Machine tool data system and method

• US 4,150,427 A
• Filed: 12/03/1973
• Issued: 04/17/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Strippit, Inc. (LVD-Invest CVA)
• Original Assignee: Houdaille Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Slawson, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US05/421,103
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/107, 364/110, 364/111, 364/113, 364/474, 364/475, 318/594, 318/596, 318/570, 318/572, 318/573, 318/574, 318/568, 318/601, 318/569
• US Class Current: 700/180
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4093 characterised by part programming, e.g. entry of geometrical information as taken from a technical drawing, combining this with machining and material information to obtain control information, named part programme, for the NC machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/414 Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33099 Computer numerical control [CNC]; Software control [SWC]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33182 Uart, serial datatransmission, modem
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35409 DPC direct programming at the console
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36169 Remote, host controlled, operated manual data input, keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36395 Load local computer program from host, data transfer ram to rom, BTR
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42162 Model reference adaptive control MRAC, correction fictive-real error, position
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/43026 Predict deceleration start from measured characteristics and actual performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/43041 Prediction, look ahead deceleration control, calculate start deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50249 Tool, probe, pen changer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A machine tool data system for receiving and storing abbreviated instructions representing blocks of machine tool control data and including pattern type instructions such as copy, mirror image and tool change each involving a series of such blocks, the computer responding to editing instructions such as insert or delete as to specified lines of stored instructions or computing the blocks represented by the stored instructions for transmission to an output device such as a tape punch, the computer generating the blocks of a pattern type series at the rate of utilization of said blocks by the output device. A machine tool may be connected on line and controlled by the computer simultaneously with the editing or tape preparation operations thereof, and the machine tool may be controlled manually from a data terminal on line with the computer when the terminal is not in use for tape preparation.

Claims

1. A computerized machine tool control system comprising a closed loop movement control circuit for responding to digital control signals to control motion of a machine tool,

a stored program digital computer system operable to supply digital control signals for said closed loop movement control circuit and having an on line connection with said closed loop movement control circuit for the transmission of the digital control signals directly thereto and operable to accept and act upon coded data from the movement control circuit, and

a return coded data transmission circuit connecting said closed loop movement control circuit on line with said stored program digital computer system for the transmission of coded data as to the operation of said motion control circuit directly to said digital computer system.

2. In a numerical control system,

a machine tool control system having respective digital to analog converter means for controlling the rate of machine tool movement relative to respective machine tool axes, and operable for registering respective digital count values relative to the respective machine tool axes, the respective digital to analog converter means having respective digital outputs for transmitting the respective digital count values so as to provide information as to the functioning of the control system,

a stored program digital computer system connected on line with said machine tool control system for supervising the operation of said control system and operable to receive digital count values from said digital to analog converter means, and

a return coded data transmission circuit connecting said digital outputs of said digital to analog converter means with said digital computer system and providing for an online transmission of the respective digital count values from the respective digital to analog converter means to said digital computer system.

3. In a machine tool system having only a single machine tool and including respective feedback transducer means responsive to movement of parts of a machine tool relative to respective machine tool axes to generate feedback signals in accordance therewith,

(a) coded record means operable in an input mode for supplying successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence and operable in an output mode for producing a sequence of blocks of machine tool control instructions on a coded record,

(b) stored program digital computer means including random access computer memory means for storing at respective identified locations of a series of memory locations thereof respective blocks of machine tool control instructions, and operable in a first mode to store successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence at successive identified locations of said series of memory locations of said computer memory means to produce a stored sequence of such blocks, and operable in a second mode to respond to respective different manually generated coded editing instructions as specifying respective different editing operations on identified respective ones of said locations of said series of memory locations of said computer memory means and to effect such editing operations on such identified locations of said series of memory locations in said computer memory means, operable in a third mode for responding to a coded record output signal to supply as an output a stored sequence of blocks of machine tool instructions stored in said series of memory locations of said computer memory means, and operable in a fourth mode for generating digital command signals in accordance with successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence,

(c) manually controlled input means connected with said digital computer means and selectively manually actuatable to supply to said digital computer means respective different manually generated coded editing instructions as specifying respective different editing operations on selected ones of the respective locations of said series of memory locations and selectively manually actuatable to supply to said digital computer means a coded record output signal,

(d) machine tool control and interface means for supplying coded data signals as output therefrom in response to a readout selection signal, and including plural axis closed loop machine tool control means operatively coupled to the respective parts of the machine tool and to said feedback transducer means and reponsive to digital command signals and to said feedback signals to control movements of the parts of the machine tool relative to the respective machine tool axes, and operable to supply coded data signals as to the status thereof, and

(e) on-line two-way interconnection means providing two-way on-line interconnection between said coded record means, said stored program digital computer means and said machine tool control and interface means, and providing for the on-line transmission of successive blocks of machine tool control instructions from said coded record means to said digital computer means, for the on-line transmission of successive blocks of machine tool control instructions from said digital computer means to said coded record means, for the on-line transmission of digital command signals and readout selection signals from said digital computer means to said machine tool control and interface means, and for the on-line transmission of coded data signals in accordance with the status of the machine tool control means from said machine tool control and interface means to said digital computer means.

