Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for determining a machining sequence of wire-cut electric discharge machining capable of easily changing a machining sequence in continuously machining a plurality of machining shapes. By making a sequence of a combination of a shape to be machined and a machining stage for the shape to be machined capable of being edited, the machining sequence in the case where the plurality of machining shapes are machined continuously is made easily changeable. In the method for specifying the machining sequence, two different modes are available. In a first mode, a plurality of standard machining patterns are prepared in advance, and the machining pattern is changed to form a desired machining pattern. In a second mode, a sequence of a combination of a plurality of shapes to be machined and the machining stages for a selected machining pattern is changed to form a desired machining pattern.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for determining a core-less machining shape, in which an attribute of core-less machining or contour machining is automatically designated to a machining shape created in advance, and a storage medium storing a core-less machining shape determining program. Programs for judging a size of a machining shape based on horizontal and vertical maximum dimensions, a diameter or a radius of a circle, a peripheral length, a width and an area are stored in an automatic programming device in advance. Programs to be executed are selected from the stored programs and a way of logical operation on results of judgment by the selected programs is designated.

Abstract: A cutting shape (Q1) is approximated to a polygonal shape (Q3). Division points are obtained by dividing line segments linking each vertex of this polygonal shape (Q3) with the cutting start point (PS1) by the same number. Corresponding division points on each line segment are then linked to obtained a plurality of polygonal closed paths (PH2-PH4). Here, the innermost closed path (PH2) is devised such that at least a portion thereof passes outside the cutting starting hole centered on the cutting start point (PS1).

Abstract: An area machining method capable of generating tool paths with no insufficient cut portion. First, a part profile contour indicating a profile contour for area machining and various machining conditions such as tool radius, depth of cut and the like are preset. Then the outmost offset contour and other subsequent offset contours are obtained, the outmost offset contour being offset along the part profile contour by an amount of the sum of a tool radius and finishing allowance, and the other subsequent offset contours being offset repeatedly from the outmost offset contour in sequence by an amount of depth of cut in the inside direction. Next, contours of insufficient cut portions which are produced between adjacent offset contours are obtained. Subsequently, tool paths each of which connects between offset contours and between an offset contour and a corresponding insufficient cut portion contour are outputted.

Abstract: An area machining method for efficiently hollowing out an area which contains a part of an outline of a workpiece is disclosed. An outward offset line is set outside the workpiece with a predetermined offset distance. Then a series of offset contours (i.e., the elements of the tool path) are defined within the region between the outward offset line and the final part contour. Since the offset distance to the outward offset line is set zero, all the offset contours share a segment of the outward offset line. Except for this common segment, the offset contours are given a cutting feedrate.

Abstract: An NC data creation method by which the sequence of machining definition data can be changed to the sequence required by a user. A desired output sequence of machining command data is previously created as pattern definition data by a user executing a predetermined operation. Then, machining command data is input through an input screen as an interactive type input screen. A system processing unit reads the thus input machining command data and the pattern definition data, changes the sequence of the machining command data in accordance with the pattern definition data and outputs machining definition data. Therefore, NC data having the machining definition data provided with the output sequence desired by the user can be directly created. As a result, the sequence of the machining definition data need not be changed again and the NC data can be rapidly created.

Abstract: A data drawing method which facilitates the checking of numerical control data for a polyhedron machining and is carried out by, for example, an automatic programming system. If a drawing mode is selected in which machining profiles and tool paths related to individual machining surfaces of a polyhedral material are displayed separately on a display screen according to the machining surfaces, and if a processor of the programming system determines that NC data obtained by executing a program statement read from a part program is related to any one of the machining surfaces, drawing areas corresponding in number to the faces of the polyhedral workpiece on the display screen are displayed, and a character string representing the machining surface and a material profile in a drawing area corresponding to the machining surface are displayed. Then, machining profiles and tool paths specified by the produced NC data are displayed in the drawing area to permit the operator's visual checking.

Abstract: A multiple-layout designation method rapidly and easily performs preparatory work for numeral control (NC) data preparation, in which one of contours displayed on a graphic display of an automatic programming device is manually selected as an NC data preparation object (S1), and the necessity of contour duplication is manually selected (S2). When the original contour is duplicated on the display by a processor of the programming device in response to manual setting of the name of a contour group consisting of the displayed contour and duplicated contours to be obtained by duplication (S3 and S4), or when the name of the displayed contour is manually set (S6), contour data for the contour or the contour group is generated.

Abstract: High-speed data processing units are interposed on one-to-one basis between a host computer and each of NC units corresponding to each of NC machine tools. Each of the high-speed data processing units converts data transmitted from the host computer to each of the NC machine tools into NC data, and then inputs the data to each of the NC units, thereby making unnecessary for the NC units and the host computer to convert the data into NC data. Further, each of the high-speed data processing units temporarily stores machining data or the like transmitted from the host computer, thereby enabling each of machine tool bodies to continue its machining operation without being disturbed by the timing of data transmission.

Abstract: An interactive type automatic programming method which facilitates the detection of errors in a part program and permits only a required portion of the modified/edited part program to be re-executed. First, part program statements are displayed on a screen, and every time the operator inputs a one statement execution command (S4) a programming system executes one program statement and displays the result of the execution on the screen (S6, S7). When an executed part program statement is found to be erroneous, the operator inputs a modification command (S5), moves the cursor to specify the program statement to be modified, inputs a program modification command (S13, S15), and then corrects the program statement. In response to an operator's input of a re-execution command (S18), the programming system re-executes only a required portion of the part program beginning with the modified part program statement and ending with a part program statement to be executed next (S19).

