Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for vector machine control

US4365300A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
8References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 1980
Grant dateDec 21, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 29, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/02
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for vector machine control of a tool and a workpiece so as to perform desired electric discharge machine (EDM) operations on the workpiece in accordance with a polar coordinate frame of reference. The method for vector machine control calls for the processing of input data to derive vector magnitude data, vector angle data and Z-axis data. The tool is advanced in the direction of the Z-axis by a given amount to an offset position, and the tool is then successively advanced and withdrawn in the direction of a given vector angle (corresponding to the vector angle data) by a corresponding distance (corresponding to the vector magnitude data). The procedure may be repeated for successive vector angles and magnitudes, and may be further repeated at other offset positions in accordance with other vector angle and vector magnitude data. In the apparatus for vector machine control, the aforementioned operations are precisely controlled by a multi-processor system equipped with operator input capability, position and gap detection circuitry, and display circuitry. The gap detection circuitry is specially constructed to provide a normal servo control output (for contin…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.