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Numerical control system with operator controlled cutting

  • US 5,406,494 A
  • Filed: 03/17/1994
  • Issued: 04/11/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A controller used to control a machine tool having a cutter that may be positioned in at least two axes in response to position commands so as to cut a desired surface in a workpiece, the controller comprising;

  • a surface memory for storing a numeric representation of the desired surface to be cut in the workpiece;

    a manual axis input device producing at least two axis control signals, corresponding to the axes in which the cutter may be positioned, in response to manual activation by a human operator;

    an intersection calculator communicating with the surface memory and the manual axis input device to calculate a direction vector starting at a current position of the cutter and oriented according to the axis control signals to intersect the desired surface at a destination position; and

    a command output communicating with the intersection calculator to produce position commands moving the cutter from the current position along the direction vector but not past the destination position.

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