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AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsStephen P Porter, Christopher N.R. Wilson, Robert J Lloyd, Ian P Williams, Stephen A Banks
Estimating the term…
A control system (41) comprises a control program (42) which accesses a stored database (43) holding a predefined set of rules for performing predetermined machine tool operations, from which rules computer instructions can be derived for controlling an NC machine tool. A solid model (44) of a component to be manufactured is input to the control program (42). The solid model (44) is in the form of a computer model programmed using the International Geometry Export Standard (IGES). In operation, the control program (42) performs a feature recognition operation on the IGES data to identify geometric features present in the solid model (44). Having identified the geometric features present, the control program (42) uses the set of rules in the database (43) to generate control data in the form of a composite set of computer instructions for working the features of the component represented in the solid model (44).
A method of generating control data for a numerically-controlled (NC) machine tool, the method comprising:
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the step of providing the set of rules comprises:
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer model represents a first component for assembly to one or more further components, the computer model including information relating to the geometric position of one or more assembly points of the first component.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the rules relate to one or more of drilling, milling, cutting, turning or riveting operations.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the computer model is representative of an aircraft component.
A computer program stored on a computer usable medium, the computer program comprising computer-readable instructions for causing the computer to execute the steps of a method according to any preceding claim.
A control system for a numerically-controlled (NC) machine tool, the control system comprising:
A method of generating control data for a numerically-controlled (NC) machine tool, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A control system for a numerically-controlled (NC) machine tool, substantially as hereinbefore shown and described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.