Machine tool control system and method

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 further comprising storing the parameters so obtained and automatically applying the stored parameters to determine the deceleration point in subsequent moves executed by the control system.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5 further comprising observing the response of the system to a subsequent move, and adjusting the stored characteristics in accordance with such observations so as to take account of subsequent changes in the operating characteristics of the individual control system.

Claim 11

A machine tool control system comprising a machine tool control including an external hardware counter (30, FIG. 3) for receiving pulses representing successive increments of movement of a load during execution of a given displacement command, a minicomputer (200, FIG. 12) connected on line with said hardware counter (30) and operable to receive said displacement command and to compute a deceleration point in advance of the end point to which the load is to be moved in executing the displacement command, an electric drive circuit (25) responsive to a maximum input signal to accelerate the load toward a rapid traverse operating speed, bistable drive control circuitry (21-24, FIG. 3) connected with said electric drive circuit (25) for selectively supplying said maximum input signal to said electric drive circuit (25), and shiftable between a first bistable condition where said maximum input signal is applied to said electric drive circuit (25) and a second bistable condition where said maximum input signal is removed, drive control selector circuitry (20, 27, FIG. 3) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24), and operable in response to a first signal from said minicomputer to place said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) in said first bistable condition to cause the acceleration of the load to the rapid traverse operating speed, and operable in response to a second signal from said minicomputer (200) to shift said bistable drive control circuit (21-24) to the second bistable condition, a bistable counter condition circuit (38, 43, 45, 46, FIG. 3) connected with said counter (30) and shiftable between first and second bistable conditions, and responsive to a predetermined count condition of said counter (30) to shift from the first bistable condition to said second bistable condition, and counter condition sensing circuitry (43b, 43e) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said bistable counter condition circuit (38, 43, 45, 46) and responsive to a predetermined selection signal from the minicomputer (200) to transmit a counter condition signal to the minicomputer (200) in accordance with the bistable condition of said bistable counter condition circuit (38, 43, 4, 46), the minicomputer being in control of rapid traverse movement of the load by means of said counter condition circuit (38, 43, 45, 46) and said drive control selection circuitry (20, 27) and being operable by means of said drive control selector circuitry (20, 27) to intervene during execution of the displacement command to initate deceleration of the load for stopping thereof at the commanded end point, whereby the deceleration point may be changed in accordance with changes in the operating characteristics of the system during its useful life.

Claim 12

A machine tool control system comprising a machine tool control including an external hardware counter (30, FIG. 3) for receiving pulses representing successive increments of movement of a load during execution of a given displacement command, a minicomputer (200, FIG. 12) connected on line with said hardware counter (30) and operable to receive said displacement command and to compute a deceleration point in advance of the end point to which the load is to be moved in executing the displacement command, an electric drive circuit (25) responsive to a maximum input signal to accelerate the load toward a rapid traverse operating speed, bistable drive control circuitry (21-24, FIG. 3) connected with said electric drive circuit (25) for selectively supplying said maximum input signal to said electric drive circuit (25), and shiftable between a first bistable condition where said maximum input signal is applied to said electric drive circuit (25) and a second bistable condition where said maximum input signal is removed, drive control selector circuitry (20, 27, FIG. 3) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24), and operable in response to a first signal from said minicomputer to place said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) in said first bistable condition to cause the acceleration of the load to the rapid traverse operating speed, and operable in response to a second signal from said minicomputer (200) to shift said bistable drive control circuit (21-24) to the second bistable condition, a bistable counter condition circuit (38, 43, 45, 46, FIG. 3) connected with said counter (30) and shiftable between first and second bistable conditions, and responsive to a predetermined count condition of said counter (30) to shift from the first bistable condition to said second bistable condition, and counter condition sensing circuitry (43b, 43e) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said bistable counter condition circuit (38, 43, 45, 46) and responsive to a predetermined selection signal from the minicomputer (200) to transmit a counter condition signal to the minicomputer (200) in accordance with the bistable condition of said bistable counter condition circuit (38, 43, 4, 46), the minicomputer being in control of rapid traverse movement of the load by means of said counter condition circuit (38, 43, 45, 46) and said drive control selection circuitry (20, 27) and being operable by means of said drive control selector circuitry (20, 27) to intervene during execution of the displacement command to initate deceleration of the load for stopping thereof at the commanded end point, whereby the deceleration point may be changed in accordance with changes in the operating characteristics of the system during its useful life.

Claim 13

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 7 with said drive circuit (25) comprising a servo amplifier whose output direct current signal controls the speed of operation of the load.

Claim 14

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 8 with tachometer means (180) responsive to the speed of movement of the load and supplying a feedback voltage to said servo amplifier and operable for producing a braking action when rapid traverse movement is interrupted.

