Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling movement of machine tool systems by providing a conversational programming interface that permits a user to create a universal program for execution by various machine tool systems for machining a part, each system having at least four movable axes. The user defines program blocks including geometry definitions which are independent of any axis kinematics configuration. A first tool path relative to a first Cartesian coordinate system is generated for forming the geometry, then mapped to a second Cartesian coordinate system corresponding to the part. The mapped path is transformed to a third Cartesian coordinate system corresponding to an orientation and location of the part relative to an axis kinematics configuration of a current machine tool system. The transformed path is processed to generate positions for the movable axes of the current system.

Abstract: A method and system are provided which reorders a sequence of operations of a part program to reduce the number of tool changes during execution of the program. The reordered sequence maintains a sequence of at least a first portion of the operations.

Abstract: A method and system are provided which reorders a sequence of operations of a part program to reduce the number of tool changes during execution of the program. The reordered sequence maintains a sequence of at least a first portion of the operations.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling movement of machine tool systems by providing a conversational programming interface that permits a user to create a universal program for execution by various machine tool systems for machining a part, each system having at least four movable axes. The user defines program blocks including geometry definitions which are independent of any axis kinematics configuration. A first tool path relative to a first Cartesian coordinate system is generated for forming the geometry, then mapped to a second Cartesian coordinate system corresponding to the part. The mapped path is transformed to a third Cartesian coordinate system corresponding to an orientation and location of the part relative to an axis kinematics configuration of a current machine tool system. The transformed path is processed to generate positions for the movable axes of the current system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing communication between a first machine and a second machine comprises the steps of, and apparatus for, coupling a first video display output of the first machine to a first input port of the second machine, converting first video display signals generated by the first machine at the first video display output into first instructions and data and using the first instructions and data to operate the second machine.

Abstract: A system and method provide for distinguishing among characters of a character set. The characters are represented by a data stream of pixel information to a display port. A subset of the pixel information in the data stream contains sufficient information for unique identification of each character within the character set. Examination of the data within the subset of pixels permits identification of respective characters within the set.