Improvements in computer - numerically controlled machines or in conjunction with computer - numerically controlled machines

摘要

PCT No. PCT/AU92/00260 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 3, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 3, 1993 PCT Filed Jun. 4, 1992 PCT Pub. No. WO92/22024 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 10, 1992.A multi-axis computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tool is provided in which a cutting tool (7) is movable relative to a workpiece (6) by means of a number of linear and rotary joints (J1 to J3) under the control of a programmable control unit (1). The machine is programmed with a plurality of principal programmable axes, called "hard" axes (X, Z and B), and with at least one synthesized additional programmable axis or "soft" axis (V) which enables the cutting tool (7) to be moved linearly in the direction of the soft axis (V) without requiring a specific joint for that purpose. The synthesized "soft" axis is a non-collinear, partially redundant axis which increases the number of programmable degrees of freedom to a greater number than the machine degrees of freedom ie: the number of non-collinear joints. The principle of synthesizing "soft" axes may be extended to CNC machine tools having four or more principal hard axes, for instance, to produce a 5-joint CNC machine tool which has the flexibility of a conventional 7- or 8-joint machine tool.