JP2000020115A - Nc data generator for machining - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the increase of machining load for multi-stage machining by limiting a machining direction to a prescribed direction and improving the efficiency of tool movement. SOLUTION: This generator is provided with a partial route data storage means 1 which divides tool route data in original NC data into partial route data of machining units and adds storage addresses of partial route data placed before and after each partial route data in the original machining order to this partial route data and adds a code indicating the tool route end instead in the case of the absence of partial route data placed before or after this partial route data and stores these partial route data, a machining order change means 2 which changes storage addresses of partial route data placed before and after each partial route data to change the machining order, a machining direction inverting means 3 which changes parts other than storage addresses of partial route data placed before and after each partial route data so as to invert the machining direction, and a constituent point coordinate value conversion means 4 which converts coordinate values of individual constituent points of each partial route data to those of positions symmetrical with respect to a prescribed vertical plane.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for creating NC data for cutting, which is suitable for use in a CAM (computer-aided machining) system and the like. It relates to a device to be created.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a CAM system or the like, N for cutting is used.
When creating C data, there is a case where a tool path is formed at two locations on the workpiece to have a shape identical to each other and a plane symmetrical shape with respect to a predetermined vertical plane. In such a case, a tool path for one shape is formed. The method of first creating the NC data and then performing a mirror process on the NC data is often used.

When a workpiece is cut on the side surface of a cutting tool, as shown in FIG. 6, there are several patterns in the tool path, and FIG. Processing, FIG. (B) shows multi-stage processing of the same surface, and FIG.
FIG. 4 (d) shows processing of only one stage at a plurality of horizontally separated positions, and FIG. 4 (e) shows multistage processing of a plurality of horizontally separated positions. 3 shows a pattern of a tool path. When the workpiece is cut by the side surface of the cutting tool, usually, as shown in FIG.
However, in relation to the tool rotation direction, it is determined to be a machining direction in which down cutting with high surface finishing accuracy is performed.

[0004]

However, as shown by arrows on the left side of FIG. 8, for example, five partial paths P11 to P15 for cutting five horizontally separated portions of the workpiece W are represented by P11. The NC data of the tool path to be machined by the cutting tool T in the order of → P12 → P13 → P14 → P15
When the mirror processing is simply performed on a vertical plane including the illustrated y-axis and the z-axis perpendicular to the paper surface, the processing directions are all the up-cut directions instead of the down-cut directions. By simply changing the machining directions to the downcut directions, as shown by the arrows on the right side of FIG.
M15 is traced in the order of M11 → M12 → M13 → M14 → M15 and becomes a tool path for machining with the cutting tool T. Although the machining itself is satisfied, the tool path becomes unnecessarily long, and the cutting efficiency of the tool is poor. It becomes processing. In this case, in order to improve the moving efficiency of the tool, it is preferable to change the machining order of the partial path to a tool path in the order of M15 → M14 → M13 → M12 → M11.

For example, in the multi-stage machining shown in FIG. 9, an approach is performed by a partial route P1, and an upper stage is machined by a partial route P2.
Returning below the partial route P1 on the partial route P3, processing the middle stage on the partial route P4, returning below the partial route P1 on the partial route P5, processing the lower stage on the partial route P6, and retracting on the partial route P7. The tool path is a tool path for cutting a predetermined height according to the tool load from the upper end of the workpiece, and the NC data of the tool path is converted into the z-axis and the y-axis perpendicular to the paper surface as shown in FIG. When the mirror processing is simply performed on the vertical plane including, the original NC data shown on the left side in FIG.
The NC data is as shown on the right side in the figure, and the processing direction of each step is not the downcut direction but the upcut direction. Then, in this case, when the processing order of the partial paths, which is desirable in the example shown in FIG. 8, is changed, the processing order of each stage is changed, and processing is started from the lower stage, and from the beginning to the lower end of the workpiece. As a result of all the processing, the tool load becomes excessive.

In addition, since each piece of path data is generally variable length data, simply changing the order by simply dividing the original tool path data at a fixed length will cause each piece of path data to be cut off in the middle. As a result, the processing order cannot be changed, and the above-mentioned inconvenience is not solved.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an NC data generating apparatus which advantageously solves the above-mentioned problems, and an NC data generating apparatus for cutting according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus mirror-processes the original cutting NC data having tool path data including a plurality of partial paths in which the processing directions are determined, and performs new cutting NC data processing. In the apparatus for creating data, the tool path data in the original NC data is divided into partial path data for each machining unit, and each of these partial path data is processed in the machining order in the tool path data. The storage address of the partial path data located before and after the data is added, and if there is no partial path data located before or after the partial path data, Instead, a partial path data storage means 1 for adding a sign indicating a tool path end to store the partial path data, and a position before and after the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means 1, respectively. Processing order changing means 2 for changing the processing order by exchanging the storage address of the partial path data to be processed, and the parts respectively located before and after the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means 1 A machining direction reversing means 3 for changing a portion other than the storage address of the path data so that the machining direction is reversed; and a coordinate value of each component point of each of the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means 1. Component point coordinate value conversion means 4 for converting into coordinate values at positions symmetrical with respect to a predetermined vertical plane.

