AUTOMATIC BORE SIZE CONTROL BY COMPLETELY INTEGRATING AN AIR GAGE SYSTEM INTO THE MACHINE CONTROL

• US 20100198390A1
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunnen Products Company
• Original Assignee: Sunnen Products Company
• Inventors: Hoth, Timothy P., Mik, Carl A., Jacobsmeyer, Russell L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/174
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 15/02 according to the instantaneous size and the required size of the workpiece acted upon B23Q15/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34069 Shared memory
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36288 Select machining method, parameters as function of dimensions of workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37492 Store measured value in memory, to be used afterwards
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45237 Honing machine

Abstract

A machine controller includes a memory and a processor configured for operating a machine control for automatically controlling apparatus for performing a machining process on a workpiece at least partially as a function of data relating to a parameter of the workpiece, and a gage control for automatically controlling gaging apparatus for collecting and processing the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece and storing the data in the memory. At least a portion of the memory in which the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece is stored, is configured as a shared memory so as to allow the machine control to immediately retrieve and use the stored data relating to the parameter of the workpiece. The controller has particular utility for use in controlling a honing process and a gaging process, which can be in-process or post-process, and which can be used for bore sizing and other parameters.

Claims

1. A machine controller, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured for operating a machine control for automatically controlling apparatus for performing a machining process on a workpiece at least partially as a function of data relating to a parameter of the workpiece, and a gage control for automatically controlling gaging apparatus for collecting and processing the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece and storing the data in the memory;

wherein at least a portion of the memory in which the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece is stored, is configured as a shared memory so as to allow the machine control to immediately retrieve and use the stored data relating to the parameter of the workpiece.

2. A machine controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine control is automatically operable for storing data relating to at least one machine parameter in the shared memory so as to allow immediate retrieval and use thereof by the gage control.

3. A machine controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus for performing a machining process comprises a honing machine operable for honing a bore of the workpiece.

4. A machine controller as claimed in claim 3, wherein the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece, comprises data relating to a size of the bore of the workpiece.

5. A machine controller as claimed in claim 3, wherein the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece, comprises data relating to a shape of the bore of the workpiece.

6. A machine controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for simultaneously operating the machine control and the gage control using the stored data.

7. A machine controller as claimed in claim 1, including the gage apparatus, wherein the apparatus for performing a machining process comprises a honing machine operable for honing a bore of the workpiece, and wherein the gage apparatus comprises an air gage column including a sensor interfaced with the controller for outputting data representative of a parameter of the bore of the workpiece thereto for use by the gage control.

8. A honing machine controller, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured for operating a machine control for automatically controlling apparatus for performing a honing process on a workpiece at least partially as a function of data relating to a parameter of a bore of the workpiece, and a gage control for automatically controlling gaging apparatus for collecting and processing the data relating to the parameter of the bore and storing the data in the memory;

wherein at least a portion of the memory in which the data relating to the parameter of the bore is stored, is configured as a shared memory so as to allow the machine control to immediately retrieve and use the stored data relating to the parameter of the bore.

9. A honing machine controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein the machine control is automatically operable for storing data relating to at least one machine parameter in the shared memory so as to allow immediate retrieval and use thereof by the gage control.

10. A honing machine controller as claimed in claim 8, including the gage apparatus, and wherein the gage apparatus comprises an air gage column including a sensor interfaced with the controller for outputting data representative of a parameter of the bore of the workpiece thereto for use by the gage control.

11. A honing machine controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein the data relating to the parameter of the bore, comprises data relating to a size of the bore.

12. A honing machine controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein the data relating to the parameter of the bore, comprises data relating to a shape of the bore.

13. A honing machine controller as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor is configured for simultaneously operating the machine control and the gage control using the stored data.

14. A honing machine controller as claimed in claim 13, wherein the honing process comprises honing the bore of a workpiece to a value determined as a function of data retrieved from the shared memory relating to a parameter of a previously honed bore, and processed and stored by the gage control control.