With "zero-offset" Or Tool Radius Correction Patents (Class 318/572)
  • Patent number: 11550290
    Abstract: A numerical control device causes a machine tool to perform cutting with a command coordinate value indicated by a cutting command received from a command analysis unit. The numerical control device includes a dynamic compensation parameter calculation unit that calculates a dynamic compensation parameter for compensating for a dynamic error generated by a force acting on the machine tool and a velocity upon cutting, based on a command shape, and a dynamic compensation unit that compensates for the dynamic error with respect to the command coordinate value, based on the dynamic compensation parameter calculated, in which the dynamic compensation parameter calculation unit acquires only the dynamic error from a comparison of the command shape and the measurement data, and calculates the dynamic compensation parameter from the dynamic error acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Sawaoka
  • Patent number: 11351618
    Abstract: A method is provided for the material-removing machining of fillets on a workpiece by means of a tool, more particularly a milling tool, which is guided over a fillet at a contact point. The invention is characterized in that the fillet is machined by means of a tool comprising a conical-convex cutting edge on a flank of the tool, wherein the tool, with the contact point on the conical-convex cutting edge, moves along at least one contact path running in the longitudinal direction of the fillet and the tool is inclined sideways in relation to the at least one contact path on the fillet such that a substantially sickle-shaped material engagement is formed in front of the contact point in the movement direction of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: OPEN MIND TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Peter Brambs, Josef Koch
  • Patent number: 11234353
    Abstract: A soil penetrating apparatus having an automatic tool (e.g., aerator tine) depth control system and method. The system includes an actuator that sets and controls tine depth, a sensor that monitors tine depth, and a controller that controls the actuator in response to the sensor. In some embodiments, the actuator is a hydraulic actuator, wherein once tine depth is set, flow to the actuator is bypassed. A relief may be provided to allow the tines to lift to a shallower depth temporarily when soil hardness exceeds a threshold. The system may then automatically return the tines to the pre-selected depth once soil conditions permit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: EXMARK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stanton L. Mapson, Alex W. Buhr, Justin L. Pryor, Daniel G. Jameson
  • Patent number: 11190119
    Abstract: A control device includes: an output unit configured to select a motor and output a drive command to a motor drive unit that should be connected to the selected motor so that the selected motor executes a predetermined feed operation; an acquisition unit configured to acquire feedback information from each of the multiple motor drive units; and a wire connection determination unit configured to determine, based on the feedback information, whether the selected motor is connected to the motor drive unit that should be connected to the selected motor, by a power line and a feedback line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Shirakawa, Satoshi Ikai, Wei Luo
  • Patent number: 11178166
    Abstract: A methodology as described herein allows cyber-domain tools such as computer aided-manufacturing (CAM) to be aware of the existing information leakage. Then, either machine process or product design parameters in the cyber-domain are changed to minimize the information leakage. This methodology aids the existing cyber-domain and physical-domain security solution by utilizing the cross-domain relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Mohammad Abdullah Al Faruque, Jiang Wan, Sujit Rokka Chhetri, Sina Faezi
  • Patent number: 10802460
    Abstract: A controller has a function of stopping an oscillation motion in a non-cutting section in oscillation cutting and includes an oscillation command creation unit and an oscillation command creation determination unit. The oscillation command creation unit outputs an oscillation command, and the oscillation command creation determination unit determines whether or not cutting of a workpiece by a tool is actually being performed and stops an output of the oscillation command during non-cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 10675689
    Abstract: Systems and methods for lathe and tooling calibration are disclosed. A sensor is utilized to measure dimensions and operational parameters of one or more components of a lathe, such as a turret, tool stations, and/or a spindle. Tool measurements are received and analyzed along with the measurements from the sensor. The dimensions and operational parameters may be utilized to calibrate movement parameters of one or more components of the lathe. Once calibrated, the lathe may be utilized to tool one or more objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MacKay Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Allyn
  • Patent number: 10516356
    Abstract: A stepper control circuit includes numerical controlled oscillators configured to provide step signals for multiple axes of stepper motor movement. The numerical controlled oscillators are configured to be operated at a same frequency provided by a synchronized clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Keith Curtis
  • Patent number: 10416649
