초록 ▼

A computing unit (12) produces control signals which, when applied to the control inputs of a conventional numerically controlled lathe (10), cause the lathe cutting tool (60) to be positioned such that contours varying in three dimensions may be realized in a spindle (18) mounted, rotating workpiec

A computing unit (12) produces control signals which, when applied to the control inputs of a conventional numerically controlled lathe (10), cause the lathe cutting tool (60) to be positioned such that contours varying in three dimensions may be realized in a spindle (18) mounted, rotating workpiece (20). The control signals include x and z position signals, defining the position of the cutting tool with respect to the radial (24) and axial (22) axes, respectively, of the workpiece (20), and i and k lead control signals which define the distance traveled by the cutting tool, per revolution of the workpiece, in the radial (24) and axial (22) workpiece axes, respectively. A filtering process (134, 136, 140) operates to delete each control signal having i and k values which are within the x and z tolerance values, respectively, of the immediately preceding control signal, to thereby reduce both the volume of stored data and machining time.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for machining a workpiece comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rotatable lathe spindle including means for mounting the workpiece thereto such that the workpiece may be rotated about a rotational axis; (b) providing a cutting tool; (c) positioning said cutting tool in response to contro

A method for machining a workpiece comprising the steps of: (a) providing a rotatable lathe spindle including means for mounting the workpiece thereto such that the workpiece may be rotated about a rotational axis; (b) providing a cutting tool; (c) positioning said cutting tool in response to control signals with respect to both a first axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spindle mounted workpiece and a second axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle mounted workpiece; and (d) producing a predetermined set of control signals x, z, i and k for each predetermined segment of rotation of the workpiece, wherein each x control signal defines the position of the cutting tool in said first axis, each z control signal defines the position of the cutting tool in said second axis, each i control signal defines the distance traveled by the cutting tool in said first axis for each revolution of the workpiece and each k control signal defines the distance traveled by the cutting tool in said second axis for each revolution of the workpiece, said step (d) comprising the steps of: (i) defining the desired machined shape of the workpiece in a Cartesian coordinate system using mutually orthogonal axes having corresponding coordinates X, Y and Z; (ii) compensating said X, Y and Z coordinates for offsets produced by the cutting tool to produce coordinates x′, y′and z; (iii) converting said compensated x′, y′coordinates to corresponding polar coordinates of radius R and angle qqq