Abstract: A menu table (108b) having a number of menu items conforming to various methods of defining points, straight lines and circles is affixed to a tablet surface (108a). In a state where predetermined points, straight lines and circles are displayed on a CRT (106), a predetermined menu item (MN) on the menu table (108b) is picked by a tablet cursor (108c), thereby designating a method of defining a figure element. Next, figure element (S.sub.i, S.sub.j) displayed on the display screen are designated by a graphic cursor (GSC). In this way a new figure element (P.sub.m) is defined using the picked figure definition method and the picked figure elements (S.sub.i, S.sub.j), and the new figure element is stored in the RAM (103) and displayed on a display screen.

Abstract: A machining condition modification definition statement (11b) is created, in an automatic programming language, specifying a machining condition modification interval at a corner portion of a part and machining conditions in this interval. A figure definition statement (11a) and a motion definition statement (11c) are created in accordance with part shape without taking the machining condition modification interval and machining conditions into consideration. When these definition statements are converted into an NC part program for laser machining executable by an NC unit, the corner portion of the part is divided into two or more machining condition modification intervals in accordance with the machining condition modification definition statement, and an NC part program for laser machining is created in such a manner that the set machining conditions will prevail in each of the intervals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of creating NC data for machining the interior of an area. The method includes displaying, on a graphic display unit (106), contours (CNT1, CNT2) inputted in order to specify the area (AR.sub.M), recognizing the area (AR.sub.M), which is designated by a graphic cursor by manipulation of a tablet (108) and painting the interior of the area in a predetermined color, subsequently removing the paint in a linear area (AR.sub.1), having a width equivalent to a width of a tool, which connects a machining starting point (P.sub.S) and a machining end point (P.sub.E) designated by the graphic cursor, adopting the machining end point as the next machining starting point, thereafter inputting machining end points in succession, and creating NC data for machining the interior of the area (AR.sub.M) by traversing a finally designated machining starting point and machining end point while moving the tool linearly.

Abstract: Based on an offset direction which indicates whether a laser beam (RB) is offset in a direction to the right side or left side of a travelling direction contained in a motion definition statement, and the direction of a curve at a corner portion (CN) of a laser beam path (b.sub.i,b.sub.i+1), it is determined whether an inner side or outer side of the beam path at the corner is a part (PT). If the inner side of the corner is a part, an NC part program for laser machining is created upon inserting a preset escape path (EP) in the corner portion of the beam path. If the outer side of the corner is a part, an NC part program for laser machining is created in such a manner that similarly set machining conditions prevail in preset machining condition modification intervals.

Abstract: In an apparatus wherein a memory is subdivided into plural storage areas, and predetermined data are adapted to be written into respective ones of the storage areas, a method of reconfiguring the storage areas of the memory. The leading addresses of the respective storage areas and the sizes of blank portions of the respective storage areas are stored while it is discriminated whether a blank portion exists in a predetermined one of the storage areas. When there is no blank portion or substantially no blank portion in the predetermined storage area, the blank portions of the remaining storage areas are reduced in size on the basis of the leading addresses and the sizes of the blank portions. The predetermined storage area is enlarged by an amount equal to the amount of blank portion reduction effected in the remaining areas.

Abstract: An NC data creation method in an automatic programming apparatus in which NC data are created for moving a tool, after the tool has completed the machining of a first area (AR1), to a second area (AR2) to perform predetermined machining at the second area. The method includes checking whether an auxiliary position input mode has been set. If auxiliary position input mode has not been set, then temporarily haling automatic creation of NC data, thereafter inputting auxiliary positions (PA1, PA2) conversationally, and creating NC data for moving the tool to the second area via the inputted auxiliary positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an area cutting method for cutting an area (AR) delimited by a curve (OLC) of an external shape and a plurality of closed curves (INC.sub.1, INC.sub.2) using a unidirectional cutting method or a back-and-forth cutting method. The area cutting method has a step of calculating first and second offset curves (INF.sub.1, INF.sub.2) obtained by outwardly offsetting respective closed curves by an amount dependent upon tool diameter, a step of calculating points of intersection (R.sub.i -U.sub.i) between each of the offset curves and an i-th cutting path (PT.sub.i), a step of moving a tool (TL), while the tool performs cutting, along the cutting path from a machining starting point (P.sub.i) on the i-th cutting path (PT.sub.i), to a first point of intersection (R.sub.i), of the two points of intersection (R.sub.i, S.sub.i) between the cutting path and the first offset curve (INF.sub.1), a step, executed in a case where a second point of intersection (R.sub.