    Abstract: A numerical controller corrects a tool compensation value for a machine tool provided with a tool for machining a workpiece based on an NC machining program. The numerical controller makes it unnecessary for a person in charge of input to be conscious of the sign of the tool compensation value and prevents a tool compensation value input error by providing an input button for bringing a workpiece and a tool cutting edge close to each other by a specified amount (+input advance) and an input button for causing the workpiece and the tool cutting edge to be away from each other by a specified amount (+input retreat) at the time of inputting the tool compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10289096
    Abstract: A polishing machine is described in which a surface treatment tool is moved across the surface of a workpiece in accordance with a predefined tool-path, in order to carry out the desired treatment process. The tool-path is non-periodic and preferably pseudo-random. Various techniques are described for generating data representing the tool-path to be followed. A technique is also described for determining optimum control parameters used to control the polishing machine for a given tool-path. The surface treatment may be a shaping technique in which material is removed from the surface, or a technique for adding material to the surface of the workpiece, or a technique for modifying the surface or a region under the surface of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Zeeko Limited
    Inventors: David Walker, Anthony Beaucamp, Christina Reynolds Dunn
  • Patent number: 10268178
    Abstract: Command data indicating a command path of a tool is generated on the basis of tool data created on the basis of an inclination and a shape of the tool, and interpolation data for each interpolation period is generated and outputted. When a command block is a block commanding skiving processing, correction data for correcting the command path is generated on the basis of the tool data stored in the tool data storage unit, and the correction data corresponding to interpolation data outputted by an interpolation unit is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Shuji Ogawa, Motohiko Ito, Masaru Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 10268183
    Abstract: A control device is configured to synchronize a second axis with a (real or virtual) first axis. The control device includes a processor configured to use position information for the first axis to compute a position command for the second axis, and to correct the position command when outputting a position command to the second axis to compensate for a delay caused by the transmission of the position command from the control device to the second axis, and a delay on the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Shimamura, Toshiaki Kato, Yosuke Iwai, Tomonori Shimamura, Eiji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10235807
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for building virtual content from within a virtual environment using virtual tools to build and modify the virtual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Thomas, Jonathan Paulovich, Adam G. Poulos, Omer Bilal Orhan, Marcus Ghaly, Cameron G. Brown, Nicholas Gervase Fajt, Matthew Kaplan
  • Patent number: 10228669
    Abstract: A method includes sending, by a computing device, control signals to a machine tool to machine a component located on a platform to form a feature in the component, monitoring, by the computing device, while machining the feature into the component with the machine tool, torque forces of the machine tool against the component caused by the machining of the feature into the component via at least one sensor positioned on the platform, evaluating, by the computing device, while machining the feature into the component with the machine tool, a quality of the machine tool based on the monitored torque forces; and, in response to the evaluation of the quality of the machine tool indicating an undesirable quality of the machine tool, sending, by the computing device, control signals to the machine tool to interrupt the machining of the component and replace a machining element of the machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Mike R. Dunkin
  • Patent number: 10105848
    Abstract: A robot includes a motor that includes a brake and moves an arm on a drive axis, and a rotational position detector that detects movement of the arm. When a state occurs in which the robot is preferably emergency-stopped, a control device performs an emergency stop control in which the brake is operated and power supply to the motor is interrupted. When the movement of the arm is detected based on an output of the rotational position detector during the emergency stop control, the control device supplies power to the motor to prevent the movement of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taketsugu Tsuda, Yoshiki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 10088826
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a method of analyzing and characterizing the thermal growth of a CNC machine is provided. The method may include mounting an artifact having a bore onto a CNC machine and performing a test cycle. The test cycle may include probing the bore of the artifact to determine its location relative to the CNC machine and performing a dry cycle including one or more CNC machining processes. The method may further include calculating a deviation of the bore location from a reference relative location between the bore and CNC machine. The method may be used to improve, troubleshoot, or assess the effectiveness of CNC machine thermal compensation mechanisms. The method may start at ambient temperature and include repeating test cycles until a steady state temperature is reached in the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chandra Sekhar Jalluri, David Norman Dilley, Trevor LeRoi Hill, Amando Jose Sebastian, Mark Goderis
  • Patent number: 10078320
    Abstract: A position correcting system, method and tool for guiding a tool during its use based on its location relative to the material being worked on. Provided is a system and tool which uses its auto correcting technology to precisely rout or cut material. The invention provides a camera which is used to track the visual features of the surface of the material being cut to build a map and locate an image on that map used to reference the location of the tool for auto-correction of the cutting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Shaper Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Alec Rothmyer Rivers, Ilan Ellison Moyer
