Electricity: motive power systems – Positional servo systems – Program- or pattern-controlled systems
Patent
1992-02-28
1994-10-25
Ip, Paul
Electricity: motive power systems
Positional servo systems
Program- or pattern-controlled systems
318567, 318569, 36447422, 36447411, G05B 1918
Patent
active
053592700
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a numerical control system having a plurality of channels, and more particularly to a numerical control system for selecting and controlling a plurality of spindle or tool changer controllers with a plurality of channels.
BACKGROUND ART
There have widely been used numerical control systems for controlling a number of axes or spindles with a plurality of channels (functional arrangements). Such numerical control systems include a numerical control system for controlling a four-axis lathe having two spindles and two tool rests. A workpiece can be machined at a high speed by the spindles or tool rests. With the four-axis lathe or the like, controllers each for controlling one of the spindles and one of the tool rests are fixed or switched by parameters.
Numerical control apparatus have been proposed which make up a complex numerical control system with an increased number of channels (functional arrangements) in order to control a complex machine tool.
If spindles or automatic tool changer controllers are controlled in a fixed manner in the numerical control system with a number of channels, then a long period of time is wasted, and it is difficult to achieve efficient machining operation. Therefore, it is desired that the numerical control system be controlled more flexibly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforesaid problems of the conventional numerical control systems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a numerical control system which can select and control a plurality of spindles or tool changer controllers with a plurality of channels.
According to the present invention, the above object can be achieved by a numerical control system for controlling a plurality of axes with a plurality of channels (functional arrangements), comprising means for selecting and controlling a plurality of spindles or automatic tool changer controllers with a plurality of channels according to machining programs.
By selecting and controlling the spindles or the automatic tool changer controllers with the channels, any one of combinations of spindles and tool rests can be selected as desired for more flexible machining of a workpiece.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a numerical control system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing, by way of example, machining programs for respective channels; and
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a sequence of operation of the numerical control system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows in block form a numerical control system according to the present invention. A channel bus 1 is connected via connections 11-14 to a plurality of channels 10, 20, 30, 40, each for reading, decoding, and executing a machining program. Each of the channels has a function equivalent to the function of a single numerical control apparatus.
Denoted at 51, 52 are automatic tool changer controllers (ATC), and 61, 62, 63, 64 spindles each including a spindle control circuit, a spindle amplifier, a spindle motor, and a spindle. Actually, the numerical control system also includes a master channel for controlling the entire system, axis control modules for controlling axes, a CRT/MDI unit, and peripherals, which are however omitted from illustration in FIG. 1. The connections 11-14 provide a plurality of receiving means corresponding to the channels 10, 20, 30, 40, for receiving the machining programs read by the corresponding channels from peripheral(s) such as a memory or a tape reader.
FIG. 2 shows machining programs for the channels, by way of example. Denoted at 71 is a machining program for the channel 1, 72 a machining program for the channel 2, and 73 a machining program for the channel 3. According to the machining program 71 for the channel 1, the spindle 1 is selected by the following commands: the channel 1. Thus, channel 1 acts as selecting means for selectin
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Fujibayashi Kentaro
Kawamura Hideaki
Sagara Shouichi
Fanuc Ltd.
Ip Paul
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