Numerical control apparatus having a teaching function and a method of teaching a machining program thereby
AssigneeToshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKenji Kato, Takeshi Momochi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an NC system (apparatus and method) for updating a machining program having more than one teaching mode. The present invention enables a machine operator to selectively replace blocks of the preexisting machining program with machine code data produced in one of the teaching modes during use of the machine. The teaching modes are changeable between an automatic teaching mode, a manual mode and an a manual data input (MDI) teaching mode. After the operation of the machine in one of the teaching modes is complete, the machining program is updated and stored. Thus, the machining program can be updated with minimal effort by the operator.
Claims17
A numerical control apparatus having a teaching mode for generating a machining program and controlling a machine tool based on coordinate values in a reference space, the apparatus comprising:
- input-output means for inputting a machining program, the machining program providing instructions as to positioning of the machine tool within the reference space and a machining operation of the machine tool;
- manual operation means for generating manual data based on manual operation of manual controls for the machine tool, the manual controls controlling position of the machine tool within the reference space and the machining operation of the machine tool;
- main control means for controlling the position and machining operation of the machine tool based on coordinate values in a reference space and one of the input machining program and the manual data;
- teaching data production means for generating a teaching machining program based on the manual data generated by manual operation of the manual controls and the machining controls;
- and
- first memory means for integrating the teaching machining program and the input machining program together to form a resulting machining program.
A method for generating a machining program for a numerical control apparatus and operating the numerical control apparatus, the numerical control apparatus having a plurality of operating modes to control a machine tool, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting in a teaching mode between at least a first sub-teaching mode and a manual teaching mode;
- inputting a machining program in the first sub-teaching mode, the machining program providing instructions as to positioning of the machine tool within the reference space and a machining operation of the machine tool;
- manually controlling, via manual controls, the position and machining operation of the machine tool in the manual teaching mode;
- controlling the machine tool according to the selected one of the input machining program in the first sub-teaching mode and the manual control of the machine tool in the manual teaching mode;
- generating a teaching machining program from the manual control of the position and machining operation of the machine tool in the manual teaching mode;
- combining the input machining program and the teaching machining program to form a resulting machining program in the teaching mode;
- and
- storing the resulting machining program.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.