CAD/CAM system for automatic re-creation of a cutter path

• US 5,963,451 A
• Filed: 04/16/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Ltd (Fanuc Corporation)
• Inventors: Meguro, Hidenori, Seki, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S.
• Application Number:
  US08/843,493
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 364/191, 364/192, 364/474.22, 364/474.24, 364/474.26, 364/474.25, 395/120
• US Class Current: 700/182
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35097 Generation of cutter path, offset curve
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35216 Program, generate nc program, code from cad data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50332 Tool offset for 3-D surfaces normal to surface

Abstract

A CAD/CAM system arranged so that a re-creation processing for a cutter path is automatically executed by a CAM system when a curved surface is modified by a CAD system. Functions for the cutter path re-creation processing are provided by utilizing a customizing function of the CAD system. In executing computation for the cutter path and in originating NC data, references for assigning the functions are previously set for the curved surface. When the shape of the curved surface is modified on the CAD side after the NC data has been created, the CAM is invoked to invoke the aforesaid functions. Perceiving this invocation, the CAM executes the cutter path re-creation processing by using machining condition data set for the unmodified curved surface, on the basis of the invoked functions. Thus, the cutter path for the modified curved surface is created immediately by the CAM when the curved surface is modified by the CAD.

Claims

1. A CAD/CAM system comprising a CAD system for defining a curved surface, and a CAM system for computing a cutter path corresponding to the curved surface and originating NC data,

said CAD system comprising:

means for executing a customizing function including first functions to assign ID codes to the curved surface and to each curved surface element of the curved surface, and second functions to automatically invoke the CAM system for the execution of a cutter path re-creation processing in response to key-input modification of the curved surface;

first memory means for storing data of the curved surface and the curved surface elements, with respectively corresponding ID codes, and for storing references set for the curved surface corresponding to the second functions;

means for determining, in response to the key-input, whether or not the references are set in the first memory means; and

means for automatically invoking the second functions assigned by the references, to thereby automatically invoke the CAM system, if the determining means concludes that said references are set; and

said CAM system comprising;

second memory means for storing a cutter path computation result list, the originated NC data, and machining condition data; and

means, responsive to the automatic invoking means of the CAD system, for reading out the machining condition data from the second memory means and automatically re-originating the NC data by executing the cutter path re-creation processing invoked by the second functions assigned by the references, and updating the re-originated NC data for storage in the second memory means.

2. A CAD/CAM method for executing an automatic re-creation processing for a cutter path, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing functions to be invoked for a cutter path re-creation in a CAM system by a customizing function device attached to a CAD system;

(b) storing machining condition data in the CAM system to execute a cutter path creation processing by the CAM system for a curved surface defined by the CAD system, selectively setting references to the curved surface for assigning the functions to said curved surface, and storing said set references in said CAD system;

(c) determining whether or not the references for the curved surface are set in the CAD system when the curved surface is modified in the CAD system and upon completion of an input requesting modification;

(d) automatically invoking the functions assigned by the references to thereby cause the CAD system to automatically invoke the CAM system, when said references have been set for the curved surface as an object of the modification as determined at said determining step (c);

(e) in response to the automatic invoking of the functions, the CAM system automatically executing a processing for cutter path re-creation assigned by the functions for the modified curved surface; and

(f) updating and storing NC data originated by the cutter path re-creation processing in the CAM system in accordance with an ID code for the unmodified curved surface.

3. A CAD/CAM system for automatically re-creating a cutter path, comprising:

means for storing machining condition data when a cutter path is computed and NC data are originated by a CAM system for shape created by a CAD system;

judging means for judging if said shape is an object of NC data origination;

means for automatically setting commands for a re-computation of the cutter path and a re-origination of the NC data in said CAM system, when said CAD system executes a modification of the shape which was discriminated by said judging means as an object of NC data origination and said CAD system informs said CAM system of said modification; and

means for instructing said CAM system to automatically execute the re-computation of the cutter path and the re-origination of the NC data for the modified shape based on said stored machining condition data for said shape.

4. A system including a CAM system and a CAD system for automatic re-creation of a cutter path,

said CAM system comprising:

means for receiving an ID code corresponding to a curved surface created by said CAD system;

means for automatically invoking curved surface data from said CAD system which corresponds to the received ID code;

means for setting machining conditions, which thereby create a cutter path, corresponding to the curved surface;

means for automatically setting references to be used by said CAD system during modification of the cutter path and delivering the references to said CAD system; and

means for sequentially updating the set machining conditions,

said CAD system comprising;

means for determining if references corresponding to the curved surface are stored in said CAD system; and

means for invoking the CAM system to update the machining conditions corresponding to the stored references when the curved surface is modified by said CAD system.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the machining conditions include at least two of the group consisting essentially of tool feed speed, starting point for cutting, tool pitch, tool shape, and cutting path pattern.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the machining conditions include tool feed speed, starting point for cutting, tool pitch, tool shape, and cutting path pattern.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said CAM system illustrates the machining conditions on a CRT.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said CAM system includes a plurality of functions which respond to corresponding references in said CAD system to update corresponding machining conditions in said CAM system.

9. A system including a CAD system and a CAM system for automatic re-creation of a cutter path,

said CAD system comprising means for creating a plurality of graphic elements;

and means for receiving a reference to automatically invoke cutter path re-creation by said CAM system upon modification of a particular graphic element and selectively assigning the received reference to the particular graphic element, and

said CAM system comprising means for creating a cutter path and computing NC data corresponding to the plurality of graphic elements; and

means for creating and transferring the reference to said CAD system, wherein the reference automatically invokes the re-creation of the cutter path.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said CAM system includes a plurality of functions which respond to corresponding references in said CAD system to update corresponding machining conditions in said CAM system.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein

said CAD system further comprises

means for assigning ID codes to the plurality of graphic elements;

means for transferring the assigned ID codes to said CAM system, and

said CAM system further comprises

means for receiving the plurality of assigned ID codes from said CAD system;

means for invoking curved surface data from the CAD system which corresponds to the received ID codes;

means for setting machining conditions corresponding to the curved surface data for the ID codes, which thereby creates the cutter path.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the machining conditions include at least two of the group consisting essentially of tool feed speed, starting point for cutting, tool pitch, tool shape, and cutting path pattern.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the machining conditions include tool feed speed, starting point for cutting, tool pitch, tool shape, and cutting path pattern.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said CAM system illustrates the machining conditions on a CRT.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said CAM system includes a plurality of functions which respond to corresponding references in said CAD system to update corresponding machining conditions in said CAM system.

16. A CAD/CAM system comprising a CAD system for defining a curved surface, and a CAM system for computing a cutter path corresponding to the curved surface and originating NC data,

said CAD system comprising:

means for selectively assigning references to the elements of the curved surface, wherein the selectively assigned references automatically invoke cutter path re-creation processing by the CAM system in response to modification of the corresponding elements;

memory means for storing the elements of the curved surface and the selectively assigned references; and

means for transferring the selectively assigned references to said CAM system upon modification of the elements to thereby invoke the cutter path re-creation processing, and

said CAM system comprising;

means for creating and transferring the references to the memory means of said CAD system; and

means responsive to transfer of the references from said CAD system to automatically re-originate the NC data by executing the cutter path re-creation processing.