Abstract: An NC data editing method speedily and accurately edits NC data, e.g., for modification of the movement path of a controlled object. When three positional conversion command blocks are successively read from original data in a data conversion process following a data modification process, a position transformation matrix is calculated based on coordinate value data for three sets of reference points and corresponding points in the blocks (S211). For a mirror conversion command block, a mirror transformation matrix is calculated based on coordinate value data for two points stated in the block (215). An up-to-date composite transformation matrix is obtained by multiplying a previous composite transformation matrix by a now calculated transformation matrix (S213). Each time a movement command block is read, post-positional-conversion or post-mirror-conversion command point data is obtained by multiplying movement command point data in each block by the up-to-date composite transformation matrix (S217).

Abstract: To embody a method for automatically editing multi-faced polyhedron machining processes in a manner capable of efficiently operating a machine tool, a processor of an automatic programming apparatus causes a first one of definition statements associated with upper face machining to be transferred from a first file of a memory device of the programming apparatus to a second file and to be deleted from the first file (S13), and sequentially performs transfer of upper face machining process definition statements, specifying the same tool number as that specified by the first one of the upper face machining process definition statements, to the second file, and deletion of these statements from the first file. Similar processing is sequentially performed for each of different tool numbers, whereby the upper face machining process definition statements for each tool number are collectively stored in the second file.

Abstract: A tool path drawing method which facilitates confirmation of the movement of a tool associated with three-dimensional machining, comprising steps of drawing, for example, a cylindrical workpiece figure (1) in a perspective view on a display screen (25a), in accordance with workpiece configuration data originated on the basis of an input part program statement as a figure definition statement, and displaying a YZ coordinate system, drawing a tool path (7) associated with machining on the workpiece peripheral surface on the display screen in accordance with NC data originated on the basis of an input part program statement as a motion definition statement, and at the same time, drawing another tool path (8), obtained by developing the foregoing tool path on the YZ plane, on the same display screen. An operator can easily confirm the movement of the tool with reference to both the tool path (7) based on the machining conditions and the tool path (8) based on a machining drawing.

Abstract: An automatic programming method capable of creating NC data for combined machining effectively and accurately. Each time a processor of an automatic programming apparatus reads one block of a past program for combined machining stored in a random access memory, the processor selects one of three automatic programming languages, turning, milling and general purpose machining, in which the part program sentence of the block thus read is written. The processor translates the program sentence by means of a first, second, or third interpreter selected based on the selected programming language, and causes the resultant NC data to be stored in a memory, whereby NC data for combined machining is automatically and continuously created.

Abstract: An NC program output method is disclosed which includes: storing a starting character string (SP.sub.1), which indicates the beginning of an inputted NC program, in a starting character string input memory (M.sub.1); enabling setting of a separate starting character string (SP.sub.2); and selectively outputting, before NC data (D.sub.1) which results from editing processing, the stored starting character string (SP.sub.1) or the separately set starting character string (SP.sub.2). If where the starting character string (SP.sub.2) is not set, then the starting character string (SP.sub.1) is outputted automatically.

Abstract: An interpolation method in an automatic programming, capable of properly determining and programming target movement amounts for individual axes in each interpolation cycle at the time of executing a numerical control program. In the case where the length (P') of the last one of a plurality of sub-sections, obtained by dividing a section from the starting point (A) to the end point (B) of each block in a program by a target movement amount (P) per interpolation cycle, is smaller than the value (P), and when an angle (.theta.) between the paths of the block concerned and the next block is smaller than a reference angle or when the angle (.theta.

Abstract: Any hole shape pattern (HPT) and a machining procedure thereof are specified in dialog fashion and these are registered in a hole-type file (FLD) as a single item of hole-type data. In a case where the registered hole type is designated by a keyboard (14) in the creation of NC data for hole machining, an automatic programming unit (11) causes a dialog screen conforming to the hole type to be displayed on a CRT (13). Hole shape dimensions and tools used in each machining process are specified, and NC data for hole machining is created based on this data.

Abstract: A prompt (MEQ) which indicates whether a machining end-point is (i) a point which coincides with a machining starting point, (ii) a point a predetermined amount .DELTA..alpha. past the machining starting point, or (iii) a point a predetermined amount .DELTA..alpha. short of the machining starting point is included on a dialog screen (DIM) and machining end-point information is entered from a keyboard (12). In response, a processor (11a) of a system main body (11) automatically computes coordinates of the machining from the machining end-point information, the machining starting point and path data, and creates NC data for arriving at the machining end-point along a path specified by the path data.

Abstract: When an NC data output format is to be set, the NC data output format is expressed using characters or symbols, the NC data output format is entered from an operators's panel (19) using the characters or symbols, the characters or symbols of the entered NC data output format are converted into internal codes and the NC data output format is set in a RAM (14). When the NC data output format is to be revised, the NC data output format stored in the RAM (14) is converted from the internal codes to characters or symbols and displayed on a display unit (16), a location to be revised is designated and the location is revised by characters or symbols, and the revised NC data output format is converted into internal codes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a part program execution method for converting a part program, which has been created in an automatic programming language, into NC data in a format capable of being executed by an NC unit. When an error present in a part program is detected during execution of the part program (PPM), an inquiry (M2) inquiring as to whether the part program is to be corrected is displayed on a display screen (CRT) together with an error message (M1). If implementation of a correction is designated, a correction screen is displayed and the part program is re-executed from the beginning thereof in response to designation of the end of the correction.