4. In a machine tool system having only a single machine tool and including respective feedback transducer means responsive to movement of parts of the machine tool relative to respective machine tool axes to generate feedback signals in accordance therewith,

(a) coded record means operable in an input mode for supplying successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence,

(b) stored program digital computer means operable for generating a readout selection signal and including random access computer memory means having a series of memory locations thereof for storing blocks of machine tool control instructions, and operable in a first mode to store successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence at said series of memory locations of said computer memory means to produce a stored sequence of such blocks, and operable in a second mode to respond to manually generated coded editing instructions as specifying editing operations on respective locations of said series of memory locations of said computer memory means and to effect such editing operations on such locations of said series of memory locations, operable in a third mode to supply as an output a stored sequence of blocks of machine tool instructions stored in said series of memory locations of said computer memory means, and operable in a fourth mode for generating digital command signals in accordance with successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence,

(c) manually controlled input means connectable on-line with said digital computer means and selectively manually actuatable to supply to said digital computer means manually generated coded editing instructions as specifying editing operations on respective locations of said series of memory locations,

(d) machine tool control and interface means for supplying coded data signals as output therefrom in response to a readout selection signal, and including plural axis closed loop machine tool control means operatively coupled to the respective parts of the machine tool and to said feedback transducer means and responsive to digital command signals and to said feedback signals to control movements of the parts of the machine tool relative to the respective machine tool axes, and

(e) on-line interconnection means providing on-line interconnection between said coded record means, said stored program digital computer means and said machine tool control and interface means, and providing for the on-line transmission of successive blocks of machine tool control instructions from said coded record means to said digital computer means, for the on-line transmission of digital command signals and the readout selection signal from said digital computer means to said machine tool control and interface means, and for the on-line transmission of coded data signals from said machine tool control and inerface means to said digital computer means.

5. In a machine tool system having a machine tool and including respective feedback transducer means responsive to movement of parts of the machine tool relative to respective machine tool axes to generate feedback signals in accordance therewith,

(a) coded record means operable in an input mode for supplying successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence and operable in an output mode for producing a sequence of blocks of machine tool control instruction on a coded record,

(b) stored program digital computer means including random access computer memory means having a series of memory locations thereof for storing a sequence of blocks of machine tool control instructions, and operable in a first mode to store successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence at said series of memory locations of said computer memory means to produce a stored sequence of such blocks, and operable in a second mode to respond to manually generated coded editing instructions as specifiying respective different editing operations on respective locations of said series of memory locations of said computer memory means and to effect such editing operations on such locations of said series of memory locations, operable in a third mode to supply as an output a stored sequence of blocks of machine tool control instructions stored in said series of memory locations of said computer memory means, and operable in a fourth mode for generating digital command signals in accordance with successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence,

(c) manually controlled input means connected on-line with said digital computer means and selectively manually actuatable to supply to said digital computer means manually generated coded editing instructions as specifying editing operations on respective locations of said series of memory locations,

(d) machine tool control and interface means including plural axis closed loop machine tool control means operatively coupled to the respective parts of the machine tool and to said feedback transducer means and responsive to digital command signals and to said feedback signals to control movements of the parts of the machine tool relative to the respective machine tool axes, and

(e) on-line interconnection means providing on-line interconnection between said coded record means, said stored program digital computer means and said machine tool control and interface means, and providing for the on-line transmission of successive blocks of machine tool control instructions from said coded record means to said digital computer means, for the on-line transmission of successive blocks of machine tool control instructions from said digital computer means to said coded record means, and including computer bus means for the on-line transmission of digital commands signals from said digital computer means to said machine tool control and interface means.

6. In a machine tool system having a machine tool and including respective feedback transducer means responsive to movement of parts of the machine tool relative to respective machine tool axes to generate feedback signals in accordance therewith,

(a) coded record means operable in an input mode for supplying successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence,

(b) stored program digital computer means operable for generating readout selection signals and including random access computer memory means having a series of memory locations thereof for storing a sequence blocks of machine tool control instructions, and operable in a first mode to store successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence at said series of memory locations of said computer memory means to produce a stored sequence of such blocks, and operable in a second mode to respond to manually generated coded editing instructions as specifying editing operations on respective locations of said series of memory locations of said computer memory means and to effect such editing operations on such locations of said series of memory locations, operable in a third mode to supply as an output a stored sequence of blocks of machine tool instructions stored in said series of memory locations of said computer memory means, and operable in a fourth mode for generating digital command signals in accordance with successive blocks of machine tool control instructions of a previously established sequence,

(c) manually controlled input means connected on-line with said digital computer means and selectively manually actuatable to supply to said digital computer means manually generated coded editing instructions as specifying editing operations on respective locations of said series of memory locations,

(d) machine tool control and interface means for supplying coded data signals as output therefrom in response to readout selection signals, and including plural axis closed loop machine tool control means operatively coupled to the respective parts of the machine tool and to said feedback transducer means and responsive to digital command signals and to said feedback signals to control movements of the parts of the machine tool relative to the respective machine tool axes, and operable to supply coded data signals as to the status thereof, and

(e) on-line interconection means providing on-line interconnection between said coded record means, said stored program digital computer means and said machine tool control and interface means, and providing for the on-line transmission of successive blocks of machine tool control instructions from said coded record means to said digital computer means, and including computer bus means extending between said digital computer means and said machine tool control and interface means for the on-line transmission of digital command signals and readout selection signals from said digital computer means to said machine tool control and interface means and for the on-line transmission of coded data signals in accordance with the status of the machine tool control means from said machine tool control and interface means to said digital computer means.