Numerically controlled machine tool and method

A numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece in accordance with a machining program and being operative to execute a plurality of commands including miscellaneous commands, machine tool having a mode in which said machining program is comprising:

• prespecifying means for allowing a user, before execution of a test mode and without modifying the machining program, to prespecify a miscellaneous command which is not to be executed during said test mode;
• means for determining if said numerically controlled machine tool is in said test mode;
• judging means for determining, during said test mode, whether or not a miscellaneous command is the one prespecified by said prespecifying means;
• and
• means for disabling, only during said test mode, a specified miscellaneous command from being executed.

A numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece in accordance with a machining program and being operative to execute a plurality of commands including miscellaneous commands, said numerically controlled machine tool having a mode in which said machining program is checked, comprising:

• lock means for locking miscellaneous commands so as not to be executed;
• specifying means for specifying miscellaneous commands which will be executed even in a miscellaneous command lock status in which said specified miscellaneous commands are not executed;
• judging means for determining whether or not a miscellaneous command is a specified miscellaneous command when the miscellaneous command is executed during said mode;
• and
• means for executing the specified given miscellaneous command even in the miscellaneous command lock status during said mode.

A method of operating a numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece via a programmable controller, responsive to a plurality of commands including miscellaneous commands, in accordance with a machining program, comprising:

• recognizing a miscellaneous command from a numerical controller being executed by said programmable controller;
• storing the result of said recognition;
• judging whether said miscellaneous command is complete or not according to the contents stored in said storing step;
• specifying a miscellaneous command which need not be completed before a next command is executed;
• checking whether a previously given miscellaneous command from said numerical controller is being executed or not at a time when a next miscellaneous command from said numerical controller is executed;
• executing said next miscellaneous command after the previously given miscellaneous command is complete if it is being executed;
• and
• executing the next miscellaneous command without waiting for the completion of the miscellaneous command which need not be completed.

A method of controlling a numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece in accordance with a machining program and being operative to execute a plurality of commands including miscellaneous commands comprising:

• prespecifying, before execution of a test mode and without modifying the machining program, a miscellaneous command which is not to be executed during said test mode;
• determining if said numerically controlled machine tool is in said test mode;
• determining during said test mode, whether or not a miscellaneous command is the one prespecified by said prespecifying step;
• and
• disabling, only during said test mode, a prespecified miscellaneous command from being executed.

A method of controlling a numerically controlled machine tool for machining a workpiece in accordance with a machining program and being operative to execute a plurality of commands including miscellaneous commands, said numerically controlled machine tool having a mode in which said machining program is checked, comprising:

• locking miscellaneous commands so as not to be executed;
• specifying miscellaneous commands which will be executed even in a miscellaneous command lock status in which said specified miscellaneous commands are not executed;
• determining whether or not a miscellaneous command is said specified miscellaneous command when the miscellaneous command is executed during said mode;
• and
• executing the specified given miscellaneous command even in the miscellaneous command lock status during said mode.

A method, in a system for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool responsive to a plurality of commands including miscellaneous commands, for classifying miscellaneous commands into groups and checking a status of the system, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a miscellaneous command;
• determining if the received miscellaneous command has been registered;
• determining, after it is determined that the received miscellaneous command has been registered, whether the received miscellaneous command has been assigned to a group;
• storing, after it is determined that the received miscellaneous command has been assigned to a group, the received miscellaneous command into a table of the assigned group number;
• and
• determining the system status by checking which miscellaneous command value within a particular group has been last executed;
• wherein a group is a plurality of miscellaneous commands having a feature in common.