Abstract: This invention relates to a complex curved surface creation method for creating a complex curved surface (201) composed of at least two three-dimensional curved surfaces (201a, 201b, 201c). The complex curve surface creation method comprises a first step of inputting data for specifying each of the three-dimensional curved surfaces (201a-201cand inputting data specifying one line of intersection (CLi) on a predetermined plane e.g. an X-Y plane (203) as well as a rule for specifying a number of lines of intersection on the predetermined plane on the basis of the line of intersection, a second step of finding a section curve (SCi) of the complex curved surface (201) based on a section (202) which has an i-th line of intersection, among the number of lines of intersection, as its line of intersection with the predetermined plane (203), and a third step of specifying the complex curved surface (201) by assembling the section curves (SCi; i=1, 2, 3, . . .

Abstract: A circular path control apparatus and method for a multi-axis servomechanism having a plurality of driving shafts. Any disturbance to a command circular path is calculated from the amount of contour error of a circular path or a square of a circular-arc center angle error and a control for cancelling the disturbance is added, thereby improving the circular path accuracy of the multi-axis servomechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to improve the accuracy of taper cutting by a wire-cut, electric discharge machine. Path data and parameters necessary for taper cutting are punched in a paper tape (PTP). The path data read out by a tape reader (TR) is decoded by a decoder (DEC) and then provided to a register (REG). The parameters for taper cutting are decoded by the decoder and then applied to a correction circuit (CPS). The correction circuit (CPS) corrects the parameters on the basis of the sum (.delta..sub.1 +.delta..sub.2) of a first deviation (.delta..sub.1) of the wire electrode supporting point on each guide which is caused by a curved configuration of its guideway and a second deviation (.delta..sub.2) of the supporting point which is caused by the fact that the wire electrodes does not exactly conform to the geometrical configuration of the guideway. The second deviation corrects for the elasticity of the wire. The parameters thus corrected are provided to a register (PAR).

Abstract: A cut contour display method in a wire electric discharge machine for subjecting a workpiece to taper cutting by moving a workpiece relative to a wire electrode and moving a wire tensioning guide horizontally has a first step of entering a programmed path (WDP) lying on the lower surface of the workpiece, workpiece thickness, data including a taper angle or a vector indicating a positional offset between the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece, and data specifying a number of cross-sectional contours. A second step includes obtaining a wire electrode path (WUP) on the upper surface of the workpiece, which is not a programmed surface, by using the programmed path (WDP), workpiece thickness, and the taper angle or vector indicative of the positional offset.

Abstract: A curvilinear interpolation system and method for use in a numerical control apparatus such as a machine tool or a robot having two or more drive axes and movable while effecting linear interpolation on a given curve with a plurality of line segments. For each line segment a curvature K.sub.p of the curve is calculated at a current curve interpolating point P.sub.p, and a curvature K.sub.n calculated at a point P.sub.n on the curve spaced a given search length l.sub.S from the point P.sub.p along the curve. Then, a curvature K.sub.s is set equal to K.sub.p when K.sub.p .gtoreq.K.sub.n and set equal to K.sub.n when K.sub.p <K.sub.n. The curvature K.sub.s is compared with a limit curvature K.sub.L established for determining whether a curve portion is a straight line or an arc for establishing the curve portion as an arc having the curvature K.sub.s when K.sub.s .gtoreq.K.sub.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for moving a workpiece and/or a tool to various locations in a three-dimensional space to perform operations on the workpiece wherein a micro-computer numeric control system is used to provide a multi-axis motion control system using DC electric servo motors, each of which responds to its own control system to operate mechanisms which cooperate to perform the desired operations on the workpiece.

Abstract: Provided is a tracer control method in a master-slave type tracer system having first and second tracer units in each of which a tracer controller (TCC.sub.1, TCC.sub.2) generates velocity commands (V.sub.x, V.sub.y, V.sub.z) along respective axes by using a detection signal generated by a tracer head (TC.sub.1, TC.sub.2), motors (XM.sub.1, YM.sub.1, ZM.sub.1 ; XM.sub.2, YM.sub.2, ZM.sub.2) provided for respective axes are driven on the basis of the velocity commands and a workpiece (WK.sub.1, WK.sub.2) is subjected to tracer machining conforming to the profile of a model (MDL), tracer machining being performed by tracing a model (MDL.sub.1) with the tracer head (TC.sub.1) on the first tracer unit side and providing the second tracer unit with a move command on the basis of the tracing. In the tracer control method, the first tracer unit (TCC.sub.1, TCM.sub.1) produces the velocity commands (V.sub.x, V.sub.y, V.sub.z) in digital form to drive the motors (XM.sub.1, YM.sub.1, ZM.sub.