  • Patent number: 10025290
    Abstract: A thermal displacement correction training unit has a virtual machine tool, a virtual machine tool control unit and a virtual machine tool display unit. The virtual machine tool has a precision decline imitating unit for imitating the process precision decline caused by the heat during operation in the virtual machine tool unit, and a precision decline calculation unit for finding the amount of precision decline that represents the process precision decline in the process machine unit imitated by the process precision imitating unit. The virtual machine tool control unit has a precision correction unit for finding the correction amount by which the processing point is corrected in response to thermal displacement, and a correction amount adjustment unit for adjusting the correction amount found by the precision correction unit. The virtual machine tool display unit displays the amount of precision decline and the correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shouhei Takeno
  • Patent number: 10025292
    Abstract: An offset number setting device that freely and easily sets an offset number for a tool to be mounted on a tool holder of a turret surface. A display linkage unit displays a turret surface selection screen on a display, displays a tool holder selection screen on the display by selecting the turret surface, and displays an offset number setting screen on the display by selecting the tool holder. An offset number is therefore set for the tool along with the selection of the turret surface on which the tool is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Shinohara, Shinji Fujita
  • Patent number: 10007247
    Abstract: A numerical control device is the numerical control device that controls a machine tool including a plurality of spindles that each rotate a tool opposed to a workpiece around a tool axis relative to the workpiece and a feed shaft that performs a feed operation such that a plurality of the tools relatively move closer to a plurality of the workpieces, and the numerical control device includes an associated-synchronous-tapping unit that associates, according to an associated-synchronous-tapping command, rotation and feed of a spindle on an associated side among the spindles with rotation and feed of a spindle on a reference side among the spindles and simultaneously performs synchronous tapping with the tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Sagasaki, Koji Terada
  • Patent number: 9977420
    Abstract: A position correcting system, method and tool for guiding a tool during its use based on its location relative to the material being worked on. Provided is a system and tool which uses its auto correcting technology to precisely rout or cut material. The invention provides a camera which is used to track the visual features of the surface of the material being cut to build a map and locate an image on that map used to reference the location of the tool for auto-correction of the cutting path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Shaper Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Alec Rothmyer Rivers, Ilan Ellison Moyer
  • Patent number: 9971343
    Abstract: A portable plug-and-play intelligent system for monitoring and controlling process variations of a workpiece of a machine is provided. The portable plug-and-play intelligent system includes one or more sensors, a controller, a work piece, a plug & play modular fixture with a motor, a database, a comparison unit, and a control unit. The one or more sensors collect real-time data of the workpiece from the machine. The controller processes the real-time data collected from the one or more sensors. The database stores the processed real-time data. The comparison unit compares the real-time data of the workpiece with predefined specifications of the workpiece to check whether the real-time data is accurate or not. The control unit triggers the motor to allow the plug-and-play modular fixture to adjust the parameter variables of the machine to the predefined specifications of the workpiece when the real-time data is not accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ganesh Kumar Nithyanandam, Radhakrishnan Pezhinkattil
  • Patent number: 9952582
    Abstract: Maximum values of actual machining allowances of a workpiece in respective cutting flutes are averaged by control amounts of respective cutting flutes calculated by an arithmetic unit. The arithmetic unit converts the calculated control amounts into an amount in each axis direction and subtracts the value from a feed axis command value in an NC program stored in a storage unit. Then, a numeral value control unit performs machining by controlling respective feed axes based on the subtracted feed axis command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 9939799
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for machining a workpiece (2). The method comprises: specifying a path along which a cutting tool (6) is to be moved during machining of the workpiece (2), the path comprising a plurality of segments (26); defining, for each segment (26), an entry point and an entry path (32) from a point remote from the workpiece (2) to that entry point; moving a first cutting tool (6) along the tool path from a first point to a second point and machining the workpiece (2); after the first cutting tool (6) has been moved to the second point, moving the first cutting tool (6) to a point remote from the workpiece (2); moving a second cutting tool (18) along the entry path (32) of the segment (26) that contains the second point, and then from the entry point to the second point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Michael Carberry, Austin James Cook, David McMillan, Aron Derecichei, Craig Ashmore
