Self recognition CNC machining
AssigneeThe NORDAM Group, Inc.
InventorsDavid Ross White, Jason Adam Dickey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of machining a cellular core (14) includes mounting the core (14) atop a table (12) in a multi-axis Computerized Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine (10). The machine (10) is operated to self-scan the core (14) and self-recognize individual cells (30) arranged laterally in columns and longitudinally in rows. A machining path (E) is self-generated from the pre-recognized cells (30), and the core (14) is then machined along the self-generated machining path (E).
Claims20
A method of machining a cellular core (14) having individual cells (30) arranged laterally in a plurality of columns and longitudinally in a plurality of rows, comprising:
- mounting said core (14) atop a table (12) in a multi-axis Computerized Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine (10);
- scanning said core (14) atop said table (12) to recognize said individual cells (30) arranged laterally in columns and longitudinally in rows and additionally recognize any non-linearity in a column of said scanned cells (30) when mounted atop said table (12);
- generating a machining path (E) from said recognized cells (30) and matching said non-linearity in said column of scanned cells (30);
- and
- machining said core (14) along said generated machining path (E) to machine corresponding cells (30) sequentially in turn along said scanned column in said core (14).
A Computerized Numerical Controlled (CNC) machine (10) for machining a cellular core (14) having individual cells (30) arranged laterally in a plurality of columns and longitudinally in a plurality of rows, comprising:
- an elevated gantry (16) extending longitudinally across a table (12) for supporting said core (14), and mounted to said table (12) by a lateral drive system (22);
- a carriage (20) mounted to said gantry (16) by a longitudinal drive system (18);
- a cutter (26) mounted to said carriage (20) for travel therewith, and being vertically deployable for machining said core (14) atop said table (12) and along a machining path (E);
- a CNC controller (36) operatively joined to said lateral and longitudinal drive systems (22,18) for controlling travel of said cutter (26) along said machining path (E);
- a scanner (44) mounted to said carriage (20) for travel therewith for scanning said core (14) to recognize said individual cells (30) thereof arranged laterally in columns and longitudinally in rows;
- a computer (34) operatively joined to said scanner (44) and configured to scan said core (14) to recognize said cells (30) and any non-linearity in a column of said scanned cells (30) when said core (14) is mounted atop said table;
- and self-generate said machining path (E) from said cells (30) self-recognized by said scanner (44), with said machining path (E) matching said non-linearity in said column of scanned cells (30);
- and
- wherein said computer (34) is further configured to operate said scanner (38) first to scan said core (14) and pre-generate said machining path (E), and then operate said cutter (26) second in turn through said CNC controller (36) to machine said cells (30) along said self-generated machining path (E) sequentially in turn along said scanned column in said core (14).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.