Abstract: A CNC process for displacing a movable member along a path on an intricate surface in a three-dimensional coordinate system is disclosed in which the surface is divided into a plurality of elementary characteristic regions each individually definable as one of different geometrical categories such as toroidal, spherical, cylindrical and planar surfaces. The process comprises establishing a general equation for each of these categories and storing the established general equations into a memory unit for a computer. Data required to adapt each of the stored general equations to a corresponding one of the characteristic regions in the three-dimensional coordinate system are inputted into the computer to reduce the general equations to their respective specific equations in which no more than three coordinates are variable.

Abstract: A curved surface generation method well-suited for application to the preparation of a numerical control tape used in the numerically controlled machining of a three-dimensional body such as a three-dimensional mold. The surface creation method includes steps of defining, on a first section curve or reference curve of a three-dimensional curved body, a point Pi (i=1,2 . . . ) which corresponds to a point Qi (i=1,2 . . . ) on a second section curve or reference curve, and generating an intermediate section curve in accordance with the established correspondence. A curved surface is created by collecting a plurality of the intermediate section curves together. Accordingly, the invention raises the degree of freedom with which a curved surface is created, and enables the accurate creation of a curved surface featuring subtle changes, allowing the precise machining of a three-dimensional body.

Abstract: An endless counting apparatus comprises a first memory for storing a code of a first predetermined number of bits sufficient to represent the maximum value of each coded input expressed according to the binary notation, a second memory for storing an endless-making code of a second predetermined number of bits of higher order than and contiguous to the less and least significant bits stored in the first memory, and a control circuit for adding or subtracting the value of the coded input to or from the contents of the first and second memories depending on the input value to be counted and applying the result of addition or subtraction to the first and second memories.

Abstract: A method for restarting a tool on a workpiece contour in a numerically controlled processing machine of the type having a display unit for alphanumerical and/or graphical representation of processing information. After a program interruption, the program is executed anew in a control mode without machine movement from a predetermined starting point, and the resulting workpiece contour is continuously, graphically represented on the display unit. The operator utilizes this graphic display to determine an end point of the control mode program execution. The machine is then transferred into its axial positions and its function state to the program state of the end point, and the processing program with machine movements is continued from this end point, thereby starting the tool onto the desired tool path.

Abstract: A system in which the radius of a tool is compensated for in the three-dimensional machining of a workpiece, wherein a tool is offset from a commanded tool path by a distance commensurate with the tool radius.

Abstract: In machine tools it is necessary to monitor the track of a cutter tip on a tool post. A predetermined tolerance scope is given to sampling positions during the model cutting, and only the data of the points and distance defining the tolerance scope is stored. During the actual cutting, a determination is made as to whether or not a sampling position is within the tolerance scope and the track is thereby securely monitored.

Abstract: An adhesive application apparatus for automatically applying a strip of adhesive material of predefined shape accurately to the periphery of either the window opening in a motor vehicle or a pane of glass sized to cover that window opening, the apparatus comprising a pressurized supply means feeding adhesive material under pressure to a nozzle 16 of a dispensing means 14, said nozzle being carried upon a rigid framework 52 in such a fashion that the nozzle can be moved in any direction relative to the surface on which the strip of adhesive material is to be placed by means of DC servo drive motors 44, 74 and 84, and the tip of the nozzle can be accurately guided around said periphery by a nozzle angle adjustment means operated by a DC servo drive motor 92, the rate at which the adhesive material is supplied to the nozzle 16 and the rates of operation of all four of the DC servo motors 44, 74, 84 and 92 all being under the full control of a computer numerical control system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a numerically controlled cutting method of cutting a curved surface SF generated by interconnecting corresponding points mi, ni (i=1, 2, . . . ) on two curved lines CV1, CV2 with a cutter BT of a milling machine having simultaneously controlled five axes or a wire electrode of a wire-cut electric discharge cutting machine. According to the numerically controlled cutting method, curve information specifying the two curved lines CV1, CV2, information on tool radius or wire radius, information on the direction of tool or wire compensation, and division information for dividing the curved lines are supplied as inputs. Using the above items of information an offset position at dividing points mi, ni, which are next to dividing points mi-1, ni-1 at which the cutter BT or wire is currently positioned, is determined. The cutter BT or wire is then moved to the offset position to cut the curved surface SF.

