Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha

Tetsu Yoshida

Masakazu Kanemoto

Isao Morimoto

Fumio Kamahora

Takao Manabe

Katsunori Higashikawa

A numerical controlled machine tool apparatus capable of providing intermediate measurement (in process measurement) during the carrying out of a machining process on a workpiece. A spindle of the apparatus, usually used for mounting a machining tool, is also capable of mounting a measuring tool which generates a contact signal when the measuring tool on the spindle is brought into contact with the workpiece. A measuring control unit including a memory is capable of compensating for any deviation that may exist between a center axis line of the measuring tool and the center axis line of the spindle, thereby making the apparatus capable of carrying out accurate measurements and adjusting a machining process based on the result of such an accurate measurement.

Numerical controlled machine tool making intermediate measurements

A numerical controlled machine tool provides a detector which produces a detecting signal when it is brought into contact or out of contact with a workpiece for measuring same. A driving device relatively moves the detector with respect to the workpiece, and a position detecting means for detecting the position of the detector. The numerical control device provides a signal corresponding to an amount by which the detector is moved with respect to the workpiece and causes the driving device to stop in accordance with the detecting signal. In operation, the numerical control device detects when the detector contacts with the workpiece while moving at a first speed, and applies a stop signal which is produced from a detecting signal given by the detector. The detector is then moved in a direction away from the workpiece at a second speed by a distance which is either larger or smaller than the distance by which the detector moved and stopped after the first detecting signal was produced. The detector is then further relatively moved either away from or towards, respectively, the workpiece at a third speed smaller than the first and second speeds. A detecting signal is again produced when the detector is brought into contact with the workpiece while moving at the third speed, and the contents of the position detecting device are read out when the detecting signal is produced while moving at the third speed is read out.

Method and apparatus for measuring a workpiece

A machining system includes machine tools each capable of performing, in a working area thereof, machining on a workpiece carried on a pallet, a pallet magazine including movable stations each capable of carrying and conveying a pallet and having pallet change positions each associated with each of the machine tools, pallet changers each associated with each of the machine tools and each capable of transferring a pallet between the working area of the associated machine tool and the associated pallet change position, numerical control devices each associated with each of the machine tools and each capable of storing part programs and of controlling the associated machine tool, and a system controller comprising first memory for storing, in relation to each of schedule numbers indicating order of machining, an indicium of a pallet carrying a workpiece to be machined in the related order and an indicium of a part program to be used for machining the related pallet, and second memory for storing, in relation to an indicium of each of the pallets, and indicium of the movable station carrying the related pallet.

Machining systems and control systems therefor

A machine tool control system includes a numerical control device associated with each machine tool and an interface unit interposed between each machine tool and the numerical control device. The numerical control device includes a first memory area for storing a first group of programs related to the machining of a workpiece and the selection of a cutting tool, and a second memory area for storing a second group of programs related to interrupting instructions.

Machine tool control systems

While machining a workpiece with a tool of a machine tool according to a numerically controlled machining program, when the tool breaks, the workpiece is removed from the machine tool and a new workpiece is substituted. A new program for the new workpiece is selected and a new tool for machining the new workpiece is selected and substituted for the broken tool. Now the new workpiece is machined in accordance with a new program. The workpieces removed from the machine tool are collected, fragments of the broken tools are removed therefrom, and then machined again. A tool magazine containing a plurality of tools is provided. Broken tools are removed from the machine tool and returned to the tool magazine. When all tools in the tool magazine are judged to be broken, new tools of the same type are supplemented. When the tools are worn out similar steps are executed.

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Numazu, Japan

Tetsu Yoshida