Workpiece workability detection method and a method for cutting a workpiece by means of a cutting machine utilizing that method

• US 5,115,403 A
• Filed: 02/03/1989
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Amada Company Limited
• Inventors: Sawamura, Mitsuyoshi, Kokado, Takashi, Tanaka, Kikuo, Yoneda, Akiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAMMELL, JAMES P
• Application Number:
  US07/305,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 364/474-474.37, 364/551.02, 364/506, 364/507, 73/862.06, 73/862.68, 73/104, 318/571, 318/565, 318/569, 340/825.23, 340/680, 340/679, 340/665, 408/8, 408/10, 408/11, 408/12, 408/13, 409/80, 83/801, 83/72, 83/73, 83/74, 83/75, 83/75.5
• US Class Current: 700/173
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 55/088 Devices for feeding strap saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0053 Cutting or drilling tools
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/42 by performing impressions under a steady load by indentors, e.g. sphere, pyramid G01N3/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/58 Investigating machinability by cutting tools; Investigating the cutting ability of tools
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4065 Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4163 Adaptive control of feed or cutting velocity without NC B23Q15/12
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37229 Test quality tool by measuring time needed for machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37252 Life of tool, service life, decay, wear estimation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37256 Wear, tool wear
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50265 If tool life over, continue machining only actual block, workability, then stop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]

Abstract

A workability detection method for a workpiece consisting of the steps of cutting a workpiece, based on specified cutting conditions, detecting the cutting resistance during the cutting operation, or the cutting time or the amount of tool wear to make a cut up to a specified position of the workpiece, or the feeding position of the cutting tool on a workpiece or the amount of processing of the cutting tool after a specified cutting time and comparing the detected data with corresponding data which is stored in a data base.

Claims

1. A workability detection method for cutting a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

cutting a workpiece up to a certain position as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

detecting the cutting resistance during the cutting operation;

comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base of a data storing means for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade; and

judging workability of cutting by determining whether the detected data is within a predetermined range of values stored in the database.

2. The cutting method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the steps of detecting the data, and comparing the detected data with corresponding data which is stored in a data base and then judging workability of cutting.

3. A workability detection method for cutting a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

cutting a workpiece up to a certain position as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

detecting the cutting time to cut to a specified position of the workpiece;

comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base of a data storing means for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade; and

judging workability of cutting by determining whether the detected data is within a predetermined range of values stored in the database.

4. The cutting method of claim 3, further comprising repeating the steps of detecting the data, and comparing the detected data with corresponding data which is stored in a data base and then judging workability of cutting.

5. A workability detection method for cutting a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

cutting a workpiece up to a certain position as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

detecting the amount of the wear on said blade to cut to a specified position of the workpiece;

comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base of a data storing means for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade; and

judging workability of cutting by determining whether the detected data is within a predetermined range of values stored in the database.

6. The cutting method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

repeating the step of selecting an appropriate cutting condition by judging the workability of cutting of the workpiece when continuous cutting is possible, and proceeding in cutting the workpiece further up to a next predetermined position.

7. The cutting method of claim 5, wherein the judging of workability of cutting the workpiece is made by detecting at least one of the cutting resistance during the cutting to a certain position, the cutting time during the cutting to the certain position, the amount of the wear of the blade during the cutting to the certain position and the amount of the cut during a certain period of time, and comparing said detected data with data previously stored in a data storing means.

8. The cutting method of claim 5, further comprising repeating the steps of detecting the data, and comparing the detected data with corresponding data which is stored in a data base and then judging workability of cutting.

11. The cutting method of claim 7, further comprising repeating the steps of detecting the data, and comparing the detected data with corresponding data which is stored in a data base and then judging workability of cutting.

9. A workability detection method for cutting a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

cutting a workpiece up to a certain position as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

detecting the feeding position of the blade on the workpiece after a specified cutting time;

comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base of a data storing means for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade; and

judging workability of cutting by determining whether the detected data is within a predetermined range of values stored in the database.

10. The cutting method of claim 9, wherein the judging of workability of cutting the workpiece is made by detecting at least one of the cutting resistance during the cutting to a certain position, the cutting time during the cutting to the certain position, the amount of the wear of the blade during the cutting to the certain position and the amount of the cut during a certain period of time, and comparing said detected data with data previously stored in a data storing means.

12. A workability detection method for cutting a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

cutting a workpiece up to a certain position as a result which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

detecting the amount of processing of the workpiece, such as a cross-sectional area cut and a length along which the workpiece is processed after a specified cutting time;

comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base of a data storing means for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade; and

judging workability of cutting by determining whether the detected data is within a predetermined range of values stored in the database.

13. The cutting method of claim 12, further comprising repeating the steps of detecting the data, and comparing the detected data with corresponding data which is stored in a data base and then judging workability of cutting.

14. A cutting method by means of a cutting machine as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

detecting one of;

the cutting resistance at a predetermined feeding position of the blade on the workpiece;

the cutting time interval when a cut is made up to a predetermined specified position on the workpiece;

the amount of the wear of the blade when a cut is made to a predetermined specified position on the workpiece;

the feeding position of the blade on a workpiece after a specified cutting time; and

the amount of processing by the blade, such as a cross-sectional area cut and a length along with the workpiece is processed after a specified cutting time;

comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base of a data storing means for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade;

judging workability of cutting by determining whether the detected data is within a predetermined range of values stored in the database;

determining suitable cutting conditions based on the result of the judgment of the workability; and

performing a cutting process on the workpiece based on the determined cutting conditions.

15. The cutting method of claim 14, further comprising repeating the steps of detecting the data, and comparing the detected data with corresponding data which is stored in a data base and then judging workability of cutting.

16. A workability detection device for a workpiece comprising:

means for cutting a workpiece to a certain position as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

means for detecting at least one of the cutting resistance during the cutting operation, the cutting time to make a cut to a specified position of the workpiece, the amount of the wear of the blade of the cutting means to cut to a specified position of the workpiece, the feeding position of the blade on the workpiece after a specified cutting time, and the amount of processing on the workpiece such as a cross-sectional area cut and a length along which the workpiece is processed after a specified cutting time; and

means for comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade.

17. A cutting method by means of a cutting machine on a workpiece comprising the steps of:

cutting a workpiece to a certain position as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

detecting a miscut amount of the workpiece by a miscut detection means during said cutting;

comparing, when the blade reaches the said position, said detected miscut amount with a miscut limiting value previously obtained and stored in a data base for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade and determining whether or not the blade has reached a miscut end-of-life;

selecting an appropriate cutting condition by judging the workability of cutting of the workpiece when continuous cutting is possible, and proceeding in cutting the workpiece further up to a next certain position, and

replacing the blade at its end-of-life with a new one when the blade reaches its miscut end-of-life during the above steps.

18. A cutting machine for a workpiece comprising:

means for cutting a workpiece as a result of which the load on a blade of the cutting machine is kept relatively small;

means for detecting at least one of the cutting resistance during the cutting operation, the cutting time to make a cut to a specified position of the workpiece, the amount of the wear of the blade of the cutting means to cut to a specified position of the workpiece, the feeding position of the blade on the workpiece after a specified cutting time, and the amount of processing on the workpiece such as a cross-sectional area cut and a length along which the workpiece is processes after a specified cutting time; and

means for comparing the detected data with back-up data which has been previously obtained and stored in a data base for the workpiece cut by the same type of blade.