Automatic adaptive controller

Claim 2

An automatic adaptive controller for managing tool life by controlling a cutting tool, comprising cutting tool means, data file means for storing a plurality of data including predetermined tool-feed rate, depth of cut and cutting speed representing a plurality of cutting conditons for a multiplicity of materials and for emitting corresponding data signals and information signals including a signal representing tool life, modifier means connected between said data file means and said cutting tool means for receiving said data signals and for sending basic operational values to said cutting tool means for starting said cutting tool means to effect a cutting operation initially controlled solely by said data signals and subsequently by said data signals as modified by correction signals, a plurality of detector means for detecting characteristics of said cutting operation of said cutting tool means, including operating force to detect tool wear, and providing respective detection signals, and computing means for receiving said detection signals and for receiving said information signals from said data file means and for proViding said correction signals to said modifier means, said modifier means for modifying said optimum data signals by said correction signals and for providing and sending corrected signals to said cutting tool means for controlling the cutting operation of said cutting tool means, said computing means including sampling means for collecting data relating to tool life over a plurality of cutting operations and producing a further correction signal representing same, and means for applying signals derived from said computing means to data file means for altering the data stored therein.

Claim 3

An automatic adaptive controller for managing tool life by controlling a cutting tool, comprising a cutting tool means, a data file means for storing a plurality of data representing a plurality of cutting conditions and for emitting corresponding optimum data signals and information signals, a modifier means connected to said cutting tool means for receiving said optimum data signals and for sending basic operational values to said cutting tool means for starting said cutting tool means to effect a cutting operation, a plurality of detector means for detecting characteristics of said cutting operation of said cutting tool means, including operating force to detect tool wear, and providing detection signals, a computing means for receiving said detection signals and for receiving said information signals from said data file means and for providing correction signals to said modifier means, and said modifier means for modifying said optimum data signals by said correction signals and for providing and sending corrected signals to said cutting tool means for controlling the cutting operation of said cutting tool means, said detector means including a cutting force detector and a cutting temperature detector, said computing means comprising, a first amplifier connected to said cutting force detector, a second amplifier connected to said cutting temperature detector, a sampling means, a band pass filter, an operational amplifier connected to receive output signals from both said first and second amplifiers and having an output connected to said sampling means and said band pass filter, a tool life estimation means connected to said sampling means, a first comparator means for receiving and comparing output signals from said tool life estimation means and said information signals from said data file means and providing one of said correction signals, a rectifier connected to said band pass filter, a second comparator means for receiving and comparing output signals from said rectifier and said information signals from said data file means, a third comparator means connected to said output of said operational amplifier and for comparison with said information signals from said data file means, a composition means connected to said second and third comparator means for providing another of said correction signals, a difference means connected to said second amplifier for providing an amplification difference corresponding to a rise of cutting temperature, a fourth comparator means connected to said difference means and receiving said information signals from said data file means, and a fifth comparator means for connection to said fourth comparator means and receiving information signals from said data file means and providing an additional one of said correction signals.

Claim 4

An automatic adaptive controller for managing tool life by controlling a cutting tool, comprising a cutting tool means, a data file means for storing a plurality of data representing a plurality of cutting conditions and for emitting corresponding optimum data signals and information signals, a modifier means connected to said cutting tool means for receiving said optimum data signals and for sending basic operational values to said cutting tool means for starting said cutting tool means to effect a cutting operation, a plurality of detector means for detecting characteristics of said cutting operation of said cutting tool means, including operating force to detect tool wear, and providing detection signals, a computing means for receiving said detection signals and for receiving said information signals from said data file means and for providing correction signals to said modifier means, and said modifier means for modifying said optimum data signals by said correction signals and for providing and sending corrected signals to said cutting tool means for controlling the cutting operation of said cutting tool means, said detector means including a cutting force detector and a cutting temperature detector, said computing means comprising, a first amplifier connected to said cutting force detector, a second amplifier connected to said cutting temperature detector, a sampling means, a band pass filter, an operational amplifier connected to receive output signals from both said first and second amplifiers and having an output connected to said sampling means and said band pass filter, a tool life estimation means connected to said sampling means, a first comparator means for receiving and comparing output signals from said tool life estimation means and said information signals from said data file means and providing one of said correction signals, a rectifier connected to said band pass filter, a second comparator means for receiving and comparing output signals from said rectifier and said information signals from said data file means, a third comparator means connected to said output of said operational amplifier and for comparison with said information signals from said data file means, a composition means connected to said second and third comparator means for providing another of said correction signals, a difference means connected to said second amplifier for providing an amplification difference corresponding to a rise of cutting temperature, a fourth comparator means connected to said difference means and receiving said information signals from said data file means, and a fifth comparator means for connection to said fourth comparator means and receiving information signals from said data file means and providing an additional one of said correction signals.