A position sensing tool for enabling topographical measurements of a working surface is provided. The tool includes sensors for mapping the tool environment and for positioning of the tool within the environment. The tool enables tracking of tool activity within the environment. The tool enables design and fabrication collaboration with other computer systems. The tool enables user and tool environment safety using tool positional, user position and tool environment awareness. Certain embodiments of the tool permit automated guidance of tasks in the tool environment.

A position sensing tool for enabling topographical measurements of a working surface is provided. The tool includes sensors for mapping the tool environment and for positioning of the tool within the environment. The tool enables tracking of tool activity within the environment. The tool enables design and fabrication collaboration with other computer systems. The tool enables user and tool environment safety using tool positional, user position and tool environment awareness. Certain embodiments of the tool permit automated guidance of tasks in the tool environment.

An operating method of a numerical-control machine tool characterized in that it comprises the steps of providing the tool-carrying head of the numerical-control machine tool with a detection device adapted to measure the values of the tilting of the detection device relative to a predetermined reference inertial plane; and moving the tool-carrying head in space so as to place said detection device in succession in a multitude of control points distributed on a first detection plane, and create at least a first digital map that contains the tilting values of the detection device relative to the reference inertial plane, in each of said control points.

A system, method, and device for automated precision control of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine to a workpiece. The system receives via at least one visual input device at least one detectable marking on a workpiece. The system decodes the at least one detectable marking and determines a stored and pre-defined movement routine of a cutting element attached to the CNC machine relative to the workpiece based on the at least one marking. The system then determines, using the at least one visual input device and/or another visual input device, a current position of a working end of the cutting element relative to the at least one marking. Finally, the system performs the pre-defined movement routine including cutting into the workpiece with the cutting element.

A command generation device to control a motor includes command input circuitry configured to receive a first command, first intermediate data calculation circuitry configured to calculate first intermediate data based on the first command, delay time setting circuitry configured to determine a delay time based on the first command, second intermediate data calculation circuitry configured to calculate second intermediate data by smoothing the first intermediate data based on the delay time, and command output circuitry configured to calculate, based on the second intermediate data, a second command according to which the motor is controlled. A first time period during which positioning the motor based on the first command is completed when the first intermediate data is smoothed is longer by the delay time than a second time period during which positioning the motor based on the first command is completed when the first intermediate data is not smoothed.

A method of toolpath generation is provided whereby the tool may be any smooth convex axisymmetric shape. The tool includes a tool body extending between a shank and a head. The shank is configured to be mounted in a collet which may optionally rotate. In the case of a stylus tool, the head has an axisymmetric forming surface used to press metal. In the case of a routing tool, the head has cutting surfaces which are enveloped by a smooth convex axisymmetric surface and the tool is used for milling a part. In a least one embodiment the tool is a stylus tool which has a forming surface that has been generated from a portion of a clothoid curve.

A method of toolpath generation is provided whereby the tool may be any smooth convex axisymmetric shape. The tool includes a tool body extending between a shank and a head. The shank is configured to be mounted in a collet which may optionally rotate. In the case of a stylus tool, the head has an axisymmetric forming surface used to press metal. In the case of a routing tool, the head has cutting surfaces which are enveloped by a smooth convex axisymmetric surface and the tool is used for milling a part. In a least one embodiment the tool is a stylus tool which has a forming surface that has been generated from a portion of a clothoid curve.

Handwheel systems, including control consoles incorporating handwheels of the inventive subject matter, are described in this application. Handwheels described in this application can be used to control remotely located motors, especially those configured to control camera movements. To make it easier for camera operators to control remotely located motors using handwheels, those handwheels can be incorporated into a control console. Control consoles of the inventive subject matter can include several dials, toggle buttons, a display, and a variety of different inputs and outputs.

An error compensation system for a numerical control (NC) machine tool based on iterative learning control, including a trajectory generating module, a down-sampling module, a position controller, a first holder, a velocity-loop iterative learning controller, a velocity controller, a second holder and a control plant. The trajectory generating module is configured to generate a desired trajectory command including a first sampling command. The first sampling command is transmitted to the down-sampling module and the velocity-loop iterative learning controller. The first sampling command is down-sampled through the down-sampling module to obtain a second sampling command. The velocity-loop iterative learning controller is configured to receive the first sampling command, and obtain a first sampling error compensation sequence according to a first sampling error sequence and a first sampling error compensation sequence of a previous iteration machining process stored therein. An error compensation method is also provided herein.

A program editing device is configured such that, when an arc-shaped partial path is selected from a machining path displayed on a display unit based on route information of each of plural blocks, the program editing device calculates a change amount of the radius of curvature of the selected partial path in accordance with an operation of changing the state of the arc of the selected partial path and revises the block corresponding to the selected partial path based on the change amount.