A system is provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), including a user interface that comprises a workpiece inspection program simulation portion configurable to display a 3-D view of a workpiece; an editing user interface portion comprising an editable plan representation of a current workpiece feature inspection plan for the workpiece; and an editable alignment program plan representation for the workpiece. The system is configured with the editable alignment program plan representation being automatically responsive to editing operations, regardless of whether the editing operations are performed in the 3-D view or the editable plan representation. The editing operations include deleting or adding at least one workpiece feature to or from the editable alignment program plan representation.

An integrated simulation system includes a first simulation device which executes a simulation of a first program, a second simulation device which executes a simulation of a second program, a start timing setting section which sets start timing for the correlated first program and second program so as to verify the presence or absence of malfunctions caused by a start order of the correlated first program and second program, and a program starting section which issues commands to the first simulation device and the second simulation device to start the correlated first program and second program at the set start timing by a single starting operation.

Operating device for a machining device configured to machine workpieces consisting preferably at least in sections of wood, said operating device comprising: a display device, and a selection device, wherein the operating device is configured such that on the selection device, a user can select machining operations on a workpiece and that, based on the selected machining operations, a 3D model corresponding to the machined workpiece is shown in the display device.

To provide easy determination of a causative factor of a machining problem in a machining target or easy checking of the effectiveness of an adjustment of, e.g., a machining program, a control command such as a position command, a servo control, or machine operation. This invention includes: storage units storing pieces of machining position data obtained from machining performed based on at least two of a machining program, a control command for performing servo control on a servo motor for driving a machine tool, and pieces of feedback information related to the servo control and machine operation, the machining being performed on a machining target by the machine tool; a machined surface simulation unit performing machined surface simulations based on the stored machining position data; and a display unit displaying images of machined surfaces resulting from the machined surface simulations in a juxtaposed manner.

Systems and methods are provided for creating three dimensional (3D) visualizations of in-process products. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a controller and an interface. The controller is able to generate a 3D scene depicting ongoing assembly of a product by a machine tool. The scene includes a 3D model of the product and a 3D model of the machine tool, and the 3D models are placed within the scene based on a location of the product and a location of the machine tool. The interface is able to receive an update from the machine tool indicating a 3D placement of a part that has been attached by the machine tool to the product. The controller is also able to acquire a 3D model of the part, to insert the 3D model of the part within the scene based on the 3D placement, and to provide the scene for display to a user.

To provide easy determination of a causative factor of a machining problem in a machining target or easy checking of the effectiveness of an adjustment of, e.g., a machining program, a control command such as a position command, a servo control, or machine operation. This invention includes: storage units storing pieces of machining position data obtained from machining performed based on at least two of a machining program, a control command for performing servo control on a servo motor for driving a machine tool, and pieces of feedback information related to the servo control and machine operation, the machining being performed on a machining target by the machine tool; a machined surface simulation unit performing machined surface simulations based on the stored machining position data; and a display unit displaying images of machined surfaces resulting from the machined surface simulations in a juxtaposed manner.

An integrated simulation system includes a first simulation device which executes a simulation of a first program, a second simulation device which executes a simulation of a second program, a start timing setting section which sets start timing for the correlated first program and second program so as to verify the presence or absence of malfunctions caused by a start order of the correlated first program and second program, and a program starting section which issues commands to the first simulation device and the second simulation device to start the correlated first program and second program at the set start timing by a single starting operation.

A system is provided for programming workpiece feature inspection operations for a coordinate measuring machine. The system includes a computer aided design (CAD) file processing portion, an inspection motion path generation portion and a user interface. The user interface includes a workpiece inspection program simulation portion and auxiliary collision avoidance volume creation elements. The workpiece inspection program simulation portion displays a 3D view and the auxiliary collision avoidance volume creation elements are operable to create or define auxiliary collision avoidance volumes that are displayed in the 3D view. In various implementations, rather than requiring a user to model a physical object (e.g., as part of a workpiece or CMM) in a CAD file, the user may instead create and position an auxiliary collision avoidance volume at a location where the physical object is expected to be, so as to prevent collisions that could occur with the physical object.

The invention regards a system and method for assisting reductive shaping of an object into a desired 3D-shape by removing material. The system comprises a tool and a localization means. The tool is configured to remove material from an object by means of a cutting function or a grinding function performed by a working head of the tool. The localization means determines a position of the working head relative to the desired 3D-shape. Each time the grinding function or cutting function would remove material from an inside of the desired 3D-shape the cutting or grinding function is deactivated.

A system includes an environment for programming workpiece inspection operations for a coordinate measurement machine (CMM). The environment includes a user interface comprising a program simulation portion configured to display a 3D view of the workpiece and/or representations of inspection operations to be performed on the workpiece. The user interface further includes auxiliary collision avoidance volume (CAV) creation elements that create CAV's that are represented in the 3D view. The 3D CAVs and/or their representations have integrated graphical modification properties which are controllable in the user interface. The modification properties are activated by selection of a face of the CAV representation, without the explicit activation of a separate modification control element mode or tool. This results in a simplified and intuitive user interface. Users perform a constrained set graphical modifications in the 3D view using an input device, to modify a CAV.