A method for adaptable machining includes (a) providing one or more images with a digital imaging system of each of a series of work pieces, (b) for each of the work pieces, selectively modifying a preprogrammed cutting tool path with regard to the image of the respective work piece, and (c) for each of the work pieces, performing a machining operation according to the respective selectively modified preprogrammed cutting tool path.

A method and system for optimal control of ultra-precision cutting. The method for optimal control is based on time-precipitates-temperature characteristics of AlMgSi series aluminum alloy, and includes first determining types of precipitates of machined materials, and establishing a Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner (LSW) model of each precipitate. A temperature range is determined corresponding to each precipitate according to the LSW model to obtain a comprehensive temperature range. A relation model is established between cutting parameters and a cutting temperature according to the LSW model. Finally the cutting parameters are optimized according to the comprehensive temperature range and the relation model, so that the cutting temperature is beyond the comprehensive temperature range to inhibit the generation of the precipitates.

In a numerical control system including a numerical controller having a tool database and a tool catalog database which can be referred to from the numerical controller, the tool catalog database has tool catalog data including first cutting condition data, and the tool database has tool data including second cutting condition data to be used for machining. After execution of the machining, the numerical controller updates the first cutting condition data to be stored in the tool catalog database based on the second cutting condition data stored in the tool database.

The machine tool according to the present invention has: a function to set upper limits and lower limits for cutting conditions including a cutting width, a cutting depth, and a cutting load of a tool; a function to set a range and a modification condition of the machining program modifying the cutting width or the cutting depth of the tool; a function to modify, based on the modification condition, a movement amount of a block that orders a feeding operation of the machining program; a function to calculate a load imposed upon cutting, based on a cutting condition obtained prior to modification of the machining program and a variation in the modified movement amount; and a function to determine whether or not the calculated load and the modified movement amount fall within the set ranges between the upper limits and the lower limits of the cutting width or cutting depth and the cutting load.

A method for monitoring cutting-tool abrasion of a machine tool includes the steps of: defining a tolerance range of abrasion of a cutting tool; collecting loading data of the cutting tool at every continuous machining sections; extracting actual-cutting loading data from all the loading data; calculating coefficients of fitting lines of the loading data for individual machining sections according to the actual-cutting loading data; comparing the abrasion of the cutting tool according to the tolerance range and the fitted lines; and, if an outranged result occurs, issuing an alert message to adjust or to replace the cutting tool.

The present disclosure concerns machine tools and more specifically compensation of variations which may occur within a multi-axis machine tool during a cutting process. An example embodiment includes a method of machining a workpiece using a machine tool comprising a machining head and a workpiece holder moveable relative to each another the method comprising: performing a first machining operation on a workpiece mounted to the workpiece holder according to a first programmed series of movements of the machining head relative to the workpiece holder, the first machining operation having a first maximum machining tolerance; performing a second machining operation on the workpiece according to a second programmed series of movements of the machining head relative to the workpiece holder, the second machining operation having a second maximum machining tolerance; performing a measurement operation to determine a position of an artefact on the machine tool; calculating an offset relative to a corresponding previously stored position of the artefact; and applying the offset to the second programmed series of movements prior to performing the second machining operation, wherein the second maximum machining tolerance is smaller than the first maximum machining tolerance.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide a system and method for cutting composite materials. The system includes a material supporting surface, an oscillating saw suspended from a rotatable head on an arm, a two-axis gimbal coupled to the rotatable head for adjusting a cutting angle of the oscillating saw, and a material clamp for clasping the composite material to prevent the composite material from slipping while being cut with the oscillating saw. An automated embodiment of the system further includes a controller for instructing the oscillating saw to cut the composite material by guiding the saw via coordinated movement of the rotatable head, the arm, and the gimbal. A method of cutting a woven composite material includes feeding the material on a support surface, providing an oscillating saw blade on a guiding mechanism, and cutting the material by moving the saw blade in a direction based on the guiding mechanism.

A method for adaptable machining includes (a) providing one or more images with a digital imaging system of each of a series of work pieces, (b) for each of the work pieces, selectively modifying a preprogrammed cutting tool path with regard to the image of the respective work piece, and (c) for each of the work pieces, performing a machining operation according to the respective selectively modified preprogrammed cutting tool path.

A machine tool and a control device therefor, wherein vibration cutting of a workpiece is carried out by means of a tool and wherein, after the vibration cutting, finish-cutting is carried out for cutting a finishing allowance of the workpiece by means of the tool, without relative vibration between the workpiece and the tool, by relatively rotating the workpiece and the tool and relatively moving them in the feed direction. According to the invention, before the vibration cutting, a finishing allowance calculation means calculates a finishing allowance remaining on the workpiece after vibration cutting has been completed, and a determination means determines whether or not the finishing allowance as calculated by the finishing allowance calculation means is less than, or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

A desired position instruction of a user is generated even if a plurality of position instructions satisfying a vibration control condition exist. An instruction generator includes a conditional expression selector configured to select a conditional expression that should generate the position instruction from a plurality of conditional expressions based on a control performance condition, a parameter calculator configured to calculate a parameter based on a machine performance index and the selected vibration control conditional expression, and a position instruction generator configured to calculate the position instruction based on the parameter.