US 4,136,390 AGrant
Grinding Control System for Forming Non-Circular Punching Tools
Issue Date:1979-01-23
•16 Claims
•9 Drawing Sheets
Abstract
Grinding apparatus and control system for forming non-circular punching tools comprising a grinding wheel having a cylindrical grinding surface, a rotary table with its axis parallel to the grinding wheel axis and carrying orthogonally movable slides such that one slide at a time may be actuated to generate successive flat sides of a punching tool, the table axis being positionable to define a center of rotation for an arcuate face of the punching tool which is generated upon rotation of the table, a fixture for the grinding wheel dressing tool serving to automatically define the location of the grinding wheel surface relative to the axis of the rotary table, and a computer-controlled digital system which senses the shape to be formed, parameters of the shape to be formed and which causes the slides or rotary table to be properly actuated so as to grind a punching tool of appropriate size and shape.
Metadata
Assignee
- Houdaille Industries, Inc.
Inventors
- John H. Farrell
- Eugene G. Lawrie
- Zeev Sagi
Application Information
Application Number:US 7430590
Filing Date:1976-11-18
Priority Date:1976-11-18
Art Unit:236
Classifications
IPC:
B24B 1908G06F 1546
Field of Search:
23551364151.11;151.197 NC;165.71;DIG. 32474;475;107;118
Patent Drawings (9 sheets)
Description
Cross Reference to Related Application
Cross-reference is hereby made to related copending application, Ser. No. 707,947, filed July 23, 1976, which has been allowed as U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,349 and which is entitled "Shape Grinder and Method".
Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to a machine tool apparatus control system and method, and particularly to a grinding machine for the production of non-circular punching tools such as have heretobefore been produced by means of specially manufactured control cams.
It is an important object of the present invention to provide a simplified and highly adaptable machine tool apparatus and method for forming non-circular punching tools and the like.
Another object of the invention is to provide a grinding apparatus and method for forming non-circular punching tools which is adapted for digital control and which is operable by means of a sequential activation of individual axes of movement for improved accuracy and ease of programming.
Another object of the invention is to provide a grinding apparatus and method for forming non-circular punching tools which is suited for producing a given high volume part of particular dimensions.
A further important object of the invention is to provide a grinding apparatus and method which greatly facilitates the setup of the tool blank at a predetermined distance from the grinding wheel face.
It is a feature of the invention to provide a work forming system and method wherein a radially symmetrical rotary cutter acts on the work piece at the same side of the cutter periphery throughout the formation of a workpiece into a desired non-circular configuration.
Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a grinding system and method wherein the grinding wheel axis is stationary during forming of generally obround, square and rectangular shapes, the workpiece being moved substantially continuously in a path such that the perimeter of the workpiece maintains a substantially continuous pressure engagement at a given point about the periphery of the grinding wheel as successive cuts are made in a given direction about the perimeter of the workpiece.
Another feature of the invention resides in the ease with which an operator may specify the shape and size of the desired non-circular punch.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of preferred example and not by way of limitation.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a grinding apparatus in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the condition of the apparatus during initiation of a grinding wheel dressing operation for a new grinding wheel;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing the apparatus of FIG. 1 in position to begin a grinding operation;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view indicating the initial cross-sectional configuration of a tool blank, and indicating an exemplary desired final configuration to be formed from the blank;
FIG. 3A is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating the actual operation of the system of FIGS. 4-12;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of an actual embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 (on sheet three of the drawings) is a somewhat diagrammatic partial longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 4, and illustrating various of the parts in side elevation;
FIG. 6 (on sheet three of the drawings) is a somewhat diagrammatic partial enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken in a plane through the axis of rotation of the rotary table of the apparatus of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic end elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 4 as viewed from the right hand side of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the layout of a control panel for the apparatus of FIGS. 4 through 7;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating, for purposes of example only, a control system which has been successfully applied to the apparatus of FIGS. 4 through 8;
FIG. 10 is a detailed electric circuit diagram of the Steering Circuitry component of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a detailed electric circuit diagram for the Indicator Buffer and Speed Control Components of the system of FIG. 9; and
FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connections to the mechanical dress cycle counter and other miscellaneous circuitry.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a grinding wheel 10 having a cylindrical peripheral surface 10a and rotatable on a central axis indicated at 11. Associated with the grinding wheel is a slide 12 reciprocally movable along a Z axis such as indicated by arrow 14 toward and away from the grind wheel 10. The slide 12 carries a rotary table 16 rotatable on a central axis and carrying slides movable along X and Y axes as indicated by arrows 18 and 20. A tool blank is indicated at 22 having a central tool axis 23 coincident with the axis of rotation of table 16. By way of example, tool blank 22 may be fixed to the X slide, and the X slide be carried by a Y slide which in turn is mounted on the rotary table 16. A drive for the slide 12 is diagrammatically indicated at 26 having a mechanical coupling as indicated at 27 with the slide 12, and the coupling 27 being shown as also driving a position transducer device such as a rotary encoder 28. A limit switch is indicated at 30 for actuation when the slide 12 reaches a zero position.
For the sake of a diagrammatic illustration, reference numeral 32 indicates a mechanical gage and reference numeral 34 indicates a portion of a slide assembly for mounting a rotary diamond roll dresser 36. The slide assembly 34 may be moved from engagement with gage 32 to an initial position at a predetermined distance from gauge 32 by means of a handwheel 35. For example, the handwheel 35 may have an associated dial calibrated in thousandths of an inch between zero and one hundred (100 mils), and may be set to a predetermined number in preparation for an automatic new wheel dressing cycle so as to bring the face 36a of the rotary diamond roll dresser 36 to an accurate distance from the gauge 32. At that time, the distance between point 23 which is coincident with the center of rotation of table 16 and the central axis of the tool blank 22, and face 36a of the dresser will be known. The dresser 36 can then be automatically fed by means of drive 37 to a position for dressing wheel 10 to a desired initial diameter, transducer 38 or the equivalent keeping track of the dresser position.
With the arrangement of FIG. 1, after dressing of the surface 10a of grinding wheel 10, the dressed grinding wheel surface will be precisely a distance Z.sub.0 from point 23. If a Z axis counter (not shown) is set to zero at the completion of a dressing operation, then a program written on the basis of an initial distance of Z.sub.0 between point 23 and the surface of grinding wheel 10 will be immediately operative. Otherwise a suitable grinding wheel offset value can be introduced into the initial position of the Z slide 12.
Referring to FIG. 2, rotary table 16 is diagrammatically indicated as having a central shaft 44 which is rotatably driven by means of a table drive 46 via a mechanical coupling indicated at 47. A position transducer such as a digital encoder is indicated at 50 and is shown as being mechanically coupled with the coupling 47. A drive for the X slide is indicated at 52 and includes a mechanical coupling 53 to the X slide and to a position transducer such as a digital encoder 54. A drive for the Y slide is indicated at 56 and is indicated as having a mechanical coupling 57 which is also in driving relation to a position transducer such as a digital encoder 60.
As indicated in FIG. 2, grinding wheel 10 may be provided with an adjustable speed drive 62 having a mechanical coupling 63 with the central shaft of the grinding wheel. It is contemplated that the surface speed of the grinding wheel 10 may be maintained at a precise optimum speed by adjusting the speed of drive 62 as the radius of the grinding wheel changes.
