Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
In a system having a machine with a cutter for cutting a metal workpiece and a fixture for mounting the workpiece, a method of adjusting the feed rate and cutting speed for a machining operation to the characteristics of the material to be cut, the cut to be made, the fixture, the cutter, and the machine, said method comprising: determining a first set of parameters, including a preliminary cutting speed and a preliminary feed rate, from the characteristics of the material to be cut, the cut to be made, the fixture, the cutter, and the machine; calculating the maximum allowable cutter force from the first set of parameters; calculating a base cutting speed from the first set of parameters; calculating the maximum feed rate from the first set of parameters, the maximum allowable cutter force, and the base cutting speed; and designating the calculated base cutting speed as the initial cutting speed, and the calculated maximum feed rate as the initial feed rate, for the machining operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a system having a machine with a cutter for cutting a metal workpiece and a fixture for mounting the workpiece, a method of adjusting the feed rate and cutting speed for a machining operation to the characteristics of the material to be cut, the cut to be made, the fixture, the cutter, and the machine, said method comprising: determining a first set of parameters, including a preliminary cutting speed and a preliminary feed rate, from the characteristics of the material to be cut, the cut to be made, the fixture, the cutter, and the machine; calculating the maximum allowable cutter force from the first set of parameters; calculating a base cutting speed from the first set of parameters; calculating the maximum feed rate from the first set of parameters, the maximum allowable cutter force, and the base cutting speed; and designating the calculated base cutting speed as the initial cutting speed, and the calculated maximum feed rate as the initial feed rate, for the machining operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method as described in claim 1, in which the cutter is of the type having a shank and a cutting head that has flutes with cutting edge teeth; and in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force comprises calculating the force required to break the cutter at its shank, calculating the force required to break the cutter at its flutes, calculating the force required to fracture the teeth, and taking the minimum of the calculated forces and the maximum spindle load of the machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as described in claim 2, in which the step of calculating the maximum feed rate comprises calculating the maximum rate for the desired surface finish, calculating the maximum rate for the maximum available horsepower, calculating the maximum rate for the maximum force available, and taking the minimum of the calculated maximum rates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as described in claim 3, further comprising calculating a second set of parameters from the first set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate; and, from the second set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate, determining how much time and what cutting tools the machining operation will require, to enable a planner to estimate production costs and schedules.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 4, in which the second set of parameters includes cutter deflection, actual cutting force, estimated cutter life, and estimated surface finish.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 5, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 4, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method as described in claim 3, in which the step of determining the first set of parameters includes converting the hardness of the metal to be cut from force per unit area to Brinell hardness; in which the force required to fracture the teeth is calculated from the converted hardness of the metal to be cut, characteristics of the cutter, and the preliminary feed rate; and in which the maximum rate for the maximum force available is calculated from characteristics of the metal to be cut, including the converted hardness thereof, and characteristics of the cutter and the cut to be made.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 3, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 3, in which the step of calculating the maximum rate for the maximum available horsepower comprises converting the machine rated horsepower into spindle horsepower.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as described in claim 2, further comprising calculating a second set of parameters from the first set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate; and, from the second set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate, determining how much time and what cutting tools the machining operation will require, to enable a planner to estimate production costs and schedules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 11, in which the second set of parameters includes cutter deflection, actual cutting force, estimated cutter life, and estimated surface finish.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as described in claim 2, in which the step of determining the first set of parameters includes converting the hardness of the metal to be cut from force per unit area to Brinell hardness; and in which the force required to fracture the teeth is calculated from the converted hardness of the metal to be cut, characteristics of the cutter, and the preliminary feed rate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 2, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as described in claim 1, in which the step of calculating the maximum feed rate comprises calculating the maximum rate for the desired surface finish, calculating the maximum rate for the maximum available horsepower, calculating the maximum rate for the maximum force available, and taking the minimum of the calculated maximum rates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as described in claim 15, further comprising calculating a second set of parameters from the first set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate; and, from the second set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate, determining how much time and what cutting tools the machining operation will require, to enable a planner to estimate production costs and schedules.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 16, in which the second set of parameters includes cutter deflection, actual cutting force, estimated cutter life, and estimated surface finish.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 17, in which the step of calculating the maximum rate for the maximum available horsepower comprises converting the machine rated horsepower into spindle horsepower.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 16, in which the step of calculating the maximum rate for the maximum available horsepower comprises converting the machine rated horsepower into spindle horsepower.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as described in claim 15, in which the step of determining the first set of parameters includes converting the hardness of the metal to be cut from force per unit area to Brinell hardness; and in which the maximum rate for the maximum force available is calculated from characteristics of the metal to be cut, including the converted hardness thereof, and characteristics of the cutter and the cut to be made.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 15, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as described in claim 15, in which the step of calculating the maximum rate for the maximum available horsepower comprises converting the machine rated horsepower into spindle horsepower.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as described in claim 1, further comprising calculating a second set of parameters from the first set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate; and, from the second set of parameters, the designated cutting speed, and the designated feed rate, determining how much time and what cutting tools the machining operation will require, to enable a planner to estimate production costs and schedules.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 23, in which the second set of parameters includes cutter deflection, actual cutting force, estimated cutter life, and estimated surface finish.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 22, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as described in claim 23, in which the step of determining the first set of parameters includes converting the hardness of the metal to be cut from force per unit area to Brinell hardness; and the step of calculating the second set of parameters includes calculating cutter deflection, actual cutting force, estimated cutter life, and estimated surface finish.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 23, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as described in claim 1, in which the step of determining the first set of parameters includes converting the hardness of the metal to be cut from force per unit area to Brinell hardness.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as described in claim 1, in which the step of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force and the step of calculating the maximum feed rate each include correcting for the cutter condition, the fixture condition, and the machine condition.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as described in claim 1, further comprising, after calculating the maximum feed rate and before designating the cutting speed and feed rate for the machining operation: resetting the preliminary cutting speed and the preliminary feed rate to equal the calculated base cutting speed and the calculated maximum feed rate, respectively; and then, repeating the steps of calculating the maximum allowable cutter force, calculating the base cutting speed, and calculating the maximum feed rate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a system having a machine with a cutter for cutting a metal workpiece and a fixture for mounting the workpiece, a method of adjusting maximum limits on horsepower, torque, and cutting force for a machining operation to the characteristics of the metal to be cut, the cut to be made, the cutter, the fixture, and the machine, said method comprising: selecting a fixed cutting speed and a fixed feed rate; determining a set of parameters from the characteristics of the metal to be cut, the cut to be made, the cutter, the fixture, and the machine; calculating cutting effects, including forces required to break the cutter, cutter deflection, actual cutting force, estimated cutter life, and estimated surface finish from the fixed cutting speed and feed rate and the set of parameters; and determining said maximum limits for the machining operation from the calculated cutting effects.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a system having a machine with a cutter for cutting a metal workpiece and a fixture for mounting the workpiece, a method of adjusting maximum limits on horsepower, torque, and cutting force for a machining operation to the characteristics of the metal to be cut, the cut to be made, the cutter, the fixture, and the machine, said method comprising: selecting a fixed cutting speed and a fixed feed rate; determining a set of parameters from the characteristics of the metal to be cut, the cut to be made, the cutter, the fixture, and the machine; calculating cutting effects, including forces required to break the cutter, cutter deflection, actual cutting force, estimated cutter life, and estimated surface finish from the fixed cutting speed and feed rate and the set of parameters; and determining said maximum limits for the machining operation from the calculated cutting effects.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as described in claim 31, in which the step of determining the set of parameters includes converting the hardness of the metal to be cut from force per unit area to Brinell hardness.