Geometrical instruments – Miscellaneous – Light direction
Patent
1986-03-21
1987-12-01
Little, Willis
Geometrical instruments
Miscellaneous
Light direction
33503, 33505, 33546, G01B 728
Patent
active
047094826
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in an arbitrary-direction tracer control unit which permits arbitrary setting of the tracer feed direction, and, more particularly, to an arbitrary-direction tracer control unit which allows an easy change of the tracer feed direction even during tracing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In arbitrary-direction tracing in which the tracer feed direction in an X-Y plane is a direction at an angle .alpha. (an A-axis) with respect to the X-axis as depicted in FIG. 5, tracer feed rates Va and Vz in the A-axis and the Z-axis are derived from a displacement signal available from a tracer head, operations Vx=Va.multidot.cos .alpha. and Vy=Va.multidot.sin .alpha. are conducted using the feed rate Va to obtain tracer feed rates Vx and Vz, and a model is driven in the X-, Y- and Z-axes at the speeds corresponding to the tracer feed rates Vx, Vy, and Vz.
Conventional arbitrary-direction tracer control equipment is of the type that prestores the angle .alpha. between the X-axis and the A-axis in a memory and performs the above-mentioned operations on the basis of the stored contents of the memory to obtain the feed rates in the X- and Y-axis directions; so the tracer feed direction cannot be changed unless the stored contents of the memory are changed. Accordingly, with the prior art equipment, it is difficult for an operator to change the tracer feed direction while monitoring the cutting conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention obviates such a defect as mentioned above, and has for an object to permit an easy change of the tracer feed direction even during tracing.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement of the present invention. A memory means M has stored therein an angle indicating the direction of the tracer feed axis, that is, an angle between the X-axis and the tracer feed axis. A correction angle setting means COM is used to set a correction angle with respect to the tracer feed axis direction. An adder means ADD adds together the angle stored in the memory means M and the correction angle set by the correction angle setting means COM and then provides the added output to a tracing operation means PRO. Based on the results of the addition by the adder means ADD and a displacement signal corresponding to the displacement of a stylus ST provided from a tracer head TH, the tracing operation means PRO produces the feed rate in each axis direction at which the model and the tracer head are moved relative to each other in the direction corresponding to the results of the addition by the adder means ADD.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the arrangement of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the contents of processing by a microprocessor 17;
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a cutting path according to the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining arbitrary-direction tracing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 2 illustrates in block form an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 indicates a tracer head, 2 a stylus, 3 a composite displacement signal generator, 4 an adder, 5 and 6 velocity calculation circuits for obtaining normal-direction velocity V.sub.N and tangential-direction velocity V.sub.T, 7 a distribution circuit, 8 and 9 coordinate converters, 10 an indexing circuit, 11 to 13 X-, Y- and Z-axis amplifiers, 14 to 16 X-, Y- and Z-axis motors, 17 a microprocessor, 18 an output port, 19 a memory, 20 a keyboard, and 21 a correction angle setting dial for setting a correction angle with respect to the tracer feed direction. In an area #N of the memory 19 is stored the angle between the tracer feed axis and the X-axis, i.e. the angle .alpha. indicating the direction of the tracer feed axis.
Upon starting of a tracing operation, the tracer head 1 outputs displacement signals .epsilon..sub
REFERENCES:
patent: 3749501 (1973-07-01), Wieg
patent: 3840994 (1974-10-01), Izumi et al.
patent: 4276698 (1981-07-01), Dore et al.
patent: 4455755 (1984-06-01), Fritsche et al.
patent: 4523380 (1985-06-01), Wright
patent: 4597182 (1986-07-01), Rinn
patent: 4603487 (1986-08-01), Matsunata
Matsuura Hitoshi
Sakurai Hiroshi
Fanuc Ltd.
Little Willis
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