Table-driven software architecture for a stitching system
First Claim
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1. A method of using a computer to generate native code for a stitching machine, the method comprising the steps of:
- using the computer to generate a geometry model, where said geometry model defines the surface geometry of a part to be stitched;
using the computer to generate tool paths from the geometry model, the tool paths including a first plurality of instructions for making stitches at a plurality of stitching points on the part;
using the computer to generate a second plurality of instructions indicating respective thickness values of the part at the plurality of respective stitching points; and
inserting the instructions of the second plurality of instructions between the instructions of the first plurality of instructions.
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Abstract
Native code for a CNC stitching machine is generated by generating a geometry model of a preform; generating tool paths from the geometry model, the tool paths including stitching instructions for making stitches; and generating additional instructions indicating thickness values. The thickness values are obtained from a lookup table. When the stitching machine runs the native code, it accesses a lookup table to determine a thread tension value corresponding to the thickness value. The stitching machine accesses another lookup table to determine a thread path geometry value corresponding to the thickness value.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of using a computer to generate native code for a stitching machine, the method comprising the steps of:
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using the computer to generate a geometry model, where said geometry model defines the surface geometry of a part to be stitched;
using the computer to generate tool paths from the geometry model, the tool paths including a first plurality of instructions for making stitches at a plurality of stitching points on the part;
using the computer to generate a second plurality of instructions indicating respective thickness values of the part at the plurality of respective stitching points; and
inserting the instructions of the second plurality of instructions between the instructions of the first plurality of instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
generating a table of thickness values; and
looking up the thickness values at each of the stitching points.
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6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of manually inserting additional instructions into the tool paths.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer accesses a stitching vocabulary library to convert user-defined instructions to the native code.
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8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user-defined instructions include instructions for performing unique functions of stitching machine.
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9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using the computer to simulate the native code.
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10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using the computer to run canned cycles.
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11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using a processor to run the native code.
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12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of accessing a table for thread tension values corresponding to the thickness values.
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13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of accessing a table for stepper motor count corresponding to the thread tension values.
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14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
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measuring thread tension;
generating an error signal based on the difference between the measured thread tension and the thread tension value; and
automatically adjusting the thread tension using the generated error signal until the thread tension measurement is approximately the same as the thread tension value.
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15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of accessing a table for thread path geometry values corresponding to the thickness values.
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16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of accessing a table for needle cooling conditions corresponding to the thickness values.
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17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of accessing a table for stitching speed corresponding to the thickness values.
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18. A computer system for generating native code for a CNC stitching machine, the system comprising:
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means for generating a geometry model defining the surface geometry of a part to be stitched;
means for generating tool paths from the geometry model, the tool paths including a first plurality of instructions for making stitches at a plurality of stitching points on the part;
a zone table for determining respective thickness values of the part at the plurality of respective stitching points; and
means for accessing the zone table to generate a second plurality of instructions indicating said respective thickness values, and inserting the instructions of the second plurality of instructions between the instructions of the first plurality of instructions. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of stitching a part using computer control, the method comprising the steps of:
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using a computer to generate a geometry model, where said geometry model defines the surface geometry of a part to be stitched;
using the computer to generate tool paths from the geometry model, the tool paths including a first plurality of instructions for making stitches at a plurality of stitching points on the part;
using the computer to generate a second plurality of instructions indicating respective thickness values of the part at the plurality of respective stitching points;
inserting the instructions of the second plurality between the instructions of the first plurality of instructions;
providing a stitching machine comprising a stitching head including a servo for setting thread tension;
using a processor to access at least one of said second plurality of instructions indicating thickness values;
using the processor to determine a thread tension value corresponding to the accessed thickness value;
commanding the servo to the determined thread tension value; and
stitching the part. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification