Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Patent
1994-06-06
2000-12-05
Gordon, Paul P.
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
700169, G06F 1900
Patent
active
06157869&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a machining program checking method for a numerical control device, and more particularly, to an improved machining program checking method for a numerical control device used with an NC turret lathe having a plurality of tools mounted thereon.
BACKGROUND ART
There is known a machining program checking method for a numerical control device, wherein movement of a tool and cutting of a workpiece are simulated or interference between the tool and the workpiece is checked, on the bases of a machining program and data relating to the mounting of the tool specified in the machining program as a tool to be used.
In the conventional machining program checking method, however, only the tool currently in use is checked for interference. Thus, in the case of a machine tool such as a turret lathe which performs a machining operation with a plurality of tools simultaneously mounted thereon, it is probable that, even when the tool currently in use is not interfering with the workpiece, other tools mounted on the turret may interfere with the workpiece or parts of the lathe.
Conventionally, whether such interference occurs or not is determined through the operator's thought experiment at the time of preparation of a program or simulation of tool paths, but the operator's determination cannot always be perfect. If combination, disposition or the like of the tools mounted is improper, interference of tools may occur, causing damage to tool noses or to the workpiece, displacement of the spindle, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a machining program checking method for a numerical control device which controls an NC turret lathe for performing a machining operation with a plurality of tools simultaneously mounted thereon, wherein interference of the tools with a workpiece or with various parts of the lathe can be surely detected before the machining operation is actually executed.
The machining program checking method according to the present invention comprises a step of obtaining a relationship of relative position between a tool which is specified as a tool to be used currently by a machining program and each of other tools mounted on the turret, a step of simulating movement of each of the other tools in accordance with the relationship of relative position between the currently used tool and each of the other tools, the machining program, and mounting data of each of the other tools, and a step of detecting interference of each of the tools mounted on the turret with a workpiece, and interference of each of the tools with various parts of the NC lathe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware of a numerical control device for carrying out a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2a is a front view illustrating the relationship between a workpiece mounted on a chuck of an NC turret lathe and a tool mounted on a turret;
FIG. 2b is a side view illustrating the relationship between the workpiece and tool shown in FIG. 2a;
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the relationship between the chuck and turret of the NC turret lathe;
FIG. 4 is part of a flow chart showing the outline of an "interference check processing" to be executed by the numerical control device of the embodiment; and
FIG. 5 is the continued part of the flow chart, subsequent to the part shown in FIG. 4.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIG. 1, the hardware of a numerical control (NC) device 10 for carrying out a method according to the present invention will be described. A CPU 11 is a processor for generally controlling the NC device 10. The CPU 11 is connected to a ROM 12 via a bus 21 and controls the NC device 10 in accordance with system programs stored in the ROM 12. Previously written in the ROM 12 are various system programs such as those for executing an editing mode processing necessary for the preparation and editing of NC machining programs, a playbac
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patent: 5122966 (1992-06-01), Jansen et al.
patent: 5127140 (1992-07-01), Oiwa et al.
patent: 5317519 (1994-05-01), Maeda
Endo Takahiko
Matsumura Teruyuki
Shinozaki Satoru
Fanuc Ltd.
Gordon Paul P.
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