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Tool condition and failure monitoring apparatus and method

  • US 4,658,245 A
  • Filed: 04/29/1983
  • Issued: 04/14/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1983
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of sensing the wear condition of a cutting tool while machining a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

  • (A) detecting the acoustic emissions resulting from the machining of the workpiece by the cutting tool;

    (B) generating an electrical signal which varies in magnitude with the detected acoustic emissions;

    (C) comparing the electrical signal with a threshold value;

    (D) producing a pulse each time the electrical signal exceeds said threshold value;

    (E) generating successive timing signals of fixed, equal time duration, each of said timing signals defining a fixed time sample window;

    (F) counting the number of pulses which are produced in step (D) only during each time sample window generated in step (E).(G) comparing the number of pulses counted in step (F) during each time sample window with a preset count; and

    ,(H) generating a signal indicative of the wear condition of said cutting tool when the number of pulses counted in step (F) during a single time sample window exceeds said preset count.

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