Coordinate system display guide for a numerical control apparatus
First Claim
1. A numerical control apparatus for controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path, the tool path being defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program, said numerical control apparatus comprising:
- guide means for generating data representing a coordinate system guide;
a graphic display device for displaying said coordinate system guide so that an operator can determine whether the tool path is defined relative to a desired coordinate system;
means for inputting data representing a selected axis and a rotational value and for rotating a currently set virtual coordinate system in an amount corresponding to said rotational value about said selected axis to provide an updated virtual coordinate system;
means for updating and displaying in real-time on said graphic display device said coordinate system guide; and
means for displaying data pertaining to the amount of change between said currently set and updated virtual coordinate system;
wherein said coordinate system guide comprises a representation of a virtual coordinate system, said virtual coordinate system being relative to a workpiece coordinate system whose origin represents a zero point relative to the workpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A numerical control apparatus for controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path wherein the tool path is defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program. The numerical control apparatus includes circuitry for generating data representing a coordinate system guide and a graphic display device for displaying the coordinate system guide so that a program designer can determine whether the tool path is defined relative to a desired coordinate system.
32 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A numerical control apparatus for controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path, the tool path being defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program, said numerical control apparatus comprising:
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guide means for generating data representing a coordinate system guide; a graphic display device for displaying said coordinate system guide so that an operator can determine whether the tool path is defined relative to a desired coordinate system; means for inputting data representing a selected axis and a rotational value and for rotating a currently set virtual coordinate system in an amount corresponding to said rotational value about said selected axis to provide an updated virtual coordinate system; means for updating and displaying in real-time on said graphic display device said coordinate system guide; and means for displaying data pertaining to the amount of change between said currently set and updated virtual coordinate system; wherein said coordinate system guide comprises a representation of a virtual coordinate system, said virtual coordinate system being relative to a workpiece coordinate system whose origin represents a zero point relative to the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A numerical control apparatus for controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path, the tool path being defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program, said numerical control apparatus comprising:
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guide means for generating data representing a coordinate system guide; a graphic display device for displaying said coordinate system guide so that an operator can determine whether the tool path is defined relative to a desired coordinate system; and a CRT control circuit comprising; a plurality of image display memories for storing data representing coordinate system guides, general shapes, and tool paths; a character display memory; a selector for selecting one of the plurality of image display memories; and a composing circuit for composing data from a selected image display memory and for outputting composed data to a CRT. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path in a numerical control apparatus, the tool path being defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting whether to display/erase a coordinate system guide; determining, if said coordinate system guide is to be displayed, whether data representing said coordinate system guide is stored in memory; generating, if said data is not stored in memory, coordinate system guide data comprising virtual coordinate system guide shape information; and displaying said coordinate system guide on a display device based on said generated virtual coordinate system guide shape information. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path in a numerical control apparatus, the tool path being defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating data representing a coordinate system guide; displaying said coordinate system guide on a graphic display device so that an operator can determine whether the tool path is defined relative to a desired coordinate system; inputting data representing a selected axis and a rotational value; rotating a currently set virtual coordinate system in an amount corresponding to said rotational value about said selected axis to provide an updated virtual coordinate system; and updating and displaying in real-time on said graphic display device said coordinate system guide; and displaying data pertaining to the amount of change between said currently set and updated virtual coordinate system; wherein said coordinate system guide comprises a representation of a virtual coordinate system, said virtual coordinate system being relative to a workpiece coordinate system whose origin represents a zero point relative to the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path in a numerical control apparatus, the tool path being defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating data representing a coordinate system guide; displaying said coordinate system guide on a graphic display device so that an operator can determine whether the tool path is defined relative to a desired coordinate system; storing data representing coordinate system guides, general shapes, and tool paths in a plurality of image display memories; storing data representing characters in an image display memory; selecting one of the plurality of image display memories; composing data from a selected image display memory; and outputting composed data to a CRT.
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23. A numerical control apparatus for controlling a cutting machine for cutting a workpiece according to a predetermined tool path, the tool path being defined relative to a coordinate system by a cutting program, said numerical control apparatus comprising:
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means for selecting whether to display/erase a coordinate system guide; means for determining, if said coordinate system guide is to be displayed, whether data representing said coordinate system guide is stored in memory; means for generating, if said data is not stored in memory, coordinate system guide data comprising virtual coordinate system guide shape information; and means for displaying said coordinate system guide on a display device based on said generated virtual coordinate system guide shape information. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification