Numerical controller performing reciprocal turning in complex fixed cycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10108170-B2
Application number	US-201615063535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2016
Priority date	Mar 19, 2015
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A numerical controller controls a machine tool that performs a turning on a workpiece on the basis of a cycle instruction indicated by an NC program. The machine tool includes first and second cutter holders that are mutually coupled by a coupling member, and first and second tools are mounted on the cutter holders in mutually opposing fashion. The machine tool performs a turning according to a complex fixed cycle, in a reciprocal fashion rather than unidirectionally, using the first and second tools, and when the turning by the first tool has been completed and the first tool that has performed a turning is withdrawn, it is possible to perform a turning in the opposite direction by the second tool on the opposite side.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A numerical controller that controls a machine tool that performs a turning on a workpiece on the basis of a cycle instruction indicated by an NC program, wherein the machine tool comprises:
a first tool that performs a turning on the workpiece while moving in a first machining direction;
a second tool that performs a turning on the workpiece while moving in a second machining direction opposite to the first machining direction; and
a tool switching unit that switches, based on an instruction from the numerical controller, the tool used for a turning to an instructed tool, from among the first tool and the second tool, and establishes a state where a turning can be implemented by the tool,
the numerical controller comprises a cycle operation creation unit that creates, on the basis of the cycle instruction, a cycle operation for instruction to the machine tool, and
the cycle operation is an operation that repeats a reciprocal turning operation including:
a first operation for performing a turning in the first machining direction by the first tool;
a second operation for switching from the first tool to the second tool by the tool switching unit;
a third operation for performing a turning in the second machining direction by the second tool; and
a fourth operation for switching from the second tool to the first tool by the tool switching unit.

2. The numerical controller according to claim 1 , wherein the tool switching unit is configured by:
a first cutter holder on which the first tool is mounted;
a second cutter holder on which the second tool is mounted;
a coupling member that couples the first cutter holder and the second cutter holder in such a manner that the first tool and the second tool are arranged in substantially opposing fashion on either side of the axis of a spindle that causes the workpiece to rotate; and
a motor that drives the first cutter holder and the second cutter holder in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spindle;
the second operation is an operation for causing the second tool to move to a position where the workpiece is to be machined, by moving the first tool away from the workpiece; and
the fourth operation is an operation for causing the first tool to move to a position where the workpiece is to be machined, by moving the second tool away from the workpiece.

3. The numerical controller according to claim 1 , wherein the tool switching unit is configured by:
a turret on which the first tool and the second tool are mounted; and
a motor that drives the turret;
the second operation is an operation of indexing the second tool by rotating the turret and then moving the second tool to a position where the workpiece is to be machined; and
the fourth operation is an operation of indexing the first tool by rotating the turret and then moving the first tool to a position where the workpiece is to be machined.

4. The numerical controller according to claim 1 , wherein the tool switching unit is configured by a tandem cutter holder on which the first tool and the second tool are mounted, and a drive unit that drives the tandem cutter holder,
the second operation is an operation of indexing the second tool by driving the tandem cutter holder and then moving the second tool to a position where the workpiece is to be machined, and
the fourth operation is an operation of indexing the first tool by driving the tandem cutter holder and then moving the first tool to a position where the workpiece is to be machined.

Assignees

• Fanuc Corp

Inventors

• Nakajima Osamu

Classifications

• B23B3/06

  Turning-machines or devices characterised only by the special arrangement of constructional units (B23Q37/00 takes precedence; such features of general applicability B23Q) · CPC title

• B23B29/26

  Tool holders in fixed position · CPC title

• G05B2219/45136

  Turning, lathe · CPC title

• G05B19/188 Primary

  characterised by special applications and not provided for in the relevant subclasses, (e.g. making dies, filament winding) · CPC title