  • Patent number: 9939800
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for machining a workpiece (2). The method comprises specifying a path along which a cutting tool (6) is moved during machining the workpiece (2), the path comprising segments (26); defining, for each segment (26), an exit point on that segment (26); defining, for each segment (26), an exit path (38) from the exit point of that segment (26) to a point remote from the workpiece (2); performing a machining process including moving the cutting tool (6) along the tool path and machining the workpiece (2); and, during the machining process, when one or more criteria are satisfied: interrupting the machining process and, without machining the workpiece (2), moving the cutting tool (6) to the exit point of the current segment (26) and then along the exit path (38) of the current segment (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Michael Carberry, Austin James Cook, David McMillan, Aron Derecichei, Craig Ashmore
  • Patent number: 9811073
    Abstract: A machine tool includes a shaft load measuring unit measures a load of the main shaft motor. When a measured load of the main shaft motor exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that a tool is brought into contact with a work. Detection and correction of thermal displacement of the main shaft are performed by comparing a reference time and a measured time for the tool to reach the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuma Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9772618
    Abstract: A cutting tool controller and method of controlling are provided. The method includes providing a swing angle for the cutting tool, obtaining a swing vector of the cutting tool through kinematics calculation according to the swing angle, using the swing vector of the cutting tool to calculate a set of possible solutions of a swaying angle of the cutting tool, selecting a possible solution satisfying an operation condition of the machine from the set of possible solutions, using the selected possible solution to calculate an offset of positions of the cutting tool before and after swaying, so as to generate a compensation vector, calculating required compensation values for three axes of the machine according to the compensation vector, and outputting a control command including the compensation values, such that the cutting tool of the machine or a working table for placing the workpiece thereon of the machine moves correspondingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Che-Wei Hsu, Chien-Yi Lee, Yi-Ying Lin, Shih-Je Shiu, Yung-Ming Kao
  • Patent number: 9572537
    Abstract: A support apparatus in which a distribution of a load for a user can be designated. The load occurs at body parts of the user by a stand-up motion. A processor calculates a projection position of a center of gravity of the user onto a floor, calculates a region of the floor where the projection position is to be included at the stand-up motion, calculates a target position in the region based on the distribution, and calculates a direction from the projection position to the target position. The target position is nearer to one body part of the user to which a larger load distribution is designated than on other body parts to which a smaller load distribution is designated. A designation direction for the user to bend the body in advance of the stand-up motion is output based on the direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takamitsu Sunaoshi, Hideki Nukada
  • Patent number: 9448551
    Abstract: A translation/rotation error compensation amount creating device creates, for a multi-axis machining apparatus having two rotation axes, a translation error compensation amount and a rotation error compensation amount both depending on the rotation axes. The translation/rotation error compensation amount creating device calculates the translation error compensation amount and the rotation error compensation amount based on an assembly error (set value) including at least an assembly error in a table surface or an assembly error in a spindle turning centerline in a multi-axis machining apparatus as well as the positions of the two rotation axes, and inputs the calculated error compensation amounts to a numerical controller controlling the multi-axis machining apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Otsuki, Osamu Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 9448552
    Abstract: A spindle error measurement jig is attached to a spindle of a numerically-controlled machine tool. A probe capable of measurement in a moving axis direction of each axis of the machine tool is installed on a table. By means of driving-control of a linear shaft driving the table and a linear shaft elevating a spindle head, spindle error measurement is made by measuring a spindle center position measurement hole and a spindle angular deviation measurement end-face so as to make spindle error calculation. On the basis of the calculation result, an angular deviation and a spindle error compensation amount are acquired, and they are used as parameters for compensating relative movement amounts of the table and the spindle so as to correct the spindle error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Uenishi
  • Patent number: 9448052
    Abstract: A control method of a shape measuring apparatus divides a curve indicating a movement path of a probe into a plurality of sections. A measurement target section is selected from the plurality of sections sequentially from a starting point side of the curve indicating the movement path of the probe. A first curvature radius is calculated from a curvature of the measurement target section. A second curvature radius is calculated according to an angle between a first straight line connecting a starting point to an ending point of the measurement target section and a second straight line connecting a starting point to an ending point of a section next to the measurement target section. A smaller value from among the first curvature radius and the second curvature radius is set as an effective radius. A maximum speed of probe movement increasing according to an increase in the effective radius is calculated for the measurement target section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Noda, Hiromi Deguchi
