Abstract: A reference mirror 21 is disposed on a table 2, a first laser displacement sensor L1 for measuring a machined surface of a workpiece W and a second laser displacement sensor L2 for measuring a reference surface of the reference mirror 21 are disposed to a tool holder 3. A measurement motion applying section 24 causes the table 2 and the tool holder 3 to relatively move in a sinusoidal trajectory, and a sensitivity calculating section 28 calculates sensitivity of the first laser displacement sensor L1 based on machined-surface displacement data and reference-surface displacement data which are measured during the relative movement. Subsequently, an actual shape data calculating section 29 corrects the machined-surface displacement data based on the calculated sensitivity, and calculates actual shape data of the machined surface by taking the difference between the corrected machined-surface displacement data and the reference-surface displacement data.

Abstract: A reference mirror 21 is disposed on a table 2, a first laser displacement sensor L1 for measuring a machined surface of a workpiece W and a second laser displacement sensor L2 for measuring a reference surface of the reference mirror 21 are disposed to a tool holder 3. A measurement motion applying section 24 causes the table 2 and the tool holder 3 to relatively move in a sinusoidal trajectory, and a sensitivity calculating section 28 calculates sensitivity of the first laser displacement sensor L1 based on machined-surface displacement data and reference-surface displacement data which are measured during the relative movement. Subsequently, an actual shape data calculating section 29 corrects the machined-surface displacement data based on the calculated sensitivity, and calculates actual shape data of the machined surface by taking the difference between the corrected machined-surface displacement data and the reference-surface displacement data.

Abstract: A process planning apparatus extracts a region to be machined based on the difference of the shape data before and after machining of the workpiece, replaces the extracted region into combinations of the predetermined machining features, allocates a predetermined fixed cycle to each of the replaced machining features, and applies an assessment function relating to a machining time and a life of the end mill to each of the combinations of the machining features to which the fixed cycles are respectively allocated, thereby selecting a group of the fixed cycles which makes an assessment value obtained by the assessment function optimum as the optimal process. By these steps, it becomes possible to design the process for causing the NC machine employing end mills as a cutting tool to perform a predetermined machining of a workpiece without relying on the experience of the designer, and without necessitating complicated work.

Abstract: End-mill machining control method and apparatus in which cutting forces tangential and normal to tool motion are detected and machining is controlled based on the detected cutting force values. A primary component Ft and motion axis components Fx, Fy of a cutting force are determined from current values of a spindle motor and motion axis motors for tool feed. A cutting-engaged angle ?en is determined from a radius R of a tool and a depth of cut I into a workpiece. A motion direction angle ? is determined from distribution motion amounts ?X, ?Y to the axes. The cutting forces Fm, Fs tangential and normal to tool motion are determined from the primary component Ft and a motion axis component Fx or Fy whichever is the largest, the cutting-engaged angle ?en, the motion direction angle ?. The accuracy of the determined cutting forces Fm, Fs is high since they are determined from the primary component Ft less affected by disturbance and the largest axis component of the cutting force.

Abstract: A process planning apparatus extracts a region to be machined based on the difference of the shape data before and after machining of the workpiece, replaces the extracted region into combinations of the predetermined machining features, allocates a predetermined fixed cycle to each of the replaced machining features, and applies an assessment function relating to a machining time and a life of the end mill to each of the combinations of the machining features to which the fixed cycles are respectively allocated, thereby selecting a group of the fixed cycles which makes an assessment value obtained by the assessment function optimum as the optimal process. By these steps, it becomes possible to design the process for causing the NC machine employing end mills as a cutting tool to perform a predetermined machining of a workpiece without relying on the experience of the designer, and without necessitating complicated work.

Abstract: End-mill machining control method and apparatus in which cutting forces tangential and normal to tool motion are detected and machining is controlled based on the detected cutting force values. A primary component Ft and motion axis components Fx, Fy of a cutting force are determined from current values of a spindle motor and motion axis motors for tool feed. A cutting-engaged angle &agr;en is determined from a radius R of a tool and a depth of cut I into a workpiece. A motion direction angle &bgr; is determined from distribution motion amounts &Dgr;X, &Dgr;Y to the axes. The cutting forces Fm, Fs tangential and normal to tool motion are determined from the primary component Ft and a motion axis component Fx or Fy whichever is the largest, the cutting-engaged angle &agr;en, the motion direction angle &bgr;. The accuracy of the determined cutting forces Fm, Fs is high since they are determined from the primary component Ft less affected by disturbance and the largest axis component of the cutting force.