METHOD FOR MOVING A TOOL OF A CNC MACHINE OVER A SURFACE

• US 20110218668A1
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fidia S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Fidia S.P.A.
• Inventors: Morfino, Giuseppe
• Granted Patent: US 9,519,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/174
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/401 characterised by control arrangements for measuring, e.g. calibration and initialisation, measuring workpiece for machining purposes G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/404 characterised by control arrangements for compensation, e.g. for backlash, overshoot, tool offset, tool wear, temperature, machine construction errors, load, inertia G05B19/19, G05B19/41 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4163 Adaptive control of feed or cutting velocity without NC B23Q15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35159 With nominal blank and model in memory define tool path and machine workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36503 Adapt program to real coordinates, software orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49061 Calculate optimum operating, machining conditions and adjust, adapt them
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49066 Geometric adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49069 Adaptive control optimalisation ACO
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49186 Deflection, bending of tool
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49362 Tool, probe at constant height to surface during machining

Abstract

A method for moving a tool of a CNC machine over a surface, wherein the CNC machine is provided with a sensor unit, comprising the steps of: (a) moving the tool over the surface in a predetermined direction and/or with a predetermined velocity and/or along a predetermined path, (b) treating the surface by the tool in accordance with a predetermined value of a treatment parameter, (c) determining, by the sensor unit, a response value indicating a response of the tool to treating the surface and/or to being pressed to the surface, and (d) determining a new direction and/or a new velocity and/or a new path and/or a new value for the treatment parameter based on the response value.

Claims

1. A method for moving a tool of a CNC machine over a surface, wherein the CNC machine is provided with a sensor unit, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) moving the tool over the surface in a predetermined direction and/or with a predetermined velocity and/or along a predetermined path,

(b) treating the surface by the tool in accordance with a predetermined value of a treatment parameter,

(c) determining, by the sensor unit, a response value indicating a response of the tool to treating the surface and/or to being pressed to the surface,

(d) determining a new direction and/or a new velocity and/or a new path and/or a new value for the treatment parameter based on the response value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is based on a model of the surface.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the model is based on path data.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the model is used to determine, in step (d), a direction and/or a velocity and/or a path and/or a value for a treatment parameter which is/are applied after the sequence of steps (a) to (d) or of steps (a) and (b) has been carried out one or more times subsequently to the determination.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the model is based on path data.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if the tool has been moved to or beyond a predetermined borderline, the tool is displaced by a predetermined distance and the new direction is determined as the reverse of the previous direction.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises providing, by the sensor unit, data indicating a deflection of the tool and/or indicating a force experienced by the tool when treating the surface.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein step (c) comprises providing, by the sensor unit, data indicating a force experienced by the tool in response to an impact of the tool to the surface.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the treatment parameter may be one of a force, a frequency or a time delay of the treatment to be performed by the tool.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises, while moving the tool, the tool is in contact with the surface.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises, while moving the tool, the tool is not in continuous contact to the surface.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises, while moving the tool, the tool is at a fixed distance from the surface.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tool is surrounded by a cylinder that has contact to the surface.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises keeping the force which is applied to the surface by the tool constant and/or within a predetermined tolerance range.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein treating the surface comprises hammering onto the surface.

17. A CNC machine controller, configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

18. A computer program product, comprising one or more media readable by a CNC machine, carrying instructions thereon for performing the steps of the method of claim 1 when run by the CNC machine.

16. A CNC machine, which is configured to move a tool over a surface, comprising:

a moving unit configured to move the tool in a predetermined direction and/or with a predetermined velocity and/or along a predetermined path;

a treatment unit configured to treat the surface by the tool in accordance with a predetermined value of a treatment parameter;

a sensor unit configured to determine a response value indicating a response of the tool to treating the surface and/or to being pressed to the surface; and

a decision unit configured to determine a new direction and/or a new velocity and/or a new path and/or a new value for the treatment parameter based on the response value.