Method of compensating profile data, and numerical controller and machine tool for practicing the method

A numerical controller for a machine tool for machining a workpiece by numerically controlling a work spindle and a tool feed axis in accordance with profile data which define rotational angles of said work spindle for rotating said workpiece as an object to be machined, and feed amounts or positions of said tool feed axis for displacing said tool to machine said workpiece in synchronism with said rotational angles of said work spindle, said controller comprising;

• an effective profile data generating means for generating effective profile data based upon effective data which are obtained by numerically controlling said work spindle and said tool feed axis in accordance with theoretical profile data geometrically obtained based upon finished shape data of said workpiece under a non-load condition that said tool feed axis is off-set from said workpiece by at least a machining amount so as not to actually machine said workpiece being set up on said work spindle, and by actually detecting rotational angles of said work spindle and said feed amounts or positions of said tool feed axis;
• a first error profile data generating means for generating first error profile data corresponding to the differences between said effective profile data and said theoretical profile data;
• a first compensated profile data generating means for generating first compensated profile data by compensating said theoretical profile data for said first error profile data;
• a measured profiled data generating means for generating measured profile data through a lift-profile conversion processing based upon measured lift data which are obtained by numerically controlling said work spindle and said tool feed axis in accordance with said first compensated profile data to actually machine said workpiece with said tool and by measuring the shape of said workpiece actually machined;
• a second error profile data generating means for generating a second error profile data corresponding to the difference between said measured profile data and said first compensated profile data;
• and
• a second compensated profile data generating means for generating second compensated profile data by compensating said first compensated profile data for said the second error profile data or by compensating said theoretical profile data for said first error profile data and said second error profile data.

A machine tool comprising:

• a work spindle for rotating a workpiece as an object to be machined;
• a tool feed axis for displacing a tool to machine said workpiece;
• and
• a numerical controller for numerically controlling said work spindle and said tool feed axis in accordance with profile data which define rotational angles of said work spindle and feed amounts or positions of said tool feed axis in synchronism with the rotational angles of said work spindle;
• wherein said numerical controller comprises;
• an effective profile data generating means for generating effective profile data based upon effective data which are obtained by numerically controlling said work spindle and said tool feed axis in accordance with theoretical profile data geometrically obtained based upon finished shape data of said workpiece under a non-load condition that said tool feed axis is off-set from said workpiece by at least a machining amount so as not to actually machine said workpiece being set up on said work spindle, and by actually detecting rotational angles of said work spindle and said feed amounts or positions of said tool feed axis;
• a first error profile data generating means for generating first error profile data corresponding to the differences between said effective profile data and said theoretical profile data;
• a first compensated profile data generating means for generating first compensated profile data by compensating said theoretical profile data for said first error profile data;
• a measured profiled data generating means for generating measured profile data through a lift-profile conversion processing based upon measured lift data which are obtained by numerically controlling said work spindle and said tool feed axis in accordance with said first compensated profile data to actually machine said workpiece with said tool and by measuring the shape of said workpiece actually machined;
• a second error profile data generating means for generating a second error profile data corresponding to the difference between said measured profile data and said first compensated profile data;
• and
• a second compensated profile data generating means for generating second compensated profile data by compensating said first compensated profile data for said the second error profile data or by compensating said theoretical profile data for said first error profile data and said second error profile data.