Positioning control method, numerical control apparatus, numerical control program-generating apparatus and recording medium for the positioning control method

A positioning control method for determining a position of a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool using rapid traverse command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece to a predetermined position at a maximum speed and linear interpolation command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece while linearly interpolating, comprising the steps of:

• detecting a command value of a rapid traverse by the rapid traverse command;
• predicting a first movement time according to the rapid traverse command based on the command value;
• predicting a second movement time according to the linear interpolation command based on the command value;
• determining whether to execute the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command by comparing the first movement time and the second movement time;
• and
• executing either the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command based upon the comparison of the first movement time and the second movement time.

A numerical control apparatus for determining a position of a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool using rapid traverse command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece to a predetermined position at a maximum speed and linear interpolation command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece while linearly interpolating, comprising:

• means for setting a comparison reference value according to a moveable range of the machine tool;
• means for detecting a command value of a rapid traverse by the rapid traverse command;
• means for comparing the comparison reference value and the command value;
• means for determining which one of the rapid traverse command and the linear interpolation command should be executed, wherein the rapid traverse command is executed when the command value is larger than the comparison reference value, the linear interpolation command is executed when the command value is smaller than the comparison reference value and either the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command is executed, as predetermined, when the command value is equal to the comparison reference value;
• a processing program input area for inputting a processing program for controlling the workpiece and the tool;
• a processing program processor for reading the processing program inputted by the processing program input area to output a control signal;
• and
• an execution processor for executing a positioning control method in accordance with the processing program.

A numerical control apparatus for determining a position of a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool using rapid traverse command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece to a predetermined position at a maximum speed and linear interpolation command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece while linearly interpolating, comprising:

• means for detecting a command value of a rapid traverse by the rapid traverse command;
• means for predicting a first movement time according to the rapid traverse command based on the command value;
• means for predicting a second movement time according to the linear interpolation command based on the command value;
• means for determining whether to execute the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command based on a comparison of the first movement time and the second movement time;
• means for executing either the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command based on the comparison of the first movement time and the second movement time;
• a processing program input area for inputting a processing program for controlling the workpiece and the tool;
• a processing program processor for reading the processing program inputted by the processing program input area to output a control signal;
• and
• an execution processor for executing a positioning control method in accordance with the processing program.

A NC program-generating apparatus for determining a position of a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool using rapid traverse command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece to a predetermined position at a maximum speed and linear interpolation command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece while linearly interpolating, comprising:

• means for setting a comparison reference value according to a moveable range of the machine tool;
• means for detecting a command value of a rapid traverse by the rapid traverse command;
• means for comparing the comparison reference value and the command value;
• means determining which one of the rapid traverse command and the linear interpolation command should be executed, wherein the rapid traverse command is executed when the command value is larger than the comparison reference value, the linear interpolation command is executed when the command value is smaller than the comparison reference value and either the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command is executed, as predetermined, when the command value is equal to the comparison reference value;
• a processing program processor for generating and editing the processing program to control the workpiece and the tool;
• and
• an incorporation processor for executably incorporating a position control method to the processing program generated by the processing program processor.

A NC program-generating apparatus for determining a position of a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool using rapid traverse command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece to a predetermined position at a maximum speed and linear interpolation command for moving the tool and/or the workpiece while linearly interpolating, comprising:

• means for detecting a command value of a rapid traverse by the rapid traverse command;
• means for predicting a first movement time according to the rapid traverse command based on the command value;
• means for predicting a second movement time according to the linear interpolation command based upon the command value;
• means for determining whether to execute the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command based upon a comparison of the first movement time and the second movement time;
• means for executing either the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command based upon the comparison of the first movement time and the second movement time;
• a processing program processor for generating and editing the processing program to control the workpiece and the tool;
• and
• an incorporation processor for executably incorporating a position control method to the processing program generated by the processing program processor.

A computer-readable recording medium readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for determining a position of a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool, said method comprising:

• setting a comparison reference value according to a moveable range of the machine tool;
• detecting a command value of a rapid traverse by a rapid traverse command, said rapid traverse command being used for moving the tool and/or the workpiece to a predetermined position at a maximum speed;
• comparing the comparison reference value and the command value;
• and
• determining which one of the rapid traverse command and a linear interpolation command should be executed, said linear interpolation command being used for moving the tool and/or the workpiece while linearly interpolating.

A computer-readable recording medium readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for determining a position of a workpiece and a tool of a machine tool, said method comprising:

• detecting a command value of a rapid traverse by a rapid traverse command, said rapid traverse command being used for moving the tool and/or the workpiece to a predetermined position at a maximum speed;
• predicting a first movement time according to the rapid traverse command based on the command value;
• predicting a second movement time according to the linear interpolation command based on the command value, said linear interpolation command being used for moving the tool and/or the workpiece while linearly interpolating;
• determining whether to execute the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command based upon a comparison of the first movement time and the second movement time;
• and
• executing either the rapid traverse command or the linear interpolation command based upon a comparison of the first movement time and the second movement time.