US 12,748,401 B2 · Systems and methods to automate CNC programming

Abstract

A method in a data processing system for automating programming of a computer numerical control machine to create a detail from a stock block based on design specifications for the detail. The stock block includes a plurality of sides including a left side, a right side, a front, a back, a top and a bottom. The method comprises creating a stock model from the design specifications, setting leads and links to active datum on the stock model, determining from the design specifications what machine will be used to create the detail, determining from the design specifications what material will be used to create the detail, importing tool templates for the machine and the material that will be used to create the detail, and determining whether stock needs to be removed from the left and right sides of the stock block. If it is determined that stock needs to be removed from the left and right sides of the stock block: activating a top workplane, activating a top toolpath folder, creating a PowerMill block around the stock model, wherein the PowerMill block has an X negative expanded and a Z negative expanded, applying a 12 mmZLevel template, creating a PowerMill block around the stock model, wherein the PowerMill block has an X positive expanded and a Z negative expanded, applying a 12 mmZLevel template, updating the stock model, and resetting the leads and links to the active datum.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method executed by a processor in a data processing system to program and control a computer numerical control machine to create a detail from a stock block based on design specifications for the detail, wherein the stock block includes a plurality of sides including a left side, a right side, a front, a back, a top and a bottom, the method comprising:

retrieving the design specifications from memory;
creating a stock model from the design specifications;
setting leads and links to active datum on the stock model;
determining from the design specifications what material will be used to create the detail;
importing tool templates for the machine and the material that will be used to create the detail;
activating a top workplane;
activating a top toolpath folder;
creating a PowerMill block with a Z minimum set to a maximum surface Z;
determining whether stock needs to be removed from the top of the stock block;
if it is determined that stock needs to be removed from the top of the stock block, applying a 12 mm pocketing template;
determining whether a raised boss is present;
if it is determined that a raised boss is present, creating the PowerMill block with a boss expansion;
if it is determined that a raised boss is not present, creating the PowerMill block without the boss expansion;
applying a 12 mm pocketing template;
generating numerical control programs corresponding to a generated tool path;
processing the numerical control programs into G code executable by the computer numerical control machine;
providing the G code to the computer numerical control machine;
controlling operation of a cutting tool of the computer numerical control machine based on the G code to physically remove material from the stock block to produce the detail;
and
resetting the leads and links.

17 more elements

A data processing system for programming and control of a computer numerical control machine to create a detail from a stock block based on design specifications for the detail, wherein the stock block includes a plurality of sides including a left side, a right side, a front, a back, a top and a bottom, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store the design specifications for the detail;
and
a processor configured to:
retrieve the design specifications from the memory;
create a stock model from the design specifications;
set leads and links to active datum on the stock model;
determine from the design specifications what machine will be used to create the detail;
determine from the design specifications what material will be used to create the detail;
import tool templates for the machine and the material that will be used to create the detail;
activate a top workplane;
activate a top toolpath folder;
create a PowerMill block with a Z minimum set to a maximum surface Z;
determine whether stock needs to be removed from the top of the stock block;
if the processor determines that stock needs to be removed from the top of the stock block, the processor is configured to apply a 12 mm pocketing template;
the processor is further configured to determine whether a raised boss is present;
if the processor determines that a raised boss is present, the processor is configured to create the PowerMill block with a boss expansion;
if the processor determines that a raised boss is not present, the processor is configured to create the PowerMill block without the boss expansion;
the processor is further configured to apply a 12 mm pocketing template;
generating numerical control programs corresponding to a generated tool path;
processing the numerical control programs into G code executable by the computer numerical control machine;
providing the G code to the computer numerical control machine;
controlling operation of a cutting tool of the computer numerical control machine based on the G code to physically remove material from the stock block to produce the detail;
and
reset the leads and links.

21 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods to automate CNC programming

Life of this patent

Systems and methods to automate CNC programming

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26