Apparatus for producing NC programs using menu icons to define operations and producing method thereof

An apparatus for producing a numerical control program, comprising:

• first means for displaying a menu of unit motion patterns each corresponding to a subdivided machine motion;
• second means for selecting a selected unit motion pattern and parameters associated therewith;
• third means for receiving an indication of said selected unit motion pattern and for outputting a parameter guidance instruction corresponding to the selected unit motion pattern to the first means to be displayed thereon;
• and
• input means for receiving input of a parameter corresponding to said parameter guidance instruction,
• said third means receiving said parameter from said input means and converting the unit motion pattern and said parameter to a corresponding numerical control program.

A method for producing a numerical control program for controlling a numerically controlled machine;

• comprising the steps of:
• subdividing motions of an NC machine to a unit motion pattern;
• displaying a menu of the unit motion patterns;
• assigning a unit motion pattern in the menu to produce a part of the numerical control program;
• displaying a parameter guidance instruction corresponding to the assigned unit motion pattern which guides input of a parameter associated with said assigned unit motion pattern;
• receiving an input parameter corresponding to said input guidance instruction;
• converting the unit motion pattern and said input parameter to a part of the numerical control program;
• repeating from the displaying step through the converting step to produce additional parts of a numerical control program;
• and
• combining each said part of the numerical control program to produce a complete numerical control program.