Abstract: The invention relates to a numerical control system equipped with a computerized man-machine interface controller (MMC unit) and including an NC unit (11), a programmable machine controller (13) for executing at least sequence control based on signals from the NC unit (11) and a machine tool (12), a computerized man-machine interface controller (14) having at least a CRT (14d) and a keyboard (14e), and a data exchange controller (15), wherein data are exchanged among the NC unit (11), programmable machine controller (13) and man-machine interface controller (14) under the control of the data exchange controller (15).

Abstract: A positioning system rotates a servomotor (4) in response to a command value to move a movable unit and compares a feedback signal from a position detector, such as a servomotor or the like, with the command value to output a servo command signal. Pulses from an encoder (5) are counted to generate a positional information signal (6) directly indicative of an angular position of the servomotor (4), and the positional information signal is fed back to a command processor (2) to effect a positioning operation.

Abstract: A graphic is prepared by providing the starting points or end points of straight lines and circular arcs with identifiable marks such as black circles. Reading the graphic by an image reader (2h). A display controller of a display unit (2d) displays each of the graphic elements and black circles on a display screen as well as inquiries calling for the coordinates of the positions at which the black circles are provided and the nature of the graphic elements between black circles. The black circles relating to inquiries are made distinguishable from other black circles by being displayed in e.g. blinking fashion. Thereafter, the coordinates of a black circle which is made to blink and the nature of a graphic element (i.e. whether the element is a straight line or circular arc) are inputted from a keyboard (2f) in response to the inquiries, whereupon the next black circle blinks and the relevant inquiry is displayed.

Abstract: Operation information is stored in a memory for numerically controlling a numerical control machine such as a machining tool. This information is displayed on a desired display, and an item of operation information is selected from the operation information displayed, so that the numerical control machine can be controlled in accordance with a predetermined program. Thus, a desired arbitrary item of operation information can be selected using a single machine operator's panel.

Abstract: A controller, such as a numerical controller, displays the change with time of input/output statuses or an internal status by a timing chart, to facilitate analysis of the cause of interference concerning signal timing. The controller has a status display unit (22) which includes: a keyboard (25) for inputting desired display data, display data input times, and display data input-inhibit conditions; a timer (26) which generates a clock signal at predetermined timing; a memory (27) which inputs desired display data during an interval of a desired input time in accordance with the conditions set through the keyboard; a display (28) which displays the data input to the memory when the input-inhibit conditions are satisfied; and a processor (29) which controls the memory and the display in synchronism with the clock signal.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus having a numerical control unit (11), a data input/output circuit for sending and receiving data between a machine (19) and the numerical control unit, a data input unit (13) for entering NC data, a manual data input unit (16) for entering NC data manually, and an operator's pendant (17), wherein there is provided a local control circuit (101), separate from the numerical control unit, for centrally controlling the data input unit, the manual data input unit and the operator's pendant. The local control circuit is connected to the numerical control unit directly through a data transfer line, or through the data input/output circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is to increase the reliability of a numerical controller by permitting the detection of an abnormality in a position sensing pulse which is output each time a moving part moves by a fixed amount.A position sensor (6) outputs a reference position sensing pulse each time a moving part reaches a predetermined position, and a direction discriminating circuit (7) outputs a position sensing pulse each time the moving part moves by a fixed amount. A reversible counter (8) counts the position sensing pulse from the direction discriminating circuit (7), and abnormality detecting circuits (9) and (10) detect an abnormality in the position sensing pulse on the basis of the count value of the reversible counter (8) and the generating timing of generation of the reference position sensing pulse.

