Fanuc Corporation

Fujitsu Fanuc Limited

Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.

Yamanashi

Masaki Seki

Takashi Takegahara

Hajimu Kishi

Takeshi Arakaki

Kunio Tanaka

Osamu Hanaoka

Koji Samukawa

Masatoshi Nakajima

Toru Matsunaka

Shizuaki Hayanagi

Norihisa Amano

Akira Kajitani

Takeshi Hosono

Teruyuki Matsumura

Yasushi Onishi

Yutaka Mizuno

Katsunobu Yamaki

Hidenori Meguro

Masako Sudo

Shinya Nakamura

Koji Suzuki

Satoru Shinozaki

Syuji Matsuura

Masatoshi Yoshizaki

Kouji Samukawa

Mitsuo Kurakake

Hideaki Maeda

Shigetoshi Takagi

Kazuhiko Morisaki

Kouji Yamamuro

Haruhiko Tatsumi

Masashi Kawasumi

Naganori Miyoshi

Hajimu Kish

Koichi Ito

Toru Matunaka

A CAD/CAM system arranged so that a re-creation processing for a cutter path is automatically executed by a CAM system when a curved surface is modified by a CAD system. Functions for the cutter path re-creation processing are provided by utilizing a customizing function of the CAD system. In executing computation for the cutter path and in originating NC data, references for assigning the functions are previously set for the curved surface. When the shape of the curved surface is modified on the CAD side after the NC data has been created, the CAM is invoked to invoke the aforesaid functions. Perceiving this invocation, the CAM executes the cutter path re-creation processing by using machining condition data set for the unmodified curved surface, on the basis of the invoked functions. Thus, the cutter path for the modified curved surface is created immediately by the CAM when the curved surface is modified by the CAD.

CAD/CAM system for automatic re-creation of a cutter path

A numerical control apparatus enables a tool to move parallel or vertical to a designated shape to easily carry out a machining of a prototype using general-purpose machine tools. A graphic storing device displays guidance information on a display unit through a graphic control circuit and also stores a designated shape such as an oblique straight line or a circular arc entered by the operator through a keyboard in an interactive fashion. On the detection of a pulse signal HP from a manual pulse generator, an interpolation device reads a changeover signal H/V for commanding one of the parallel movement or the vertical movement of the tool from a changeover device. Then, the interpolation device outputs an interpolated pulse signal CP corresponding to the pulse signal HP and changeover signal H/V in accordance with the designated shape stored in the graphic storing device and supplies the interpolated pulse signal HP to an axis control circuit.

Numerical control apparatus and numerical control method

In a state where definition of machining has been already finished for the first to N-th processes, such data as a machining kind, tool data including a tool code, and cutting conditions related to the j-th process (1.ltoreq.j.ltoreq.N+1) are inputted as new data or modified data in an interactive mode on a screen. Next, a shape of the workpiece at a point of time when the (j-1)th machining process has been finished and the final shape of the workpiece to be cut are displayed on a screen, and a cutting area for the j-th machining process is set or modified by means of the screen. Then, a shape of the workpiece at a point of time when the j-th process is finished is found on the basis of the inputted data, and a cutting area to be newly cut or to be modified in the j-th machining process is identified and displayed by displaying one upon the other on the screen the found shape of the workpiece and a shape of the workpiece at a point of time when the (j-1)th process has been finished. The user decides whether the identified and displayed cutting area is adequate or not, and in the case where there is no remaining uncut part or a suitable remaining uncut part, the inputted data is determined and registered as data for machining for the j-th machining process.

Method of drawing a cutting area

Method of animation plotting of NC machining program

An area machining method capable of generating tool paths with no insufficient cut portion. First, a part profile contour indicating a profile contour for area machining and various machining conditions such as tool radius, depth of cut and the like are preset. Then the outmost offset contour and other subsequent offset contours are obtained, the outmost offset contour being offset along the part profile contour by an amount of the sum of a tool radius and finishing allowance, and the other subsequent offset contours being offset repeatedly from the outmost offset contour in sequence by an amount of depth of cut in the inside direction. Next, contours of insufficient cut portions which are produced between adjacent offset contours are obtained. Subsequently, tool paths each of which connects between offset contours and between an offset contour and a corresponding insufficient cut portion contour are outputted. At this time, insufficient cut portion contours are added to tool paths by changing a tool path to an insufficient cut portion contour if the insufficient cut portion contour is present near the current path while outputting an offset contour as a tool path.

Area machining method

Cross sectional configuration creating apparatus in the creation of free

Numerical control apparatus

An NC data creation method by which the sequence of machining definition data can be changed to the sequence required by a user. A desired output sequence of machining command data is previously created as pattern definition data by a user executing a predetermined operation. Then, machining command data is input through an input screen as an interactive type input screen. A system processing unit reads the thus input machining command data and the pattern definition data, changes the sequence of the machining command data in accordance with the pattern definition data and outputs machining definition data. Therefore, NC data having the machining definition data provided with the output sequence desired by the user can be directly created. As a result, the sequence of the machining definition data need not be changed again and the NC data can be rapidly created.

NC data creation method

The original planar shape or developed shape of a product to be manufactured by bending is determined using a computer-aided design system. An operator operates a tablet unit to prepare, first and second projection drawings of, e.g., an L-shaped product, projected onto two planes parallel to the outside of first and second sides of the product, with a bending line in common. The computer-aided design system displays the first and second projection drawings on a display screen in accordance with shape data which defines the two projection drawings (S1). In response to the operator picking two vertices of each projection drawing on the side of the bending line using the tablet unit (S2, S3), the processor calculates distances of movement in the X- and Y-axis directions and the rotational angle of the second projection drawing required for the alignment of the two sets of vertices (S5). Based on these calculated values and the amount of expansion or contraction of the product material accompanying the bending work, calculated in accordance with input data indicative of the thickness, bending angle, and bending direction, the processor prepares shape data indicative of the product shape prior to bending and causes the developed product shape to be displayed on the display screen (7).

Developed product shape deciding method for a computer-aided design

A data drawing method which facilitates the checking of numerical control data for a polyhedron machining and is carried out by, for example, an automatic programming system. If a drawing mode is selected in which machining profiles and tool paths related to individual machining surfaces of a polyhedral material are displayed separately on a display screen according to the machining surfaces, and if a processor of the programming system determines that NC data obtained by executing a program statement read from a part program is related to any one of the machining surfaces, drawing areas corresponding in number to the faces of the polyhedral workpiece on the display screen are displayed, and a character string representing the machining surface and a material profile in a drawing area corresponding to the machining surface are displayed. Then, machining profiles and tool paths specified by the produced NC data are displayed in the drawing area to permit the operator's visual checking. Machining profiles and tool paths related to another machining surface are displayed in a different drawing area, whereby the machining profiles and the tool paths can be easily checked.

Growing community of inventors

Tokyo, Japan

Masaki Seki