Numerically controlled machine tool

Claim 1

In a system for automating control of a machine tool which includes a movable structure, as for accomplishing cuts on a work piece, and further including auxiliary operation structures, the improvement whereby use of programming codes is obviated and instead shop language inputs are utilized, comprising: manually operable input means bearing self-explanatory indicia representative of the desired relationship between tool center point and the work piece for use in specifying a desired result of operation for the machine tool; means responsive to said input means for generating code signals indicative of commands for both said auxiliary operation structures and displacements for said movable structure; means for recording said code signals; decoding means for actuating auxiliary operation structures of said machine tool in response to certain of said code signals; computer control means for displacing said movable structure automatically in response to certain of said code signals, to account for tool radius in the direction of tool motion and perpendicular to the direction of tool motion in response to other of said code signals; and control means for supplying said code signals to said decoding means and said computer control means selectively from said means for generating code signals and said means for recording to automate a series of operations.

Claim 5

A system for automating control of a machine tool which tool includes a work piece support, a spindle, and means for moving said spindle in relation to said work piece support and for moving said work piece in relation to said spindle to accomplish machining operations, comprising; means for providing current-position signals indicative of the existing positional relationship between said work piece support and said spindle; manually operable means for providing sets of digital designation signals referenced to said current-position signals for designating a geometric segment having an end point with a desired positional relationship between said work piece support and said spindle; means for recording said sets of digital designation signals; computer means for receiving said current position signals and a series of related blue-print dimensions and computing therefrom designation signals referenced to said current position signals to provide incremental motion control signals definitive of a geometric segment between said existing positional relationship and said desired positional relationship; drive means for actuating said means for moving said machine tool under control of said incremental motion control signals to attain said desired positional relationship between said work piece and said spindle; and control means for providing said digital designation signals to said computer means selectively from said manually operable means and said means for receiving whereby to register a sequence of operations then automate the repetition of that sequence.

Claim 6

A system for automating control of a machine tool which tool includes a work piece support, a spindle, and means for moving said spindle in relation to said work piece support and for moving said work piece in relation to said spindle to accomplish machining operations, comprising; means for providing current-position signals indicative of the existing positional relationship between said work piece support and said spindle; manually operable means for providing sets of digital designation signals referenced to said current-position signals for designating a geometric segment having an end point with a desired positional relationship between said work piece support and said spindle; means for recording said sets of digital designation signals; computer means for receiving said current position signals and a series of related blue-print dimensions and computing therefrom designation signals referenced to said current position signals to provide incremental motion control signals definitive of a geometric segment between said existing positional relationship and said desired positional relationship; drive means for actuating said means for moving said machine tool under control of said incremental motion control signals to attain said desired positional relationship between said work piece and said spindle; and control means for providing said digital designation signals to said computer means selectively from said manually operable means and said means for receiving whereby to register a sequence of operations then automate the repetition of that sequence.