Abstract: In connection with a machining program used in machining a workpiece by means of a machine tool controlled by a numerical controller, interpolation data, a command position point sequence, and a servo position point sequence for each processing period are determined by simulation by designating speed data for giving a machining speed and precision data for giving a machining precision. A predicted machining time for workpiece machining is determined based on the determined interpolation data, and a predicted machining error for workpiece machining is determined based on the determined command and servo position point sequences. Further, the precision data and the speed data are determined for the shortest predicted machining time within a preset machining error tolerance, based on a plurality of predicted machining times and a plurality of predicted machining errors.

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.

Abstract: A numerical controller for controlling a five-axis machining apparatus, in which a tool orientation command is corrected to thereby attain a smooth machined surface and a shortened machining time. The numerical controller includes command reading device that successively reads a tool orientation command, tool orientation command correcting device that corrects the tool orientation command so that a ratio between each rotary axis motion amount and a linear axis motion amount is constant in each block, interpolation device that determines respective axis positions at every interpolation period based on the tool orientation command corrected by the tool orientation command correcting device, a motion path command, and a relative motion velocity command such that a tool end point moves along a commanded motion path at a commanded relative motion velocity, and device that drives respective axis motors such that respective axis positions determined by the interpolation device are reached.

Abstract: A numerical controller for controlling a multi-axis machine tool having three linear axes and three rotating axes obtains an interpolated tool direction vector by interpolating a tool direction command and computes multiple solutions for three rotating axes from the vector. The three rotating axis positions are computed by synthesizing these multiple solutions. The three linear axis positions on a machine coordinate system are computed by adding to the interpolated tool center point position the product of the interpolated tool direction vector, or a verified tool direction vector based on the three rotating axis positions determined by the rotating axis position computing means, and a tool length compensation amount. The three rotating axes are moved to the positions computed above and the three linear axes are moved to the positions computed above.

Abstract: A numerical controller controls a three-axis machine tool that machines a workpiece, mounted on a table, with at least three linear axes. The numerical controller includes a workpiece mounting error compensation unit that compensates a mounting error caused when the workpiece is mounted. The workpiece mounting error compensation unit performs an error compensation with respect to an instructed linear-axis position with amounting error which is set beforehand, in order to keep a position with respect to the workpiece at a tool center point position, based on the instructed linear-axis position of the three linear axes to obtain a compensated linear-axis position. The three linear axes are driven based on the obtained compensated linear-axis position.

Abstract: A numerical controller having an interference prevention function whereby calculation for preventing interference is reliably performed. The numerical controller has the function of defining interference regions corresponding to multiple machine structural objects, respectively, moving the interference regions in accordance with machine coordinate values of the machine structural objects updated by interpolation, and performing an interference check to determine whether or not the interference regions interfere with each other. Interference check computation period automatic adjusting means automatically adjusts an interference check computation period, based on the value obtained by dividing a computation time required for the interference check by time of occupancy of the interference check within one interpolation period. Interference region expanding means expands the interference regions, based on the highest of feed velocities of respective axes and the interference check computation period.

Abstract: A numerical controller for controlling a multi-axis machine calculates an axis-dependent translation error amount and an axis-dependent rotation error amount based on a command axis position. Translation and rotation compensation amounts are calculated based on the axis dependent translation and rotation error amounts, respectively. The translation and rotation compensation amounts are added to command linear and rotary axis positions, respectively. Three linear axes and three rotary axes are driven to the added positions, individually. Thus, there is provided a numerical controller that enables even machining with a side face of a tool or boring to be in commanded tool position and posture (orientation) in the multi-axis machine.

Abstract: A numerical controller for controlling a multi-axis machine tool having three linear axes and three rotating axes obtains an interpolated tool direction vector by interpolating a tool direction command and computes multiple solutions for three rotating axes from the vector. The three rotating axis positions are computed by synthesizing these multiple solutions. The three linear axis positions on a machine coordinate system are computed by adding to the interpolated tool center point position the product of the interpolated tool direction vector, or a verified tool direction vector based on the three rotating axis positions determined by the rotating axis position computing means, and a tool length compensation amount. The three rotating axes are moved to the positions computed above and the three linear axes are moved to the positions computed above.

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.

Abstract: A mask blank container is adapted to house a mask blank with a resist film. The container comprises a container body 5 for receiving the mask blank; a cap member 6 to be put on the container body; and a fixing member 9 adapted to fix the container body and the cap member to each other when the cap member is put on the container body. The container body and the cap member have fitting portions 51 and 61 made of a resin material and fitted to each other, respectively. The fixing member comprises a first member 91 having an engaging portion 91 a to be engaged with the fitting portion of the cap member, and a second member 92 having an engaging portion 93 to be engaged with the fitting portion of the container body. A distance between the engaging portions of the first and the second members is desired to be variable.

Abstract: A numerical controller for controlling a five-axis processing machine including three linear axes and two rotational axes for machining a workpiece attached onto a table thins out a command of a moving path of any one of the linear axes and a command of a tool direction if both of the change amount of a tool direction and the change amount of a linear axis in the command of the moving path are smaller than preset values, respectively.

