condition of the workpiece 100 viewed from the direction of the Y-axis, to fully check the NC machining program.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of animation plotting of an NC machining program, capable of more easily and securely checking the NC machining program for an NC lathe having a multiplicity of tool rests.
A method of animation plotting of an NC machining program of the present invention comprises the step of dividing the graphic display screen into a first display area for plotting a workpiece projected in the direction of a first axis (axis of the tool) orthogonal to the direction of the spindle and a second display area for plotting a workpiece projected in the direction of a second axis orthogonal to the spindle and the first axis. The method also comprises the step of simultaneously displaying the state of movement of the tool relative to the workpiece, which is obtained by simulating the NC machining program, within the first display area and the second display area.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the first display area is divided into a plurality of sub-display areas corresponding to the number of rotational positioning points of the spindle for machining by the tool; one of the sub-display areas is selected in sequence in accordance with the rotational positioning points of the spindle; and the state of movement of the tool relative to the workpiece is simultaneously displayed within the selected one sub-display area and the second display area.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the state of movement of the tool relative to the workpiece is displayed synchronously within the first display area and the second display area.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of hardware of an NC apparatus for practicing a method in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing an animation plotting processing in accordance with the present invention to be executed by the NC apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a continuation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display ap

REFERENCES:
patent: 4878172 (1989-10-01), Matsumura
patent: 4922440 (1990-05-01), Kawamura et al.
patent: 4926311 (1990-05-01), Matsumura et al.
patent: 4978901 (1990-12-01), Hirai
patent: 5005134 (1991-04-01), Nakashima et al.
patent: 5337249 (1994-08-01), Fujita et al.
patent: 5359530 (1994-10-01), Matsumura et al.
patent: 5383110 (1995-01-01), Fujita et al.
Abstract: Matsumura et al; "Animation drawing system NC Device for multi-series cathe"; Japanese Application No. 03-195079, Jul. 10, 1991.

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