Path-controlled machining method

Claim 1

A method of machining a workpiece to generate a desired contour therein by means of a numerically path-controlled machine tool having first support means for supporting an electrically conductive workpiece, tool-support means supported by second support means for positioning a tool member in machining relationship with said workpiece in a machining operation and drive means drivingly coupled with at least one of said first and second support means and operable in response to a predetermined sequential set of numerical commands for relatively displacing the first and second support means to correspondingly relatively displace said tool member and said workpiece along a prescribed machining feed path as to generate a desired machined contour in said workpiece during said machining operation, said method comprising the steps of: in a preliminary operation in advance of said machining operation, furnishing said drive means with said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands whereby the consequent relative displacement between said first and said second support means results in the generation of output signals representing the actual relative movements of a tool member and a workpiece respectively affixable to said second and first support means; recording said output signals and generating with the thus-recorded output signals a visible trace upon an electronic display screen; in said machining operation, disposing and maintaining sensing means in a fixed positional relationship with one of said support means and in sensing relationship with a given point fixedly related to the other of said support means so that said sensing means outputs a position signal monitoring the actual contour formed by said tool means in said workpiece during said machining operation; displaying a visible trace representing said position signal progressively with advance of said machining contour on said screen in superimposition at least in part with the first-mentioned trace as said drive means relatively displaces said first and second support means in said machining operation by said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands, the coincidence of said traces representing proper progress of the machining operation; and terminating the machining operation upon deviation of the visible trace on said screeen representing said position signal from the first-mentioned trace by more than a predetermined degree.

Claim 2

A method of machining a workpiece to generate a desired contour therein by means of a numerically path-controlled machine tool having first support means for supporting an electrically conductive workpiece, tool-support means supported by second support means for positioning a tool member in machining relationship with said workpiece in a machining operation and drive means drivingly coupled with at least one of said first and second support means and operable in response to a predetermined sequential set of numerical commands for relatively displacing the first and second support means to correspondingly relatively displace said tool member and said workpiece along a prescribed machining feed path as to generate a desired machined contour in said workpiece during said machining operation, said method comprising the steps of: in a preliminary operation in advance of said machining operation, furnishing said drive means with said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands whereby the consequent relative displacement between said first and said second support means results in the generation of output signals representing the actual relative movements of a tool member and a workpiece respectively affixable to said second and first support means; recording said output signals and generating with the thus-recorded output signals a visible trace upon an electronic display screen; in said machining operation, disposing and maintaining sensing means in a fixed positional relationship with one of said support means and in sensing relationship with a given point fixedly related to the other of said support means so that said sensing means outputs a position signal monitoring the actual contour formed by said tool means in said workpiece during said machining operation; displaying a visible trace representing said position signal progressively with advance of said machining contour on said screen in superimposition at least in part with the first-mentioned trace as said drive means relatively displaces said first and second support means in said machining operation by said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands, the coincidence of said traces representing proper progress of the machining operation; and terminating the machining operation upon deviation of the visible trace on said screeen representing said position signal from the first-mentioned trace by more than a predetermined degree.

Claim 4

A method of machining a workpiece to generate a desired contour therein by means of a numerically path-controlled machine tool having first support means for supporting an electrically conductive workpiece, tool-support means supported by second support means for positioning a tool member in machining relationship with said workpiece in a machining operation, and drive means drivingly coupled with at least one of said first and second support means and operable in response to a predetermined sequential set of numerical commands for relatively displacing the first and second support means to correspondingly relatively displace said tool member and said workpiece along a prescribed machining feed path as to generate a desired machined contour in said workpiece during said machining operation, said method comprising the steps of: in a preliminary operation in advance of said machining operation, producing from said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands output signals representing said prescribed feed path and the resulting machined contour in said workpiece and generating a visible trace upon an electronic display screen; in said machining operation, disposing and maintaining sensing means in a fixed positional relationship with one of said support means and in sensing relationship with a given point fixedly related to the other of said support means so that said sensing means outputs a position signal monitoring the actual contour formed by said tool means in said workpiece during said machining operation; displaying a visible trace representing said position signal progressively with advance of said machining contour on said screen in superimposition at least in part with the first-mentioned trace as said drive means relatively displaces said first and second support means in said machining operation by said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands, the coincidence of said traces representing proper progress of the machining operation; and terminating the machining operation upon deviation of the visible trace on said screen representing said position signal from the first-mentioned trace by more than a predetermined degree.