It will be noted that with the slide 12 in the home position where microswitch 30 is actuated as shown in FIG. 1, the distance Z.sub.h between the axis of the grinding wheel (indicated at 11 in FIG. 1), and the axis of the rotatable table 16 (as indicated at 23) will be known. By thereafter keeping a count of the output from the transducers and by keeping track of adjustments of the dressing tool 36, the distance between the center of the tool blank 22 and the dressed surface 10a of the grinding wheel will be known at all times. If, then, it is desired to move the tool blank 22 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, a suitable count value could be entered into a Z command register and the drive 26 could be energized under the control of a suitable comparator circuit. When the Z position counter connected to Z position encoder 28 registered a count value corresponding to the commanded count value in the command register, the comparator circuitry would cause the drive component 26 to be deenergized, with rotary table 16 and tool blank 22 positioned as indicated in FIG. 2.
If, for example, it were desired to make an initial cut of five mils about the perimeter of the blank 22, and at the same time to form rounded corners with a radius of curvature of two mils, then the axis of rotation of table 16 would be placed at a distance of seven mils from edge 22a of blank 22. For the purpose of a preliminary example, the dimensions indicated in FIG. 3 for the blank 22 may be converted to units of mils (one mil equals 0.001 inch). Accordingly sides 22b and 22d could be 1,250 mils, while sides 22a and 22c might be 1,500 mils. With this specific example, one-half the width of blank 22 would be 625 mils, and blank 22 might be retracted by means of the Y-axis slide in the minus Y direction 618 mils, and then the Z slide 12 advanced 623 mils. The final Z axis value would then be Z = 14.998 where a distance Z.sub.0 ' of fifteen inches initially existed between the center of the blank 22 and the surface 10 a in FIG. 1. The grinding wheel 10 would be in grinding contact with the surface 22a at side A of the blank 22 during the last five mils of movement of the Z axis slide.
With the Z axis slide 12 fixed at a position Z = 14.998, the X slide could be activated to shift the blank 22 to the right for progressively removing five mils of material along the left half of side A. Where one-half of the length of the side A is equal to 750 mils, the X slide might be moved 743 mils, whereupon the drive 46 would be activated to rotate table 16 through ninety degrees. For the sake of a diagrammatic indication, referring to FIG. 3, the axis of the rotary table 16 would be located as indicated at 44a during the time that the rotary table was being rotated through ninety degrees, the point 44a being seven mils from the initial side face 22a and from the adjacent side face 22b. Of course, the distance of point 44a from sides 22a and 22b is greatly exaggerated for the purpose of clearer illustration. In order to assist in visualizing the operation so far, a dot dash line is indicated at 84 in FIG. 3 which would indicate the outline of the blank 12 after the rotary table 16 has completed a rotation of ninety degrees. The arcuate dot dash line at 84a would represent the arcuate face of the blank as produced during the rotation of the table 16, while the curvature indicated at 84b is intended to diagrammatically indicate the curvature of the grinding wheel, so as to indicate the appearance of side B of the blank immediately at the completion of the rotation of the table 16 through ninety degrees. For the specific example given, the arcuate portion 84a would have a radius of two mils and a center at the point 44a.
Since the X and Y slides rotate with the table 16, it can be visualized that the Y axis slide should now be moved in the direction of arrow 86, FIG. 2 (after rotation through an angle .alpha. as indicated by arrow 88 in FIG. 2 of ninety degrees). If the initial dimension of side 22b is 1,250 mils, the Y move should be fourteen mils less or 1,236 mils.
The table I on the following pages will serve to illustrate or tabulate the successive moves which might be effected automatically or by manual entry of successive axis count commands so as to produce a finished cross-section configuration for the tool such as indicated at 90 in FIG. 3.
Description of the Grinding Machine of Figs. 4-7 7
Referring to FIG. 4, a grinding machine as successfully built and operated is illustrated in a top plan view. A machine frame 100 mounts a spindle 109 for grinding wheel 110. The grinding wheel is driven in the direction of arrow 111 from a motor 112 having a motor shaft 114. A sheave 116 on the motor shaft 114 drives a sheave 118 on the grinding wheel shaft 109 by means of a drive belt 119. Motor 112 is carried on a motor mount 120 which includes a horizontal plate 122 with elongated slots such as 123 and 124. Thus reciprocal movement of the motor mount 120 is guided by means of cap screws such as 125 and 126. A vertically disposed motor plate 130 is secured to horizontal plate 122 by means of side flange members 135 and 136. An adjusting screw is indicated at 140 (at the left center in FIG. 4) for shifting the motor mount 120 over the range of adjustment permitted by the slots 123 and 124. The motor mount 120 is locked in a desired position by means of screw members 143 and 144 having cooperating nuts such as 145 and 146. The arrangement is such that the position of the motor 112 may be adjusted to accommodate desired sheave diameters by means of the adjusting screw 140, the nuts associated with screws 143 and 144 serving to lock the motor mount 120 at a position providing the desired tension of belt 119.
As seen in FIG. 5, horizontal motor plate 122 may have further elongated slots such as indicated at 160 receiving further cap screws such as 162, and the adjusting screw 140 may cooperate with a threaded block 164 secured to the horizontal plate 122. A hand wheel is indicated at 166 on the end of the adjusting screw 140 for use in adjusting the motor mount 120.
Referring to FIG. 4, a Z-axis drive motor 180 is indicated at the extreme right which is operable for moving a Z-axis slide 182 in a Z direction as indicated by the double headed arrow 184. As indicated in FIG. 6, the Z slide 182 may be supported by means of a base 186. The motor 180 may be secured to the base 186 as shown in FIG. 7. The drive for the Z slide 182 may include a lead screw (not shown) extending parallel to the Z-axis indicated by arrow 184 with a resolver (not shown) and a tachometer (not shown) in line with the lead screw without any gear reduction between the motor 180 and the lead screw.
By way of example, the Z slide 182 may have a range of travel in the Z direction as indicated at 184 in FIG. 4 of 460 millimeters (18,110 inches). The Z slide 182 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 at a midpoint in its range of travel, and the extreme of its travel in a direction toward the grinding wheel 110 is indicated in dot dash outline at 182A in FIG. 5. As seen in FIG. 7, the frame 100 includes a bed plate 202 which is provided with an elongated apertures 203 for accommodating movement along the Z-axis of certain parts movable with the slide 182.
Mounted on the Z-axis slide 182 is a table support structure 210, FIG. 6, carrying a rotary table 212 which is angularly movable in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by arrow 214 in FIG. 4. The table 212 is driven in the direction of arrow 214 by means of a R-axis drive motor 216, FIG. 5. The motor 216 drives the table 212 via a suitable speed reduction, for example of 180 to 1, and a resolver (not shown) may be mounted in line with the motor for direct drive by the motor without any speed reduction. Thus, the resolver rotates 180 times per table revolution. The table 212 is indefinitely rotatable in the direction of arrow 214 and makes a number of revolutions as the grinding wheel 110 makes successive cuts on the workpiece. As indicated at 220 and 222 in FIGS. 5 and 6, the table 212 is provided with radially extending passages which open at the outer perimeter of the table for receiving electric cables which are lead via the passages to a central tube 224, FIG. 6.
The passages 220 and 222 provide for electrical connections with the drives for the X and Y axes which are carried on the table 212. As seen in FIG. 6, the Z-axis slide 182 carries a depending sleeve 230 having a flange 232. The flange 232 serves to support a slip ring assembly 236, FIG. 5, which has a cooperating flange 238 at the upper end thereof. Rotatably mounted within the slip ring assembly 236 is a slip ring shaft 240 which is coupled for joint rotation with tube 224 by means of a rubber hose coupling as indicated at 242. The purpose of the coupling 242 is to prevent the exertion of any lateral forces on the slip ring bearings. By way of example the slip ring assembly 236 may be provided with stationary silver carbide brushes which cooperate with the slip rings to transmit the various electrical signals via a fitting indicated at 246, FIG. 5.