Abstract: The present invention increases screw cutting accuracy and simplifies the control of a screw cutting control system which performs screw cutting through the use of a numerically-controlled machine tool. A tapper (TPP) connected to a spindle, holds a tap (TAP) in a manner to be movable in the axial direction of the spindle, transmits the rotation of the spindle to the tap (TAP) for a predetermined range of forward axial movement of the tap (TAP) and transmits the rotation of the spindle to the tap (TAP) when the spindle is reversed. During screw cutting, feed by a feed motor (SZ) stops after the tap (TAP) enters a workpiece and the screw cutting is effected by the thrust of the tap itself resulting from the rotation of the spindle. The sequence of screw cutting is commanded by one block of command data.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a servomotor position control circuit which includes a pulse distributor for carrying out arithmetic operations for pulse distribution based on command data given by a control unit, a position detector for generating a positional pulse each time the servomotor rotates through a predetermined angular interval, an error storage unit for computing and storing the difference between the number of positional pulses generated by the position detector and the number of distributed pulses generated by the pulse distributor, and a D/A converter for converting the difference into an analog output, whereby the servomotor is controlled by the analog output from the D/A converter.

Abstract: A method for rotating a workpiece at a constant peripheral speed when the workpiece is cut as on a lathe. Before a cutting tool is moved to a cutting position under a rapid-advance command, the number n of RPM for the spindle is computed from the following equation, based on the distance x between the cutting position and the axis of the spindle and based on the commanded periphery speed V for driving the spindle at the computed number of RPM thereof:n=V/2 xAccordingly, the actual peripheral speed of the spindle becomes the same as or approximates the commanded peripheral speed when the cutting tool reaches the cutting position.

Abstract: A feed speed control system for use in numerical control systems or the like, in which a set feed speed can be adjusted through a simple structure. The control system includes a memory circuit for storing a plurality of numerical values corresponding to feed speeds, a command circuit for issuing a command indicative of a prescribed numerical value from among the plurality of numerical values, an arithmetic circuit for incrementing or decrementing a numerical value read from the memory circuit in response to an output pulse from manual operation device, and a pulse generating circuit for generating pulses of a frequency which is proportional to an incremented or decremented numerical value from the arithmetic circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting N-bit serial data (where N is a positive number) in the form of a bit serial, including a data sending circuit, a data receiving circuit and data transmission lines. The system includes a first data transmission line; a second transmission line; a transfer circuit, provided in the receiving means, for sending back to the data sending circuit through the second data transmission line, the bit content of received N-bit data each time one bit of the N-bit data is received through the first data transmission line; a comparison circuit, provided in the data sending circuit, for comparing the transmitted bit content and the bit content sent back on the second data transmission line; and a detection circuit provided in the data receiving circuit. The data sending circuit is adapted to transmit as a start bit a signal of a prescribed logical value before the N-bit serial data is sent, and, as an alarm bit, the results of the comparison after the N-bit serial data has been sent.

Abstract: When machining with a numerical-controlled machine tool, both a command value providing the configuration of a finished product and a compensation value depending on the tool are needed, and tool compensation data must be corrected in response to tool wear. The present invention, taking notice of the fact that correction data corresponding to tool wear can be predetermined from the frequency or time of tool use and the fact that the amount of tool wear can be unequivocally determined by the quality of materials of the tool and work, provides circuitry for counting the frequency or time of use of the tool and circuitry for correcting by a predetermined value the content of a compensation value register having tool compensation date when the number of times a tool has been used or when the duration of tool use has reached a predetermined value.

Abstract: In a numerical control unit which has an interpolation function from generating command pulses in response to a distribution command and a servo system for driving a movable part of a machine in accordance with command pulses, a comparison is made between the error of the servo system a predetermined period of time after the distribution command is switched off and a preset value; when the error of the servo system is larger than the predetermined value, an alarm signal is produced to detect the occurrence of a malfunction.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for distributing command pulses to a numerically controlled machine which is provided with a first and a second control axis having different resolution. The first control axis has a smaller resolution than the second control axis. The numerical datum for each control axis, based on the smaller resolution are given to the pulse distributing circuit. When the command pulse obtained by the pulse distributing operation is supplied to the first control axis, the movable part of the machine is displaced by an amount corresponding to the smaller resolution. At this time, the distributing point is also moved by the same amount in the first axis direction.