Electricity: motive power systems – Positional servo systems – Program- or pattern-controlled systems
Patent
1990-01-29
1992-12-22
Ip, Paul
Electricity: motive power systems
Positional servo systems
Program- or pattern-controlled systems
318567, 3185681, 36416701, G05B 1918, G05B 19403
Patent
active
051736489
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGORUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a numerical control method and, more particularly, to a numerical control method in which synchronously controlled axes are designated by an NC program (numerical control).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A numerical control apparatus sometimes performs predetermined machining while synchronously controlling two or more movable elements. For example, in an NC four-axis lathe, first and second NC programs each having a queuing command are provided for corresponding ones of first and second tool rests, and a workpiece is subjected to machining by independently controlling the movement of the tool rests in accordance with the corresponding first and second NC programs while synchronization is achieved by virtue of the queuing commands. FIG. 8 shows an example of such first and second NC programs, in which 1a, 2a denote program numbers, 1b, 2b program portions for executing first machining, 1c, 2c first queuing commands, 1d, 2d program portions for executing second machining, 1e, 2e second queuing commands, 1f, 2f program portions for executing third machining, 1g, 2g third queuing commands, 1h, 2h program portions for executing fourth machining, 1i, 2i fourth queuing commands, 1j, 2j program portions for executing fifth machining, and 1k, 2k tape end commands.
In accordance with the first and second NC programs, the first and second tool rests subject the workpiece to machining simultaneously by the program portions 1b, 2b (simultaneous independent operation), and the tool rest which finishes machining first waits, in response to the first queuing command "M100", until the NC controller of the other reads in the first queuing command "M100". When the NC controller of the other reads in "M100", simultaneous independent operation is performed by the program portions 1d, 2d, and the tool rest which finishes machining first similarly waits, in response to the second queuing command "M200", until the NC controller of the other reads in the second queuing command "M200". Thereafter, similar four-axis control is carried out and simultaneous four-axis machining ends in response to the tape end command M30.
Conventionally, axes capable of being synchronously controlled are set in advance by parameters and synchronous control is performed only with regard to the set axes.
For example, assume that the numerical control apparatus of a simultaneous four-axis lathe has been set by parameters so as to be capable of performing synchronous control solely with regard to the axes constituting two tool rests for turning work. If the apparatus is to control a machine tool having, in addition to these two tool rests for turning, a tool rest for separate turning work, a tool rest for drilling or a tool rest for grooving, it will be possible to synchronously control only those axes constituting the two turning tool rests which have been set by the parameters; the other tool rest for turning, drilling or grooving will not be synchronously controllable.
Consequently, a problem encountered in the prior art is that even if synchronous control can be performed, axes which do not participate in machining may exist, as a result of which machining efficiency declines.
Another problem in the prior art is that axes that are synchronously controllable are limited to those capable of being controlled independently of one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a numerical control method through which a plurality of synchronously controlled axes can be designated at will by NC programs during automatic operation, thereby eliminating idling axes and making possible highly efficient machining.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a numerical control method through which a plurality of superposed axes can be synchronously controlled, including an axis and another axis located thereon, yet a further axis located on this other axis, and so on.
According to the present invention, an NC program provided f
REFERENCES:
patent: 4513379 (1985-04-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 4606001 (1986-08-01), Rieben et al.
patent: 4860191 (1989-08-01), Nomura et al.
patent: 4931709 (1990-06-01), Ikeda et al.
patent: 4953082 (1990-08-01), Nomura et al.
Endo Takashi
Fujibayashi Kentaro
Kawamura Hideaki
Fanuc Ltd.
Ip Paul
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