Cutting tool form compensaton system and method

Patent · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:868974

Barkman, William E ^[1]; Klages, Edward J ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge, TN

A compensation system for a computer-controlled machining apparatus having a controller and including a cutting tool and a workpiece holder which are movable relative to one another along a preprogrammed path during a machining operation utilizes a camera and a vision computer for gathering information at a preselected stage of a machining operation relating to the actual shape and size of the cutting edge of the cutting tool and for altering the preprogrammed path in accordance with detected variations between the actual size and shape of the cutting edge and an assumed size and shape of the cutting edge. The camera obtains an image of the cutting tool against a background so that the cutting tool and background possess contrasting light intensities, and the vision computer utilizes the contrasting light intensities of the image to locate points therein which correspond to points along the actual cutting edge. Following a series of computations involving the determining of a tool center from the points identified along the tool edge, the results of the computations are fed to the controller where the preprogrammed path is altered as aforedescribed.

• Research Organization: LOCKHEED MARTIN ENRGY SYST INC
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc. (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5255199
• OSTI ID: 868974
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/700/348/382/
accordance
aforedescribed
altered
altering
apparatus
assumed
background
camera
center
compensation
compensaton
computations
computer
computer-controlled
computer-controlled machining
contrasting
controller
correspond
cutting
cutting edge
cutting tool
detected
determining
edge
fed
following
form
gathering
holder
identified
image
including
information
intensities
involving
light
light intensities
locate
machining
machining apparatus
machining operation
method
movable
movable relative
obtains
operation
operation utilizes
path
possess
preprogrammed
preprogrammed path
preselected
relating
relative
results
series
shape
size
stage
therein
tool
tool edge
utilizes
variations
vision
workpiece
workpiece holder