US 4,035,706 A · Offset path generating system particularly useful for numerical control machines

Abstract

An offset path generating system is described for generating in Cartisian coordinates a prescribed offset, or deviation, from a programmed path at the same time the original path is being generated. The described apparatus is particularly useful for generating the tool center path of N/C machines, and includes: (1) an offset generating system, which generates X-axis and Y-axis drive pulses defining an offset path of motion offset from a programmed path by a prescribed magnitude, this being the radius of the machine tool; (2) a slope-discontinuity control, effective to control the offset path upon the inputting of a first programmed motion followed by a second programmed motion having a discontinuity in slope between them, such as in the case of corners; (3) an offset turn-on control effective, upon receiving an Offset-Turn-On Instruction, to disable the programmed path generator from generating the programmed motion while it generates offset axes-pulses at a prescribed velocity until the offset is at a right angle to the initial path of the programmed motion, at which time the programmed path generator is re-enabled to generate the programmed moton; and (4) an offset turn-off control effective, upon receiving an Offset-Turn-Off Instruction, to disable the programmed path generator from generating the programmed motion while it generates offset axes-pulses at the prescribed velocity to move the offset to zero, at which time the programmed path generator is re-enabled to generate the programmed motion.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Apparatus for generating drive-pulses for producing an offset path of motion offset from a programmed path of motion by a prescribed magnitude, comprising:

(A) data input means for inputting data specifying the programmed path of motion and the prescribed offset magnitude;
(B) a programmed path generator generating program axes-pulses defining the programmed path of motion specified by the input data;
(C) an offset generator generating offset axes-pulses defining an offset vector of a magnitude equal to said prescribed offset magnitude;
(D) an output mixer algebraically combining the program axes-pulses and the offset axes-pulses and outputting same as the drive axes-pulses for producing said offset path of motion;
(E) and offset control means including:
(i) a slope discontinuity control effective to control the offset path upon the inputting of a first programmed path of motion followed by a second programmed path of motion having a discontinuity in slope from the first programmed path of motion, said slope-discontinuity control being effective, upon generation of the axes-pulses for the completion of the first programmed path of motion;
(a) to disable the programmed path generator from supplying to the output mixer the program axes-pulses defining the second programmed path of motion;
(b) to enable the offset generator to supply to the output mixer sufficient offset axes-pulses to rotate the offset vector until it is at a predetermined angle related to the second programmed path of motion and at the prescribed offset magnitude therefrom;
(c) and then to re-enable the programmed path generator to supply to the output mixer the program axes-pulses defining the second programmed path of motion.

6 more elements

Apparatus for generating drive axes-pulses for producing an offset path of motion offset from a programmed path of motion by a prescribed magnitude, comprising:

(A) data input means for inputting data specifying the programmed path of motion, an Offset Turn-On Instruction, and the prescribed offset magnitude;
(B) a programmed path generator generating program axes-pulses defining the programmed path of motion specified by the input data;
(C) an offset generator generating offset axes-pulses defining an offset vector of a magnitude equal to said prescribed offset magnitude;
(D) an output mixer algebraically combining the program axes-pulses and the offset axes-pulses and outputting same as drive axes-pulses for producing said offset path of motion;
(E) and offset control means including an offset turn-on control effective, upon receipt of the Offset Turn-On Instruction;
(a) to disable the programmed path generator from supplying the program axes-pulses to the output mixer;
(b) to enable the offset generator to supply the offset axes-pulses to the output mixer until the offset vector is equal to the prescribed offset magnitude and is at a said predetermined angle to the current point on the programmed path of motion;
(c) and then to re-enable the programmed path generator to supply the program axes-pulses to the output mixer.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Offset path generating system particularly useful for numerical control machines

Life of this patent

Offset path generating system particularly useful for numerical control machines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22