Abstract: A machining program checking method is provided for a numerical control device which controls an NC lathe for performing a machining operation with a plurality of tools simultaneously mounted on a turret thereof, wherein interference of the tools with a workpiece or with various parts of the lathe can be surely detected before the machining operation is actually executed.

Abstract: A method of animation plotting by an NC machining program on an NC lathe having a multiplicity of tool rests. The method provides animation plotting for Y-axis machining such as engraving. A display screen of a CRT/MDI provides first display areas "a1" to "an" for simulating a machining process of a workpiece projected in an axial direction of a tool. A second display area is also provided for simulating a machining process of the workpiece projected in the direction of a Y-axis orthogonal to an X-axis and a Z-axis. For each rotational positioning point .theta.i (i=1 to n) of the spindle, Y-axis machining is simulated by simultaneously displaying the movement path of the tool and the shape of the tool within the first display area "ai" and the second display area.

Abstract: A method for defining machining areas of a workpiece by means of a CRT screen display in an interactive system for creating a program for NC machining includes the steps of providing a first display of a workpiece before machining including a designated area to be machined, providing a second display identifying a first area to be machined and, after programming a first machining operation, providing a third display representing overlapped views of the first and second displays so that uncut areas of the workpiece requiring further machining operations can easily be identified. A check is made by comparing previous displays to assure that identified uncut areas exist, and candidate tools are shown in the display to provide easy selection.

Abstract: A numerical control system for readily finding machining programs containing desired machining steps and displaying the programs at a display device. A storage device stores machining programs and an internal table. A setting/registering unit creates the machining programs interactively in accordance with commands entered by an operator through an input device such as a keyboard, and registers the machining programs in the storage device with internal codes corresponding to the machining steps affixed thereto. When a command to perform a search for a specific machining step is entered by the operator, a command input unit requests the operator to enter a search start program number, a search end program number, etc., through the input device. On receiving the entered start program number, etc., a searching unit searches the machining programs, stored in the storage device, for the specific machining step, and outputs search data, whereupon a display control unit displays the search data at the display device.

Abstract: A method of generating machining conditions for a numerically controlled machine tool in which a machining is under proper machining conditions without altering the initial machining program even when it has become necessary to change the material of workpiece after completing a machining program. The method comprises the steps of dividing a function for determining machining conditions including a spindle rotational speed and a tool feed speed into a first part of the function independent of the material of a workpiece and a second part of the function dependent on the material of the workpiece.

Abstract: An interactive numerical control apparatus is programmed by inputting data through keys on a control panel, and answering questions displayed on a display screen, to generate a numerical control program. The operator defines a blank shape and a part shape (steps S1, S2), and selects a primary machining operation or a secondary machining operation (step S3). A cutting region for the primary machining operation is defined in the same manner as with an ordinary two-axis lathe. For the secondary machining operation, the blank and part shapes are displayed in reverse (step S6), and a cutting region for the secondary machining operation is defined in the same manner as the cutting region for the primary machining operation is defined (step S7). Based on the necessary data and machining conditions that are defined, the interactive numerical control apparatus outputs numerical control data separately for the respective primary and secondary machining operations (step S8).

Abstract: An animated plotting method in which an actual machining action is accurately simulated even if a tool rest is moved to another main spindle not directly associated therewith for cutting, or a single workpiece loaded on a main spindle is subjected to cutting operations by means of a plurality of tool rests. By virtue of a range specification command G10 for specifically setting a plottable range of each tool rest, a plottable range is imparted to each of the tool rests (S3, S4), and then the plottable range for each of the tool rests is displayed on either the left half (13a) or the right half (13b) of the display screen (13) depending on the operating position of each tool rest, or depending on whether each tool rest lies on the side of a first main spindle (14) or on the side of a second main spindle (16), thereby accurately simulating a path of the tool performing an actual machining operation and the state of cutting.

Abstract: A display method for a numerical control apparatus for simulating a machining by an animated display of such objects as a material shape, tool shape, or the like on a display screen, based on control information obtained from the numerical control apparatuses. For some actual machine tools, for example, only a tool is moved by the servo axis, or both a tool and a material are moved by the servo axes. Any one of a material shape (2) and a tool shape (3) to be moved is, therefore, specified and displayed on the display screen (1) of the numerical control apparatus so that the machining simulation is in accordance with the actual movements of the machine tools.