Mounted on the rotary table 212 is a Y-axis slide 260 which may have a range of movement parallel to a Y axis as indicated by arrow 262 in FIG. 5. The slide 260 is driven by means of a Y-axis motor 264, and by way of example may have a range of movement of 160 millimeters (6.3000 inches). The Y-axis slide 260 is shown at a midpoint in its range of movement in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 7 an X-axis slide 270 is shown for reciprocal movement as indicated by arrow 272 on the Y-axis slide 260, and an X-axis drive motor 274 is indicated for reciprocating the slide 270 relative to the X axis. By way of example, slide 270 may have a range of movement of 160 millimeters (6.300 inches), the same as the Y-axis range of movement.
Mounted on the X-axis slide 270 is a hydraulic expansion chuck 280 secured to the X-slide 270 by means of cap screws such as indicated at 282, FIG. 4. The chuck may have a central bore 284, FIG. 4, with a diameter for example of 3.000 inches. At a lower portion of the bore 284, the chuck may be provided with radial holes opening into the bore 284 from the outer periphery and disposed at angles such as zero degrees, 45.degree. degrees, ninety degrees, 120.degree. degrees, 150.degree. degrees, 210.degree. degrees, 240.degree. degrees and 315.degree. degrees to provide for the positioning of interchangeable sleeves such as sleeve 286 at different desired angles relative to the X-axis. The various sleeves such as 286 are designed to rigidly retain work blanks such as the workpiece indicated at 288 in FIG. 4. As seen in FIG. 5, workpiece 288 is thus fixedly supported in the chuck at a level so as to cooperate with the outer cylindrical periphery of grinding wheel 110. As seen in FIg. 7, a keying pin such as 290 may be inserted through aligned holes in the wall of the chuck 280 and in the sleeve 286 so as to retain the workpiece 288 at the desired angular relationship to the X axis. Generally, the chuck 280 is provided with a thin wall surrounding the sleeve 286, with a cavity interiorly of the thin wall receiving a silicone substance which can be pressurized by means of a screw operated piston so as to deform the thin wall into locking engagement with the exterior cylindrical wall of the sleeve 286. The construction of the chuck 280 is consistent with overall accuracies of about three tenthousandths of an inch.
A grinding wheel dressing mechanism is indicated at 300 in FIG. 5 and includes a diamond dresser 302 which is arranged to be moved parallel to the Z axis into dressing relation to the outer cylindrical surface of the grinding wheel 110. The dressing mechanism may include a manually operated hand wheel 304 for manual control of the dresser when desired, and may also include an automatic drive for accurately positioning the dresser 302 relative to the grinding wheel during a dressing cycle.
Coolant is applied to the grinding wheel 110 in advance of its contact with the work 288, the work is flooded with coolant, and the wheel is cleaned by counter-forced coolant. By way of example, the coolant nozzles may be kept in proper close relation to the wheel 110, and the position of the coolant nozzles may be adjusted as the diameter of the grinding wheel changes through successive dressing cycles by means of the dressing mechanism 300. For example, if the grinding wheel might have an initial diameter of 24 inches, and be suited to dressing down to an eighteen inch diameter, then the coolant nozzles might be adjustable over a three inch range relative to the grinding wheel axis. The position of the coolant nozzles could be automatically adjusted inwardly in response to successive dressing cycles of the dressing mechanism 300 if desired, so as to maintain an optimum close relationship between the nozzles and the outer periphery of the grinding wheel.
The Grinder Control System of Figs. 8-12
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of a control panel for the grinding machine of FIGS. 4-7. A mode selector is indicated at 400 which has three manual control positions and three automatic positions. In the first two manual positions of selector 400, the drives are operated in a step mode so as to step a predetermined increment (one ten-thousandth of an inch in the first position and one thousandth of an inch in the second position) upon each actuation of the manual mode control buttons 401-407. In the third "Manual Feed" position of selector 400, a drive is energized so long as the corresponding control button 401-407 is held actuated. In any of the manual mode positions of selector 400, actuation of the control buttons 408-410 result in the return of the Z-axis slide 182, rotary table 212 and the Y-axis and X-axis slides 260 and 270 to their respective home positions.
If the workpiece such as 288 is to be ground to an obround configuration by automatic operation of the system, selector 400 is to be placed in its fourth position, while the fifth position is used for automatic grinding of square or rectangular configurations, and the extreme clockwise position of selector 400 is used for the grinding of round work configurations.
In setting up the system for automatic operation, parameters relating to the workpiece are entered by means of manually operated data input switches 420-424. Once a dimension has been set-up on the one-half X size switch 420 (such as 0.4950 inch as shown in FIG. 8), an enter move button 431 may be actuated to cause the dimension to be stored in memory and automatically executed. At the completion of the X-axis move in accordance with the entered dimension, an indicator light 432 will be lit to indicate to the operator that the desired move has been executed.
Similarly for the one-half Y size switch 421, once a dimension (such as 0.3700 inch as shown) is entered, a button 433 may be depressed to cause the dimension to be entered and automatically executed. When the Y-axis move has been executed, indicator light 434 is energized.
The switch 422 serves to enter a dimension (such as 0.6250 inch) representing one-half of the width dimension of the blank or workpiece such as 22, FIGS. 1-3, this dimension in the illustrated embodiment being disposed parallel to the Y axis. An indicator light 435 is energized at a suitable point in the automatic operation as will hereafter be explained.
The switch 423 serves to enter a dimension (such as 0.0050 inch) which represents a "Z size point" as will hereafter be explained.
The switch 424 serves to introduce a value (such as 0.1000 inch) which is termed the "Z feed increment", and represents the desired normal advance of the Z-axis slide 182.
Further manual data input devices are indicated at 441-443 for selecting desired feed rates for the R(rotary table) axis, the X-axis and the Y-axis slides, and the Z-axis slide, respectively.
The reference numeral 444 designates a six decimal digit readout section which is under the control of the computer and serves to supply a readout of Z-axis position.
Control buttons 451 through 456 are designated respectively "System On", "Servo On", "System Off", "Cycle Start", "All Feeds Hold", and "Z Retract".
Fault indicator lights are indicated at 461-467 and may be selectively controlled by the computer to indicate the following respective conditions: "Data Enter Error", "Axes Limit", "Spindle Motor Off", "Dresser Fault", "Door Open", "Coolant System Off", and "Excess Following Error".
A dress control section of the control panel at the lower left comprises elements 471-476. Reference numeral 471 designates a control switch for activating an "Auto Dress" feature whereby the grinding wheel is automatically dressed. The actuating button 471 is illuminated in response to a first actuation to indicate auto dress mode, and the illumination is extinguished when the button 471 is actuated a second time to leave auto dress mode.
Element 472 is a manual data input switch having one decimal digit representing dress increments in thousandths of an inch. Thus with the switch 472 set to the numeral two as shown, 0.002 inch is removed from the grinding wheel in each dressing cycle.
The control 473 serves to initiate a dressing operation of a new grinding wheel, and may bear the notation "New Wheel Dress".
The manual data input switch 474 may have two decimal digits of adjustment representing thousandths and ten-thousandths of an inch of grinding wheel offset, so that in the illustrated condition, the grinding wheel offset is 0.0050 inch.
Element 475 is a mechanical dress counter which serves to maintain a count of dress cycles independent of power supply for the system. Accordingly, after a power shut-down, the dress counter 475 will still register the relevant dress count, so that the computer can determine the condition of the grinding wheel, and resume operation accordingly. Element 476 is manually actuated to reset the dress counter 475.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the control system for the grinding machine of FIGS. 4-7. Panel switch filters component 501 represents switch filter circuitry for supplying logical output signals to respective eight channel input ports as represented by the designations CTRSW, MODE, and JOGPB. These output signals are generated in response to actuation of respective switches of the control panel of FIG. 8 as set forth in the tabulations on the following pages.