Abstract: A numerical controller for controlling a five-axis machining apparatus, in which a tool orientation command is corrected to thereby attain a smooth machined surface and a shortened machining time. The numerical controller includes command reading means that successively reads a tool orientation command, tool orientation command correcting means that corrects the tool orientation command so that a ratio between each rotary axis motion amount and a linear axis motion amount is constant in each block, interpolation means that determines respective axis positions at every interpolation period based on the tool orientation command corrected by the tool orientation command correcting means, a motion path command, and a relative motion velocity command such that a tool end point moves along a commanded motion path at a commanded relative motion velocity, and means that drives respective axis motors such that respective axis positions determined by the interpolation means are reached.

Abstract: A numerical controller having an interference prevention function whereby calculation for preventing interference is reliably performed. The numerical controller has the function of defining interference regions corresponding to multiple machine structural objects, respectively, moving the interference regions in accordance with machine coordinate values of the machine structural objects updated by interpolation, and performing an interference check to determine whether or not the interference regions interfere with each other. Interference check computation period automatic adjusting means automatically adjusts an interference check computation period, based on the value obtained by dividing a computation time required for the interference check by time of occupancy of the interference check within one interpolation period. Interference region expanding means expands the interference regions, based on the highest of feed velocities of respective axes and the interference check computation period.

Abstract: When an operation state of a numerical controller which controls a machine tool is (1) in a state were rotation of a spindle is being stopped, (2) in a state where cutting feed rate of a tool with respect to a work exceeds a set maximum cutting feed rate corresponding to a work material, or (3) in a state where the tool moves in a direction different from the work cutting direction of the tool, it is checked whether or not the tool and the work interfere with each other. In other operation states, an interference check is not executed.

Abstract: A cross sectional configuration creating apparatus to create a free curve by which a cross sectional configuration can be easily defined. An operator creates a cross sectional configuration (DC) on a predetermined plane coordinate system by using a cross sectional configuration creation device. When the creation of a free curve is commanded, a coordinate transformation device positions the created cross sectional configuration (DC) on a plane designated in a spatial coordinate system. Then, a free curve creation device creates the free curve from the cross sectional configuration (DC) positioned on the plane designated in the spatial coordinate system and a basic curve (BC). Further, if necessary, an inverse coordinate transformation device returns the cross sectional configuration (DC) positioned on the plane designated in the spatial coordinate system to the plane coordinate system in response to a command from the operator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of specifying with a program language the location of a fillet to be created at the intersection of a compound curved surface. After the processings for inputting information on a curved surface and information for cutting the same (S1, S2) and calculating the curved surfaces (S3) have been completed, a system receives information on the alternative of inserting a concave fillet or inserting a convex fillet (S4). When the inputted information is for the concave fillet, based on the inputted information (S5), the system executes a predetermined calculation so as to create the concave fillet curved surface at the boundary between two curved surfaces, each on the side to which their respective normal vectors are directed (S6).

Abstract: A tool axis direction calculation method for determining a direction vector of the tool axis when a side is cut be a 5-axes numerically controlled machine tool. A normal vector (Ri) is determined at a dividing point (Pi) of the upper surface of a sculptured surface, and a normal vector (Si) is determined at a dividing point (Qi) of the lower surface thereof. Next, an intermediate vector (Ni) having a direction between the normal vector (Ri) and the normal vector (Si) and a size equal to the radius of a tool is determined. Offset points (Xi, Yi) are determined from the intermediate vector (Ni), and a vector (Zi) connecting the offset points (Xi, Yi) is determined as the direction vector of the tool axis. A direction vector of the tool axis closest to a generating line can be obtained, and thus a side closest to a desired sculptured surface can be cut.

Abstract: A complex curved surface (SS) is divided into a plurality of areas (ARj), a vertical relationship regarding a plurality of curved surfaces (SSi) present only in each of the areas is specified for every area, the vertical relationship conforming to an area (ARj) in which there exists a line of intersection (CLk) that is a projection of a cutting pass on an X-Y plane is used to obtain cutting passes (Pak) of the complex curved surface in this area (ARj), and the cutting passes of the complex curved surface are generated by combining the cutting passes of all areas (ARj).

Abstract: A three-dimensional sequence of discretely given points Pi (i=1, 2, . . . ) is projected onto two mutually adjacent planes (XY plane, YZ plane) in a rectangular coordinate system. Next, two-dimensional point sequence connecting curves (TQ, TR) which smoothly connect the projected point sequences (Qi, Ri) on the respective planes are obtained, and a space curve is created using these two-dimensional point sequence connecting curves. Specifically, the common axis (Y axis) of the two mutually adjacent planes is partitioned at minute intervals, coordinates (xj,yj), (yj,zj) of points (Qj,Rj) on each of the two-dimensional point sequence connecting curves (TQ, TR) having a common axis coordinate yj of a j-th partitioning point are successively obtained, and the space curve is created by the coordinates (xj,yj,zj) (j=1, 2, . . . , n) of a sequence of three-dimensional points (Tj).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of creating NC data for simultaneous five-axis control, which method includes obtaining a point (Ai) on a curve constituting a tool nose path (Mk) on a scukptured surface (SS), obtaining a normal vector (N) at the point (Ai) and a tangent vector (T) tangent to the tool nose path (Mk) at the point, next obtaining an outer product vector (S) between the normal vector (N) and the tangent vector (T), obtaining a tool central-axis vector (V), in a plane (PL) formed by the normal vector (N) and the outer product vector (S), in which a direction inclined toward the external product vector (S) from the normal vector (N) by a designated angle (.theta.) serves as the direction of the tool central axis, and creating NC data for simultaneous five-axis control using coordinates of the point (Ai) and the tool central-axis vector (V).