System and method for tool use management
AssigneeHurco Companies, Inc.
InventorsStefan Okrongli, Robert J. Gorgol, Jr., Aleksandr Shkiler, Gerald Traicoff, Kishore Lankalapalli
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method for tool use management wherein a CNC machine retains information identifying the tools associated with the machine as well as their current locations (if any), and executes an algorithm for determining the source tools needed by a part program and matching the source tools with the available tools.
Claims37
A method of correlating tools associated with a cutting machine and tools specified by a program executed by the cutting machine to form a part, the method including the steps of:
- identifying source tools specified by the program;
- comparing each source tool with defined tools associated with the cutting machine;
- designating matched tools, which are defined tools that match the source tools during the comparing step;
- and
- replacing source tool references in the program with references to corresponding matched tools.
A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for correlating tools associated with a machine tool system with tools specified by a program for use in forming a part, the computer executable instructions including:
- an algorithm for identifying source tools specified by the program;
- a tool matching algorithm for comparing each source tool with defined tools associated with the machine tool system, and designating as matched tools any defined tools that are acceptably similar to the source tools;
- and
- an algorithm for replacing source tool references in the program with references to corresponding matched tools.
An apparatus for machining a part using a plurality of tools associated with the apparatus as specified by source tools including in a program processed by the apparatus, the apparatus including:
- a spindle;
- an automatic tool changer configured to load tools onto the spindle;
- and
- a memory including
- a tool management algorithm for identifying source tools specified by the program,
- a tool matching algorithm for comparing each source tool with defined tools associated with the apparatus, and designating as matched tools any defined tools that are acceptably similar to the source tools, and
- an algorithm for replacing source tool references in the program with references to corresponding matched tools.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.