Numerical Controller Skipping Zero Travel Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional numerical controllers waste time processing blocks in machining programs that result in zero axis travel, leading to prolonged cycle times due to the lack of efficient handling of non-essential instructions like user macros and comments.
Innovation Solution
A numerical controller with an execution data calculation unit and a travel amount determination unit that decodes blocks and determines if the travel amount from instructions is zero, allowing it to skip processing such blocks, thereby shortening the cycle time by omitting unnecessary operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional processes are used to process all blocks in the machining program, then processing completeness is maintained, but cycle time is prolonged due to processing useless blocks with zero travel amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and identifies blocks with zero travel amount from the machining program using a travel amount determination unit, and excludes these blocks from processing by the execution data calculation unit. This separation allows the system to process only necessary blocks, eliminating waste processing time while maintaining complete processing of useful blocks.
2Productivity
If all blocks including zero travel blocks are processed, then control accuracy is maintained, but processing efficiency decreases due to unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a travel amount determination unit that performs preliminary calculation and determination of travel amounts for each block before the execution data calculation unit processes the blocks. This preliminary action identifies and flags blocks with zero travel amount, allowing the subsequent processing unit to skip these blocks efficiently without compromising control accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A numerical controller decodes a block read out from a machining program, calculates execution data to be used for control over a machine tool, and determines whether a travel amount resulting from travel instructions for control axes of the machine tool is existent or not based on the calculated execution data. If the travel amount resulting from the travel instructions for the control axes is not existent as a result of such determination, processes for the present block are omitted and cycle time is thereby shortened.