Numeric control lathe and method for controlling the same

A control unit for use in a numerically controlled lathe having a plurality of lines including a plurality of control axes, comprising:

• an input section for inputting a plurality of machining programs about a plurality of tools provided in said numerically controlled lathe;
• a storage section including a plurality of program-describing areas individually corresponding to said plurality of lines, for describing and storing said plurality of machining programs input by said input section in said plurality of program-describing areas;
• and
• a processing section for allocating said plurality of control axes to said plurality of program-describing areas in said storage section, each of said control axes being as a reference control axis, and for applying, to an actual control axis for controlling a machining operation relating to one designated tool designated in each of said plurality of machining programs, said reference control axis allocated to a program-describing area freely selected from said plurality of program-describing areas to describe a machining program designating said designated tool;
• and
• wherein each of said plurality of machining programs are able to be described in a desired program-describing area freely selected from said plurality of program-describing areas.

A method of control of a numerically controlled lathe including at least one spindle and at least one tool rest, which are operable under control along a plurality of control axes in a plurality of lines, comprising:

• providing a control unit comprising a storage section including a plurality of program-describing areas individually corresponding to said plurality of lines;
• allocating said plurality of control axes to said plurality of program-describing areas in said storage section of said control unit, each of said control axes being as a reference control axis;
• describing and storing each of a plurality of machining programs about a plurality of tools carried on said at least one tool rest, in a desired program-describing area freely selected from said plurality of program-describing areas in said storage section of said control unit;
• applying, to an actual control axis for controlling a machining operation relating to one designated tool designated in each of said plurality of machining programs, said reference control axis allocated to said desired program-describing area as freely selected to describe a machining program designating said designated tool;
• and
• controlling an operation of each of said at least one spindle and said at least one tool rest along said reference control axis applied to said actual control axis in each of said plurality of machining programs.

A numerically controlled lathe comprising:

• a lathe bed;
• a first spindle installed on said lathe bed, including a first axis of rotation, and movable under control along a first control axis in a first line;
• a first tool rest installed on said lathe bed and movable under control along a second control axis in said first line;
• a second tool rest installed on said lathe bed and movable under control along third and fourth control axes in a second line;
• a second spindle installed on said lathe bed, including a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis of rotation, and movable under control along fifth and sixth control axes in a third line;
• and
• a control unit comprising a storage section including first, second, and third program-describing areas to which said first to sixth control axes are allocated, each of said control axes being as a reference control axis, said control unit capable of describing each of a plurality of machining programs about a plurality of tools carried on said first and second tool rests, in connection with a desired program-describing area freely selected from said first to third program-describing areas, by using a block format for applying, to an actual control axes for controlling a machining operation relating to one designated tool designated in each machining program, said reference control axis allocated to said desired program-describing area as freely selected.