The control panel of FIG. 8 in an existing embodiment is located remote from the grinding machine per se, and the grinding machine per se is completely enclosed for safety purposes, with a door which provides access to the grinding machine being closed during normal operation of the machine so that the machine operates out of the view of the operator. In order to supply information as to the operation of the grinding machine, various switches are provided at the grinding machine, and the condition of these switches is transmitted by means of a machine switch filters component 502 indicated in FIG. 9. The various switches which are provided in the existing installation are listed in the following tabulation which shows the logical outputs which are transmitted via the respective eight-channel ports designated MCSW1, MCSW2 and MCSW3 in FIG. 9.
Component 503 in FIG. 9 is designated MDI, and represents the circuitry associated with the various manual data input switches of FIG. 8 for registering and transmitting (in binary coded decimal notation) the manually entered numbers. The coded information associated with the respective eight-channel ports such as X SIZE1 in FIG. 9 are set forth in the following tabulation which is self-explanatory.
Dress counter component 504 in FIG. 9 is shown as having two eight-channel ports DRES1 and DRES2 for supplying the count of the mechanical counter component 475, FIG. 8. The following table with respect to these two ports is presented for the sake of uniformity.
The foregoing eight channel ports are all connected as inputs to a data selector component 505 which may be implemented as a conventional multiplex arrangement controlled by means of decoder component 506. The selected eight bit word is supplied by component 505 to a buffer component 507. Buffer component 507 is illustrated as being conventionally associated by means of a suitable data bus configuration with a data procexsing system including a computer component 510, a central processing unit (CPU) status buffer component 511 and a memory component 512. The address of data to be supplied from the data selector 505 may be transmitted from the computer 510 via a buffer 513 to the decoder 506. In the existing installation, the input line to buffer 507 from selector 505 is an eight-channel bus, and the input line to decoder component 506 is also an eight channel bus.
Since the computer system represented by components 505-507, and 510-516 in FIG. 9 is essentially a commercially available system, detailed discussion is deemed unnecessary. The computer system basically receives data words from the respective eight-channel input ports such as CTRSW under the control of data selector 505. The data selector 505 receives the address of a desired input port from the computer system via decoder component 506. After processing in accordance with information received from the inputs ports, the computer system may supply a desired address to decoder 514 via an eight-channel buss 520, the decoder 514 controlling the data selector or multiplex component 516 so that the data word is transmitted from buffer component 515 via eight channel buss 521 to a selected one of the components such as indicated at 531-537.
The reference numeral 540 represents an output port consisting of eight channels which serve to transmit the following respective signals:
Cycl strt, feed hld, data entr err, x size, y size, blank size, z in flash, z hm flash.
the indicator buffer component 531 responds to the respective signals received by output port 540 to energize the respective corresponding indicator lamps on the control panel of FIG. 8, the panel indicators being collectively represented by component 538. In particular, the foregoing listed signals transmitted by the respective channels of the output port 540 will cause the energization of the lamps associated with elements 454, 455, 461, 431, 433, 435, 403 and 408 of the control panel of FIG. 8. Line 541 which is shown extending from the machine switch filters component 502 may include a five conductor line indicated at 542 connecting with the indicator buffer component 531. The signals transmitted by lines 541 and 542 to component 531 may be the following:
Spindl off, drsr flt, door opn, and
Clnt off.
these respective signals control the energization of indicator lamps associated with indicators 463, 464, 465 and 466, these indicators being designated respectively "spindle motor-off", "dresser fault", "door open", and "coolant-off". Thus, indicators 463-466 are shown as being directly controlled from machine switch filters component 502 at the grinding machine, independently of the transmission of these signals via the input port MCSW3.
Other signals are supplied from steering circuitry component 533 to buffer component 531 as indicated by line 543. By way of example, line 543 may include conductors for transmitting the following signals:
X/y at hm, z at hm, dr at hm,
axs limit and EXES FWG ERR
These signals may control the energization of indicator lights associated with components 410, 408, 409, 462 and 467 of FIG. 8. The steady energization of these indicator lights indicate respectively the following conditions: both X-axis and Y-axis slides at the respective home positions, the X-axis slide at the home position, the R-axis table at its home orientation, one or moreof the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis limit switches actuated to indicate an overtravel condition of the associated slide, and an excess servo error from any one of the X-axis control 551, the Y-axis control 552, the R-axis control 553 or the Z-axis control 554.
The information supplied by the axis control components 551-554 to the input port designated TBPOS are listed as follows:
X res at .phi., x exes err, y res at .phi.,
y exes err, r res at .phi., r exes err,
z res at .phi., and Z EXES ERR.
The first of the signals from each of the controls 551-554 reflects an electrical zero condition of the corresponding resolver, the resolver components being indicated at 561-564 at the right in FIG. 9. Component 533 may receive signals such as X RES AT .phi. and X ZERO SF and generate the signals such as X AT HM.
The wheel dress assembly 300 is a commercially available unit known as a Tru-Grid Rotary Diamond Dressing Wheel Assembly manufactured by Wheel Trueing Tool Co., and includes a micrometer 601 which controls the incremental distance the dresser slide is moved in response to each electric pulse. In the illustrated embodiment the setting is such that each electric pulse produces one mil of movement of the dresser slide toward the grinding wheel. The dress increment switch 472, FIG. 8, controls how many pulses are produced in each dress cycle, and can be set to produce any number of such pulses between zero and nine.
In setting up a new dress cycle handwheel 304 is first turned to move the slide carrying dresser 302 away from the grinding wheel until a gage stop 602, FIG. 4, abuts the slide. The handwheel 304 is then turned in the opposite direction until a dial calibrated in one-thousands of an inch shows that the dresser has been moved a predetermined number of mils. The new wheel switch 473 is then actuated to cause the dresser slide to be advanced a predetermined distance, say 0.175 inch, to provide the new grinding wheel with a given diameter, in readiness for subsequent operation in grinding shapes. There may be a dwell of twelve seconds between successive pulses produced in the dresser assembly, once enabled by the computer, and such pulses each produce a one-mil advance of the roll dresser, and are also fed to the computer for update of the mechanical counter 504, FIG. 9 via 790.
The operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 4-12 is similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 except that the 1/2 X-size and 1/2 Y-size moves are executed at the time of manual entry when the associated date entry button (431 or 433) is depressed. the work is then advanced at a rapid rate a distance determined from the known distance to the grinding wheel 10 corresponding to Z'.sub.0 in FIG. 1, adjusted by any Z-axis offset entered at 474 and the 1/2 blank size value entered at 422. When fully advance, the 1/2 blank size indicator 435, FIG. 8 is lit.
The system now proceeds to feed the work toward the grinding wheel at the Z feed rate entered at 433, FIG. 8, and feeds a distance as registered at 424, FIG. 8. When the move register 532, FIG. 9, signals that the Z move is complete (by means of the signal DTG = 0 supplied to the steering circuitry component 533, FIG. 9), the system is ready for a move parallel to the X-axis (in the negative X direction) so that the tool blank 288 moves to the left annd counter to the direction of wheel rotation indicated at 111 in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 3A, once the initial Z-move is complete, the move register 532, FIG. 9, would be loaded with a value equal to twice the one-half X size as entered at 420, and the move executed at the feed rate entered at 442, FIG. 8. At the completion of this move, the axis of table 212 would be under point 802, FIG. 3A, and the rotary drive 216 would be energized to effect a 90.degree. counterclockwise rotation.
