System for automatic management of tool life

摘要

A system for the automatic management (detection and control) of tool life in a numerically controlled machine tool having means for automatically measuring the dimension of workpieces and correcting the tool offset of a cutting tool depending on wear on the cutting tool. In the system, the mechanical deformation error component (radial deviation component of a spindle of the machine tool) due to heat is removed from the amount of tool offset value (tool feed position compensation) so as to accumulate solely the net tool wear component, and the cutting tool is exchanged when the accumulated value attains a predetermined setting.