Machining limit area specifying method and manuel feed machining method using numerical control unit

A method of specifying a machining limit area in machining a workpiece by manually feeding a tool relative to the workpiece using a numerical control unit, comprising:

• defining a desired machining shape by shaping data or a combination of the shaping data on an X-Y plane;
• and
• specifying a machining limit area in which movement of the tool is permitted in machining, based on the machining shape defined in said defining,
• wherein said specifying further includes setting a machining limit area in which movement of the tool is permitted in the Z-axis direction in accordance with the maximum depth of cut in the Z-axis direction in one cutting process.

A method of machining a workpiece by manually feeding a tool relative to the workpiece using a numerical control unit, comprising:

• defining a desired machining shape by shaping data on an X-Y plane;
• specifying a machining limit area in which movement of the tool is permitted in machining, based on the machining shape defined in said defining;
• and
• performing machining by feeding the tool on condition that the movement of the tool is limited within said machining limit area,
• wherein said defining includes specifying said shaping data on the X-Y plane by a function using a Z-coordinate value as a parameter, and the machining limit area on the X-Y plane in said defining is variable in accordance with said function.

A method of machining a workpiece by manually feeding a tool relative to the workpiece using a numerical control unit, comprising:

• defining a desired machining shape by shaping data on an X-Y plane;
• specifying a machining limit area in the X- and/or Y-axis direction in which movement of the tool is permitted in machining, based on the machining shape defined in said defining;
• specifying a machining limit area in which movement of the tool is permitted in a Z-axis direction;
• performing machining on the X-Y plane by feeding the tool on condition that the movement of the tool is limited within said machining limit area in the X- and/or Y-axis direction;
• and
• performing machining in the Z-axis direction by feeding the tool on condition that the movement of the tool is limited within said machining limit area in the Z-axis direction,
• wherein said defining includes specifying said shaping data on the X-Y plane by a function using a Z-coordinate value as a parameter, and the machining limit area on the X-Y plane in said defining is variable in accordance with said function.

A computer readable storage medium, storing a computer program instructing a computer to perform:

• defining a desired three-dimensional machining shape by shaping data on an X-Y-Z plane;
• and
• specifying a machining limit area in which movement of a tool is permitted in machining, based on the machining shape defined in said defining,
• wherein said defining includes specifying said shaping data on the X-Y plane by a function using a Z-coordinate value as a parameter, and the machining limit area on the X-Y plane in said defining is variable in accordance with said function.

A computer readable storage medium, storing a computer program instructing a computer to perform:

• defining a desired three-dimensional machining shape by shaping data on an X-Y-Z plane;
• and
• specifying a machining limit area in which movement of a tool is permitted in machining, based on the machining shape defined in said defining,
• wherein said specifying further includes setting a machining limit area in which movement of the tool is permitted in the Z-axis direction in accordance with the maximum depth of cut in the Z-axis direction in one cutting process.

An apparatus comprising:

• a defining unit defining a desired three-dimensional machining shape by shaping data on an X-Y-Z plane;
• and
• a prohibition unit prohibiting movement of a tool in a limit area based on the machining shape defined in said defining,
• wherein said defining unit specifies said shaping data on the X-Y plane by a function using a Z-coordinate value as a parameter, and the machining limit area on the X-Y plane in said defining is variable in accordance with said function.

An apparatus comprising:

• a defining unit defining a desired three-dimensional machining shape by shaping data on an X-Y-Z plane;
• and
• a prohibition unit prohibiting movement of a tool in a limit area based on the machining shape defined in said defining,
• wherein said specifying unit sets a machining limit area in which movement of the tool is permitted in the Z-axis direction in accordance with the maximum depth of cut in the Z-axis direction in one cutting process.