Operation then proceeds as was described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. If the system is in auto dress mode as determined by button 471, the wheel dress mechanism will dress the wheel after each cycle by the amount set at 472 in FIG. 8, e.g., two mils, and the control will take this into account in the following cycle, by referring to the reading (of 0002) of the mechanical dress counter 475. In each cycle, the tool blank 288 always moves counter to the direction 111 of wheel surface movement and always contacts wheel 110 at the point about its periphery indicated at 620 in FIG. 3A. The feed of the successive axes in each cycle is sufficiently near continuous in relation to the time for a revolution of the grinding wheel so that the work is not subject to scratching during the final finish grinding cycles. The work may be retracted from the grinding wheel at the end of each cycle sufficiently quickly so that the work is not scratched (during the time when a dressing cycle is being initiated).
Operation of the Grinder Control System of Figs. 8-12
The flow data and commands within the control system is as follows. the control computer 510-513, FIG. 9 selects a desired input of components 501-504 and sends its address to the decoder 506. Data on the selected port is gated through the data selector 505, through the buffer 507 and onto the input/output bus 730. The input/output bus 730 is an 8 bit parallel bus designated DD0- DD7. The control computer 510-513 can read data into its internal registers for manipulation or can put data or commands onto the bus to be output to the electronics which control the positioning systems. The computer's memory 512 in this example implemenation also is accessed via the input/output bus. The control program, an example of which being attached as an appendix to this specification, is stored in programmable read-only memory of component 512, and controls the flow of input and output data. The control means 511-513 controls the calculations of desired position-commands based on prestored program sequences capable of producing any one of a set of cross-secttional configurations in conjunction with lineal and radial dimensions input by the operator. As an extension of the present control system, the amount of data which would have to be input by an operator could be greatly reduced in cases where standard sizes were desired by storing in ROM's the dimensions of the several standard sizes. A size could then be called by an operator using a simple command. This command could be entered in numerous ways. An alpha-numeric keyboard or an existing parameter switch in conjunction with the manual/auto switch 400, FIG. 8, could be used.
Once the previous move has been carried out and the calculations made for the next move as shown by the attached program, the move itself is executed as follows:
(1) Drive speed is output as an 8 bit binary-coded-decimal value from the computer 510-513, and loaded in a register Q46, Q37, in element 534, speed control, FIG. 11.
(2) an incremental move is output as a series of 8 bit binary-coded-decimal values from the computer 510-513 and loaded into the move register 532, FIG. 9
(3) a command defining axis and sign is then output to the steering circuitry 533, FIG. 10, by the computer 510-513. Assuming the machine is functioning properly, the appropriate displacement is initiated.
(4) Once the value corresponding to the position has been counted down to zero in move register 532, FIG. 9, a zero indicator is fed back to the computer 510-513 via port TBPOS, FIG. 9, and the input multiplexer 505.
(5) After a feedback signal INPOS, FIG. 10, is generated from information supplied by the active position loop of controls 551-554 indicating that the desired position has in fact been reached, a new increment may be output.
The actual operation can best be understood by first considering element 534, FIG. 9, the speed control system which is illustrated in detail in FIG. 11. Two free running oscillators U10A and U10B are required as different axes and speeds of movement require substantially different drive pulse periods. Selection of the appropriate oscillator is done under control of the computer 510-513 via means 701, FIG. 11, responsive to a signal corresponding to bit DD1 of the 8 bit input/output bus 730, FIG. 9. The output of the selected oscillator is fed through a synchronizer 711-715, FIG. 11, to insure that a speed change is not made in the middle of a pulse, resulting in pulse splitting and related inaccuracies. A synchronizing signal, OSC SYNC, is generated at the output of gate 715 and used to synchronize changes in other circuitry. The desired speed is input to the speed control 534, FIG. 9, via input/output bus lines DDO-DD7 of the DRIVE SPEED port 718, FIG. 9, and loaded into a pair of 4 bit storage resistores Q46 and Q37 of FIG. 11. This value of speed is transferred at a proper time using OSC SYNC at line 719 to a second set of registers S46, S37 which provide level inputs to a pair of ganged decimal rate multipliers U46 and U37. The output of the rate multipliers goes through a one-shot A19. The output of A19 is a standardized pulse train, DRIVE PULSE, used for the X, Y, Z and R axes. DRIVE PULSE is an input via line 720, FIG. 9, to the steering circuitry 533, FIG. 9, as is shown in the detailed circuitry for this component found in FIG. 10. Use of the decimal rate multipliers provides the operator 1-100% speed variations from the selected pulse period. Having set speed, the move register 532, FIG. 9, can be loaded with the desired displacement. The move register is composed of 6 binary-coded-decimal decade up-down counters. The move register is always counted down to zero. The move register is loaded two decades at a time and may require up to 3 load operations for a large displacement. The least significant decade of the move register represents one ten-thousandth of an inch displacement.
Since the move register can be loaded selectively by X, Y, Z or R values, it is counted down via line 722, FIG. 9, selectively by X COMM PULSE, Y COMM PULSE, R COMM PULSE or Z COMM PULSE which are generated by the steering circuity 533, FIG. 9.
The steering circuity 533, as shown in FIG. 10, receives as inputs a pair of bits for the respective active axes (one of four) on a corresponding pair of the input/output bus lines DD0-DD-6 of port 724, FIG. 9, these inputs appearing at the left in FIG. 10. For the X axis, bit DDO represents the sign bit, and bit DD1 represents the X enable bit. If the X sign bit or the X enable bit is set, the XGO flip/flop A37A is set. If the X sign bit is set, the X+SIGN flip/flop A37B is set. These outputs are synchronized with OSC SYNC AT A28A. DRIVE PULSE is ANDed with the Q side of A28A to finally produce X COMM PULSE at line 730. The two signals X COMM PULSE and X+SIGN are fed to the X axis positioning system 551 via a conductor of line 729, FIG. 9. As can be seen from FIG. 10, for each axis, except R, a sign and enable line are present. The R axis has only an enable bit DD6 as the table turns in one direction only. The sign and enable inputs are synchronized by OSC SYNC ang gated with DRIVE PULSE in each case as for the X axis to supply corresponding outputs at 731-733, respectively, which are conveyed to the respective pulse responsive controls 552, 554 and 553, FIG. 9, via respective conductors of lines 735, 737 and 739, FIG. 9. As a result, at the proper time, X, Y, Z or R displacement pulses (at one of conductors 730-733, FIG. 10) and a direction signal (at one of conductors 741-743, FIG. 10) are generated. These pulses and the polarity signal relative to the active axis are sent via lines 729, 735, 737 and 739 to the proper axis positioning system as shown in FIG. 9. The pulses are also sent to the move register (via line 722, FIG. 9) to count down the position counter. Each X, Y, Z or R command pulse counts the move register down once. When the move register goes to zero, then DTG=0 at line 740, FIG. 9, is sent to gate I10B shown centrally of the right-hand side of the steering circuitry of FIG. 10. The signal DTG=0 is composed with other signals to produce STOP MOVE at 745, at the lower right-hand side of FIG. 10. The signal STOP MOVE at 711 is fed back to each of the four GO flip/flops, specifically to gates 751-754 (shown at the lefthand part of FIG. 10), to block the generation of more displacement pulses. It should be noted that as a general rule for the illustrative embodiment herein shown by way of example, only one axis moves at any given time. It is the purpose of the steering circuit of FIG. 10 to multiplex the move register properly among the four axes.
There are miscellaneous control signals generated on or brought to the steering circuitry, such as STOP MOVE (see conductor 745, FIG. 10) which under appropriate conditions cause the current move to be terminated. Another signal is RESET (at K37A, lower left-hand corner of FIG. 10) which also terminates the current motion. RESET clears the RTRCT flip/flop 746, FIG. 10, which in turn clears the four GO flip/flops A37A, C37A, E37A and G37A. The need for these and other signals of a related type are well known and familiar to one ordinarily skilled in the art. They need not be described further.