Claim 5

A method of machining a workpiece to generate a desired contour therein by means of a numerically path-controlled machine tool having first support means for supporting an electrically conductive workpiece, tool-support means supported by second support means for positioning a tool member in machining relationship with said workpiece in a machining operation, and drive means drivingly coupled with at least one of said first and second support means and operable in response to a predetermined sequential set of numerical commands for relatively displacing the first and second support means to correspondingly relatively displace said tool member and said workpiece along a prescribed machining feed path as to generate a desired machined contour in said workpiece during said machining operation, said method comprising the steps of: in a preliminary operation in advance of said machining operation, producing from said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands output signals representing said prescribed feed path and the resulting machined contour in said workpiece and generating a visible trace upon an electronic display screen; in said machining operation, disposing and maintaining sensing means in a fixed positional relationship with one of said support means and in sensing relationship with a given point fixedly related to the other of said support means so that said sensing means outputs a position signal monitoring the actual contour formed by said tool means in said workpiece during said machining operation; displaying a visible trace representing said position signal progressively with advance of said machining contour on said screen in superimposition at least in part with the first-mentioned trace as said drive means relatively displaces said first and second support means in said machining operation by said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands, the coincidence of said traces representing proper progress of the machining operation; and terminating the machining operation upon deviation of the visible trace on said screen representing said position signal from the first-mentioned trace by more than a predetermined degree.

Claim 7

A method of machining a workpiece to generate a desired contour therein by means of a numerically path-controlled machine tool having first support means for supporting an electrically conductive workpiece, tool-support means supported by second support means for positioning a tool member in machining relationship with said workpiece in a machining operation, and drive means drivingly coupled with at least one of said first and second support means and operable in response to a predetermined sequential set of numerical commands for relatively displacing the first and second support means to correspondingly relatively displace said tool member and said workpiece along a prescribed machining feed path as to generate a desired machined contour in said workpiece during said machining operation, said method comprising the steps of: in a preliminary operation in advance of said machining operation, producing from said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands output signals representing said prescribed feed path and resulting desired contour in said workpiece and generating with said output signals a visible trace upon an electronic display screen; in said machining operation, furnishing said drive means with said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands whereby the consequential relative displacement between said first and second support means results in the formation of an actual contour in said workpiece and producing a position monitoring signal representing an instantaneous actual relative position between said support means; displaying a visible trace representing said position signal progressively with advance of said machining contour on said screen in superimposition at least in part with the first-mentioned trace as said drive means relatively displaces said first and second support means in said machining operation by said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands, the coincidence of said traces representing proper progress of the machining operation; and terminating the machining operation upon deviation of the visible trace on said screen representing said position signal from the first-mentioned trace by more than a predetermined degree.

Claim 8

A method of machining a workpiece to generate a desired contour therein by means of a numerically path-controlled machine tool having first support means for supporting an electrically conductive workpiece, tool-support means supported by second support means for positioning a tool member in machining relationship with said workpiece in a machining operation, and drive means drivingly coupled with at least one of said first and second support means and operable in response to a predetermined sequential set of numerical commands for relatively displacing the first and second support means to correspondingly relatively displace said tool member and said workpiece along a prescribed machining feed path as to generate a desired machined contour in said workpiece during said machining operation, said method comprising the steps of: in a preliminary operation in advance of said machining operation, producing from said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands output signals representing said prescribed feed path and resulting desired contour in said workpiece and generating with said output signals a visible trace upon an electronic display screen; in said machining operation, furnishing said drive means with said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands whereby the consequential relative displacement between said first and second support means results in the formation of an actual contour in said workpiece and producing a position monitoring signal representing an instantaneous actual relative position between said support means; displaying a visible trace representing said position signal progressively with advance of said machining contour on said screen in superimposition at least in part with the first-mentioned trace as said drive means relatively displaces said first and second support means in said machining operation by said predetermined sequential set of numerical commands, the coincidence of said traces representing proper progress of the machining operation; and terminating the machining operation upon deviation of the visible trace on said screen representing said position signal from the first-mentioned trace by more than a predetermined degree.