Numerical control apparatus

Claim 2

A numerical control apparatus which produces at least one of an approach path and a retract path by which a tool is directed to contact a workpiece to be machined based on input data to perform contour-machining, comprising: means for inputting whether wall sections of a final machined version of said workpiece are one of air wall sections and real wall sections; means for producing said at least one of said approach path and said retract path based on said wall category of said wall sections.

Claim 3

A numerical control apparatus as defined in claim (1), further comprising first means for detecting if two adjacent wall sections meet at an acute angel to form a convex contour, wherein said producing means produces said at least one of said approach path and said retract path to said convex contour of said final machined version of said workpiece.

Claim 4

A numerical control apparatus as defined in claim (2), further comprising second means for detecting if two adjacent wall sections meet to form a continuously linear contour, wherein said producing means produces said at least one of said approach path and said retract path to continuously linear contour of said final machined version of said workpiece, when said first means does not detect said convex contour.

Claim 5

A numerical contour apparatus as defined in claim (3), wherein said producing means produces said at least one of said approach path and said retract path to a mid point of one of said wall sections when said first means does not detect said convex contour and second means does not detect continuously linear contour.

Claim 6

A numerical control apparatus which produces at least one of an approach path and a retract path by which a tool is directed to contact a workpiece to be machined based on input data to perform contour-machining, comprising: means for inputting a wall category for a wall section of a final machined version of said workpiece; means for determining whether said wall category is one of an air wall section and a real wall section; means for deciding whether or not said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced to said air wall section upon the detection of said air wall section; and means for producing said at least one of said approach path and said retract path to said air wall section when said deciding means decides that said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced.

Claim 7

A numerical control apparatus which produces at least one of an approach path and a retract path by which a tool is directed to contact a workpiece to be machined based on input data to perform contour-machining, comprising: means for inputting a wall category for a wall section of a final machined version of said workpiece; means for determining whether said wall category is one of an air wall section and a real wall section; means for deciding whether or not said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced to said air wall section upon the detection of said air wall section; and means for producing said at least one of said approach path and said retract path to said air wall section when said deciding means decides that said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced.

Claim 8

A numerical control apparatus which produces at least one of an approach path and a retract path by which a tool is directed to contact a workpiece to be machined based on input data to perform contour-machining, comprising: means for inputting wall categories for wall sections of a final machined version of said workpiece; means for searching said wall categories for an air wall; means for deciding whether or not said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced to said air wall section adjacent said real wall section when said air wall section adjacent said real wall section is detected; and means for producing said at least one of said approach path and said retract path to said air wall section adjacent said real wall section when said deciding means decides that said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced.

Claim 9

A numerical control apparatus which produces at least one of an approach path and a retract path by which a tool is directed to contact a workpiece to be machined based on input data to perform contour-machining, comprising: means for inputting wall categories for wall sections of a final machined version of said workpiece; means for searching said wall categories for an air wall; means for deciding whether or not said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced to said air wall section adjacent said real wall section when said air wall section adjacent said real wall section is detected; and means for producing said at least one of said approach path and said retract path to said air wall section adjacent said real wall section when said deciding means decides that said at least one of said approach path and said retract path can be produced.

Claim 10

A numerical control apparatus for machining a workpiece to have a final machined version having walls which form concave contour, comprising: means for inputting data for machining; means for producing an offset figure corresponding to said final machined version, said offset figure being spaced apart from said final machined version; and means for producing a tool path based on an output of said offset figure producing means; wherein an said offset figure is spaced from said final machined version by a distance which is varied in accordance with whether wall sections of said workpiece in said final machined version are one of air walls and real walls.

Claim 11

A numerical control apparatus for machining a workpiece to have a final machined version having walls which form concave contour, comprising: means for inputting data for machining; means for producing an offset figure corresponding to said final machined version, said offset figure being spaced apart from said final machined version; and means for producing a tool path based on an output of said offset figure producing means; wherein an said offset figure is spaced from said final machined version by a distance which is varied in accordance with whether wall sections of said workpiece in said final machined version are one of air walls and real walls.

Claim 12

A numerical control apparatus according to claim (7), wherein said offset figure producing means comprises: means for detecting whether said wall categories of said workpiece, which are input by said inputting means are one of real walls and air walls; and means for producing said offset figure, wherein said distance, when one of said wall categories is an air wall, is less than said distance when one of said wall categories is a real wall.

Claim 13

A numerical control apparatus having an area machining function comprising: means for inputting first data for a final machined version of a workpiece, which has walls which form concave contour; means for reading said first data to obtain second data concerning two adjacent wall sections of said concave contour; first means for determining, based on said second data, whether said two adjacent wall sections are both real walls; means for processing said first data as a closed area when it is determined that any two adjacent wall sections are both real walls; second means for determining, based on said second data, whether said two adjacent wall sections comprise an air wall followed by a real wall, when said first means determines that said two adjacent wall sections are not both real walls; third means for determining an order of said real wall section and said air wall section, and how said two adjacent wall sections connect; and means for processing said sections as an open area when it is determined that said two adjacent wall sections comprise a real wall followed by an air wall.

Claim 14

A numerical control apparatus having an area machining function comprising: means for inputting first data for a final machined version of a workpiece, which has walls which form concave contour; means for reading said first data to obtain second data concerning two adjacent wall sections of said concave contour; first means for determining, based on said second data, whether said two adjacent wall sections are both real walls; means for processing said first data as a closed area when it is determined that any two adjacent wall sections are both real walls; second means for determining, based on said second data, whether said two adjacent wall sections comprise an air wall followed by a real wall, when said first means determines that said two adjacent wall sections are not both real walls; third means for determining an order of said real wall section and said air wall section, and how said two adjacent wall sections connect; and means for processing said sections as an open area when it is determined that said two adjacent wall sections comprise a real wall followed by an air wall.