GB2174512A

GB2174512A - Computer controlled apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2174512A
Application number: GB08511057A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Bell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-01
Filing date: 1985-05-01
Publication date: 1986-11-05
Also published as: GB8511057D0

Abstract

A working model constructed from model components is connected by an interface unit to a microcomputer. Optical sensors 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d send information from the model, through the interface unit to the computer, and control instructions are sent from the computer through the same interface unit, to the model. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Computer controlled apparatus The present invention relates to computer controlled apparatus, and in particular apparatus controlled by a microcomputer.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a working model made from model components and adapted to be controlled by a microcomputer, said model comprising work performing means, at least one drive motor for driving said work performing means, at least one optical sensor, and at least one microswitch.

Preferably, at least one of the model components incorporates at least one optical sensor or microswitch.

The model may be of a machine tool type, or alternatively it may be of another type, such as a printer plotter, sorting machine or buggy.

Preferably the working model is of a machine tool such as a lathe.

Preferably the working model of a machine tool type includes a cutting tool and means for accommodating a work piece so that it may be machined, under computer control, by the cutting tool.

Preferably the location of the cutting tool with respect to a fixed reference point on the model may be determined to an accuracy of no less than 1/200 of an inch.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is further provided a kit for making a model of the present invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an interface unit to allow the movements of a model in accordance with the present invention to be controlled by a microcomputer, said interface unit being controlled by software for use with the microcomputer, and adapted to communicate with both the model and the computer in such a way as to allow the computer to receive sensing information from the model and also to send control instructions to the model, the software allowing the interface to be used with a variety of different models.

Preferably the interface unit comprises a first unit adapted for controlling each motor on the model, a second unit providing additional drive lines to operate additional facilities on the model, and a third unit for receiving information from the or each optical sensor on the model and relaying that information to the computer.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising a microcomputer, a working model of the present invention, and an interface unit of the present invention, said interface unit being connected between the working model and the microcomputer.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa side view of a model in accordance with the present invention; and, Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of an interface unit in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to Figure 1, there is provided a working model of a lathe. This has a cross-slide rack 1 along which a cutting tool 3 moves. The chucks 5, 6 are rotatably mounted on headstocks 7, 8. Headstock 7 is mounted on a headstock rack 9 and includes a headstock movement control 10, direction indicators 11, 12 and a headstock lock 13. The cutting tool 3 also includes direction indicators 14.

In operation, a piece of working material is secured between chucks 5 and 6 which is then machined, under computer control as will be described later, in accordance with a previously chosen profile. This is achieved by moving the cutting tool 3 along the cross-slide rack 1 and at the same time moving it away from or towards the central axis of the working material between the two chucks 5, 6, as the chucks 5 and 6 are rotated.

With reference to Figure 2, the circuit diagram of an interface in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the function al units 16, 18,20 and 22.

Functional unit 16 has eight lines, 17, connected to the computer. The unit 16 includes an IC chip 17a which has eight output lines, these being divided into two groups of four, four being connected to two identical motors, and the other four lines being connected to a further two identical motors.

Functional unit 18 comprises a chip 18a which has four output drive lines connected to additional facilities which may be required on the model.

Functional unit 20 includes a chip 20a having four lines connected to optical sensors 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, 21 d on the model, so that it can be receive information from the sensors and relay the information to the computer.

All of the chips 17a, 18a and 20a allow data to be read into or from the computer, thus establishing a two-way communication between the computer and the model.

The software for controlling the model is designed for a "Spectrum" computer, and may be used with any number of different models using the same basis control operations.

In the example of the lathe model, the software has a menu program through which a number of different options may be selected to control all of the lathe's operations. The first option allows the operator to input into the computer from the keyboard any profile which he wishes to machine on the working material.

The second option allows the operatorto amend, from the keyboard, a previously drawn profile.

Option three instructs the computer to produce a three dimensional frame drawing from the profile previously drawn by the operator on the screen.

Option four allows the operatorto obtain a printout or hard copy of the profile along with the list of coordinates which define that profile.

Option five allows the operator to name the profile and to save it for future use on magnetic tape.

Option six allows the operator to load a previously saved profile from magnetic tape into the computer by entering the name.

Option seven allows the lathe to be set up for use.

In this option, after the operator has inserted the working material into the chucks 5 and 6, the computer then causes the cutting tool 3 to assume the starting position, i.e. fully back from the working material and to the right of the cross side rack 1. The computer then causes the cutting tool 3 to traverse to the left to find the length of the working material, returning back to the starting position when it has done so.

Option eight causes the machine tool to machine the profile as the working material is rotated by rotating the chucks 5, 6. Option 9 provides a manual control override to allow the operation of the lathe to be transferred to the keyboard.

Finally option 10 removes the program from the computer.

Claims

1. Aworking model made from model components and adapted to be controlled by a microcomputer, said model comprising work performing means, at least one drive motor for driving said work performing means, at least one optical sensor, and at least one microswitch.

2. Aworking model according to Claim 1 in which at least one of the model components incorporates at least one optical sensor or microswitch.

3. Aworking model according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is of a machine tool.

4. Aworking model according to Claim 3 in which there is included a cutting tool and means for accommodating a work piece so that it may be machined, under computer control, by the cutting tool.

5. Aworking model according to Claim 4 in which the location of the cutting tool with respect to a fixed reference point on the model may be determined to an accuracy of no less than 1/200 of an inch.

6. A kit of model components for making a working model as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

7. An interface unit for allowing the movements of a working model as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 to be controlled by a microcomputer, said interface unit being controlled by software for use with the microcomputer and adapted to communicate with both the model and the computer in such a way as to allow the computer to receive sensing information from the model and also to send control instructions to the model, the software allowing the interface to be used with a variety of different models.

8. An interface unit according to Claim 7 which comprises a first unit adapted for controlling the or each motor on the model, a second unit providing additional drive lines to operate additional facilities on the model, and a third unit for receiving information from the or each optical sensor on the model and relaying that information to the computer.

9. A system comprising a microcomputer, a working model as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, and an interface unit as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, the interface unit being connected between the working model and the microcomputer.

10. Aworking model according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

11. A working model substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A kit of model components according to Claim 6 and substantially as herein described.

13. An interface unit according to Claim 7 and substantially as herein described.

14. An interface unit substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompany- ing drawings.

15. A system according to Claim 9 and substantially as herein described.