Abstract: In order in a method for a machine tool which has at least five axes and can be used to produce a joining face which is defined by fixed, geometrical variables and joins at least two main faces to one another and has at least two bends in different directions, to improve the quality of the surface and to shorten the traversing paths of the tool, it is proposed according to the invention to use a tool which has a lateral surface (12) which is provided with a rotationally symmetrical contour (13) on which at least one cutting edge is arranged, the contour (13) having with reference to a longitudinal section along the rotation axis (11) of the tool at least one section which is congruent with at least one section of one of the two bends (6) of the joining face (5), it being possible for the purpose of producing the joining face (5, 5′, 35) to guide the tool in the direction (19) of a longitudinal extent of the joining face (5, 5′, 35) so that the tool engages with the workpiece, and the alignment of

Abstract: A method for programming axial movements and events for industrial controllers is disclosed. A user may use an input device to enter axial movements and events into an electronic computer system, and thereafter generate controller language or code. The language or code may be used to operate the controller.

Abstract: To provide a numerically controlled curved surface machining unit, and a method or program thereof, which, by moving a tool smoothly along a NURBS (non-uniform rational B-spline) curve, enables not only to improve the machining surface roughness and machining surface accuracy but to achieve high-speed machining so as to be able to eliminate hand finishing and reduce machining steps drastically.

Abstract: Method of generating tool movement path data 9 includes determining a tool constraining surface (12) which is offset from a three-dimensional surface (22) to be generated, by a distance equal to a radial dimension of rotary machining tool (20), in a direction normal to the three-dimensional surface, determining tool path constraining surfaces (32) for constraining the tool according to the geometry of the three-dimensional surface, and obtaining three-dimensional curved line equations representing intersection lines (34) between the constraining surfaces (12, 32). Since desired curved surfaces may be used as the tool path constraining surfaces (32), the tool movement path can be suitably determined with high freedom depending upon the geometry of the three-dimensional surface (22) to be generated.

Abstract: A milling cutter is moved relative to a workpiece rotating about a given axis to thereby cut the workpiece into a last. A milling cutter moving apparatus moves the milling cutter in accordance with movement data stored in a memory. The movement data is such that when the milling cutter is moved relative to the rotating workpiece in accordance with the movement data, the cutting edge of the milling cutter, at each of the rotational positions of the workpiece, is at a location where it would contact the surface of the last if the last were rotated about the given axis.

Abstract: A modeling operation of a shape of a work (3) is performed by a CAD (1). A tool path calculation section (15) calculates path data having, as an attribute, position and force information by a fuzzy inference or the like by shape information, machining information and machined surface information. A machining program is produced on the basis of the path data in a machining program producing section (17). Orbit data for every renewal cycle Tm concerning the position, posture, force and moment are calculated in a position and/or force operation planning section (19) and a position and/or force orbit producing section (21). Then, a simultaneous feedback control is performed for the position and the frictional force in a controlling section (23).

Abstract: A pipeline inspection and defect mapping system includes a pig having an inertial measurement unit and a pipeline inspection unit for recording pig location and defect detection events, each record time-stamped by a highly precise onboard clock. The system also includes several magloggers at precisely known locations along the pipeline, each containing a fluxgate magnetometer for detecting the passage of the pig along the pipeline and further containing a highly precise clock synchronized with the clock in the pig. The locations of the various magloggers are known in a north/east/down coordinate system through a differential global positioning satellite process. Finally, a postprocessing off-line computer system receives downloaded maglogger, inertial measurement, and odometer data and through the use of several Kalman filters, derives the location of the detected defects in the north/east/down coordinate frame. Consequently, a task of identifying sites for repair activity is much simplified.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating orientation action commands of NC machine tools. Workpiece surfaces are grouped according to inclination of the surfaces on the basis of machining information. Optimum orientation angles are decided for each of the groups, and numerical control commands are generated on the basis of the decided orientation angle.

Abstract: A method of and a system for generating free-form surfaces with NURBS boundary Gregory patches and the formed surface is G1 continuous with adjacent surfaces while the inner areas of the formed surface are C1 continuous.

