Machining control method and machining information generating method for machine tool

• US 8,249,742 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Okuma Corporation
• Original Assignee: Okuma Corporation
• Inventors: Hasebe, Takao, Hioki, Katsuya, Wakaoka, Shunske
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US11/854,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20080082202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 700/159, 700/173, 700/186, 700/187, 700/189, 700/190, 318/560, 318/568.15, 318569-571, 318/573
• US Class Current: 700/186
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 1/002 Gantry-type milling machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 1/08 with a plurality of vertical working-spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/601 a single sliding pair followed parallelly by a single sliding pair
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/626 followed perpendicularly by a single sliding pair
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41 characterised by interpolation, e.g. the computation of intermediate points between programmed end points to define the path to be followed and the rate of travel along that path G05B19/25, G05B19/31, G05B19/37, G05B19/39, G05B19/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49309 Main and secondary machining area, main spindle and satellite spindle
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50015 Multi cutting, twin tools contact at same time workpiece, balance cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50212 Giving a texture, structure to surface, like leather, wood appearance

Abstract

To provide a method to carry out complicated surface machining such as graining or the like without decreasing machining accuracy and machining efficiency. In a machine tool including a main spindle head capable of relatively moving in three perpendicular directions with respect to a workpiece and an additional spindle being provided at the main spindle head and capable of moving in a Z spindle direction, while the main spindle head relatively moves with respect to a working surface S of the workpiece along a smoothly curved surface R which is smoothed so as to be restricted within the movement distance in the moving direction of the additional spindle, the additional spindle moves by a difference between the working surface S and the smoothly curved surface R, and makes a tool T to machine the working surface S.

Claims

1. A machining control method for a machine tool, that comprises a main spindle head capable of relative movement in three perpendicular directions with respect to a workpiece, an additional spindle provided at the main spindle head and capable of moving itself in a specified direction, moving with the relative movement of the main spindle head so as to relatively move with respect to the workpiece, and a tool provided at the additional spindle so as to machine the workpiece, said method comprising:

obtaining an approximation surface formed by smoothing so as to be restricted within a movement distance of the additional spindle in a moving direction of the additional spindle with respect to a working surface of the workpiece, and obtaining a difference in a moving direction of the additional spindle between the working surface and the approximation surface, moving the main spindle head relatively along the approximation surface and simultaneously moving the additional spindle by the difference only so as to make the tool provided at the additional spindle machine the workpiece.

2. A machining information generating method for making a machine tool execute the machining control method according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining data of the approximation surface based on data of the working surface indicating a configuration of the workpiece;

obtaining a machining point based on the data of the approximation surface;

generating moving information of the main spindle head, where the information contains a machining point on the approximation surface; and

generating moving information of the additional spindle where the information contains a difference between the data of the working surface corresponding to the machining point on the approximation surface and the data of the approximation surface in the moving direction of the additional spindle.

3. A machining control method for a machine tool that comprises a main spindle head capable of relative movement in three perpendicular directions with respect to a workpiece, an additional spindle provided at the main spindle head and capable of moving itself in a specified direction, with the relative movement of the main spindle head so as to relatively move with respect to the workpiece, and a tool provided at the additional spindle so as to machine the workpiece having a working surface with irregularities, said method comprising:

specifying a basic configuration surface of the working surface of the workpiece on which fine irregularities are removed, obtaining a difference in a moving direction of the additional spindle between the working surface and the specified basic configuration surface of the workpiece, the main spindle head relatively along the basic configuration surface and simultaneously moving the additional spindle by the difference only so as to make the tool provided at the additional spindle machine the workpiece having the working surface with irregularities thereon.

4. A machining information generating method for making a machine tool execute the machining control method according to claim 3, said method comprising the steps of:

specifying the basic configuration surface of the working surface on which fine irregularities are removed based on data of the working surface indicating a configuration of the workpiece;

obtaining a machining point based on the data of the basic configuration surface;

generating moving information of the main spindle head, where the information contains a machining point on the basic configuration surface; and

generating moving information of the additional spindle where the information contains a difference between the data of the working surface corresponding to the machining point on the basic configuration surface and the data of the basic configuration surface in a moving direction of the additional spindle.