ADAPTIVE FEED RATE OVERRIDE SYSTEM FOR A MILLING MACHINE

A system is provided for adaptively limiting the feed rate of a milling machine's positioning axes during a milling operation. Normal operation of the milling machine is controlled by a numerical control system (26). The invention utilizes strain gauges (18, 20) which sense loading force on the cutting tool during milling. A computer (24) is operatively connected to the strain gauges (18, 20). The computer is programmed to receive signals from the strain gauges and to use such signals to automatically override the programmed feed rate in the numerical control system (20), to maintain a specified peak side load on the cutting tool.