Claim 15

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 7 with a digital to analog converter (31, FIG. 3) connected with said counter (30) and having its output connected with said electric drive circuit (25) for controlling positioning of the load when the bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) has been shifted to said second bistable condition.

Claim 16

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 8 with a digital to analog converter (31) connected with said counter for control thereby and having its output connected with said servo amplifier (25) in parallel with said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) for controlling the speed of operation of the load when said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) is in said second bistable condition.

Claim 17

A machine tool control system comprising a machine tool control including a minicomputer (200, FIG. 12) having storage means (61, 62, FIG. 1) for receiving pulses representing successive increments of movement of a load, an electric drive circuit including a servo amplifier (25, FIG. 3) responsive to a maximum input signal to accelerate the load toward a rapid traverse operating speed and responsive to progressively reduced input signal levels to correspondingly reduce the speed of movement of the load, bistable drive control circuitry (21-24, FIG. 3) connected with said servo amplifier (25) for selectively supplying said maximum input signal thereto, and shiftable between a first bistable condition where said maximum input signal is applied and a second bistable condition where said maximum input signal is removed, drive control selector circuitry (20, 27, FIG. 3) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24), and operable in response to a first signal from said minicomputer (200) to place said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) in said first bistable condition to cause the acceleration of the load to rapid traverse operating speed, and operable in response to a second signal from said minicomputer (200) to shift said bistable drive control circuit (21-24) to the second bistable condition, and a digital to analog converter circuit (30, 31, FIG. 3) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said servo amplifier (25) and operable to supply progressively reduced input signal levels to the servo amplifier (25) once the bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) has been shifted to said second bistable condition to progressively decelerate said load, the minicomputer (200) being in control of the duration of the rapid traverse movement by virtue of its connection with said drive control selector circuitry (20, 27), and being in control of the deceleration of the load by means of its connection with said digital to analog converter circuit (30, 31), whereby the deceleration point may be changed by the minicomputer (200) in accordance with changes in the operating characteristics of the system during its useful life.

Claim 18

A machine tool control system comprising a machine tool control including a minicomputer (200, FIG. 12) having storage means (61, 62, FIG. 1) for receiving pulses representing successive increments of movement of a load, an electric drive circuit including a servo amplifier (25, FIG. 3) responsive to a maximum input signal to accelerate the load toward a rapid traverse operating speed and responsive to progressively reduced input signal levels to correspondingly reduce the speed of movement of the load, bistable drive control circuitry (21-24, FIG. 3) connected with said servo amplifier (25) for selectively supplying said maximum input signal thereto, and shiftable between a first bistable condition where said maximum input signal is applied and a second bistable condition where said maximum input signal is removed, drive control selector circuitry (20, 27, FIG. 3) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24), and operable in response to a first signal from said minicomputer (200) to place said bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) in said first bistable condition to cause the acceleration of the load to rapid traverse operating speed, and operable in response to a second signal from said minicomputer (200) to shift said bistable drive control circuit (21-24) to the second bistable condition, and a digital to analog converter circuit (30, 31, FIG. 3) connected with said minicomputer (200) and with said servo amplifier (25) and operable to supply progressively reduced input signal levels to the servo amplifier (25) once the bistable drive control circuitry (21-24) has been shifted to said second bistable condition to progressively decelerate said load, the minicomputer (200) being in control of the duration of the rapid traverse movement by virtue of its connection with said drive control selector circuitry (20, 27), and being in control of the deceleration of the load by means of its connection with said digital to analog converter circuit (30, 31), whereby the deceleration point may be changed by the minicomputer (200) in accordance with changes in the operating characteristics of the system during its useful life.

Claim 19

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 12 with tachometer means (180, FIG. 3) responsive to the speed of movement of the load and supplying a feedback voltage to said servo amplifier (25) and opeable for producing a braking action when rapid traverse movements is interrupted.

Claim 20

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 12 with said digital to analog converter (30, 31) having a generally linear range of output for a range of input count values of less than plus or minus sixteen.

Claim 21

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 12 with an oscillator (81, FIG. 2) connected with said minicomputer (200) for supplying timing pulses to the minicomputer (200) and thereby enabling the minicomputer (200) to determine when the spacing between pulses representing successive increments of movement of the load correspond to the rapid traverse operating speed.

Claim 22

A machine tool control system in accordance with claim 12 with said machine tool control including a transducer direction and rate sensing circuit (10, FIG. 1) connected with said storage means (61, 60, 62) for supplying said pulses representing successive increments of movement of the load thereto, and a feedback condition sensing circuit (71, 73, 72, 75, FIG. 1) connected with said bistable pulse receiving circuit (61, 62) and with said minicomputer (200) and incluging a feedback condition selector circuit (71, 72, FIG. 1) responsive to a selection signal from said minicomputer (200) to transmit a feedback condition signal to the minicomputer (200) in accordance with the condition of said storage means (61, 62).