Abstract: A recording medium of a CNC machine tool is used for storing a program specifying the operations to be executed by the CNC machine tool. The program comprises a master program and a slave program which can be called by the master program. The master program has a plurality of control instructions and parameters for bringing about signals to control a series of operations to be performed by the CNC machine tool. The slave program is an assembly of a plurality of path describing instructions.

Abstract: The setting of parameters in a transfer press is simplified by inputting pattern information to an interference checker. From the pattern information (stroke of each shaft, slide stroke and the like) the interference checker simulates the movement conditions of the die, fingers, and product shapes to check the interference status. The pattern information is sent to the transfer press. Also, interference is simulated for display or printing before actual press operation is required.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for automatically realigning an end effector of an automated equipment after an undesired contact of the end effector to prevent a crash of the end effector. The present invention includes a plurality of contact detectors, and each of the contact detectors is disposed at a respective location with respect to the end effector. In addition, each of the contact detectors generates a respective signal for indicating direction of force on the end effector that results from the undesired contact. Furthermore, the present invention includes an end effector controller that is coupled to the plurality of contact detectors and to the end effector. The end effector controller causes the end effector to move to a reset position after the undesired contact when any of the respective signals from the plurality of contact detectors is greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: An interference removal system is provided for determining the possible removal of a component from an assembly where the component to be removed is in an environment including other components that interfere with its removal. The system uses dimensional data to define the removal component and its environment including other components. A boundary space is established around the removal component where the boundary space includes another component interfering with removal of the removal component. The removal component then randomly moves within the boundary space until it is free from interference with its environment. The system is intended to assist in automated path planning by removing initial interference conditions.

Abstract: A method, system, and storage medium for increasing the efficiency of integrated circuit (IC) manufacture by improvements in manufacturing equipment usage are provided. Process tools are assigned to one of three operating states: up, down, or conditional. In the up state, process tools are available for manufacturing. After certain manufacturing steps, the quality of the ICs being made upon wafers is evaluated. If potentially defective ICs are found, process tools that have processed the wafer may be placed in the conditional state. In this state, process tools are allowed to continue manufacturing, albeit only for a limited period. The conditional state gives personnel time to determine which process tool is responsible for the defective product. The responsible process tool is then placed in the down state while all others are placed back in the up state. Once the problem with the process tool in the down state is presumably repaired, it is placed in the conditional state.

Abstract: Fault detection of a semiconductor processing tool employs several techniques to improve accuracy. One technique is sensor grouping, wherein a fault detection index is calculated from a group of tool operational parameters that correlate with one another. Another technique is sensor ranking, wherein sensors are accorded different weights in calculating the fault detection index. Improved accuracy in fault detection may be accomplished by employing a variety of sensor types to predict behavior of the semiconductor processing tool. Examples of such sensor types include active sensors, cluster sensors, passive/inclusive sensors, and synthetic sensors.

Abstract: A key input section which permits the execution of output controls is provided on a teach pendant. A control unit of a robot control system ignores all input movement requests to move the robot if a key of the key input section is depressed and if an output of the key is an output set for prohibiting the movement of the robot and is in an output state that is set.

Abstract: A device and a method for distinguishing and automatically identifying and classifying tools using the device are disclosed. The device has a fixed reading unit attached to a machine tool and a coding system on a rotating tool. The coding system is a series of coding elements which are arranged on the rotating tool in the circumferential direction having a prescribed pitch spacing at different circumferential distances from one another, and which are successively sensed by the reading unit during rotation of the tool.

Abstract: This invention relates to the parallel structure of a spatial 3-axis machine tool with three degrees of freedom (3 DOF), which have two translational DOF and one rotational DOF. The machine tool includes a base, a mobile platform to which a tool may be attached, and three kinematic legs. Two of the three legs are in a same plane, and each have one 3-DOF spherical joint and two 1-DOF joints. The third leg has one 1-DOF joint and two universal joints. Compared with traditional machine tools, this invention possesses several advantages such as simple structure, high stiffness, low inertia, low cost, and high speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a processing machine having the function of sensitively detect collisions or other abnormalities to prevent the machine from being operated under abnormal conditions. Means 22 is provided for detecting a load on a drive source 1 for driving a movable member 2. Abnormality determining means 23 is provided for determining the load is abnormal if the lead as detected by the abnormality means 22 exceeds an abnormality determination level (Lb). The abnormality determining means 23 sets the abnormality determination level (Lb) on the basis of the load as measured during the preceding driving operation of the movable member 2 or the average of loads as measured during several past driving operations that are temporally close to the current one.

Abstract: The numerically controlled machining apparatus according to the invention displays data such as a tool reduction allowance, a tool core gap amount, and a tool shape and the like to a tool, which is set with displaying setting condition of a tool is set at the tool exchanging means, which detected by the tool set detecting means, and displays a tool setting condition by indicating a tool which is set in the tool exchanging means and that not set in the tool exchanging means with a different color respectively.

Abstract: A machine tool has a carriage, has a workpiece carriage for carrying a workpiece from which material is removed by a tool carried by a tool carriage. A two-axis scale is attached to one of the carriages, and cooperates with a reading head attached to the other carriage. The output from the reading head is processed by signaling processing means to provide an indication of the position and/or movement of the carriages relative to each other and for generating positional data about one or both of the carriages to assist in controlling their movement in order to perform a machine operation. By directly measuring the relative positions of the two carriages, problems arising from, for example, distortions of the machine frame on which the carriages are mounted are at least mitigated.

Abstract: An interference preventing method for industrial robots comprising a step (II) of reading a present position of the hand, a step (III) of computing the difference between the taught target position and the present position of the hand, a step (IV) of judging whether this difference is within a predetermined range or not, a step (V) of setting a moving speed of the hand to a predetermined normal speed when the difference is within the predetermined range, a step (VI) of setting the moving speed of the hand to a predetermined low speed when the difference is out of the predetermined range, and a step (VII) of moving the hand automatically to the target position at the set speed. When the hand is moved over a long distance in the case of which interference is liable to occur, the moving speed thereof is low; when the hand is moved over a short distance, the moving speed thereof is normal.

Abstract: A machining program checking method is provided for a numerical control device which controls an NC lathe for performing a machining operation with a plurality of tools simultaneously mounted on a turret thereof, wherein interference of the tools with a workpiece or with various parts of the lathe can be surely detected before the machining operation is actually executed.