Method of creating NC data for turning

Abstract

A method of creating NC data including storing various approach/withdrawal patterns in dependence upon a particular zone in which a turret index point/tool exchange position (P.sub.T) is present, the zone being one among zones (ZN.sub.1 -ZN.sub.3) defined by horizonal and vertical axes passing through a point (Q) specified by a safe position coordinate (Z.sub.S) in a longitudinal direction of a workpiece (WK) and a safe position coordinate (X.sub.S) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and in dependence upon a plane to which a cutting starting/end point (P.sub.S) belongs, the plane being one of a plane (LPS) in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece and a plane (TPS) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction belongs. A predetermined pattern is selected from among the stored approach/withdrawal patterns based on the zone to which the turret index point (P.sub.T) actually belongs and the plane to which the cutting starting/end point (P.sub.S) actually belongs. NC data for approach and NC data for withdrawal are created using the selected pattern.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.