Abstract: Disclosed is an NC data creation method for creating NC data by designating a cutting amount to be cut by a single cutting operation carried out by a cutting tool, and a target cutting amount of a workpiece when a cutting operation program is created by an interactive mode, to thereby set a final cutting amount to an optimum value. The NC data is created in such a manner that a lower limit value is set with respect to a cutting amount to be cut by a single cutting operation carried out by the cutting tool, a required number of cutting operations and a final cutting amount are calculated based on the cutting amount and a target cutting amount, and the NC data is created by changing the NC data to a value in which each cutting amount is not smaller than the above lower limit value.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus having a work simulation function for enabling both the workpiece and the movement of the tool to be displayed at any time on the same display screen during the work simulation. This is achieved by a variable display magnifications so that both the workpiece configuration change and the tool shift movement can always be checked adequately. The numerical control apparatus comprises a numerical control processor and an auto-programming processor.

Abstract: A conversational-type programming apparatus according to the invention originates an NC tape for a numerically controlled (NC) machine tool or the like. In a case where a plurality of machining operations are defined for one region of a blank, a color corresponding to a type of machining designated by the latest machining step is displayed on a screen. Therefore, even when a machining operation for the same blank is defined for a plurality of regions of the blank, it is possible to readily distinguish the machining type designated for each region based on the displayed colors of the regions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a numerical control (NC) sentence creation system for creating an NC sentence for a two stage drilling operation by which a hole drilled by a first stage drilling operation is further drilled by a second stage drilling operation using a second drill having a smaller diameter, wherein machining configuration data are input (S1), machining condition data including a first amount of clearance and a second amount of clearance are input (S2, S3), and an NC sentence is created. The NC sentence enables the hole to be drilled in the first stage drilling operation and the second drill for the second stage drilling operation to be moved by a cutting feed from the bottom of the hole drilled by the first stage drilling operation to the machining end point of the second stage drilling operation (S4), whereby a machining time for the second stage drilling operation is shortened.

Abstract: There are provided a first machining method in which a tool (TL) is fed a predetermined amount (d) in a center direction of a blank to cut into the blank, after which the tool is fed in a cutting mode by an amount (W) corresponding to groove width longitudinally of the blank to perform grooving, and a second machining method in which the tool (TL) is fed in the center direction of the blank to perform machining down to the groove bottom (GB), after which the tool is raised to perform grooving. Based on data indicative of the shape of the tool used, it is decided whether to perform grooving down to the designated groove bottom (GB) by repeating the first machining method or perform grooving to a designated groove width by repeating the second machining method.

Abstract: A method for inputting a part profile which includes a standard or repeating shape. If a pattern profile input is requested at the time of a part profile input operation, a profile menu is displayed in a software key area (13b). When a pattern profile is selected by the profile menu, the selected pattern profile, e.g., a pattern view (CGP) of a series of grooves is displayed in conversational screen display area (13a) and a message (DQS) calling for various dimensions is displayed. The profile of the series of grooves is specified based on data entered in response to the message.

Abstract: In numerically controlling a machine tool having a plurality of movable members controlled by respective programs, the programs are automatically altered to reliably avoid collision between the movable members. Labor and time required for the operator to alter the programs are reduced.

Abstract: A lathe programming apparatus and method according to the invention are for preparing an NC program used in a computer-controlled NC lathe. In order to input machining position data indicative of a portion to be subjected to additional machining, the apparatus includes a memory circuit (6) for storing machining position data for each coordinate axis of a workpiece profile, and an arithmetic circuit (1) for computing machining position data indicative of the additionally machined portion.

Abstract: When round screw thread machining is performed with a tool (TL) having a radius smaller than a circular arc radius of a threaded portion (RST), data necessary for deciding (i) tool path patterns of round screw threading cycles (PLi) and (ii) a starting point (Pi) of each round screw threading cycle are commanded and incorporated in NC command data of the round screw threading cycles, the cycle starting point (Pi) of each round screw threading cycle (PLi) is obtained along the circular arc profile of the round screw thread using the data, and round screw thread machining is performed by repeatedly executing the threading cycles while successively shifting the cycle starting point.

Abstract: Comment statements (CMS1, CMS2) are inserted after T-codes (TC1, TC2) for tool selection in an NC machining program (1) created conversationally. The comment statements including information relating to tools in the T-codes and/or information relating to a machining processes performed by the tools.

Abstract: A part profile input method for automatically creating NC data. The method includes conversationally inputting a part profile without giving any consideration to chamfering or rounding of corner portions of the part. At the end of part profile definition, a conversational display for inputting a corner shape is presented, computing the angle made by intersection of mutually adjacent profile elements and determining the position of an intersection to be regarded as an outside corner or inside corner by comparing each angle of intersection with a set angle.

Abstract: A tool profile automatic graphic display system according to the invention includes memory means (6) for storing a conversational-type machining program and a tooling file used as tool data, data input means (3) for inputting machining data, control means (1) for selecting an optimum tool in dependence upon specified machining data relating to a machining region and machined profile of a workpiece, and graphic display means (4) for graphically displaying the profile of a selected tool, the graphic display means (4) graphically displaying a tool profile along with a blank profile and machined profile automatically.