Abstract: The present invention provides an area cutting method for machining an area (AR) bounded by the curve (OLC) of a predetermined external shape previously using a unidirectional cutting motion. The invention has a step of performing cutting along an i-th cutting path (PT.sub.i), a step, executed after completion of cutting along the cutting path (PT.sub.i), of moving a tool (TL) in a cutting-feed mode along the curve (OLC) of the external shape from a machining end point (Q.sub.i) on the cutting path to a machining end point (Q.sub.i-1) on an (i-1)th cutting path (PT.sub.i-1) previously cut, a step of positioning the tool (TL) from the point (Q.sub.i-1) to a machining starting point (P.sub.i) on the cutting path (PT.sub.i), a step of moving the tool in the cutting-feed mode along the curve of the external shape from the machining starting point (P.sub.i) on the cutting path (PT.sub.i) to a machining starting point (P.sub.i+1) on the next cutting path (PT.sub.

Abstract: An input data sign determining method in a method of creating NC machining data by entering a direction (.uparw., , .fwdarw., , .dwnarw., , .rarw., ) for each block (b.sub.1 -b.sub.8) of a part profile through use of a profile symbol key thereby to specify the part profile, followed by entering a dimension for each block of the part profile and using these entered data to create the NC machining data, the method having steps of entering, in the form of an incremental quantity along each axis (x, z), a part profile dimension in a predetermined block, discriminating the direction of the part profile in the block, and determining the sign of an entered incremental quantity on the basis of the direction to convert the incremental quantity into a signed incremental quantity.

Abstract: A tool interference checking method for checking whether a tool (TL) will interfere with a workpiece (WK) when the tool is transported relative to the workpiece to cut the workpiece on the basis of NC data comprising a number of blocks (B.sub.1 -B.sub.5), characterized by having steps of obtaining tool travelling directions (+X, -Y, +X, +Y, +X) indicated by the NC data in respective blocks, obtaining a tool offset path (TCP) using the tool diameter and NC data, obtaining tool travelling directions (+X, -Y, -X, +Y, +X) in respective blocks of the tool offset path, comparing, for each and every block, the tool travelling direction indicated by the NC data and the tool travelling direction indicated by the tool offset path, and rendering a decision to the effect that tool interference will occur if the tool travelling directions are in non-agreement in at least one block.

Abstract: The present invention provides an area cutting method for cutting the interior of an area (AR) bounded by a closed curve (OFC'). The area cutting method includes the steps of: (1) calculating a centroid (W) of an area bounded by the closed curve; (2) determining whether each line segment (L1-L10) connecting the centroid with each vertex (P1-P10) of the area intersects the closed curve; (3) partitioning each line segment into a predetermined number of partitions if the line segment does not intersect the closed curve, and (4) performing area cutting by moving a tool along plural closed paths (CPT1, CPT2 . . . ) each of which is obtained by connecting corresponding ones of the partitioning points of respective line segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an area cutting method for cutting an area (AR) delimited by a curve (OLC) of an external shape and at least two closed curves (INC.sub.1, INC.sub.2) which lie within the curve of the external shape. The area cutting method has a step of calculating first and second offset curves (INF.sub.1, INF.sub.2) offset outwardly from the respective closed curves (INC.sub.1, INC.sub.2) by an amount dependent upon tool diameter, a step of checking whether the offset curves intersect each other, a step of ascertaining that an overlap portion (CSA) incapable of being area-cut exists when the offset curves intersect each other, and a step of cutting only an area from which the portion (CSA) incapable of being area-cut is omitted when the overlap portion exists.

Abstract: A method of approach in area cutting includes giving in advance an angle .theta. between a workpiece plane (WPL) and a straight line (SL) connecting an approach starting point (P.sub.A) and a cutting starting point (P.sub.i), and a distance dz between the approach starting point (P.sub.A) and the cutting starting point (P.sub.i) in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece plane. Coordinate values of the approach starting point (P.sub.A) are calculated using the angle .theta. and the distance dz in such a manner that a projection (SL') of the straight line (SL) on the workpiece plane (WPL) is brought into orientation with a direction of a normal line at the cutting starting point (P.sub.i) on a curve (OLC) of the external shape. A tool (TL) is positioned at the approach starting point (P.sub.A) in a rapid-traverse mode, and the tool is subsequently moved to the cutting starting point (P.sub.i) in a cutting-feed mode. Thereafter, cutting is started.

Abstract: A method of controlling a comb-cutter lathe in which one face of a tool rest (TBS) is provided with two or more juxtaposed tools (TL1, TL2) for subjecting a workpiece (WK) to machining by using: (1) predetermined tools in succession, (2) part dimensions, (3) a tool selection sequence, (4) a machining start location for each tool, and (5) mounting dimension information measured from a reference point on the tool rest to a distal end of each tool. Machining is sequentially performed based on this information by predetermined tools at machining locations (P.sub.5 -P.sub.4 -P.sub.3 -P.sub.2 -P.sub.1 ; P.sub.6 -P.sub.7 -P.sub.8 -P.sub.9 -P.sub.10) assigned to the tools, and after machining is completed by a first tool (TL1), the tool rest (TBS) is moved to position the next tool (TL2) at a machining location and machining is performed by that tool. The method includes moving the tool rest along a Z axis to a point P.sub.

