Tool profile automatic graphic display system

Claim 1

A tool profile automatic graphic display system for automatically displaying a profile of a tool used when a workpiece is to be machined into a predetermined shape based on a conversational-type machining program, said system comprising: memory means for storing a conversational-type machining program and a tooling file containing tool data, including a mounting angle and a tool nose angle for all tools, a cutting angle and a tool nose radius for button tools, the cutting angle, a groove width and a cutting surface length for grooving and corner removing tools and a drill radius and the cutting surface length for drilling tools, all relating to profiles of respective tools; data input means for inputting machining data, including a machined profile of the workpiece, and tool identification data; control means for selecting an optimum tool in dependence upon the tool data in the tooling file together with specific machining data relating to a machining region of the machined profile of the workpiece; calculating means for calculating tool profile graphic display data in dependence upon the tool data relating to the profile and the mounting angle of the tool contained in the tooling file stored in said memory means; and graphic display means for graphically displaying the machined profile of the workpiece simultaneously with the profile of the optimum tool in dependence upon the tool data in the tooling file.