  • Patent number: 9002502
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and the like that are capable of calculating a correction value for a rotational axis and make it possible to correct an error in position or position and posture of a tool, which results from a geometric error, correct an error in posture of the tool, and also enhance the accuracy in machining by preventing a translational axis from operating in an infinitesimal manner due to a correction command. In a machine tool having two or more translational axes and one or more rotational axes, a correction value for each of the translational axes is calculated using a command position of each of the rotational axes, a coordinate value of a correction reference point as one point designated in advance in a command position space of each of the translational axes, and a geometric parameter representing the geometrical error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8901860
    Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus according to the present invention includes a photovoltaic module and a tracking control device. The photovoltaic module includes a plurality of series portions coupled in parallel. The series portion includes a plurality of photovoltaic elements coupled in series. The photovoltaic elements coupled in a same straight row of the plurality of series portions are coupled parallel to one another. The tracking control device is configured to perform a maximum power point tracking control on an output of the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes a temperature sensor that detects a real panel temperature that is a panel temperature when the photovoltaic module is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Yaoi, Kohtaroh Kataoka, Masatomi Harada, Kohichiroh Adachi, Yoshiji Ohta, Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 8434392
    Abstract: A sensor and monitoring system for performing work upon an inner diameter of a machined workpiece, such as a pipe turned by a lathe, with the work being viewed and/or recorded remotely. The system includes a sensing device having an elongated rod, at least one sensor mounted to a first end of the rod, and a power supply and a transceiver mounted to a second end of the rod, the sensor being positioned within the bore of the workpiece for performing work upon the inner diameter and the transceiver and power supply positioned external to the bore. A controller device is wirelessly connected to the transceiver for wirelessly receiving and sending communication signals to and from the sensor via the transceiver. The sensor may of various types, such as a linear touch probe, a distance sensing laser, a temperature, vibration, gas, noise, or ultrasonic sensor, or a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Virtual Dial Indicator, LLC.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Lerner, Daniel M. Lerner, Mitch R. Demny, John M. Prutzman
  • Patent number: 8432119
    Abstract: Disclosed are various systems and methods for assessing and improving the capability of a machine tool. The disclosure applies to machine tools having at least one slide configured to move along a motion axis. Various patterns of dynamic excitation commands are employed to drive the one or more slides, typically involving repetitive short distance displacements. A quantification of a measurable merit of machine tool response to the one or more patterns of dynamic excitation commands is typically derived for the machine tool. Examples of measurable merits of machine tool performance include workpiece surface finish, and the ability to generate chips of the desired length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Y-12, LLC
    Inventors: William E. Barkman, Edwin F. Babelay, Jr., Kevin Scott Smith, Thomas S. Assaid, Justin T. McFarland, David A. Tursky, Bethany Woody, David Adams
  • Patent number: 8283884
    Abstract: A five-axis machining tool that machines a workpiece mounted on a table using three linear axes and two rotary axes is controlled by a numerical controller. The numerical controller calculates a translational compensation amount and a rotational compensation amount by obtaining axis-dependent translational compensation amounts and axis-dependent rotational compensation amounts on the basis of commanded axis positions. Then, the numerical controller moves the three linear axes and the two rotary axes of the five-axis machining tool to positions obtained by adding the translational compensation amount and the rotational compensation amount thus calculated to a command linear axis position and a command rotary axis position, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: FANUC Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Otsuki, Soichiro Ide, Osamu Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 8041447
    Abstract: A numerical controller controlling a 5-axis machine tool compensates setting error that arises when a workpiece is set on the table. Error in the three linear axes and the two rotation axes are compensated using preset error amounts to keep the calculated tool position and tool direction in a command coordinate system. If a trigonometric function used for error compensation has a plurality of solution sets, the solution set closest to the tool direction in the command coordinate system is selected from the plurality of solution sets and used as the positions of the two rotation axes compensated in the above error compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: FANUC Ltd
    Inventors: Toshiaki Otsuki, Soichiro Ide, Takafumi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20110234142