Abstract: A method of creating the curved surface of a three-dimensional curved body, including steps of entering a section curve of the three-dimensional curved body and partitioning information such as the number of partitions and partitioning pitch, partitioning the section curve, successively obtaining a plurality of intermediate section curves so as to contain each of the partitioning points, creating a curved surface on the basis of a plurality of the intermediate section curves and, in the machining operation, transporting a tool along each intermediate section curve. By conducting machining in this fashion, processing can be executed uniformly and machining accuracy improved without requiring that the partitioning axis be changed, even when the curvature of the curved surface varies.

Abstract: A speed control apparatus according to the present invention includes a pulse generator for generating a number of pulses proportional to an angle of rotation of a servomotor, a speed signal generator for converting the frequency of the pulses into a voltage indicative of an actual speed of the servomotor in order to feed back the voltage through negative feedback, a detector for detecting reversal of the direction of rotation of the servomotor, a positional change detector for detecting the change in a position of the servomotor after the reversal of the direction of rotation of the servomotor by counting the pulses produced by the pulse generator, and a circuit for lowering the voltage indicative of an actual speed until the position of the servomotor has changed beyond a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A positional error correction system applicable to a numerical control for controlling a machine tool along more than one control axis, such as along X and Y control axes. If the machine tool is to be positionally controlled along the X-axis, the position of the machine tool along the X-axis is corrected by a correction factor which is a function of the position of the machine tool along that axis and the position of the machine tool along the Y-axis, thus providing highly accurate position correction. The position error correction system is not restricted to merely the X and Y axes and can include control of a Z-axis. In such a case the positional correction is performed using a correction factor which is a function of the machine tool position along all three axes.

Abstract: Ordinarily, an interpolator (102) executes pulse calculations on the basis of a movement command from a command tape (101), to generate the respective distributed pulses XP, YP, ZP, BP and CP of cartesian coordinate axes and spherical coordinate axes, and these pulses drive corresponding servomotors (113)-(117) through servo circuits (108)-(112). In order to keep the relative position between the nose of a tool and a workpiece unchanged in a manual operation, a tool holder is positioned in the cartesian coordinate system, whereupon manual pulses in the B-axial or C-axial direction are generated by a manual pulse generator (103). Then, the distributed pulses BP and CP are generated through the interpolator (102) and rotate the servomotors (116) and (117). The distributed pulses are simultaneously impressed on a compensation circuit (104), which calculates the compensation pulses XHP, YHP and ZHP so as to drive the servomotors with pulses obtained by adding the compensation pulses to the distributed pulses.

Abstract: A numerical controlled machine tool provides a detector which produces a detecting signal when it is brought into contact or out of contact with a workpiece for measuring same. A driving device relatively moves the detector with respect to the workpiece, and a position detecting means for detecting the position of the detector. The numerical control device provides a signal corresponding to an amount by which the detector is moved with respect to the workpiece and causes the driving device to stop in accordance with the detecting signal. In operation, the numerical control device detects when the detector contacts with the workpiece while moving at a first speed, and applies a stop signal which is produced from a detecting signal given by the detector. The detector is then moved in a direction away from the workpiece at a second speed by a distance which is either larger or smaller than the distance by which the detector moved and stopped after the first detecting signal was produced.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of controlling, and a control system for, an apparatus, such as a machine tool (100), for forming a straight configured contour, or a straight configured segment forming part of a curvilinear contour, and having co-ordinates in at least two directions (X, Y and Z), said apparatus incorporating a work piece support (102), a contour forming means, such as a milling cutter (107), incremental drives (M.sub.X, M.sub.Y and M.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a dimension of a workpiece mounted on a numerically controlled machine tool having a probe for sensing the surface of the workpiece, an automatic means for moving the probe relative to a datum, the automatic means including a first measuring means for producing a signal defining units of distance corresponding to the relative movement of the probe with respect to the datum, and a second measuring means coupled to the first measuring means for accumulating a count corresponding to the relative movement of the probe in respect to the datum. The actual position of the workpiece surface is determined relative to a nominal position thereof, the nominal position being at a known distance from the datum. According to the method the probe is moved to a first position which is one of the actual and nominal positions of the workpiece surface.

