Numerical control apparatus for a machine tool

• US 6,107,768 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Ouchi, Sadami, Noda, Akio, Tsujido, Yoshinori, Kamiya, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Application Number:
  US09/093,753
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 318/560-579, 318/599-610, 364/474.01, 364/474.06, 364/474.15, 364/474.16-474.19, 364/474.22, 364/474.24, 364/468.01-468.18, 700/169, 700/174-186
• US Class Current: 318/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4068 Verifying part programme on screen, by drawing or other means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/408 characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40937 concerning programming of machining or material parameters, pocket machining
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35522 Database for standard machining data and for personal machining data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36284 Use of database for machining parameters, material, cutting method, tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A numerically controlled apparatus for a machine tool has a tool and machining condition automatically controlling function, and stores standard data of tools and machining conditions in a standard database. The input device of the apparatus inputs the users data of tools and machining conditions other than the contents of the standard database, and the apparatus stores the data inputted with the input device in one or more user databases. The tool and machining condition automatically determining function of the apparatus determines tool and machining condition data by utilizing both of the standard database and one or more the user databases.

Claims

1. A numeric control apparatus for a machine tool for automatically determining a tool and a machining condition, the apparatus comprising:

a standard data database storing standard data for tools and machining conditions;

an input device for inputting a user'"'"'s data for tools and machining conditions in addition to the standard data for tools and machining conditions;

at least one user database storing data input through said input device;

an automatic tool and machining condition determining means for determining tool and machining condition data from the standard database and the at least one user database; and

contradiction checking means for checking contradictions between newly entered data and existing data when renewing the data of the user database and the standard database.

2. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 1 comprising a display unit displaying contents of the standard data database and the user database during production of a numerical control program, data editing means for modifying the data displayed on said display unit, and database managing means re-determining the data for a tool and a machining condition determined before modifying by said data editing means.

3. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 1 comprising at least one tool and machining condition memory means for storing one of tool data and machining condition data in addition to the data stored in the standard data database and the user database, said automatic tool and machining condition determining means automatically determining at least one usable tool and corresponding machining conditions based on the tool data and the machining condition data stored in said tool and machining condition memory means.

4. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 3 wherein said automatic tool and machining condition determining means produces a display of at least one usable tool and machining condition on a display unit, the apparatus further comprising selecting means for selecting a machining condition corresponding to a tool to be used from the tools and machining conditions displayed on the display unit.

5. A numeric control apparatus for a machine tool for automatically determining a tool and machining condition, the apparatus comprising:

a standard data database storing standard data for tools and machining conditions;

an input device for inputting a user'"'"'s data for tools and machining conditions in addition to the standard data for tools and machining conditions;

at least one user database storing data input through said input device;

an automatic tool and machining condition determining means for determining tool and machining condition data from the standard database and the at least one user database; and

selecting means for selecting one of the standard data database and the user database as a database to be used before producing a numeric control program.

6. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 5 comprising a display unit displaying contents of the standard data database and the user database during production of a numerical control program, data editing means for modifying the data displayed on said display unit, and database managing means re-determining the data for a tool and a machining condition determined before modifying by said data editing means.

7. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 5 comprising at least one tool and machining condition memory means for storing one of tool data and machining condition data in addition to the data stored in the standard data database and the user database, said automatic tool and machining condition determining means automatically determining at least one usable tool and corresponding machining conditions based on the tool data and the machining condition data stored in said tool and machining condition memory means.

8. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 7 wherein said automatic tool and machining condition determining means produces a display of at least one usable tool and machining condition on a display unit, the apparatus further comprising selecting means for selecting a machining condition corresponding to a tool to be used from the tools and machining conditions displayed on the display unit.

9. A numeric control apparatus for a machine tool for automatically determining a tool and machining condition, the apparatus comprising:

a standard data database storing standard data for tools and machining conditions;

an input device for inputting a user'"'"'s data for tools and machining conditions in addition to the standard data for tools and machining conditions;

at least one user database storing data input through said input device;

an automatic tool and machining condition determining means for determining tool and machining condition data from the standard database and the at least one user database; and

a plurality of user databases and selecting means for selecting one of the user databases.

10. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 9 comprising a display unit displaying contents of the standard data database and the user database during production of a numerical control program, data editing means for modifying the data displayed on said display unit, and database managing means re-determining the data for a tool and a machining condition determined before modifying by said data editing means.

11. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 9 comprising at least one tool and machining condition memory means for storing one of tool data and machining condition data in addition to the data stored in the standard data database and the user database, said automatic tool and machining condition determining means automatically determining at least one usable tool and corresponding machining conditions based on the tool data and the machining condition data stored in said tool and machining condition memory means.

12. The numeric control apparatus for a machine tool according to claim 11 wherein said automatic tool and machining condition determining means produces a display of at least one usable tool and machining condition on a display unit, the apparatus further comprising selecting means for selecting a machining condition corresponding to a tool to be used from the tools and machining conditions displayed on the display unit.