US 2025/0130547 A1 · MACHINE PROGRAMMING METHOD

Abstract

A method for programming a multi-segment motion plan for a machine tool which uses program points defined directly on a workpiece surface, and computes a time-optimal trajectory which transitions from air cut to cutting without stopping, while arriving at a cutting start waypoint traveling at a specified cutting feed speed. The programming method also combines what are traditionally separate air cut and cutting commands into a single command, and computes the time-optimal trajectory for all segments. The underlying time-optimal trajectory computation calculates an initial motion profile for each segment based on the waypoint geometry and other constraints, and motion states at the waypoints which join the segments are optimized to provide the shortest total trajectory time. The optimized waypoint states include velocities and accelerations with non-zero values.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for machine tool motion programming, said method comprising:

defining waypoints for a multi-step motion plan for a machining operation to be performed on a workpiece by a machine tool, including end waypoints for two consecutive steps, where at least one of the steps is an air-cut step having flexibility in shape and speed of its trajectory;
writing a single command line defining the two steps in a motion program, where the command line includes a command type indicating whether each of the steps is an air-cut step or a cutting step, three-dimensional coordinates of the end waypoints for each of the two steps, and a cutting feed speed if one of the steps is a cutting step;
reading the motion program by a computing device;
generating a trajectory of a tool center point for the multi-step motion plan, by the computing device, including computing a combined trajectory for the two steps, where the shape and speed of the at least one air-cut step is computed to reduce a time of the combined trajectory;
and
using the trajectory by the machine tool to perform the machining operation.

3 more elements

A method for machine tool motion programming, said method comprising:

defining waypoints for a multi-step motion plan for a machining operation to be performed on a workpiece by a machine tool, including end waypoints for two consecutive steps, the end waypoints being located in or on the workpiece, where at least one of the steps is an air-cut step having flexibility in shape and speed of its trajectory;
writing a single command line defining the two consecutive steps in a motion program, where the command line includes a command type indicating whether each of the steps is an air-cut step or a cutting step, three-dimensional coordinates of the end waypoints for each of the two consecutive steps, and a cutting feed speed if one of the steps is a cutting step;
reading the motion program by a computing device;
generating a trajectory of a tool center point for the multi-step motion plan, by the computing device, including computing a combined trajectory for the two consecutive steps, where the shape and speed of the at least one air-cut step is computed to reduce a time of the combined trajectory, wherein, when one of the steps is a cutting step, the combined trajectory has a velocity equal to the cutting feed speed at both ends of the cutting step, and the tool center point does not stop when transitioning between the air-cut step and the cutting step;
and
using the trajectory by the machine tool to perform the machining operation.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Machine programming method

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Machine programming method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20