Machine Tool Stop Position Control for Safe Tool-Workpiece Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stopping a machine tool with a tool in contact with a workpiece can cause damage, and inserting a pause instruction in a machining program is burdensome due to the need to determine the positional relationship between the tool and workpiece.
Innovation Solution
A control device and method that extract candidate stop positions from a machining program based on blocks that cause the tool and workpiece to be in a predetermined state, allowing for easy recognition of the positional relationship and insertion of pause instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pause instruction is inserted into the machining program to stop the machine tool, then the machine tool can be stopped for tool adjustment or chip removal, but the operator burden increases due to the need to determine the positional relationship between tool and workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically determines candidate stop positions by analyzing the machining program and tool-workpiece positional relationships without requiring operator intervention. The system extracts blocks where the tool and workpiece are in a predetermined state (e.g., separated by sufficient distance) and presents these as candidate stop positions, allowing the machine tool to stop safely for tool adjustment or chip removal without increasing operator burden
Solution Approach 2:
The manual process of determining safe stop positions is replaced by an automated control device that analyzes the machining program and calculates tool-workpiece positional relationships. The control device substitutes the operator's manual determination with automated computational analysis, identifying candidate stop positions based on programmed block information and predetermined safety criteria
2Productivity
If the machine tool is stopped with the tool in contact with the workpiece, then the machining process can be paused, but damage occurs to either or both of the tool and the workpiece
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary analysis of the machining program to identify blocks where the tool and workpiece are in a predetermined safe state (e.g., separated by sufficient distance) before allowing a stop. By pre-determining candidate stop positions where no contact exists, the system ensures that stopping the machine tool will not cause damage to the tool or workpiece
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously monitors the positional relationship between the tool and workpiece during machining operations. When a pause instruction is received or a candidate stop position is reached, the system provides feedback on whether the current block satisfies the predetermined safety conditions (tool and workpiece separation), thereby preventing stops that would result in contact and potential damage
Data Source
AI summary
The objective of the present invention is to ascertain easily a positional relationship between a tool and a workpiece in a machining program, in order to stop a machine tool in accordance with the purpose. This control device for controlling a machine tool on the basis of a machining program is provided with an extracting unit for extracting, from blocks included in the machining program, a block of the machining program in which the tool and the workpiece in the machine tool are in a predetermined state, as a stopping position candidate, in accordance with the purpose of stopping the machine tool.