Abstract: In order to attain a more suitable control of a robot unit which serves a machine tool in accordance with various conditions of the operations of the machine tool and the robot unit, the number of the kinds of signals produced in the machine tool is increased and a predetermined control of the robot unit is attained in response to each of the increased kinds of signals.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the presence of a workpiece characteristic and controlling the sequence of execution of operational steps in a machining program. First instructions in a machining program cause a sensing element to execute a scanning cycle to detect workpiece characteristics. Second instructions in the machining program test for the presence of the workpiece characteristics to determine the next operational step to be executed. The next operational step may be sequentially located in the program or may be identified by third instructions which define a nonsequential program location. Jump instructions are also provided to execute an unconditional jump to operational steps defined by a jump location instruction in the program.

Abstract: A machine tool data system for receiving and storing abbreviated instructions representing blocks of machine tool control data and including pattern type instructions such as copy, mirror image and tool change each involving a series of such blocks, the computer responding to editing instructions such as insert or delete as to specified lines of stored instructions or computing the blocks represented by the stored instructions for transmission to an output device such as a tape punch, the computer generating the blocks of a pattern type series at the rate of utilization of said blocks by the output device. A machine tool may be connected on line and controlled by the computer simultaneously with the editing or tape preparation operations thereof, and the machine tool may be controlled manually from a data terminal on line with the computer when the terminal is not in use for tape preparation.

Abstract: When cutting a groove of a predetermined contour through a plate shaped workpiece with a fret saw blade, various program data regarding the direction of movements of the fret saw blade and the contour of the groove to be cut are stored in a memory device. The fret saw blade is moved in a direction instructed by the memory device and the orientation of the saw blade is controlled at the starting point of each segment of the groove.

Abstract: An encoder interface circuit is responsive to command direction signals and pulsed command incremental rotation signals and to actual direction signals and pulsed actual incremental rotation signals to generate an error signal to a motor driver for controlling the movement of a servo motor. A position encoder is mechanically coupled to the servo motor for generating the actual direction and incremental rotation signals. The interface circuit generates a reference pulse train and an error pulse train, both at a relatively high frequency. The error pulse train is phase modulated by adding or subtracting the pulsed actual and command incremental signals according to the state of the corresponding direction signals. The reference and phase modulated error pulse trains are then compared to generate the error signal to the motor driver.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the length of movement of a controlled member along a path of repeated operating positions. The apparatus comprises a function generator with an axis digital integrator for each axis of movement of the controlled member and a resultant length of movement digital integrator. All digital integrators have the same input iterate rate. By initially setting the integrand of the resultant length of movement integrator to the square root of the sum of the squares of the initial integrand values of the axis digital integrators of the function generator, the output of the resultant length of movement digital integrator is proportional to the resultant of the distances commanded along the axes by the axis integrators of the function generator. A counter is set to the incremental distance between repeated operating positions and is counted down by the output of the resultant length of movement digital integrator.

Abstract: A method and system for producing relative movement of an element along two perpendicular axes to closely approximate a desired path with the movement being sub-divided into a plurality of successive lengths with a determination being made of the number of steps for each axis that is needed to constitute each length. The number of steps in adjacent lengths on each axis is made to vary only within a constant amount so that the minimum and maximum lengths of each next length is determinable from its preceding length. The determination for each length involves calculating in one operation the deviation from the desired path for a minimum length and then calculating the addition of individual steps thereto within limits of deviation and velocity to arrive at the most acceptable length. This reduces the number of calculations as compared to prior known systems which calculate each individual step.