Abstract: A system for analyzing the quality of the sawing of a material which includes a scanning unit, a cut parameter identifier and a cut analyzer. The scanning unit scans along cuts of the material and views at least a portion of a cut. The cut parameter identifier identifies and stores parameters of the viewed cut portion. The cut analyzer analyzes the parameters of a multiplicity of viewed cut portions and which determines the quality of the cuts therefrom.

Abstract: A curved surface to be meshed and a tensor at each point on the curved surface are inputted. Then, bubbles are generated in parametric space corresponding to the curved surface and in accordance with tensors transformed according to the relationship between the curved surface and parametric space. Following this, the bubbles are moved in parametric space by inter-bubble force defined by a predetermined rule, and are transformed by using the transformed tensors. The number of the bubbles is also controlled, so that stable locations for the bubbles in parametric space can be determined. Next, a connection relationship between mesh nodes, which are centers of the bubbles located in parametric space, is determined in parametric space. Finally, a mesh is generated on the curved surface by employing the positions and the connection relationship of the mesh nodes.

Abstract: Actual machining positions P1, P2, . . . corresponding to command positions S1, S2, S3 . . . of each block of NC data are obtained by trial machining. Positions that correspond symmetrically to the actual machining positions P1, P2, . . . with respect to the command positions S1, S2, S3 . . . of each block are obtained. Modified NC data are created with use of the symmetrical positions as modified command positions for each block. The modified NC data include correction values for modifying positional differences attributable to a delay in a servo system. Therefore, if machining is carried out in accordance with the modified NC data, the correction values and a follow-up delay attributable to the actual delay in the servo system cancel one another, so that a high-accuracy work shape can be obtained.

Abstract: A gauging system is disclosed. The gauging system is adapted to determine the dimensions of an elongate workpiece. A movement assembly is provided for effecting relative longitudinal movement between the gauging device and the elongate workpiece so that the gauging device can repeatedly detect the diameter of the workpiece relative to reference positions along the length of the workpiece. This enables the profile of the workpiece to be accurately determined. The gauging device may comprise a laser gauge, or other non-contact gauge. Alternatively, the gauging device may comprise a contact gauge.

Abstract: A process for machining mechanical parts, including the milling of parts having a complex shape, includes the steps of determining the volume of the part to be machined, defining a corresponding machining grid, plotting the machining grid defined for the volume of the part to be machined, programming the plotted machining grid, and machining the part, grid line by grid line, according to the established programming. The process is implemented with an apparatus including a machining head coupled with a tool support. The tool support for the machining head (e.g., a cutting tool head) is positioned to face a predetermined point of the grid line to be machined, and immobilized. The machining head is mobilized to machine the desired grid line, with the tool support remaining fixed.

Abstract: An automatic programming apparatus comprises a machining unit preparing section for preparing plural machining units, a machining unit defining section for selecting a designated machining unit from the prepared machining units and designating the arrangement and size of the machining area of the selected machining unit, and an machined material creating section for creating a shape with the machining area shape removed from the material shape. The automatic programming apparatus and method for an NC machine which can easily create a machining program in complicated machining and also create a correct program quickly in complicated machining by trial and error.

Abstract: Data about a plurality of curved surfaces which are expressed in various forms are inputted, and based on the inputted data, the curved surfaces are defined by a set of rational functions with respect to parameters u and v. Then, calculation for intersections which are necessary for machining is carried out, and paths of a cutting tool are calculated. In figuring out the solution of the set of rational functions, first, the extremal value and the point of inflection are calculated, and the solution is calculated by an analytically focusing method with the initial value set between the extremal value and the point of inflection. When a plurality of curved surfaces are expressed in the same form, the curved surfaces are unified into a single surface.

Abstract: In a machine tool, a component such as a grinding wheel acts on a workpiece to form the latter into a circularly asymmetric shape, for example, a crankpin. Movement of the grinding wheel is controlled by a control signal which is derived from theoretical relative positions and positional velocities of the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece. In the course of at least one revolution of the workpiece, the respective positions of the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece are measured for each of a succession of angular positions of the workpiece. The measured positions are compared with corresponding theoretical positions and data indicative of any differences are stored, and then used to modify the control signal during a subsequent revolution of the workpiece so as to compensate for any of said differences and thereby reduce the magnitude of any error which would have resulted from the measured positional differences.