Method and apparatus for programming a CNC machine with a probe
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorTodd W. Schulz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for programming the motion of a machine tool in a three-dimensional machining space defined by an X, Y and Z coordinate system, the machine tool having a spindle linearly displaceable in three orthogonal X, Y and Z axes. A probe, mounted in the spindle and coupled to transducers, is moved by hand through a desired cutting path for an actual part. A computer connected to the transducers moves the machine in the direction that the probe is moved and/or rotates a workpiece mounted in the machining space and selectively records the position of the probe and workpiece to create an NC parts program that replicates the cutting path motions.
Claims32
A device for programming the motion of a machine tool of a CNC machine in a three-dimensional machining space defined by an X, Y, and Z coordinate system, said machine tool having a spindle linearly displaceable in three orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes:
- a probe mounted in said spindle;
- a transducer coupled to said probe and responsive to a displacement force applied to said probe for generating a displacement vector representative of the magnitude and direction of said displacement force;
- a computer connected to said transducer for receiving said displacement vector;
- a first drive means connected to said computer and responsive to said computer for moving said machine tool along at least one of said X, Y and Z axes commensurate with said displacement vector;
- a second drive means connected to said computer and responsive to said computer for rotating a workpiece mounted for rotative movement in said machining space about a longitudinal axis of said workpiece commensurate with said displacement vector.
A method of programming the motion of a machine tool in a three-dimensional machining space defined by an X, Y, and Z coordinate system, said machine tool having a spindle linearly displaceable in three orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes comprising:
- mounting a probe in said spindle;
- coupling a transducer to said probe;
- applying a displacement force to said probe for generating a displacement vector representative of the magnitude and direction of said displacement force;
- receiving said displacement vector in a computer;
- moving said machine tool along at least one of said X, Y and Z axes commensurate with said displacement vector under control of said computer;
- and
- rotating a workpiece mounted for rotative movement in said machining space about a longitudinal axis of said workpiece commensurate with said displacement vector under control of said computer.
A system of programming a controller of a machine, the controller having a processor and a memory, comprising:
- a transducer being mounted on a spindle of the machine;
- wherein the transducer upon receiving a force pushing toward a direction provides a corresponding signal to the controller for storage and for controlling the spindle to move along the direction.
A system of programming a controller of a machine, comprising:
- a transducer mount on a spindle of the machine;
- wherein the transducer upon receiving a force provides a signal to the controller for storage and for controlling the spindle to move in accordance to the signal.
A method of programming a controller of a machine, the controller having a processor and a memory, comprising the steps of:
- mounting a transducer on a spindle of the machine;
- applying a force pushing the transducer toward a direction;
- providing a signal representative of the force and the direction to the controller;
- translating the signal into a program;
- storing the program in the memory;
- and
- controlling the spindle to move toward the direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.