Numerical control for machine-tools, robots or the like

• US 6,529,795 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Peschke, Stefan, Jennessen, Johannes, Friedrich, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cabrera, Zoila E.
• Application Number:
  US09/462,655
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 700/186, 700/182-184, 700/191-193, 700/159
• US Class Current: 700/186
• 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 19/4155 characterised by programme execution, i.e. part programme or machine function execution, e.g. selection of a programme
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34403 RTI real time, kernel, processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35376 Input program, analyze, store to buffer ready to control nc, no further data handling
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36224 Enter machining and positioning elements, derive order of execution in real time
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36261 Program with subroutines for machining process
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49363 Minimalize time for tool movement between different positions, holes
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50113 Short stroke, retract tool, safe distance from workpiece surface, hover height

Abstract

By implementing a sequence control in a numerical control, tool-related machining operations and position elements are executed depending on the technology-dependent sequence in the machining program so that all cycles of a machining operation are selected consecutively as modal cycles, with all cycles being selected consecutively for a position element for each cycle for a machining operation, and the respective operation being executed at the position of the respective position element prior to the following cycle being selected as a modal cycle for an operation. Thus unnecessary tool changes are avoided and therefore machining productivity is increased.

Claims

1. A numerical control arrangement, comprising:

a machining program comprising tool-related operations and position elements, the operations and position elements being associated with machining tasks; and

a sequence control using cycles, the operations and the position elements associated with each of the machining tasks being executable according to the sequence control depending on a technology-dependent sequence in the machining program, each cycle for each respective one of the operations being selected as a modal cycle, all cycles for each respective one of the position elements being selected consecutively for a machining object, each respective one of the operations taking place at a position of the respective one of the position elements prior to a following cycle being selected for one of the operations as a model cycle.

2. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a machining buffer storing data of respective operations and position elements for each of the machining tasks.

3. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sequence control operates in real time at a time the machining program is being executed.

4. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the position elements describe position patterns comprising one of rows, position grids, position circles and obstacles.

5. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein returning positioning takes place only to a local safety level of one of the position elements at a higher level to avoid return motions to a global return plane for position elements located at different levels.

6. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the position elements are used multiple times for different ones of the machining operations.

7. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the numerical control arrangement provides numerical control for one of a machine tool and a robot.

8. A numerical control arrangement, comprising:

a machining program comprising tool-related operations and position elements, the operations and position elements being associated with machining tasks; and

a sequence control using cycles, the operations and the position elements associated with each of the machining tasks being executable according to the sequence control depending on a technology-dependent sequence in the machining program, wherein the cycles for each of the position elements are selected as a modal cycle and the cycles for each of the position elements are selected consecutively for a machining object.

9. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 8, wherein each of the operations take place at a position of the respective one of the position elements prior to a following cycle being selected for one of the operations as a model cycle.

10. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 8, further comprising:

a machining buffer storing data of respective operations and position elements for each of the machining tasks.

11. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the sequence control operates in real time at a time the machining program is being executed.

12. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 8, wherein returning positioning takes place only to a local safety level of one of the position elements at a higher level to avoid return motions to a global return plane for position elements located at different levels.

13. The numerical control arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the numerical control arrangement provides numerical control of a machine tool and a robot.