Boots – shoes – and leggings
Patent
1985-01-31
1987-05-19
Ruggiero, Joseph
Boots, shoes, and leggings
29568, 364171, G06F 1546, G05B 1918
Patent
active
046672940
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a numerical control apparatus used in a machine tool.
A plurality of tools are used in a machine tool to machine a workpiece. In this case, when tools are frequently replaced, it takes a long time for tool replacement, thus prolonging machining time and degrading efficiency. In order to decrease the number of times tool replacement occurs, the machining operation as a whole is analyzed to create a program. In this case, all the machining steps must be analyzed to create the program, so that program creation results in time-consuming and cumbersome operations. A recently developed program created by a conversation type automatic program function requires a larger number of tool replacement times as compared with a program created by general NC commands.
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in a program wherein holes A are formed in hole positions P1 to P8 of a workpiece W, and holes B, having a different diameter from that of the holes A, are formed in hole positions P9 and P10 thereof, respectively, a program created by a conversational format which does not consider the number of tool replacement times is required, as shown in FIG. 2. When this conversationally created program is executed, a tool T1 (center drill) is used to form small holes in the hole positions P1 to P8, and the tool T1 is replaced with a tool T2 (drill). The tool T2 is then used to form the holes A. The tool T2 is replaced with the tool T1 again, and the tool T1 (center drill) is used to form small holes in the hole positions P9 and P10. Thereafter, the tool T1 is replaced with a tool T3 (drill), and the tool T3 is used to form the holes in the hole positions P9 and P10.
According to the above program, the tool T1 is replaced twice, so that the number of tool replacement times becomes three, thus increasing the tool replacement time and hence the total machining time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above conventional drawback, by providing a numerical control apparatus, wherein the number of tool replacement times can be minimized.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a numerical control apparatus wherein the number of tool replacement times can be minimized within a designated range by designating all or part of a source program for machining.
In order to achieve the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a numerical control apparatus comprising: source program storage means for storing a source program which is not processed to designate a minimum number of tool replacement times; tool order setting means for storing data representing the order in which tools are to be used in machining in accordance with the source program; tool order change command means for generating a change command for changing the order of tools used in machining; program updating means for receiving the change command from said tool order change command means and for updating the source program in accordance with the order designated by said tool order setting means; and tool order updated program storage means for storing the updated source program. The numerical control apparatus further comprises tool order change range designating means for designating a range of a tool order change.
In the numerical control apparatus of the present invention, a tool order list is entered by tool numbers or the like at the tool order setting means, the tool order change range is entered by sequence numbers or the like of the source program at the tool order change range designating means, and the change command is entered at the tool order change command means. Upon reception of these inputs, the program updating means edits the source program within the change range in accordance with the designated tool order, and causes the tool order updated program storage means to store the updated program. An output is generated in accordance with the updated program so as to perform NC machining by with a minimum number of tool replace
REFERENCES:
patent: 4237598 (1980-12-01), Williamson
patent: 4497029 (1985-01-01), Kiyokawa
patent: 4543636 (1985-09-01), Noda et al.
patent: 4547854 (1985-10-01), Hashimoto et al.
patent: 4549270 (1985-10-01), Fukumura et al.
Sasaki Takao
Shima Atsushi
Fanuc Ltd
Ruggiero Joseph
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