ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR STEERING A MACHINE TOOL

• US 20130218322A1
• Filed: 11/10/2011
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interactive Machine Systems Pty., Limited
• Original Assignee: Interactive Machine Systems Pty., Limited
• Inventors: Carli, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 9,851,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/180
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0045 Control panels or boxes
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 15/007 while the tool acts upon the workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/2414 for indicating desired positions guiding the positioning of tools or workpieces B25H1/0092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33005 Manually but assisted by using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35326 Scale image automatically to display whole tool locus or indicated area
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35349 Display part, programmed locus and tool path, traject, dynamic locus
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35434 Enter part geometry and manually control path free, directly, real time, cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36157 Pendant control box for handwheel control, mounted on controlled axis

Abstract

The invention relates to systems for steering machine tools and in particular to systems that display information to an operator of the machine tool. Such a system comprises a manually controlled cutting tool. The system receives data that defines a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool. The system receives further data related to the current position of the cutting tool in, at least, two dimensions. A processor generates from the received data a display. The display shows the desired cut to be made and a cutting tool icon at the current position of the cutting tool relative to the desired cut. The display also shows an indication of the current error between either the current position, or direction of travel, of the cutting tool and the desired cut. An operator does not need to look at the workpiece, a drawing and the Digital Read Out simultaneously as with existing systems.

Claims

1. An assistance system for steering a machine tool comprising a manually controlled cutting tool, the assistance system comprising:

a first data port to receive data defining a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool,

a second data port to receive data related to the current position of the cutting tool in, at least, two dimensions,

a processor to generate from the received data a display showing;

the desired cut to be made, a cutting tool icon at the current position of the cutting tool relative to the desired cut, and

an indication of the current error between either the current position, or direction of travel, of the cutting tool and the desired cut.

2. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the data defining a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool is a representation of a drawing.

3. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the data defining a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool is position data of the cutting tool.

4. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the first data port and second data port are combined to one single port.

5. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows an indication of the current feed rate.

6. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows an indication of the error between the current feed rate and a predetermined feed rate.

7. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows a visually enhanced or magnified deviation of the cutting tool in relationship to the desired cut.

8. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows a magnified area of the desired cut and the cut made.

9. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows a smooth directional cut path back to the desired cut.

10. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display shows a historical path of the cutting tool relative to the workpiece.

11. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows numerical values of the current measured position of the cutting tool.

12. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the desired cut is of the shape of one or more lines or points.

13. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows the distance of the cutting tool from a predetermined point.

14. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display also shows a stop icon, wherein the distance of the stop icon from a predetermined point is based on the distance of the cutting tool from that predetermined point.

15. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the display is generated periodically from updated values for the received data.

16. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the second data port is a USB (universal serial bus) port connected to a high speed data acquisition device to receive signals from linear or rotary encoders and to send packets of data to the processor via USB when that information is required by the assistance system.

17. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the machine tool is a milling machine, plasma cutter, borer, drill, radial drill, lathe, wood working machine, plastic cutter, or fabric cutter.

18. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the material of the workpiece is metal, wood, plastic or fabric.

19. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the appearance of the indication of the current error is based on whether the current position of the cutting tool has crossed the desired cut.

20. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the current error comprises an indication of a predetermined tolerance.

21. The assistance system of claim 1, wherein the indication of the current error comprises a marker and a scale and the position of the marker relative to the scale is based on the error.

22. A method for steering a machine tool comprising a manually controlled cutting tool, the method comprising:

receiving data defining a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool,

receiving data related to the current position of the cutting tool in, at least, two dimensions,

generating a display to show;

the desired cut to be made, the current position of the cutting tool relative to the desired cut, and

an indication of the current error between either the measured position, or direction of travel, of the cutting tool and the desired cut.

23. A machine tool comprising a manually controlled cutting tool and an assistance system for steering the machine tool, the assistance system comprising:

a first data port to receive data defining a model of a desired cut to be made on a workpiece by the cutting tool,

a second data port to receive data related to the current position of the cutting tool in, at least, two dimensions,

a processor to generate from the received data a display showing;

the desired cut to be made, a cutting tool icon at the current position of the cutting tool relative to the desired cut, and

an indication of the current error between either the current position, or direction of travel, of the cutting tool and the desired cut.

24. Software, that when installed on a computer causes the computer to perform the method.