Abstract: A system for controlling a manufacturing system including a plurality of working units is described. Each working unit has an operational tool and a unit controller which controls the corresponding tool. Each unit controller includes a storage device for storing data about the status of multiple working units including its own. A data control device is connected to the storage device and the remainder of the unit controllers. The data control device renews unit status data stored in the storage device with the newest data about the status of the working units including that of its own working unit. Thus, all the unit controllers always have the newest unit status data in common. Each unit controller includes a drive control device for controlling the corresponding tool based on the unit status data stored in the storage device.

Abstract: In the tool change device, a tool change arm 27 for changing a tool 25 with respect to a main spindle 24, a main tool magazine 29 including a plurality of hold grooves 30 arranged linearly for holding the tools 25, and a tool storage member 41 including at least one storage portion 46 for storing the tool 25 are arranged in the back-and-forth direction of the tool change device. In order that the tools 25 can be delivered between the tool change arm 27 and main tool magazine 29, between the main tool magazine 29 and tool storage member 41, and between the tool storage member 41 and tool change arm 27, a single tool loader L is disposed in such a manner that it can be moved in correspondence to the tool change arm 27, main tool magazine 29 and tool storage member 41.

Abstract: In a wire saw, it is an object to reduce the variance in width of cut slices of a work as well as the degree of coarseness of the cut slices. A plurality of machining rollers 13 and 14 are arranged in parallel at prescribed intervals, and a large number of circular grooves 13a and 14a are formed on the outer periphery of each of the rollers. In an axial direction of the machining rollers 13 and 14, a plurality of supply reels 23, take-up reels 24 and wires 15A, 15B are arranged. The wires 15A, 15B supplied from the supply reels 23 are wound on the circular grooves 13a ad 14a of the plurality of machining rollers 13 and 14 so that they are travelled between the plurality of rollers 13 and 14, and taken up by the take-up reels 24.

Abstract: An aqueous working liquid composition for a wire saw comprising the following components (A) to (E): (A) 10 to 60% by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of polyglycol ethers represented by the following formulae (I) and (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a phenyl group; R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an acetyl group; and n represents an integer of 1 to 4; (B) 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of organic bentonite and inorganic bentonite; (C) 0.01 to 5.0% by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), MgO, methanol, and ethanol; (D) 0.1 to 2.0% by weight of at least one selected from the group consisting of a sodium .beta.

Abstract: A laser beam machining device, which can automatically machine a plurality of workpieces in sequence, is disclosed. A plurality of pallets supporting workpieces are stored in a pallet storing station in a shelved manner by means of a pallet transport device. A pallet drawn out from the pallet storing station by means of a pallet transport device is transported into the laser beam machine. After laser beam machining is done, the pallet supporting the machined workpiece is stored in a predetermined location in the pallet storing station by means of the pallet transport device.

Abstract: In a method of cutting a workpiece of brittle material with a wire by using a machining solution containing abrasive grains, the workpiece is pushed against the wire from above, and a machining solution pooling vessel is disposed below the workpiece, to immerse the cut portion of the workpiece in the machining solution in the vessel, and an ultrasonic oscillator is provided for the machining solution pooling vessel to apply ultrasonic waves to the machining solution during machining, whereby difficulties that the machined surface is scratched or cracked by the abrasive grains, and the machining solution is deteriorated in cutting capacity are eliminated, and the machining accuracy and efficiency are improved.

Abstract: With a laser processing apparatus, the membrane of a membrane-covered film is accurately processed with a scanning laser beam linearly both in the direction of conveyance of the film and in a widthwise direction forming an angle with the direction of conveyance simultaneously, and particles splashed or scattered from the membrane by application of the laser beam are positively removed for protection of the film and the laser beam applying heads. A method of applying a scanning laser beam to a workpiece to be processed where the scanning beam is so formed that the portion of the workpiece which is processed with it shows a smooth boundary in the direction of processing.

Abstract: A laser beam shaping device is made up of a multiple reflecting mirror unit with reflecting surfaces facing each other to reflect a laser beam in multiple reflections, a light gathering cylindrical lens for gathering the laser beam near the inlet of the multiple reflecting mirror unit, a spherical lens for focusing the laser beam emerging from the multiple reflecting mirror unit, and a beam width setting cylindrical lens for setting the width of the laser beam in the direction which is perpendicular to the direction of advance of the laser beam and parallel with the reflecting surfaces of the multiple reflecting mirror unit, whereby, in shaping a laser beam, the energy loss of the laser beam is minimized, and the laser beam is made uniform in energy distribution, and the laser beam can be changed in configuration and dimension according to the contents of a laser beam machining operation.

Abstract: A grinding disc dressing apparatus for dressing an active grinding side or surface of a grinding disc of a surface grinding machine includes feed means for moving a dressing roll between an outer periphery of the grinding disc and the central portion of the grinding disc generally radially of the grinding disc so as to dress the active grinding side of the grinding disc. First drive means rotates the dressing roll in such a manner that the speed of rotation of the dressing roll can be varied. Second drive means rotates the grinding disc in such a manner that the speed of rotation of the grinding disc can be varied. Control means controls the operation of at least one of the two drive means so as to arbitrarily vary the ratio between the peripheral speeds of the dressing roll and the grinding disc at an operating point where the dressing roll acts on the active grinding surface of the grinding disc during the dressing operation.

Abstract: A numerically controlled apparatus wherein a tool can be returned by a high speed retrograding operation without damaging a chip of a tool or a work. The numerically controlled apparatus comprises a command executing block which decodes a working program for each of block commands and controls controlling driving of a tool to work a work. A retrograde command storage block extracts data necessary for the production of a retrograde block command from the working program and stores the extracted data therein. Upon reception of a retrograding signal, an escapement command producing block produces an escapement block command, and a retrograde block command producing means produces a retrograde block command. Then, an escapement/retrograde command execution controlling block causes the command executing block to execute the escapement block command and the retrograde block command.