Cutting tool retreat and return for workpiece protection upon abnormality occurrence in a preprogrammed machine tool

A device for automatically retreating and returning a cutting tool in a numerically controlled machine tool comprising:

• switch means provided between a machining operations control section and a pulse distributor of a numerically controlled machine tool;
• memory means for storing data from which to determine tool retreat and return paths;
• tool abnormality detection means for detecting a cutting tool abnormality and outputting a tool abnormality signal to said switch means;
• an arithmetic circuit for calculating the tool retreat and return paths on the basis of the data stored in said memory means;
• and
• sequence control means provided between said arithmetic circuit and said switch means;
• said switch means switching in response to the tool abnormality signal so that the calculation results of said arithmetic circuit are applied to said pulse distributor via said sequence control means, thereby performing the retreat and return of the said cutting tool.

In a numerically controlled machine tool comprising:

• means for holding a workpiece in a rigid, translatable, or rotatable manner,
• means for translating or rotating said workpiece along with its holding means;
• a cutting tool;
• means for holding said cutting tool, said tool holding means being automatically translatable in at least two dimensions so as to perform machining operations on said workpiece;
• means for driving said tool holding means in said at least two dimensions;
• and
• numerical control means for interpreting preprogrammed machining instructions and providing sequential commands to said driving means to advance or retreat said cutting tool along a desired path in at least two dimensions;
• the improvement consisting of:
• cutting tool monitor means for continuously sensing status of said cutting tool, and for detecting and communicating a signal whenever the sensed status indicates an abnormality in the said cutting tool;
• switching means, operating on receipt of the abnormality indication signal from said cutting tool monitoring means, for interrupting the normal sequence of interpretation of the preprogrammed machining instructions and the normal provision of sequential commands to said tool holder driving means, and for then enabling automatic retreat of said abnormal cutting tool, via a computed translational path, avoiding contact with the workpiece, to a position whereat the abnormal cutting tool is replaced, and for then returning the new cutting tool, via a computed translational path, to a return position whereat machining is resumed, said return position being such that a portion of the preprogrammed machining is repeated, and, upon reaching the cutting tool position at which the abnormality indication signal occurred, for then restoring the normal sequence of machining under the same numerical control means;
• memory means, for retaining (a) information of the position of said cutting tool at which said abnormality indication arose, (b) the expected a position of said cutting tool upon completion of the normal machining operation, (c) the position of said cutting tool whereat a cutting tool exchange is to be performed, (d) a parameter describing the type of machining being performed, and (e) a clearance parameter dependent on the size and shape of said workpiece;
• an arithmetic unit, preprogrammed for computing the translational retreat and return paths, based upon the information retained in said memory means, such that the cutting tool, in following said paths, will avoid contact with the workpiece;
• and
• a sequence control means, for converting said path information to sequential driving commands which are provided to said driving means to perform the determined translations until said switching means restores operation to said numerical control means.

A method for automatically retreating and returning a cutting tool of a numerically controlled machine tool, including within the normal control means of said numerically controlled machine tool information identifying the mode of machining operation being performed, together with means to recognize and communicate said mode identification information;

• comprising:
• a first step, wherein the occurrence of an abnormality in said cutting tool is detected, by abnormality detection means, and a signal is communicated to the normal control means so as to interrupt operation of the normal control means of said numerically controlled machine tool;
• a second step, wherein a cutting tool retreat path is determined from information identifying the type of machining operation being performed and cutting tool positional information, together with an input parameter characterizing the size and shape of a workpiece, such that said path is in a direction and for a distance so as to avoid contact of said cutting tool and said workpiece during translation along said return path, said path terminating in a retreat position;
• a third step, wherein the determined retreat path information is transformed into sequential commands for execution by said numerically controlled machine tool causing the rapid translation of the cutting tool to said retrect position;
• a fourth step, wherein a cutting tool return path is determined from the information utilized in the second step, above, such that said return path results in the return of said cutting tool to machining contact with said workpiece at a position preceding, in the normal machining sequence, that at which the abnormality in said cutting tool was detected;
• a fifth step, wherein the determined returned path information is transformed into sequential commands for execution for said numerically controlled machine tool causing the rapid translation of said cutting tool to said return position;
• a sixth step, wherein a retained segment of the normal machining sequence of commands are provided to the numerically controlled machine tool to cause the cutting tool to remachine said workpiece from said return position to the position at which the abnormality in said cutting tool was detected;
• and
• a seventh step, wherein the interruption of the normal control means of said numerically controlled machine tool is terminated, and said normal control means resumes command of the machining operation.