CLAIMS

1. A computerized method of machining a workpiece comprising:

prior to machining said workpiece, establishing, based on empirical data obtained from machining activity at an earlier time, an historical mapping indicating pairings of depth of cut and rpm at which undesirable chatter (UDC) did not occur during machining activity at an earlier time using at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material;

prior to commencing machining of said workpiece, programming a machine tool to machine said workpiece using one of said at least one given type of milling machine, one of said at least one given type of cutting tool and one of said at least one given type of workpiece material at at least one depth of cut and rpm, which, based on said historical mapping, avoid undesirable chatter; and

operating said machine tool in accordance with said programming to machine said workpiece.

2. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 1 and wherein said programming comprises:

employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to not create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

3. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 1 and wherein said programming comprises:

employing pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to be within a predetermined

neighborhood of known pairings known not to create UDC and not to be within a predetermined neighborhood of known pairings known to create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

4. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 1 and wherein said programming comprises:

employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to create UDC and known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material not to create UDC, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

5. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 3 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

6. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 3 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

7. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 4 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

8. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 4 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

9. A computerized method of machining a workpiece according to claim 1 and wherein said programming comprises:

initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

validating said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.

10. A method of machining a workpiece according to claim 1 and wherein said programming comprises:

initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material;

disallowing at least one of said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping;

generating at least one revised CNC program for machining said workpiece based on said historical mapping, said initial CNC program including at least one alternative proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

validating said at least one revised proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.

11. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece comprising:

prior to machining said workpiece, establishing, based on empirical data obtained from machining activity at an earlier time, an historical mapping indicating pairings of depth of cut and rpm at which undesirable chatter (UDC) did not occur

during machining activity at an earlier time using at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

prior to commencing machining of said workpiece, programming a machine tool to machine said workpiece using one of said at least one given type of milling machine, one of said at least one given type of cutting tool and one of said at least one given type of workpiece material at at least one depth of cut and rpm, which, based on said historical mapping, avoid undesirable chatter.

12. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 11 and wherein said programming comprises:

employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to not to create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

13. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 11 and wherein said programming comprises:

employing pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to be within a predetermined neighborhood of known pairings known not to create UDC and not to be within a predetermined neighborhood of known pairings known to create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

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14. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 11 and wherein said programming comprises:

employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to create UDC and known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material not to create UDC, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

15. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 13 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

16. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 13 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

17. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 14 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

18. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 14 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

19. A computerized method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 11 and wherein said programming comprises:

initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

validating said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.

20. A method of controlling operation of a machine tool in machining a workpiece according to claim 11 and wherein said programming comprises:

initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material;

disallowing at least one of said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping;

generating at least one revised CNC program for machining said workpiece based on said historical mapping, said initial CNC program including at least one alternative proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

validating said at least one revised proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.

21. A computerized system for machining a workpiece, said system comprising:

an historic mapping generator operative prior to machining said workpiece to generate an historical mapping, based on empirical data obtained from machining activity at an earlier time, indicating pairings of depth of cut and rpm at which undesirable chatter (UDC) did not occur during machining activity at an earlier time using at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material;

a computerized machine tool programmer operative prior to commencing machining of said workpiece, to generate a machine tool program enabling a machine tool to machine said workpiece using one of said at least one given type of milling machine, one of said at least one given type of cutting tool and one of said at least one given type of workpiece material at at least one depth of cut and rpm, which, based on said historical mapping, avoid undesirable chatter; and

a machine tool operable in accordance with said programming to machine said workpiece.

22. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 21 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

a suitable depth of cut and rpm ascertainer, employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to not create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

23. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 21 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

a suitable depth of cut and rpm ascertainer, employing pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to be within a predetermined neighborhood of known pairings known not to create UDC and not to be within a predetermined neighborhood of known pairings known to create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

24. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 21 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

a suitable depth of cut and rpm ascertainer, employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to create UDC and known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material not to create UDC, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

25. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 23 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

26. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 23 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

27. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 24 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

28. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 24 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

29. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 21 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

an initial CNC program generator, initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

a proposed pairing validator, validating said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.

30. A computerized system for machining a workpiece according to claim 21 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

an initial CNC program generator, initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material;

a proposed pairing disallower, disallowing at least one of said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping;

a revised CNC program generator, generating at least one revised CNC program for machining said workpiece based on said historical mapping, said initial CNC program including at least one alternative proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

a revised proposed pairing validator, validating said at least one revised proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.

31. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece, said system comprising:

an historic mapping generator operative prior to machining said workpiece to generate an historical mapping, based on empirical data obtained from machining activity at an earlier time, indicating pairings of depth of cut and rpm at which undesirable chatter (UDC) did not occur during machining activity at an earlier time using at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

a computerized machine tool programmer operative prior to commencing machining of said workpiece, to generate a machine tool program enabling a machine tool to machine said workpiece using one of said at least one given type of milling machine, one of said at least one given type of cutting tool and one of said at least one given type of workpiece material at at least one depth of cut and rpm, which, based on said historical mapping, avoid undesirable chatter.

32. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 31 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

a suitable depth of cut and rpm ascertainer, employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to not create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

33. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 31 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

a suitable depth of cut and rpm ascertainer, employing pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to be within a predetermined neighborhood of known pairings known not to create UDC and not to be within a predetermined neighborhood of known pairings known to create UDC for said at least one given type of milling machine, said at least one given type of cutting tool and said at least one given type of workpiece material, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

34. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 31 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

a suitable depth of cut and rpm ascertainer, employing known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material to create UDC and known pairings of depth of cut and rpm, which are known from said historical mapping for said given type of milling machine, said given type of cutting tool and said given type of workpiece material not to create UDC, in order to ascertain a suitable rpm for a given depth of cut which will not create UDC.

35. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 33 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

36. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 33 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

37. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 34 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut need not correspond to one of said known pairings.

38. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 34 and wherein said suitable rpm for said given depth of cut does not correspond to one of said known pairings.

39. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 31 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

an initial CNC program generator, initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

a proposed pairing validator, validating said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.

40. A computerized system for controlling the machining of a workpiece according to claim 31 and wherein said computerized machine tool programmer comprises:

an initial CNC program generator, initially generating an initial CNC program for machining said workpiece without necessarily considering UDC issues, said initial CNC program including at least one proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material;

a proposed pairing disallower, disallowing at least one of said at least one proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping;

a revised CNC program generator, generating at least one revised CNC program for machining said workpiece based on said historical mapping, said initial CNC program including at least one alternative proposed pairing of depth of cut and rpm for at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material; and

a revised proposed pairing validator, validating said at least one revised proposed pairing, based on said historical mapping.