Abstract: An automatic programming method for creating an NC program by inserting miscellaneous data, such as M-function instruction data, feed rate instruction data, G-function instruction data and S-function instruction data, into previously created path data is disclosed. The method includes steps of displaying a path trajectory comprising a number of path blocks (b.sub.1, b.sub.2 . . . b.sub.16) on a display screen (105) by using the path data, positioning a cursor (CSR) at a prescribed position on the path trajectory, entering the miscellaneous data, and inserting the miscellaneous data into a block which is the same as that of the path data which correspond to a path block designated by the cursor, or at least at the front or rear of the block.

Abstract: An image display method in which an image (IMG) to be presented is displayed on a CRT display screen (DFS), which method has steps of entering a horizontal dimension (L.sub.x) and a vertical dimension (L.sub.y) of the image to be presented; obtaining a magnification K by using lengths (B.sub.x, B.sub.y) in the horizontal and vertical directions of the display screen as well as the dimensions L.sub.x, L.sub.y ; obtaining coordinate values (X.sub.s, Y.sub.s) of the starting point (DS') of the image to be presented following multiplication thereof by K; specifying starting point coordinate values (X.sub.s ', Y.sub.s ') of the image on the display screen; obtaining shift quantities S.sub.x, S.sub.y in the horizontal and vertical directions by using the coordinate values (X.sub.s, Y.sub.s), (X.sub.s ', Y.sub.s ') of both starting points; and displaying the image (IMG) on the CRT display screen (DFS) by using the magnification K and the shift quantities S.sub.x, S.sub.y.

Abstract: A cutting direction input method in automatic programming for deciding a path cutting direction, includes the following steps. A path trajectory comprising a number of path blocks (b.sub.1 .about.b.sub.15), is displayed on a display screen (105) by using path data, and a path starting point side (P.sub.2) or path end point side (P15) is indicated by a cursor (CSR). The cutting direction is entered by operating a cutting direction input switch when the path starting point side (P.sub.2) is being indicated by the cursor (CSR), in a case where cutting is to be performed from the path starting point (P.sub.1) toward the path end point (P.sub.16). The cutting direction is entered by operating the cutting direction input switch when the path end point side (P.sub.15) is being indicated by the cursor (CSR), in a case where cutting is to be performed from the path end point (P.sub.16) toward the path starting point (P.sub.1).

Abstract: An angle data discriminating method in a method of creating NC machining data by entering a direction for each block (b.sub.1 -b.sub.5) of a part profile through use of a profile symbol key thereby to specify the part profile, followed by entering a dimension for each block of the part profile and using these entered data to create the NC machining data, the method having a first step of specifying dimensions of straight line elements (L.sub.3, L.sub.4) in predetermined blocks (b.sub.3, b.sub.4) by data including at least angles of intersection between the straight line elements and a base line (Z axis), and a second step of recognizing, by using the angles and the directions of the straight line elements in the blocks, that the straight line element lies on a straight line obtained by rotating the base line about the points of intersection in predetermined directions and through predetermined angles.

Abstract: A machining area specifying method for an automatic programming system specifies a partial path to be machined, wherein the path is part of a closed path. The machining area specifying method includes the step of displaying a closed path trajectory form by a number of path blocks (b.sub.1, b.sub.2 . . . b.sub.16) on a display screen (105) by using path data prepared beforehand. First and second points (P.sub.5, P.sub.12) on the closed path are entered by designating the points with a cursor (CSR). A point (P.sub.6) on a first path (P.sub.5 .fwdarw.P.sub.6 .fwdarw. . . . P.sub.12) and a point (P.sub.13) on a second path which are connected to the first and second points, are designated by the cursor.

Abstract: An area cutting method for cutting the interior of an area (AR) bounded by an external shape curve (OLC) including a number of straight lines (S1, S2, . . . S6) and a circular arc (A1). The method includes linearly approximating a circular arc portion (A1') of an offset curve (OFC) which is offset a predetermined amount from the external shape curve. Then an area bounded by the linearly approximated offset curve is divided into a plurality of convex polygons (PG1-PG3). The centroid (Wi) of each convex polygon and the mid-points (M1, M2) of boundary lines (B1, B2) of two mutually adjacent convex polygons are calculated, and a base line (BL) is generated by successively connecting each centroid and each mid-point.