There is in the system a second position register, the Z position register 535, FIG. 9. The purpose of the Z position register is to provide a readout of current Z axis position; or a readout of computer generated data depending on which the operator desires. The display component 760 indicated at the lower right in FIG. 9 is mounted on the front cabinet and comprises a display panel as represented at 444 at the lower right in FIG. 8.
The machine feature control 537, represented at the lower center of FIG. 9, contains several miscellaneous control elements. The purpose of these elements is to enable or disable servo systems or brakes based on the condition of the grinder and based on what the processor system 510-513 is doing. The function and operation of these elements is well known and familiar to one ordinarily skilled in the art. They need not be described further, FIG. 12 illustrates the relationship between the dress counter 504 shown at the lower left in FIG. 9 and which has a counter panel as shown at 475 in FIG. 8, and the two 8 bit input ports DRES1 and DRES2 which are connected to the input multiplexer 505, FIG. 9.
The contents of the dress counter 504 may be read at any time by the compuer 510-513 by means of the input multiplexer 505. The dress counter can be incremented by the processor each time the wheel dress mechanism is advanced one mil. The dress counter 504 is treated as an input device for reading its contents and an output device for the purpose of incrementing its count. Signal line 790 FIG. 9 permits the computer 510-513 to output a logical one on DD5 to 791, found at the lower center of FIG. 12, which generates a signal, DRS COUNT CLK via 792 and 793. DRS COUNT CLK is fed to the incrementer 794 of the dress counter 504. After an appropriate interval of time, the processor returns and outputs a logical zero on DD5 to 791 to reset the dress counter incrementer 794.
The dresser assembly 300, FIG. 9, also is treated as both an input and output device. The computer 510-513 can request a dress cycle by sending a logical one on line DD2 to the machine feature control 537 which in turn communicates with the dresser 300. The dresser 300 feeds back, on line 800 through the machine switch filters 502, the completion of a one mil dress operation which the computer 510-513 can then detect.
Summary of Operation of Figs. 4-12
The operation of this system is best understood by first noting that in the automatic mode, four basic punch shapes are available to be selected. These are:
(1) Round
(2) Obround
(3) Square/Rectangle with square corners
(4) Square/Rectangule with rounded corner. To carry out a cutting sequence, the tool blank 288, FIGS. 3A and 4, is first mounted on the X slide 270, FIG. 4. The operator then selects which shape is desired using the manual-auto select switch 400, FIG. 8, or by entering the command for a standard size. If the desired shape is not round, and if a standard size has not been called, the operator must specify one-half of the linear length (excluding any length involving a curved corner or end, i.e. a non-zero radius) in the one-half X size switches 420 and one-half of the linear width in the one-half Y size switches 421. (By definition for the obround shape this latter dimension must be set equal to zero.) If the shape has a radius, it is specified in the Z size point switches 423. For a round punch, the X and Y size switches must be set to zero. Additionally, the depth of cut at any one pass, the Z feed increment 424, must be set as well as R, X/Y and Z feed rates 441, 442, 443. Also, one-half of the width of the blank size or the radius of the blank size must be set in the one-half blank size switch 422.
Once the dimensions and feed rates are specified, the X enter and move push buttom 431 is depressed. If one-half of the X displacement is non-zero, the tool blank 288, FIG. 3A, is moved the amount specified on the X switches and the light 432, FIG. 8, is then energized. A similar sequence is executed for the Y switches 421, the Y enter move push button 433 and associated light 434. The tool blank is moved in the positive X and negative Y directions. The operator then depresses the cycle start button 454 and the automatic grinding cycle commences.
The cycles commence with the rotary table 260 being rapidly moved by means of the Z axis slide 182 until the tool blank 288 is positioned so that the grinding wheel 110 reaches a point which would be just touching the tool blank 288 if the blank were cylindrical. This calculation takes into accounting the setting of the wheel offset 474, FIG. 8, and the count of the dress counter 504, FIG. 9. At that point the one-half blank size light 435 is energized and the machine commences feed of the blank 288 at the Z feed rate set by switch 443, FIG. 8. The rotary table 212 is moved toward the grinding wheel an amount equal to the Z feed increment 424. At this point, if a round shape has been selected, the X and Y displacements have been set to zero and the center of the tool blank is over the center of rotation of the table. The actual direction of rotation of the grinding wheel 110 is counterclockwise as indicated by element 111. The table 212 starts to rotate counterclockwise causing the grinding wheel to cut into the tool blank and grind a circular cross section.
After one complete revolution, if the auto dress switch 471 has been depressed, the processor executes a dress cycle based on the setting of the dress increment switch 472. The dress counter 475 is also incremented properly.
At the completion of the dress cycle, the rotary table 212 is moved by means of Z slide 182 toward the grinding wheel 10 an amount equal to the dress increment plus the feed increment and again rotated 360.degree.. This process repeats until the computer determines that the tool has been ground to the desired final radius at which point it terminates. After the last grinding cycle, the Z axis slide together with the rotary table moves to home position before the final dress cycle is initiated. It should be noted that the center of curvature of the desired tool blanks always coincides with the center of rotation of the rotary table 16.
Grinding of other shapes is similar except that linear and rotary motions are required. This can best be seen by considering the production of an obround shape. The obround tool has a linear length X and width 2R with two semicircles at each end of radius R. The total length of the tool can be seen to be X+2R. The Y dimension is by definition set to zero and the radius is entered into the Z size point switches 423. In this case, upon pressing the X enter move button 431, a positive displacement of one-half X occurs. The center of one end semicircle (of the final obround shape) is now over the axis of rotation of the rotary table 212. The first move of the grinding cycle is a linear move along the X axis (in the minus X direction). The second move is a 180.degree. counterclockwise rotation of the table. The third move is a linear move along the X axis (in the plus X direction). The fourth move is another 180.degree. counterclockwise rotaton and the grinding wheel is back to its starting point. At each rotation, the center of curvature of the semicircle to be ultimately formed is over the center of rotation of the rotary table 16. A dress cycle would be automatically executed followed by another cutting cycle until the tool blank had achieved the desired size.
A square or rectangular shape results from motions along the X and Y axes separated by 90.degree. rotations. In this case, the Z size point 423 is set to zero resulting in square corners.
To produce a square or rectangle with a corner having a non-zero radius, the Z size point 423 is set to the value of that radius. The 1/2 X and 1/2 Y size switches 420, 421 are set to one-half the distances between the centers of curvature such as 801-804, FIG. 3A, of the corners. The X and Y motions are the same as for the case of no corners except that the X and Y motions take place between the centers of curvature of the final shape 815 (such as from 801 to 802, FIG. 3A) of the radius specified by the Z size point 423. In this case, similarly to the case of obround shapes, during each rotation of the table, the tool blank is positioned by the X and Y slides so that the center of curvature (such as 801, 802, 803 and 804) of the desired corner is over the center of rotation of the rotary table.
The operational sequence is as follows:
(1) Move positive X and negative Y the amount specified by the one-half X and one-half Y switches 432, 434 of FIG. 8. After this translation the axis of rotation of the table coincides with the center of the radius of curvature 801 of FIG. 3A.
(2) The grinding wheel 10 is relatively moved into the tool blank by the magnitude of the Z feed increment 424, FIG. 8.
(3) The tool blank 288 is then moved in the negative X direction counter to the direction of rotation of the grinder an amount twice that set in the one-half X switches. After the X move, the center of rotation of the table 212 coincides with the center of the next radius of curvature 802, FIG. 3A on the tool blank.
