System for managing tool life on CNC machines
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorKenneth J. Susnjara
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Abstract
A system for managing the longevity of tools of a programmable CNC machine including means for inputting into the machine control a designation of a tool for use therein, means for recording the time of usage of such tool, means for computing the cumulative time of usage of such tool over a lifetime of usage thereof, means for computing the average time of usage of such tool and means for signaling the usage of such tool for a selected percentage of such average time.
Claims20
A method to determine tool life of a tool of a CNC machine, the method comprising:
- removably coupling a first tool to the CNC machine;
- monitoring a usage time of the first tool;
- and
- determining a percentage of use of the first tool, wherein the percentage of use is determined based on the monitored usage time of the first tool as a function of a usage time of at least one other tool different than the first tool, wherein the at least one other tool was uncoupled from the CNC machine prior to removably coupling the first tool to the CNC machine so that the first tool and the at least one other tool are configured to interchangeably couple to the CNC machine.
A method to determine tool life of a tool of a CNC machine, the method comprising:
- removably coupling a first tool to the CNC machine;
- monitoring a usage time of the first tool;
- determining a percentage of use of the first tool, wherein the percentage of use is determined based on the monitored usage time of the first tool as a function of a usage time of at least one other tool different than the first tool, wherein the at least one other tool was uncoupled from the CNC machine prior to removably coupling the first tool to the CNC machine so that the first tool and the at least one other tool are configured to interchangeably couple to the CNC machine;
- signaling whether the percentage of use of the first tool reaches or exceeds a threshold percentage;
- and
- uncoupling the first tool from the CNC machine and removably coupling a second tool, wherein the first tool is different than the second tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.