US 4,608,645 AGranted

Numerical control system for a machine tool with a tool dimension compensation function

AssigneeToyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorsKuniyuki Niwa, Yoshiyuki Fujimura

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Abstract

A numerical control system is provided wherein numerical controllers associated with machine tools are respectively coupled to auxiliary controllers communicating with a host computer. Each auxiliary controller has a memory for storing revision values which respectively correspond to primary and spare tools being stored in a tool magazine of the associated machine tool. When a spare tool is attached to a tool spindle of the associated machine tool in place of a primary tool, each auxiliary controller reads out a corresponding revision value from the memory and transfers it to the associated numerical controller. Thus, a corresponding one of tool dimension compensation values being stored in a memory of the associated numerical controller is revised or modified by the revision value transferred thereto so as to adapt itself for the spare tool being used on the tool spindle. Further, when the primary tool is taken out from the tool magazine and a secondary spare tool is set up therein instead, the host computer reads out from its memory a revision value corresponding to the secondary spare tool and transfers it to the auxiliary controller. This revision value is stored in the memory of the auxiliary controller for later transfer to the associated numerical controller in connection with the use of the secondary spare tool on the tool spindle.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A numerical control system for a machine tool with a tool magazine for removably storing a plurality of tools which are to be selectively attached to a tool spindle, said system comprising:

a numerical controller coupled to said machine tool in the vicinity thereof for controlling said machine tool in accordance with a numerical control program said numerical controller including a first memory means for storing at least one dimension compensation value, said numerical controller being capable of modifying, based upon said at least one dimension compensation value, a feed movement of said machine tool which is performed in accordance with a program block of said numerical control program;
an auxiliary controller coupled to said numerical controller at the site of said machine tool and including;
(a) second memory means for storing a plurality of compensation data each of said plurality of compensation data being respectively associated with said tools being stored in said tool magazine;
(b) data selector means for selecting a corresponding one of said compensation data stored in said second memory means when one of said tools stored in said tool magazine is attached to said tool spindle so as to supply said selected one compensation data to said numerical controller, said numerical controller being responsive to said selected one compensation data for storing said compensation value in said first memory means;
and
(c) data rewriting means for rewriting one of said compensation data being stored in said second memory means based upon compensation data supplied to said auxiliary controller;
and
a host computer remote from the site of said machine tool and communicating with said auxiliary controller, said host computer including:
(a) third memory means for storing a plurality of compensation data respectively associated with spare tools each of which is scheduled to be stored in said tool magazine;
and
(b) data transfer means operable when one of said spare tools is replaced with one of said tools being stored in said tool magazine, for reading out from said third memory means one of said compensation data which corresponds to said one of spare tools and for transferring said read-out one compensation data to said auxiliary controller so as to enable said data rewriting means to rewrite said read-out one compensation data corresponding to said one of said tools taken out from said tool magazine.

8 more elements

A numerical control system for a machine tool with a tool magazine for removably storing a plurality of primary tools which are to be selectively attached to a tool spindle, said system comprising:

a numerical controller coupled to said machine tool for controlling said machine tool in accordance with a numerical control program, said numerical controller including first memory means for storing at least one tool dimension data, said numerical controller being capable of modifying, based upon said at least one tool dimension data, a feed movement of said machine tool which is performed in accordance with a program block of said numerical control program;
and
system control means coupled to said numerical controller and including:
(a) second memory means for storing first and second tool dimension data being respectively associated with first and second spare tools, said first spare tool being scheduled to be used in place of one of said primary tools being stored in said tool magazine, said second spare tool being scheduled to be used in place of said first spare tool;
(b) data read-out means for reading out a corresponding one of said first and second tool dimension data from said second memory means so as to enable said corresponding one of said first and second tool dimension data to be supplied to said numerical controller when any of said first and second spare tools is used on said tool spindle;
and
(c) data transfer means for transferring said first tool dimension data read out from said data readout means to said numerical controller when said first spare tool is used on said tool spindle in place of said one of said primary tools and for transferring said second tool dimension data read-out from said data read-out means to said numerical controller when said second spare tool is used on said tool spindle in place of said first spare tool.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/609,218Filed 11 May 1984
Priority: JP 58-8716217 May 1983
Granted: 26 Aug 1986
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G05B 19/404
Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to…
G05B 2219/50249
Machine tool, machine tool null till machine tool work handling: tool, probe, pen changer
G05B 2219/50291
Machine tool, machine tool null till machine tool work handling: multi-tool, several tools
Y10T 483/12
Tool changing: with means to regulate operation by means of replaceable information supply [e.g. , templet, tape, card, etc. ]