(4) A 90.degree. counterclockwise rotation of the table commences forming a first curvature 818.
(5) The tool blank is then moved linearly an amount equal to twice the setting of the one-half Y switches 421, FIG. 8. After this move, the third center of curvature 803, FIG. 3A, coincides with the axis of rotation of the table 212.
(6) A 90.degree. counterclockwise rotation of the table 16 is then made forming the next corner.
(7) This process is repeated for the remaining two corners having centers of curvature 804 and 801.
(8) After the pass around the tool blank is completed a dress cycle can be executed if the auto dress button 471, FIG. 8, has been depressed.
(9) The process is reinitiated at step (2) for the next pass, with account being taken of any dress cycle.
If the excess of the length of the blank 288, over the final tool size 815, as indicated at G in FIG. 3A, should exceed the value F, the one-half blank size value entered at 422 in FIG. 8 is increased by the operator by such difference, for the specific machine which has been successfully operated.
Referring to FIG. 3A, it will be understood that with the type of operation described for FIGS. 1-3, the initial position of the rotary table axis would be offset inwardly of an edge portion 810 of the tool blank 288, FIG. 3A, and would underlie a point 811, FIG. 3A, on the work 288. The initial X axis move would shift the work 288 so that point 818 would overlie the table axis. Rotation of the table would then produce a rounded corner with its center at 818. On the other hand, with the simplified operation actually employed with the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 4--12, the rotary table axis is initially at 801, and the initial X-move shifts the work so that point 802 overlies the table axis. The rotary table rotational movement then produces a rounded corner as indicated at 820. Again, however, the rotary table axis is located inwardly of the edge portion 810 of the tool blank which is to be removed during the associated grinding cycle.
The preferred mode as disclosed herein is suitable for use as a special purpose production machine for producing a given high volume part of particular dimensions.
It will be apparent that many modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.
Appendix
The following is a listing of an exemplary control program stored in memory 512, FIG. 9, for a shape grinder system now in production operation for producing punching tools of obround and rectilinear shape and a range of sizes. Said program is stored in read-only memory. With the use of a non-erasable read-only memory, the program becomes a part of the wired hardware of the control system. ##SPC1## ##SPC2## ##SPC3## ##SPC4## ##SPC5## ##SPC6##
Claims
We claim as our invention:
1. In a multi-axis punch grinding system suitable for the high speed grinding of punches, having a material removing element symmetrical about its axis of rotation, means to rotate said material removing element at a controlled rate, a Z slide, having a Z axis of relative movement perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of rotation of said material removing element with drive means to effect movement of said Z slide, rotary table means having an axis of rotation parallel to that of said material removing element with drive means to effect rotary movement; said rotary table means being mounted on said Z slide; slide means mounted on said rotary table with drive means to effect movement of said slide means; said slide means supporting the workpiece, the improvement comprising: a control system for said multi-axis punch grinding system comprising input means selectively operable for selecting one of a plurality of closed cross-sectional punch configurations, so as to define a selected final shape for the workpiece, and for pre-specifying a set of dimensional parameters defining a selected final size for the workpiece, axes positioning system means, logic means to control said axes positioning system means, and computer means constructed and arranged to receive data from said input means thereby to digitally pre-store data from the input means including the selected one of the plurality of closed cross-sectional punch configurations and the set of pre-specified dimensional parameters, and having control means for controlling said computer means to produce outputs for said logic means which control said axes positioning system means; said computer means producing said outputs based on the selected one of a plurality of closed cross-sectional punch configurations digitally pre-stored in said computer means and the set of pre-specified dimensional parameters, and the axes positioning system means being controlled automatically to effect movement relative to one axis at a time so that the material removing element repeatedly moves relatively about the perimeter of the workpiece a number of times determined by the data from said input means, each arcuate movement being effected by rotation of the rotary table while the slide and slide means are stationary, such that said workpiece is automatically ground to the selected shape and size.
2. A control system according to claim 1 wherein said outputs are such that all intermediate curvilinear material removal operations are carried out with said slide means being positioned so that said axis of rotation of said rotary table coincides with the axis of rotation of the desired final curve to be formed on said subject workpiece.
3. The control system according to claim 1 wherein said input means is operable to generate linear and radial dimensions and feedrates for a selected cross-sectional configuration as specified by an operator, and said control system being responsive to said dimensions and feedrates to automatically produce a tool of such selected cross-sectional configuration.
4. The machine tool system according to claim 1 wherein said computer means comprises microprocessor computer means for addressing and controlling said input means and said logic means.
5. The machine tool system according to claim 4 wherein said control means comprises read-write memory means.
6. The machine tool system according to claim 5 wherein said computer means has a single input/output data bus and signals from said input means are multiplexed onto said single input/output data bus under control of said computer means.
7. In a multi-axis punch grinding system suitable for the high speed grinding of punches having a material removing element symmetrical about its axis of rotation, means to rotate said material removing element at a controlled rate, Z axis drive means having a Z axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of rotation of said material removing element to effect movement along said Z axis, rotary table means having an axis of rotation parallel to that of said material removing element with drive means to effect rotary movement; said rotary table means being mounted for displacement with respect to said material removing element relative to said Z axis; slide means mounted on said rotary table with drive means to effect movement of said slide means; said slide means supporting the workpiece, the improvement comprising: a control system for said multi-axis punch grinding system comprising controlling means coupled with said drive means for controlling the translational and rotational motions of said slide and table means relative to the respective axes such that the material removing element is automatically relatively moved repeatedly about rthe perimeter of the workpiece with movement relative to one axis at a time and with all arcuate movement being effected by rotary movement of said rotary table means, and said controlling means being operable to selectively digitally store a selected one of a plurality of closed punch outlines for defining a desired final shape for the workpiece and a selected set of pre-specified dimensions for defining a selected final size for the workpiece, so that said workpiece is ground to the shape and size of a selected one of a plurality of digitally stored, closed, punch outlines based on a set of pre-specified dimensions.
8. The control system according to claim 7 wherein said control means includes input means, axes positioning system means, and computer means constructed and arranged to receive data from said input means, and having means for controlling said computer means to produce outputs which control said axes positioning system means.
9. The control system according to claim 8 wherein said computer means comprises digital computer means for addressing said input means and said axes positioning system means.
10. In a multi-axis grinding system for the grinding of punches by movement relative to one axis at a time to traverse about a desired punch cross section in each of a plurality of grinding cycles, having a material removing element symmetrical about its axis of rotation, means to rotate said material removing element at a controlled rate to effect a grinding operation, work feed means with drive means to effect an increment of feed of a workpiece toward the material removing element after each of a plurality of grinding cycles, rotary table means having an axis of rotation parallel to that of said material removing element with drive means to effect rotary movement; said rotary table being mounted on said work feed means; slide means mounted on said rotary table means with drive means to effect movement of said slide means; said slide means supporting the workpiece, the improvement comprising: a control system for said multi-axis punch grinding system comprising input means including manual selector means manually operable to produce selectively a first selection signal for selecting an obround configuration and a second selection signal to select a rectangular configuration, and further including manually operable initial size, feed increment and final size indicator means for respectively selecting initial workpiece size, a feed increment for the work feed means, and a desired final size of the workpiece, axes positioning system means, logic means to control said axes positioning system means, and computer means constructed and arranged to receive and store data from said input means including said first and second selection signals, and having control means responsive to said initial size, said feed increment and said final size indicator means for automatically controlling said computer means to produce outputs for said logic means which control said axes positioning system means to produce movement relative to one axis at a time for causing said material removing element to traverse the workpiece in conformity with the manually selected selection signal, and offset successively from the initial size indicated by the manually operable initial size indicator means toward the final size determined by the manually operable final size indicator means in successive increments in accordance with the manually selected feed increment; said control system producing a punch configuration from said workpiece based on the manually selected selection signal and producing punch cross-sectional dimensions according to the manually selected initial size, feed increment and final size, by automatically sequentially activating said drive means until a workpiece of the manually selected initial size is ground to the manually selected final size.
