Method of judging and controlling simultaneous machining in a quadriaxial numerical control lathe

Claim 2

In a quadriaxial numerical control lathe having two tool rests each tool rest carrying a plurality of tools for machining a workpiece and capable of being driven independently so as to machine a workpiece either simultaneously with tools of respective tool rests or non-simultaneously, a method of controlling machining comprising the steps of: storing in a machining pattern pair memory a pair table having data indicating which of various pairs of machining patterns, belonging to various machining modes, can be simultaneously machined; inputting machining information which defines pairs machining patterns which could be advantageously simultaneously carried out; accessing said machining pattern pair memory and determining which of the simultaneous machining patterns based upon the inputted machining information are possible; generating a machining program including instructions for simultaneously machining those patterns which are judged to be possible in said accessing step; and controlling said tool rests in accordance with said program.

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein said storing step comprises the step of organizing the data in said table into three classes including (a) pairs of machining patterns which are unconditionally executable simultaneously, (b) pairs of machining patterns which are not executable simultaneously and (c) pairs of machining patterns which are executable simultaneously but may adversely affect machining precision when executed simultaneously and wherein potential simultaneous machining patterns that are possible may include those in classes (a) and (c).

Claim 4

A method according to claim 2, wherein said storing step comprises the step of organizing the machining patterns in said table in at least three modes including (a) an outer periphery machining mode, (b) an inner periphery machining mode and (c) an end surface machining mode.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 3, wherein the machining patterns of said outer periphery machining mode are classified into at least four machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 3, wherein the machining patterns of said inner periphery machining mode are classified into at least five machining patterns including drilling, rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 3, wherein the machining patterns of said end surface machining mode are classified into at least three machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining and grooving.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 1, wherein said storing step comprises the step of organizing the machining patterns in said table in at least three modes including (a) an outer periphery machining mode, (b) an inner periphery machining mode and (c) an end surface machining mode.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 7, wherein the machining patterns of said outer periphery machining mode are classified into at least four machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 7, wherein the machining patterns of said inner periphery machining mode are classified into at least five machining patterns including drilling, rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 7, wherein the machining patterns of said end surface machining mode are classified into at least three machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining and grooving.

Claim 12

A quadriaxial numerical control lathe comprising: at least two tool rests each tool rest carrying a plurality of tools and capable of being driven independently so that a workpiece can be machined either simultaneously or non-simultaneously by tools of respective tool rests; a machining pattern pair memory; means for storing in said machining pattern pair memory a pair table including data for various pairs of machining patterns, classified according to machining modes, including whether particular pairs of machining patterns can be carried out simultaneously; means for inputting machining information specifying machining patterns to be carried out; means for accessing said machining pattern and determining, whether pairs of machining patterns specified by said machining information could be carried out simultaneously; means for defining a machining program in accordance with a judgment by said determining means, the program including instructions for carrying out a simultaneous machining operation if it is determined that such simultaneous machining is possible and not carrying out such simultaneous machining in the event that it is determined that a simultaneous execution of the machining process is not possible; and means for machining in accordance with said machining program.

Claim 13

A quadriaxial numerical control lathe comprising: at least two tool rests each tool rest carrying a plurality of tools and capable of being driven independently so that a workpiece can be machined either simultaneously or non-simultaneously by tools of respective tool rests; a machining pattern pair memory; means for storing in said machining pattern pair memory a pair table including data for various pairs of machining patterns, classified according to machining modes, including whether particular pairs of machining patterns can be carried out simultaneously; means for inputting machining information specifying machining patterns to be carried out; means for accessing said machining pattern and determining, whether pairs of machining patterns specified by said machining information could be carried out simultaneously; means for defining a machining program in accordance with a judgment by said determining means, the program including instructions for carrying out a simultaneous machining operation if it is determined that such simultaneous machining is possible and not carrying out such simultaneous machining in the event that it is determined that a simultaneous execution of the machining process is not possible; and means for machining in accordance with said machining program.

Claim 14

A lathe according to claim 11 wherein said data stored in said storing means includes (a) pairs of machining patterns which are executable simultaneously, (b) pairs of machining patterns which are not executable simultaneously and (c) pairs of machining patterns which are executable simultaneously but may adversely effect the machining precision when executed simultaneously.

Claim 15

A lathe according to claim 12 wherein said modes include (a) an outer periphery machining mode, (b) an inner periphery machining mode and (c) an end surface machining mode.

Claim 16

A lathe according to claim 13 wherein said outer periphery machining mode includes at least four machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 17

A lathe according to claim 13 wherein said inner periphery machining mode includes at least five machining patterns including drilling, rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 18

A lathe according to claim 13 wherein said end surface machining mode includes at least three machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining and grooving.

Claim 19

A lathe according to claim 11 wherein said modes include (a) an outer periphery machining mode, (b) an inner periphery machining mode and (c) an end surface machining mode.

Claim 20

A lathe according to claim 17 wherein said outer periphery machining mode includes at least four machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 21

A lathe according to claim 17 wherein said inner periphery machining mode includes at least five machining patterns including drilling, rough machining, finish machining, threading and grooving.

Claim 22

A lathe according to claim 17 wherein said end surface machining mode includes at least three machining patterns including rough machining, finish machining and grooving.