Numerical control unit

A method of editing data for use in a numerical control unit used for automatically machining a workpiece comprising the steps of:

• while executing data relating to a present machining job, retrieving stored data pertaining to a future machining job from an internal data store of the numerical control unit;
• inputting data edit information for editing the stored data
• determining whether editing of the retrieved data is currently forbidden;
• if the editing is not forbidden, directly editing the retrieved data with the data edit information;
• if the editing is forbidden, converting the data edit information to character codes, storing the character codes, determining when the editing of the retrieved data is no longer forbidden, and thereafter editing the retrieved data with the data edit information.

A method for editing data for use in a numerical control unit comprising the steps of:

• storing an original program comprising a list of instructions for performing a desired machining of a workpiece in a memory of the numerical control unit;
• creating a backup version of the original program when the original program is to be edited;
• and
• editing the backup version while the original program is being executed by the numerical control unit;
• wherein the backup version has a first extension code type and the original program has a second extension code type;
• and
• further comprising the steps of:
• once said step of editing the backup version is performed,
• replacing the first extension code type of the edited backup version with the second extension code type;
• and
• replacing the second extension code type of the original program with a third extension code type;
• wherein the third extension code type can assume a plurality of values so that a corresponding plurality of original programs may be stored.

A numerical control unit comprising:

• machining program generating means for generating a machining program in which all values in the program relating to machining operations are actual numerical values;
• specifying means for specifying certain ones of the values to be described by variables instead of by the actual numerical values;
• defining means for defining the variables;
• and
• replacing means for replacing the certain ones of the values specified by said specifying means with the variables defined using said defining means, wherein at least a portion of the variables are mathematical expressions containing variable components and operators.

A method of supplementing operation data used for driving a numerical control unit comprising the steps of:

• storing the operation data in a storage means of the unit;
• inputting memo data corresponding to tolerance limits of the operation data into the storage means;
• displaying the memo data;
• inputting standard values for the operation data, wherein the standard values indicate values to which the operation data are set in a standard operation of the numerical control unit;
• and
• setting each piece of the operation data to a corresponding one of the standard values upon initial power-up to the unit or when the stored operation data has been lost.

A method of supplementing operation data used for driving a numerical control unit comprising the steps of:

• storing the operation data in a storage means of the unit;
• inputting memo data corresponding to tolerance limits of the operation data into the storage means;
• and
• displaying the memo data;
• wherein,
• in said displaying step, the operation data are displayed in addition to the memo data and are displayed as a two dimensional array of pieces of the operation data and at least one selected piece of the operation data in the array is omitted from the display in favor of displaying a piece of the memo data corresponding to the omitted piece of the operation data.