Adaptive control apparatus for a machine tool

Claim 2

An adaptive control apparatus for a machine tool having feed means for effecting relative movement between a tool carrier and a work table, said adaptive control apparatus comprising: a load detector for detecting a machining load acting on at least one of said tool carrier and said work table; data input means for inputting information which identifies the kinds of a tool to be used and a machining operation to be performed in a model machining operation; load value storage control means including plural storage files for respectively storing plural groups of load values sampled in plural model machining operations using a single tool, in connection with the kinds of said tool and machining operation input by said data input means; selection means for identifying the kinds of a tool to be used and a machining operation to be performed in accordance with a numerical control program during an adaptive control machining operation, so as to select from said plural storage files one storage file which corresponds to the identified tool and the identified kind of said machining operation; objective load read-out means for successively reading out from said one storage file selected by said selection means sampled load values in synchronous relation with the progress of said adaptive control machining operation; and feed rate control means for controlling the feed rate in the relative movement of said tool carrier and said work table so as to make the machining load detected by said load detector follow the sampled load values successively read out by said objective load read-out means.

Claim 3

An adaptive control apparatus for a machine tool having a work table, a tool carrier, feed means for effecting relative movement between said work table and said tool carrier, and numerical control means for controlling said feed means in accordance with a numerical control program, said adaptive control apparatus comprising: load detection means for detecting a machining load acting on one of said work table and said tool carrier during each of a model machining operation and an adaptive control machining operation; data input means for inputting information designating a tool to be used and the kind of a machining operation to be performed in said model machining operation; a plurality of load storage areas provided for at least one of tools used in said machine tool; load value storage control means for storing in one of said load storage areas load values detected by said load detection means during a first model machining operation using said at least one of said tools, in connection with the kinds of said at least one tool and said first model machining operation and for storing in another of said load storage areas load values detected by said load detection means during a second model machining operation using said at least one tool, in connection with the kinds of said at least one tool and said second model machining operation; data selection means for selecting one of said load storage areas in accordance with tool data output from said numerical control means in an adaptive control machining operation; data read-out means for successively reading out said load values from said selected one of said load storage areas during said adaptive control machining operation; and feed rate control means for controlling the feed rate of the relative movement between said work table and said tool carrier, so as to cause the machining load detected by said machining load detection means to follow the load values successively read out by said data read-out means.

Claim 4

An adaptive control apparatus for a machine tool having a work table, a tool carrier, feed means for effecting relative movement between said work table and said tool carrier, and numerical control means for controlling said feed means in accordance with a numerical control program, said adaptive control apparatus comprising: load detection means for detecting a machining load acting on one of said work table and said tool carrier during each of a model machining operation and an adaptive control machining operation; data input means for inputting information designating a tool to be used and the kind of a machining operation to be performed in said model machining operation; a plurality of load storage areas provided for at least one of tools used in said machine tool; load value storage control means for storing in one of said load storage areas load values detected by said load detection means during a first model machining operation using said at least one of said tools, in connection with the kinds of said at least one tool and said first model machining operation and for storing in another of said load storage areas load values detected by said load detection means during a second model machining operation using said at least one tool, in connection with the kinds of said at least one tool and said second model machining operation; data selection means for selecting one of said load storage areas in accordance with tool data output from said numerical control means in an adaptive control machining operation; data read-out means for successively reading out said load values from said selected one of said load storage areas during said adaptive control machining operation; and feed rate control means for controlling the feed rate of the relative movement between said work table and said tool carrier, so as to cause the machining load detected by said machining load detection means to follow the load values successively read out by said data read-out means.

Claim 5

An adaptive control apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: clock signal generation means for generating a train of clock signals; said load value storage control means being responsive to said clock signals from said clock signal generation means for storing said load values synchronously with said clock signals; and said data read-out means being responsive to said clock signals from said clock signal generation means for reading out said load values synchronously with said clock signals.

Claim 6

An adaptive control apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said load value storage control means comprises: first storage control means for successively storing the load values each of which is smaller than a threshold value; and second storage control means for successively storing the load values each of which is larger than said threshold value; and wherein said load value read-out means comprises: ascertaining means for ascertaining whether said load value detected by said load detection means in said adaptive control machining operation exceeds said threshold value; and read-out execution means for reading out said load values after said load value detected by said load detection means in said adaptive control machining operation becomes larger than said threshold value.