Customization window for a computer numerical control system

The method for controlling the operation of a computer numerical control system for controlling the operation of a machine tool in the performance of specified operations with respect to a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

• (a) executing a series of routines stored in a memory of a digital computer and controlling thereby plural axis motions of said machine tool, said routines being defined as the numerical control;
• (b) executing a series of routines stored in the memory of said digital computer and controlling thereby auxiliary functions of said machine tool, said routines being defined as the machine control logic;
• and
• (c) executing a series of routines stored in the memory of said digital computer and generating a plurality of status flags for implementing a customization window interface between said machine control logic and said numerical control, said machine control logic thereby accessing and controlling the numerical control under predetermined conditions, said numerical control returning said status flags to said machine control logic for effecting a coordinated operation concurrently therebetween and performing thereby a specified operation on said workpiece.

A method for controlling the operation of a machine tool in the performance of specified operations with respect to a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

• (1) controlling plural axis motions of said machine tool by a set of numerical control routines stored in and selectively executed by a digital computer;
• (2) controlling the auxilliary functions of said machine tool by a set of machine control logic routines stored in and selectively executed in said digital computer;
• and
• (3) interposing a set of interface routines and generating a set of status flags communicated between said numerical control routines and said machine control logic routines for effecting a coordinated operation therebetween in effecting a specified operation on said workpiece, said interface routines being subject to call by said machine control logic routines for execution by said digital computer to provide commands effecting control of said axis motions depending on the operative status of said numerical control routines and said status flages being subject to change depending on the operative results produced by said numerical control routines.

A numerical control system for governing the operation of a machine tool in the performance of specified operations with respect to a workpiece, comprising:

• (1) a central processing unit sequentially performing a series of operations in accordance with selectively accessed instructions;
• and
• (2) memory means connected to said central processing unit, said memory providing storage for
• (a) a first subset of said instructions, said first subset of instructions being related to a first portion of the control system,
• (b) a second subset of said instructions, said second subset being related to a second portion of the control system, and
• (c) a stored set of information defining preselected operating routines and machine related data, each item of said set of information being subject to call by said first subset of instructions, said first subset of instructions being executable to produce commands controlling the operative results produced by execution of said second subset of instructions, and said commands being dependent on said machine related data and the operative results produced by execution of said routines.

A numerical control system of the type having a central processing unit for executing a set of stored instructions for controlling the operation of a machine tool in the performance of specified operations with respect to a workpiece, comprising:

• (a) numerical control means for controlling plural axis motions of said machine tool, said numerical control means including a first set of instructions according to which the axis motives are controlled;
• (b) machine control logic means for controlling the auxiliary functions of said machine tool, said machine control logic means including a second set of instructions according to which said auxiliary functions are controlled;
• and
• (c) interface means for effecting coordinated operating between said numerical control means and said machine control logic means, said interface means comprising a series of functions, procedures and status flags, the procedures and functions of which are subject to calls by the machine control logic means for the production of commands to be issued thereby to the numerical control means, the numerical control means being responsive to said commands to generate said status flags depending on the commands and the machine tool operating conditions.

A method for governing the operating of a computer controlled machine tool in the performance of specified operations with respect to a workpiece, comprising the steps of:

• (a) executing a first set of stored instuctions governing a first control function of the machine tool;
• (b) executing a second set of stored instructions governing a second control function of the machine tool;
• and
• (c) executing a third set of stored instructions comprising a plurality of preselected operating routines on call from execution of the first set of instructions, to provide communications between said first and second sets of instructions, said first control function affecting said second control function under predetermined conditions resulting from said second control function and the execution of said operating routines.