US 2008/0161959 A1 · Method to measure tool wear from process model parameters

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring tool wear in CNC machining operations by monitoring spindle power and extracting instantaneous cutting geometry. The method is based on a physics-based two parameter process model and measuring at two different cutting conditions. The process model parameters are measured with easily accessible spindle power. In contrast to spindle power alone which is influenced by many factors, most especially by variable cutting conditions and by the tool condition, the process model parameters are independent of the geometrically variable cutting conditions and provide a simple and direct measure of tool wear. The two process model parameters change differently depending on the mechanism of the tool wear, specifically flank wear versus cutting edge degradation. This provides a diagnostic for tool wear.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A method of measuring tool wear comprising:

monitoring the spindle power of a machine;
determining at least two pieces of cutting geometry data related to a work piece;
performing at least two different cutting operations on the work piece;
calculating at least two process model parameters;
and
continuing to monitor the spindle power and the determination of at least two pieces of cutting geometry data and variation of the process model parameters over tool use in the machining operation whereby the change in the process model parameters over tool use is a measure of tool wear.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method to measure tool wear from process model parameters

Life of this patent

Method to measure tool wear from process model parameters

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13