Abstract: A machine tool data system for receiving and storing abbreviated instructions representing blocks of machine tool control data and including pattern type instructions such as copy, mirror image and tool change each involving a series of such blocks, the computer responding to editing instructions such as insert or delete as to specified lines of stored instructions or computing the blocks represented by the stored instructions for transmission to an output device such as a tape punch, the computer generating the blocks of a pattern type series at the rate of utilization of said blocks by the output device. A machine tool may be connected on line and controlled by the computer simultaneously with the editing or tape preparation operations thereof, and the machine tool may be controlled manually from a data terminal on line with the computer when the terminal is not in use for tape preparation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for moving a device, such as a robot arm, through complex movements. The complex movement is divided into a principal movement between two defined end points A, B. Superposed on the principal movement is a closed loop series of subordinate movements (at least two subordinate movements) which loop is executed, at least once, during the principal movement. Data defining the end points of both principal and subordinate movements is stored in a storage device. Both principal and subordinate movements are divided into a number of equal incremental principal and subordinate movements. The sum of the principal and subordinate incremental movements is a composite incremental movement. Signals related to each composite incremental movement are provided to a drive means for moving the device.

Abstract: A control system for moving a machining member relative to a workpiece table in accordance with a set of programmed input instructions which correspond to a prescribed path of movement, including a main contour control logic to generate output signals to move the machining member relative to the table in accordance with the stored values of the components I and J of a main contour vector, a sub-contour control logic which generates output signals to move the machining member based on the stored values of the components i and j of a sub-contour vector, and cutter compensation control logic which enables either the main or the sub-contour control logic to operate based on a determination of whether the main contour vector is leading or lagging the sub-contour vector.

Abstract: A control system having a stored program digital computer for transmitting commands to digital servos for one or a plurality of punch presses; for changing new commands to correct for preceding servo errors and/or mechanical tolerance errors in the servos; for monitoring machine tool and servo condition and supervising punching, tool change and positioning operations; and having provision for assisting in the generation of coded record command tapes on the basis of incremental and/or absolute dimensional input, on a time sharing basis with automatic operation of the servos from a previously generated record tape.

Abstract: A system for directing sequential commands to a plurality of device control circuits, each of which is capable of being individually addressed and controlled to perform one of a plurality of modes of energization by the input commands. The control circuits are used to control energization of devices, such as peripheral devices of numerical control machines and may utilize feedback status signals from the devices, in some modes, to regulate the receiving of further input commands. The commands may be each acted upon sequentially or some may be grouped to be acted upon simultaneously.

Abstract: A programming apparatus for an electroerosion cutting machine with two jig tables displaced by motion screw comprising: a counter-commutator controlling motors in the course of machining piece sectors tilted with respect to coordinate axes; pulse angular displacement sensors, each having an element sensing the revolutions of the respective motion screws and mounted together with the latter on the same roll; and sensors reacting to the actions produced by said element due to the revolutions of the respective motion screw.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus comprising a suction device having at least one nozzle for sucking suspendible material as a suspension from a bed of said material, means for producing suction in the nozzle and means for moving the nozzle horizontally and vertically in relation to said bed, and the invention relates more particularly to a method of controlling the horizontal and vertical movements of the suction device by utilizing as control signals the variations of the solids concentration and volume of suspension sucked through the nozzle per unit of time, and the invention also comprises an apparatus having means for carrying the method into effect.

Abstract: An automatic milling or grinding machine provided with a rotationally and rectilinearly displaceable workpiece support is disclosed. Sets of information relating to the law of a camming surface to be formed on a workpiece and to workpiece-dependent parameters determining dimensional characteristics of the camming surface, respectively, are stored in the machine. Related items of information derived from each set are operatively associated with one another and a succession of angle information signals are generated, the succession defining a circular arc corresponding to one on which the axis of rotation of a given roller follower would move on following the camming surface. The machine provides pairs of co-ordinate displacement command signals in response to each angle information signal and applies the command signals to orthogonal co-ordinate drive means arranged to displace the workpiece support along the circular arc in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the workpiece support.

Abstract: A servo system to permit the lens finishing for example, corresponding to a registered pattern and permit such finishing at desired pressure, etc. for the conveniences of the easy and effective grinding and finishing, in a manner that the detectors supply to the lower and upper limit voltage comparators the detectors outputs, which are then supplied to the logic circuits as well as the outputs for the servo-driving and the outputs from flip-flops, so that the servo motor rotates in normal and/or reverse directions.