    Abstract: A five-axis machining tool that machines a workpiece mounted on a table using three linear axes and two rotary axes is controlled by a numerical controller. The numerical controller calculates a translational compensation amount and a rotational compensation amount by obtaining axis-dependent translational compensation amounts and axis-dependent rotational compensation amounts on the basis of commanded axis positions. Then, the numerical controller moves the three linear axes and the two rotary axes of the five-axis machining tool to positions obtained by adding the translational compensation amount and the rotational compensation amount thus calculated to a command linear axis position and a command rotary axis position, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki OTSUKI, Soichiro IDE, Osamu HANAOKA
  • Patent number: 7969111
    Abstract: A numerical controller capable of moving a tool end point position to an accurate position in a five-axis machining apparatus. Compensation amounts are set, which correspond to respective ones of a linear axis-dependent translational error, a rotary axis-dependent translational error, a linear axis-dependent rotational error, and a rotary axis-dependent rotational error, which are produced in the five-axis machining apparatus. A translational/rotational compensation amount ?3D is determined from these compensation amounts and added to a command linear axis position Pm. As the compensation amounts, there is used a corresponding one of six-dimensional lattice point compensation vectors, which are determined in advance as errors due to the use of a mechanical system and measured at lattice points of lattices into which the entire machine movable region is divided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Toshiaki Otsuki, Takehiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7902785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for guiding the displacement of a displaceable machine element (18) in a machine, comprising the following steps: a) specification of a guide target variable (xtarg) that describes the desired displacement operation of the machine element (18); b) determination of a pilot actual variable (Mpilot) and/or a guide actual variable (xact) from the guide target variable (xtarg) using a model (2), said model (2) comprising a path model (3), which simulates the dynamic behaviour of the elements (16, 18) involved in the displacement. The invention also relates to a device that corresponds to the method. The invention permits the optimised guidance of the displacement of a displaceable machine element (18) in a machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Denk, Klaus Geissdörfer, Jens Hamann, Elmar Schäfers, Bernd Wedel
  • Patent number: 7852031
    Abstract: A machine tool capable of automatically correcting an orientation of a workpiece or machining attachment based on detection results from position detectors that the machine tool inherently has. The machine tool comprises: position detectors; position deviation determining means; contact detection means that detects a contact between a probe and a surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment based on a position deviation; movable axis stopping means; coordinate value detection means; inclination determining means; and correction means. The inclination determining means moves linear axes to perform detection of contacts between the probe and the surface of the workpiece or the machining attachment at least two different points, and determines an inclination of the workpiece or the machining attachment using the obtained coordinate values. The correction means corrects a mounting error of the workpiece or the machining attachment, or corrects the machining program based on the determined inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yonpyo Hon, Kenzo Ebihara, Tomohiko Kawai
  • Publication number: 20100164424
    Abstract: A tool compensation system for compensating abrasion of a tool includes a rangefinder, a control system, and a compensation apparatus. The compensation apparatus includes an actuator, a transmission element, and a regulator. The rangefinder measures an actual length of the tool. The control system calculates a compensation value according to the actual length, and outputs a control instruction to the compensation apparatus according to the compensation value. The transmission element is actuated by the actuator to move a distance equaling to the compensation value in response to receiving the control instruction. The regulator is configured for supporting an article to be machined by the tool, and capable of moving towards the tool under the actuation of the transmission element, to compensate for abrasion of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: FOXNUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: CHING-CHENG YANG
  • Patent number: 7656106
    Abstract: There is provided a servo controller for synchronously controlling a master side drive source to drive one drive axis and a slave side drive source to drive the other drive axis. The servo controller includes a correction data calculation means for calculating correction data to correct a positional deviation of a slave side drive source according to a synchronization error which is a difference between a positional deviation of a master side drive source and a positional deviation of the slave side drive source, in which the correction data is added to the positional deviation of the slave side drive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasusuke Iwashita, Yukio Toyozawa, Kazuomi Maeda
  • Publication number: 20090140684
