Method and apparatus for computer aided machining

摘要

In an embodiment, the controller for machining parts on a work piece positioned on a numerically controllable (NC) machine includes a memory, a display and a plurality of layout processes. A job comprising multiple parts in various quantities is displayed textually as a job list of parts and quantities. The job is also displayed graphically in a scaled layout. In the scaled layout part icons corresponding to each of the parts on the job list are superimposed on a work piece icon in an arrangement corresponding to a physical part layout. Layout processes handle the location of the machine instruction records which correspond to the parts selected for the job. These processes also determine the dimension and scaling of each part icon on the basis of the machine code records for the chosen parts. The processes also handle the scaling of the work piece icon and parts icon on the display in an arrangement corresponding to an actual physical layout for the job. In another embodiment a method for machining parts from a work piece positioned on a numerically controllable (NC) machine is disclosed.