11. In a multi-axis punch grinding system for the high speed grinding of punches, having a material removing element symmetrical about its axis of rotation, means to rotate said material removing element at a controlled rate, work feed drive means having an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of rotation of said material removal element to effect work feed movement rotary table means with drive means to effect rotary movement; slide means mounted on said rotary table means with drive means to effect movement of said slide means; said slide means supporting the workpiece, the improvement comprising: manual input means for selective manual operation to produce an initial size indication for indicating the initial size of a workpiece, manually selectively operable to provide a feed increment indication for determining the increment of work feed movement per traverse of the workpiece perimeter, and manually selectively operable to provide a final size indication for determining the total number of traverses of the perimeter of the workpiece, and control system means for said multi-axis punch grinding system coupled with said manual input means for storing said initial size, feed increment and final size indications and comprising controlling means, coupled with said drive means for automatically sequentially controlling the translational and rotational motions of said slide means and table means relative to the respective axes such that the material removing element moves relatively in successive paths all in the same direction about the workpiece with an initial path being determined in accordance with the manually selected initial size indicator and with the offset between successive paths being determined in accordance with the manually selected feed increment indicator, and such that said workpiece is ground to a shape and size in accordance with the manually selected final size indicator as stored by said control system means.
12. In a multi-axis punch grinding system for the high speed grinding of punches, having a material removing element symmetrical about its axis of rotation, means to rotate said material removing element at a controlled rate, work feed means having an axis of relative movement perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of rotation of said material removal element with drive means to effect work feed movement, rotary table means having an axis of rotation parallel to that of said material removing element with drive means to effect rotary movement; plural axis slide means mounted on said rotary table means with drive means to effect movement of said slide means relative to respective axes thereof; said slide means supporting the workpiece, the improvement comprising: control system means for said multi-axis punch grinding system comprising input means comprising a manual input control panel with manually controlled data inputs manually operable to select one of a plurality of closed cross-sectional configurations, a set of dimensional parameters for indicating final size and shape and to select a dress increment indicator for indicating the amount to be removed from the material removing element in each dressing cycle therefor, axes positioning system means, logic means to control said axes positioning system means, and computer means constructed and arranged to receive and store data from said input means indicating digitally the selected one of the plurality of closed cross-sectional punch configurations, said dimensional parameters, and the dress increment indicator, and having control means for controlling said computer means to produce outputs for said logic means which control said axes positioning system means for effecting grinding by means of a plurality of traverses about the perimeter of the workpiece with alternating dressing cycles in accordance with the manually selected dress increment indicator; said computer means producing said outputs based on the selected one of the plurality of closed cross-sectional punch configurations as indicated digitally and the set of final dimensional parameters stored thereby such that the workpiece is automatically ground to the selected shape and to the final size in accordance with the stored dimensional parameters.
13. In a multi-axis punch grinding system for the high speed grinding of punches, having a material removing element symmetrical about its axis of rotation, means to rotate said material removing element at a controlled rate, work feed means having a work feed axis perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of rotation of said material removal element and having drive means to effect work feed movement, rotary table means having an axis of rotation parallel to that of said material removing element with drive means to effect rotary movement; plural axis slide means mounted on said rotary table with drive means to effect movement of said slide means relative to the respective axes thereof; said slide means supporting the workpiece, the improvement comprising: a manual input control panel with manually controlled data inputs manually operable to select one of a plurality of digitally stored, closed, punch outlines, manually operable to select a set of final dimensions with respect to the selected punch outline, and manually operable to select a dress increment indicator for indicating the amount to be removed from the material removal element in each dressing cycle, and control system means for said multi-axis punch grinding system coupled with said manual input control for digitally storing signals in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of closed punch outlines and in accordance with the set of final dimensions and in accordance with the dress increment indicator, and comprising controlling means coupled with said drive means for controlling the translational and rotational motions of said slide and table means relative to the respective axes, and for controlling dressing of the material removing element in accordance with the manually selected dress increment indicator, such that said workpiece is ground to a shape in accordance with the manually selected punch outline and is ground to a final size based on the manually selected set of final dimensions.
14. Apparatus for forming closed cross sections on an object having circular surfaces with multiple, separate centers of curvature joined by non-circular surfaces comprising: computer means; a tool operatively connected to said computer means and having a rotary material removing means. an orthogonal coordinate system carried upon a rotary axis which is parallel to an axis of rotation of said rotary material removal means and means for movably mounting the object for linear motion relative to said orthogonal coordinate system; said computer means being operative to sequence the object through a plurality of predetermined non-circular and circular displacements to form a predetermined closed cross section such that each circular displacement is achieved by locating the object by means of said means for linear motion such that the center of curvature desired for the selected circular displacement coincides with said rotary axis and the circular displacement being achieved by rotating said axis.
15. The method of automatically forming punches of a predetermined, closed cross-sectional configuration from tool blanks utilizing a computer controlled, grinding system having a rotary grinding tool, an orthogonal coordinate system mounted on a rotary axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding tool wherein the operator selects one of a plurality of prestored punch cross section defining grinding sequences defining respective ones of a set of punch cross section configurations including at least one of rectangular with rounded corners and specifies a set of linear and radial parameters for such desired cross-sectional configuration within the limits of the multi axis grinder comprising the steps of: calculating the necessary displacements to position the tool blank with respect to the rotary grinding tool at an initial grinding position; moving the tool blank to the initial grinding position; calculating a first and second linear displacement of the tool blank; moving the tool blank linearly in a first direction parallel to a first axis of the orthogonal coordinate system an amount corresponding to the first calculated displacement; sensing a predetermined angle; rotating the orthogonal coordinate system and the tool blank an amount corresponding to the sensed angle; moving the tool blank linearly in a first direction parallel to a second axis of the orthogonal coordinate system an amount corresponding to the second calculated displacement; rotating the orthogonal coordinate system and the tool blank an amount corresponding to the sensed angle; moving the tool blank linearly opposite to the first direction parallel to the first axis of the orthogonal coordinate system a distance corresponding to the first calculated displacement; rotating the orthogonal coordinate system and the tool blank an amount corresponding to the sensed angle; moving the tool blank linearly in a direction opposite to the first direction parallel to the second axis of the orthogonal coordinate system an amount corresponding to the second calculated displacement; rotating the orghogonal coordinate system and the tool blank an amount corresponding to the sensed angle; comparing the desired physical dimensions of the tool blank with the actual physical dimensions to determine whether or not the tool blank has achieved the desired physical and repeating the alternate lineal and rotary movements of the tool blank until the comparison step indicates that the desired physical size of the tool blank has been reached.
16. A method of forming on an object a closed external cross section having circular surfaces with at least two different centers of curvature, joined by non-circular surfaces, utilizing a computer controlled tool with a rotary material removing means, and an orthogonal coordinate system carried upon a rotary axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the tool removal means comprising the steps of: moving the object past the material removing means along a predetermined path corresponding to a selected non-circular surface; positioning the object so that a selected one of the desired centers of curvature corresponding to a selected desired circular section coincides with the rotary axis; rotating the object past the tool removal means through a predetermined angular displacement; moving, positioning, and rotating the object through displacements corresponding to successive predefined non-circular and circular surfaces until a complete closed cross section having predetermined dimensions is formed.