Numerical control system with operator controlled cutting

摘要

A numerical controller permits real-time manual control of the rough cutting of material from a workpiece by a machine tool via a manual input device controlled by a human operator. Overcutting is prevented by repeated recalculation of the intersection of the tool path with the surface limits stored in numeric form within the controller and stopping of the tool at those limits. The manual input device may provide a signal indicating both direction and magnitude with the magnitude controlling the cutting rate of the tool.