Controlling feed operations of a machine tool and work-piece relative to a programmed fixed cycle

• US 8,406,913 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MORI Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: MORI Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Fujishima, Makoto, Takedomi, Hideki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US12/971,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 700/173, 700/159, 700/28
• US Class Current: 700/173
• 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 2219/49098 As a function of machine operating speed and tool
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49111 Cutting speed as function of contour, path, curve
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50088 Rough and finish machining simultaneously

Abstract

A controller for machine tool 1 has a program analyzing section 12 for analyzing a machining program and extracting a fixed cycle command, a parameter setting section 15 for, on the basis of the extracted fixed command, determining an accuracy level being graded into a plurality of grades depending on how high machining accuracy is prioritized as compared with machining time in machining and setting parameters corresponding to the determined accuracy level and relating to control of the operation of a feed mechanism 30, and a drive control section 17 for controlling the feed mechanism 30 on the basis of the extracted fixed cycle command and the set parameters. The parameter setting section 15 calculates an arc-shaped movement trajectory of a tool moving around a virtual corner portion where two straight lines intersect with each other which corresponds to the parameters, and determines the accuracy level based thereon.

Claims

1. A controller for machine tool which is provided for a machine tool having a feed mechanism for relatively moving a tool and a workpiece, and which controls the operation of the feed mechanism according to a machining program related to a fixed cycle,

the controller for machine tool comprising:

program storage means for storing the machining program related to the fixed cycle;

program analyzing means for analyzing the machining program stored in the program storage means and extracting a fixed cycle command;

parameter setting means for determining an accuracy level on the basis of the fixed cycle command extracted by the program analyzing means and setting parameters which correspond to the accuracy level and relate to the control of the operation of the feed mechanism, the accuracy level being graded into a plurality of grades depending on how high machining accuracy is prioritized as compared with machining time in machining; and

drive control means for controlling the feed mechanism on the basis of the fixed cycle command extracted by the program analyzing means and the parameters set by the parameter setting means, and thereby relatively moving the tool,

wherein;

the drive control means is configured to, for an intersection portion of two linear movement paths, relatively move the tool along an arc-shaped movement trajectory which depends on the parameters set by the parameter setting means, the movement trajectory touching the linear movement paths and being more distant from the intersection portion when the grade of the accuracy level is lower;

the parameter setting means is configured to recognize machining type on the basis of the fixed cycle command;

when the recognized machining type is finishing, the parameter setting means determines the accuracy level to be the highest grade of accuracy level and sets the parameters corresponding to the determined accuracy level; and

when the recognized machining type is rough cutting, the parameter setting means virtually sets a vertical corner portion where two straight lines intersect with each other, and then determines the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that an arc-shaped movement trajectory of the tool moving around the virtual corner portion which depends on the parameters does not intersect with a linear offset line which is obtained by offsetting the two straight lines inwardly by a finishing allowance which is recognized from the fixed cycle command, and sets the parameters corresponding to the determined accuracy level, the movement trajectory touching the straight lines and being more distant from the virtual corner portion when the grade of the accuracy level is lower.

2. The controller for machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the parameter setting means is configured to, in the determination of the accuracy level when the recognized machining type is rough cutting, raise the accuracy level grade by grade from the lowest grade and thereby determine the accuracy level to the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not intersect with the linear offset line.

3. The controller for machine tool according to claim 2, wherein the parameter setting means is configured to, in the determination of the accuracy level when the recognized machining type is rough cutting, initially check whether the finishing allowance is larger than a predetermined value, and when determining that it is larger than the predetermined value, raise the accuracy level grade by grade from the lowest grade and thereby determine the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not intersect with the linear offset line, and when determining that it is smaller than the predetermined value, raise the accuracy level grade by grade from an intermediate grade and thereby determine the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not intersect with the linear offset line.

4. The controller for machine tool according to claim 1, wherein

the parameter setting means is configured to, when the machining type recognized on the basis of the fixed cycle command is a machining in which a cutting is performed a plurality of times, for cuttings corresponding to rough cutting thereof, determine, for each cutting, the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not interest with a linear offset line which is obtained by offsetting the two straight lines inwardly by a remaining amount to be machined which is the amount to be machined to remain after the cutting, and set the parameters corresponding to the determined accuracy level, and for a cutting corresponding to finishing thereof, determine the accuracy level to be the highest grade of accuracy level and set the parameters corresponding to the determined accuracy level, and

the drive control means is configured to, at an intersection of two linear movement paths, relatively move the tool along an arc-shaped movement trajectory which depends on the parameters set by the parameter setting means for each cutting.

5. The controller for machine tool according to claim 4, wherein the parameter setting section is configured to, in determining the accuracy level for each cutting, raise the accuracy level grade by grade from the lowest grade and thereby determine the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not intersect with the linear offset line.

6. The controller for machine tool according to claim 5, wherein the parameter setting section is configured to, in determining the accuracy level for cutting after first cutting, raise the accuracy level grade by grade from the grade of the accuracy level in the preceding cutting and thereby determine the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not intersect with the linear offset line.

7. The controller for machine tool according to claim 5, wherein the parameter setting section is configured to, in determining the accuracy level for each cutting, initially check whether the remaining amount to be machined is larger than a predetermined value, and when determining that it is larger than the predetermined value, raise the accuracy level grade by grade from the lowest grade and thereby determine the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not intersect with the linear offset line, and when determining that it is smaller than the predetermined value, raise the accuracy level grade by grade from a intermediate grade and thereby determine the accuracy level to be the lowest grade of accuracy level among such accuracy levels that the movement trajectory does not intersect with the linear offset line.