Method of sizing an image on a graphic display for a numerical controller

• US 4,725,960 A
• Filed: 02/20/1986
• Issued: 02/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Hideaki, Shima, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACDONALD, ALLEN R
• Application Number:
  US06/832,715
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 364/167, 364/168, 364/169, 364/170, 364/171, 364/474, 364/475, 364/188, 364/189, 364/190, 364/521, 340/825.23, 340/731
• US Class Current: 700/184
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4068 Verifying part programme on screen, by drawing or other means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35326 Scale image automatically to display whole tool locus or indicated area

Abstract

The present invention is to enable the locus of a tool or the like to be drawn on a display screen (25) based on an NC command program on an optimum scale and as quickly as possible.

A microcomputer (10) obtains a magnification for image drawing and center coordinates of an image drawing space such that maximum and minimum coordinate values entered through a key input means (15) will be put in the display screen (25). Based upon such a magnification and center coordinates, the locus of a tool or the like is drawn on the display screen (25). In parallel with the above drawing process, the microcomputer (10) obtains maximum and minimum coordinate values of the NC command program. When a predetermined command is entered through the key input means (15) after completion of the above drawing process, the microcomputer (10) obtains such a magnification for image drawing and center coordinates of the image drawing space that the maximum and minimum coordinate values of the NC command program obtained in parallel with the above drawing process will be contained in the display screen (25). Based upon the thus obtained magnification and center coordinates, the locus of a tool or the like is drawn on the display screen (25).

Accordingly, when the maximum and minimum coordinate values input from the key input means (15) are appropriate, a satisfactory image can be drawn by the first drawing process. Even if the image by the first drawing process is not satisfactory, the locus of a tool or the like can be drawn in its entirety on the display screen (25) through second drawing process.

Claims

1. A graphic display image drawing method for numerical control equipment which displays the locus of a tool on a display screen in accordance with the contents of a selected NC command program, comprising the steps of:

(a) calculating a preliminary magnification for image drawing and preliminary center coordinates of an image drawing space so that provisional maximum and minimum coordinate values entered through a key input means will go in a specified image drawing space;

(b) displaying the tool locus in the selected NC command program based on the preliminary magnification and the preliminary center coordinates;

(c) obtaining actual maximum and minimum coordinate values contained in the selected NC command program simultaneously with said displaying step (b);

(d) calculating a final magnification and final center coordinates of the image drawing space when a predetermined command is input after completion of said displaying step (b), so that the maximum and minimum coordinate values obtained during said step (c) will go in the image drawing space; and

(e) displaying the tool locus in the selected program based on the final magnification and final center coordinates.

2. A graphic display method for numerical control equipment which displays a tool locus in accordance with the contents of an NC program, comprising the steps of:

(a) setting required parameters for image drawing including maximum and minimum coordinate values for defining an image space for an image to be drawn;

(b) reading the NC command program and revising the maximum and minimum coordinate values set in said substep (a) in dependence upon the coordinate data in the NC command program which is read;

(c) automatically displaying the tool locus in the image space based on the maximum and minimum coordinate values set in said step (a); and

(d) causing the tool locus to be displayed based on the revised minimum and maximum coordinate values determined in said step (b) when the entire tool locus is not displayed in the image space in said displaying step (c).

3. A graphic display method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step (d) comprises generating an automatic drawing command, and displaying the tool locus based on the revised maximum and minimum coordinate values, so that the entire tool locus in the NC command program is displayed within the image space.