Process of generating discrete points defining cutter path, so as to meet selected workpiece machining requirements

A process of generating a succession of discrete points to be followed by a cutter during movements of the cutter to machine a workpiece, comprising:

• a step of calculating an interval of said discrete points in the direction of said succession, so as to meet at least one cutter-velocity-related requirement associated with movement velocities of said cutter during machining of the workpiece;
• and
• a step of generating said discrete points on the basis of the calculated interval, such that said discrete points are spaced apart from each other by said interval in the direction of said succession;
• wherein said at-least one cutter-velocity-related requirement includes a requirement that a centrifugal acceleration of the cutter during machining of the workpiece by the cutter be held lower than predetermined upper limit and wherein said interval of said discrete points is calculated on the basis of said upper limit.

A process of generating a succession of discrete points to be followed by a cutter during movements of the cutter to machine a workpiece, comprising:

• a step of operating a computer including a data processor, to select at least one of a plurality of different discrete point generating conditions stored in a memory of said computer, according to a command entered by an operator of the computer, said different discrete point generating conditions including a plurality of cutter-velocity-related requirements which are associated with movement velocities of said cutter during machining of the workpiece and which are different in kind from each other, each of said different discrete point generating conditions including at least one of said cutter-velocity-related requirements that should be satisfied when said discrete points are generated so as to define a cutter path;
• a step of operating said computer to calculate an interval of said discrete points in the direction of said succession, according to the selected at least one of said discrete point generating conditions;
• and
• a step of operating said computer to generate said discrete points on the basis of the calculated interval, such that said discrete points are spaced apart from each other by said interval in the direction of said succession;
• wherein said cutter-velocity-related requirements include predetermined upper limits of variations in feed rates of said cutter during feeding movements thereof along respective controllable axes of a machine tool, each of said variations being an amount of change in the feed rate of said cutter along a corresponding one of said controllable axes, between two successive motions of said cutter which correspond respective two motion commands successively supplied to said machine tool at a predetermined time interval, and wherein said interval of said discrete points is calculated on the basis of said upper limits of said variations.

A process of generating a succession of discrete points to be followed by a cutter during movements of the cutter to machine a workpiece, comprising:

• a step of calculating an interval of said discrete points in the direction of said succession, so as to meet at least one cutter-velocity-related requirement associated with movement velocities of said cutter during machining of the workpiece;
• and
• a step of generating said discrete points on the basis of the calculated interval, such that said discrete points are spaced apart from each other by said interval in the direction of said succession;
• wherein said at least one cutter-velocity-related requirement includes predetermined upper limits of variations in feed rates of said cutter during feeding movements thereof along respective controllable axes of a machine tool, each of said variations being an amount of change in the feed rate of said cutter along a corresponding one of said controllable axes, between two successive motions of said cutter which correspond respective two motion commands successively supplied to said machine tool at a predetermined time interval, and wherein said interval of said discrete points is calculated on the basis of said upper limits of said variations.

A process of generating a succession of discrete points to be followed by a cutter during movements of the cutter to machine a workpiece, comprising:

• a step of operating a computer including a data processor, to select at least one of a plurality of different discrete point generating conditions stored in a memory of said computer, according to a command entered by an operator of the computer, said different discrete point generating conditions including a plurality of cutter-velocity-related requirements which are associated with movement velocities of said cutter during machining of the workpiece and which are different in kind from each other, each of said different discrete point generating conditions including at least one of said cutter-velocity-related requirements that should be satisfied when said discrete points are generated so as to define a cutter path;
• a step of operating said computer to calculate an interval of said discrete points in the direction of said succession, according to the selected at least one of said discrete point generating conditions;
• and
• a step of operating said computer to generate said discrete points on the basis of the calculated interval, such that said discrete points are spaced apart from each other by said interval in the direction of said succession;
• wherein said cutter-velocity-related requirements include a predetermined upper limit of a resultant movement velocity of said cutter during movements of the cutter along controllable axes of a machine tool to machine the workpiece according to motion commands supplied to the machine tool at a predetermined time interval while said cutter is rotating about an axis thereof, and wherein said interval of said discrete points is calculated on the basis of said upper limit of said resultant movement velocity, and a commanded value of a rotating speed of said cutter, which commanded value is specified by an operator of the machine tool.

A process of generating a succession of discrete points to be followed by a cutter during movements of the cutter to machine a workpiece, comprising:

• a step of calculating an interval of said discrete points in the direction of said succession, so as to meet at least one cutter-velocity-related requirement associated with movement velocities of said cutter during machining of the workpiece;
• and
• a step of generating said discrete points on the basis of the calculated interval, such that said discrete points are spaced apart from each other by said interval in the direction of said succession;
• wherein said at least one cutter-velocity-related requirement includes a predetermined upper limit of a resultant movement velocity of said cutter during movements of the cutter along controllable axes of a machine tool to machine the workpiece according to motion commands supplied to the machine tool at a predetermined time interval while said cutter is rotating about an axis thereof, and wherein said interval of said discrete points is calculated on the basis of said upper limit of said resultant movement velocity, and a commanded value of a rotating speed of said cutter, which commanded value is specified by an operator of the machine tool.