US 4,674,928 AGranted

Milling machine controller

OwnerGeorge Lymaninventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The controller attaches to a milling machine such as the well-known Bridgeport miller so as to adapt the machine to programmed automatic operation. Controls are associated with all axes of operation, however, the control is described herein with regard to X and Y axis control. A control panel for all operations is physically mounted in association with the X axis table. The basic components of the system include power motors for respectively controlling lead screws associated with X and Y axis control, electrical relays which in turn control the power motors, optical encoders which essentially read lead screw rotation, and a microprocessor. The electrical relays are used to start, stop, and set the directional rotation of the power motors upon commands from the microprocessor. The microprocessor has two basic modes of operation including a program mode in which the steps performed by the machinist are recorded for subsequent repeatability. The other mode is a run mode during which the microprocessor progresses through the previously established program from start to finish to thus reproduce a part.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A system for use with and for controlling the operation of a milling machine in at least two different axes of movement, each having a lead screw, comprising:

a first electrical drive motor associated with a first axis of movement and first lead screw,
a second electrical drive motor associated with a second axis of movement and second lead screw,
a first encoder coupled to and for sensing rotation of said first lead screw,
a second encoder coupled to and for sensing rotation of said second lead screw,
said first and second encoder providing respective electrical pulse signals with the number of pulses corresponding to length of movement by operation of the respective lead screws under manual control and further providing a signal representative of direction of lead screw rotation,
processor means responsive to said encoders for storing data corresponding to the electrical pulse signals for each machining step manually accomplished,
and control means operating in a program mode to enable data storage and in a run mode to provide control to the first and second electrical drive motors in accordance with the machining steps previously stored in the processor means to thereby automatically reproduce a part substantially identical to one produced manually,
said control means including first switch means for establishing a program mode and second switch means for establishing a run mode,
said processor means including means in the program mode for storing data corresponding to the number of electrical pulse signals for each machining step and the direction of rotation, means in the run mode for operating said drive motor to drive its associated lead screw causing the corresponding encoder to transmit pulses back to the processor means, and means for counting the number of pulses received to thereby terminate that step when the received pulses equal the previously stored pulses,
said control means further including a third switch means for establishing, during the program mode, a pause in operation to enable a manual step during the run mode,
said control means further including a fourth switch means for establishing a resuming of operation during the run mode and after the initiation of a pause,
means responsive to said third switch means operated during the program mode to cause a pause signal to be stored in the processor means,
means responsive to said pause signal during the run mode to cease automatic operation at the conclusion of a particular step so as to enable a manual step during the run mode,
said means responsive to said pause signal including means for providing a sensory signal to indicate to the operator that a pause has occurred to thereby enable the operator to carry out the manual step,
and means responsive to said fourth switch means operated during the run mode to cause resumption of automatic operation.

12 more elements

A system fro use with and for controlling the operation of a milling machine in at least two different axes of movement, each having a lead screw, comprising:

a first electrical drive motor associated with a first axis of movement, and first lead screw,
a second electrical drive motor associated with a second axis of movement, and second lead screw,
a first encoder coupled to and for sensing rotation of said first lead screw,
a second encoder coupled to and for sensing rotation of said second lead screw,
said first and second encoders providing respective electrical pulse signals with the number of pulses corresponding to length of movement by operation of the respective lead screw under manual control,
processor means responsive to said encoders for storing data corresponding to the electrical pulse signals for each machining step manually accomplished,
and control means operating in a program mode to enable data storage and in a run mode to provide control to the first and second electrical drive motors in accordance with the machining steps previously stored in the processor means to thereby automatically reproduce a part substantially identical to one produced manually,
means for coupling the electrical drive motor to the lead screw including gear means mounting the drive motor orthogonally to the lead screw,
and means for mounting a hand crank to and in line with the lead screw,
including a stand and a table movably mounted on the stand, the lead screw rotatably secured to the table whereby upon rotation of the lead screw, the table is caused to move in the direction of the lead screw axis,
said gear means comprises a bevel gear means,
wherein said bevel gear means comprise a first bevel gear secured to the lead screw and a second bevel gear disposed 90.degree. thereto and driven from the drive motor,
wherein the hand crank is secured to a lead screw extension which also supports the encoder, a hand crank attaching to one end of the lead screw extension and the other end of the lead screw extension being secured to the lead screw at the first bevel gear,
said control means including a first switch means for controlling the program mode and a second switch means for controlling the run mode,
said control means further including a third switch means for establishing, during the program mode, a pause in operation to enable a manual step during the run mode,
said control means further including a fourth switch means for establishing a resuming of operation during the run mode and after the initiation of a pause,
means responsive to said third switch means operated during the program mode to cause a pause signal to be stored in the processor means,
means responsive to said pause signal during the run mode to cease automatic operation at the conclusion of a particular step so as to enable a manual step during the run mode,
said means responsive to said pause signal including means for providing a sensory signal to indicate to the operator that a pause has occurred to thereby enable the operator to carry out the manual step,
and means responsive to said fourth switch means operated during the run mode to cause resumption of automatic operation.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/793,655Filed 31 Oct 1985 · continuation
Priority: 4 Sep 1981
Granted: 23 Jun 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B23Q 1/0009
Members which are comprised in the general build-up of a form of machine, particularly relatively large fixed members: energy-transferring means…
G05B 19/421
Recording and playback systems, i.e. in which the program is recorded from a cycle of operations, e.g. the cycle of operations being manually…:…
G05B 19/425
Recording and playback systems, i.e. in which the program is recorded from a cycle of operations, e.g. the cycle of operations being manually…:…
G05B 2219/41032
Servomotor, servo controller till figures: backlash