    Abstract: A numerical controller capable of moving a tool end point position to an accurate position in a five-axis machining apparatus. Compensation amounts are set, which correspond to respective ones of a linear axis-dependent translational error, a rotary axis-dependent translational error, a linear axis-dependent rotational error, and a rotary axis-dependent rotational error, which are produced in the five-axis machining apparatus. A translational/rotational compensation amount ?3D is determined from these compensation amounts and added to a command linear axis position Pm. As the compensation amounts, there is used a corresponding one of six-dimensional lattice point compensation vectors, which are determined in advance as errors due to the use of a mechanical system and measured at lattice points of lattices into which the entire machine movable region is divided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: FANUC LTD
    Inventors: Toshiaki Otsuki, Takehiro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080252248
    Abstract: A device and a method for tool center point calibration of an industrial robot. The device is intended to calibrate an industrial robot with respect to a tool mounted on the robot. The device includes a camera designed to take a plurality of images of at least part of the robot tool for a plurality of different tool orientations, an image-processing unit designed to determine the positions of the robot tool in the orientations based on the images, a calculation module adapted to calculate the position of the center point of the robot tool, based on the determined positions, and a control module adapted to calculate the corrective movements of the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Ivan Lundberg, Niklas Durinder, Torgny Brogardh
  • Patent number: 7425811
    Abstract: When a servomotor (control axis) is coasting and rotating in a servo-off state in which no current is applied to the servomotor, this servo-off state is switched over to a servo-on state in which current is applied to the servomotor, and a position control and a speed control are started. An actual speed in servo-on state is obtained in speed obtaining means by a position/speed detector. Position command means obtains a command movement amount using the actual speed as an initial speed. A position deviation amount corresponding to the actual speed is calculated, a command movement amount, a position deviation amount, and a position deviation amount remaining in a position deviation counter in servo-on state with the sign thereof reversed are added to each other as a command amount to the position deviation counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd
    Inventors: Yasushi Onishi, Tetsuo Hishikawa, Takashi Idei
  • Patent number: 7130718
    Abstract: A method for an industrial robot to increase accuracy in movements of the robot. A first path is formed by bringing a tool supported by the robot to adopt a plurality of generated positions. A plurality of observed positions of the tool moving along the first path are determined. A second path is formed of the determined tool positions. A correction is determined by a path deviation between geometrically determined positions in the first path and the second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Svante Gunnarsson, Mikael Norrlof, Geir Hovland, Ulf Carlsson, Torgny Brogardh, Tommy Svensson, Stig Moberg
  • Patent number: 7030586
    Abstract: The invention regards a method for co-ordinating and synchronizing the movement of servo-assisted axes in machines and apparatuses which execute various industrial applications. The method in object is applied in the programming of electronic control systems using specific commands collected in a particular table subdivided into sectors and known as a “CAM TABLE”, according to a programming technique known as “CAMMING”. The fundamental characteristic of the devised method is given by the fact that inside the aforementioned sectors of the CAM TABLE are described, through the use of a special operating code comprising a plurality of operating instructions, both the position relationships and the virtual laws of motion which bind a first reference axis known as the “MASTER axis”, and each of the other axes known as “SLAVE axes” together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: QEM S.r.l.
    Inventors: Adriano Cazzavillan, Pietro Magnabosco, Dario Zatton
  • Patent number: 7012395
    Abstract: In a method for continuous-path control in at least two linear axes and at least one angle axis, the movement of a tool relative to a workpiece is predefined by a parts program for a numerical control. The velocity control in the numerical control is performed separately for the linear axes and the angle axes. Deviations in the movement between the tool and the workpiece resulting due to the separate velocity control may be corrected by compensation movements of the linear axes. The separate velocity control for the linear axes and the angle axes may be achieved by rounding the velocity profiles in the angle axes more significantly than the velocity profiles in the linear axes. A measure for the rounding for velocity profiles may be predefined separately for the angle axes and the linear axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Haunerdinger, Johann Zacek, Anton Brader, Michael Rauth
  • Patent number: RE39907
    Abstract: The present invention involves a tolerance based motion controller. The controller is capable of processing a group of tolerance constraints. The tolerance constraints specify where and when each tolerance constraint is to be applied, along with the information specifying the desired trajectory of motion. There are also a group of velocity constraints, specifying the maximum allowable velocity at each point along the desired trajectory. This information along with sensor feedback is used to modify the velocity along the actual trajectory of motion. This results in the time required traverse the trajectory being as short as possible. Also, the actual trajectory of motion should never exceed the permissible deviation from the desired trajectory, as specified by the tolerance constraints, with the velocity always being bounded by the specified velocity constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jiawei Hong