NC Machine Tool Measurement Control via Segmented Program Execution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing numerical control (NC) machine tools lack flexibility in measurement, as converting a series of measuring programs into NC programs results in low flexibility and large data capacity, making it difficult to specify defect positions and maintain the system effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control method and program that uses a NC driver to generate flags and operating variables based on instructions from a three-dimensional measuring device, allowing the NC controller to select and execute operations, enabling flexible measurement and real-time control of NC machine tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a series of measuring programs is converted into an NC program at one time, then the measurement can be carried out on the NC machine tool, but the flexibility in measurement is low and the NC program data becomes large capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measuring program into multiple small programs that can be executed sequentially. Instead of converting the entire measuring program at once, the system processes measurements in segmented steps, allowing partial measurements and interactive operations while keeping each NC program segment compact and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic program generation by converting only the necessary portion of the measuring program at each step rather than the entire program in advance. This allows the system to adapt to different measurement requirements in real-time, enabling both partial measurements and interactive measurements with flexible data capacity management.
2Reliability
If a part program for a complicated measurement is made the NC program data becomes a large capacity, then the measurement can be comprehensive, but a defect position on the NC program is hardly specified when a defect occurs
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the complicated measuring program into multiple small programs, the patent enables precise defect localization. When a defect occurs, the system can identify which specific small program contains the issue rather than searching through a large monolithic NC program, significantly improving maintenance efficiency and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process that translates portions of the measuring program into NC programs step-by-step. This intermediary layer allows for better error tracking and defect specification by maintaining correspondence between the original measuring program segments and their NC program counterparts.
3Productivity
If a series of measuring programs is converted into the NC program at one time, then the measurement can be carried out, but it takes extremely much time to meet the defect when a defect occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measuring program into multiple small programs that can be executed and debugged independently. When a defect occurs, the system can quickly identify which specific segment contains the problem rather than searching through the entire converted program, dramatically reducing defect detection time while maintaining measurement efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary conversion of only the necessary program segments before execution rather than converting the entire program in advance. This allows for faster defect identification and correction by limiting the search scope to recently converted segments, reducing the time loss when defects occur.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method of controlling a numerical control machine tool, includes generating a flag which designates a kind of operation of the numerical control machine tool and an operating variable which is used for controlling the operation of the numerical control machine tool, based on an instruction used for controlling a three-dimensional measuring device different from the numerical control machine tool, storing the flag in a flag storage area and storing the operating variable in an operating variable storage area, selecting an operation to be executed by the numerical control machine tool by referring to a value of the flag stored in the flag storage area, and executing a control of the selected operation of the numerical control machine tool in accordance with a value of the operating variable stored in the operating variable storage area.