In such an apparatus, the partial path data storage means 1 divides the tool path data in the original NC data into partial path data for each machining unit, and stores the partial path data in each of the partial path data. The storage addresses of the partial path data located before and after the partial path data in the machining order in the tool path data are added, and if there is no partial path data located before or after the partial path data, the tool path end is used instead. Are added and the partial route data is stored. And processing order changing means 2
However, the processing order is changed by replacing the storage addresses of the partial path data located before and after the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means 1 to change the processing order. A part other than the storage address of the partial path data located before and after each of the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means 1 is changed so that the machining direction is reversed;
Further, the constituent point coordinate value converting means 4 converts the coordinate values of each constituent point of each of the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means 1 into coordinate values at plane-symmetric positions with respect to a predetermined vertical plane.

Therefore, according to this apparatus, when mirroring the tool path data in the original NC data, even if a plurality of partial path data included in the tool path data is variable length data, Processing is performed by dividing data into partial path data for each processing unit, adding storage addresses of partial path data located before and after each partial path data, and replacing the storage addresses of those partial path data. Since the order is changed, it is possible to easily and reliably invert the machining order of a desired one of the partial path data to create a new tool path, and further, for each of the partial path data, The part other than the storage address of the partial path data located before and after, that is, the part indicating the tool path and the processing direction, In this way, a new tool path can be created with the machining direction of each partial path data set as the downcut direction in the same way as the original tool path data, and each component point of each partial path data can be created. Since the coordinate value is converted into a coordinate value at a position symmetrical with respect to the predetermined vertical plane, new tool path data for processing a part to be processed by the original tool path data and a part symmetrical to the plane can be created.

In the present invention, when the partial path data of the tool path data is for cutting a plurality of portions of the workpiece which are horizontally separated from each other, the processing order changing means 2 is provided with For all of the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage unit 1, the processing order is changed by exchanging the storage address of the preceding partial path data with the storage address of the subsequent partial path data. In this case, when cutting a plurality of portions of the workpiece that are horizontally separated from each other, the machining order of all the partial paths is reversed, and the tool moving efficiency is improved. be able to.

Also, in the present invention, when the partial path data of the tool path data is for cutting the same portion of the workpiece into a plurality of steps, the cutting is performed during the cutting of the plurality of steps. In order to maintain the processing order of the partial path data, the processing order inversion means 2 stores the partial path data located before and after the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means 1, respectively. The order of machining may be changed by exchanging addresses. In such a case, when the same part of the workpiece is divided into a plurality of stages and the cutting is performed in a plurality of stages, the cutting is performed during the plurality of stages. Can be prevented from being reversed, and machining can be performed from the upper stage to the lower stage with a predetermined cutting load.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing mirror processing executed by a computer constituting a normal CAM system as one embodiment of the cutting NC data generating apparatus of the present invention. First, in step 11, the processing direction is determined. The original NC data for cutting having tool path data continuously including a plurality of obtained partial paths is read into the memory. At this time, the partial path data is usually variable length data and the length is not constant. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, the tool path data is stored in the memory while being divided for each partial path data. At the beginning of each of the stored partial path data, a storage address in the memory of the partial path data located before the partial path data in the processing order in the tool path data, and a processing order in the tool path data. Then, the storage address of the partial path data located after the partial path data in the memory and the number of words of the partial path data are added, and if there is no partial path data located before or after the partial path data, Instead, a sign (0 in the illustrated example) indicating the tool path end is added. Therefore, step 11 corresponds to a partial route data storage unit.

In the following step 12, the processing order is changed by an address operation in consideration of the processing direction. That is, if the partial path data of the tool path data is for cutting a plurality of portions of the workpiece that are horizontally separated from each other, as shown in FIG. The storage address in the memory of the partial path data located in front of the partial path data in the processing order of the original tool path data at the head of the path data, and the storage address after the partial path data in the processing order As shown in FIG. 3B, the storage addresses of the partial path data to be stored in the memory are exchanged for all the partial path data. As a result, in the first partial path data in the processing order, the code 0 at the position of the storage address of the preceding partial path data moves to the position of the storage address of the subsequent partial path data. The path is the last partial path data, and the last partial path data in the processing order is such that the code 0 at the position of the storage address of the partial path data located later is the same as the storage address of the partial path data located earlier. Position, so that it becomes the first partial path data in the new tool path, and each of the partial path data between them is replaced with the storage address of the previous and subsequent partial path data, so that the original tool path data is replaced with the original tool path data. The processing order is reversed in the processing order in the path data.

On the other hand, when the partial path data of the tool path data is for processing the same part of the workpiece in a plurality of steps, the processing order of the partial path data during the processing of the plurality of steps is as follows. Change the processing order so as to keep it as it is. For example, of the partial path data shown in FIG. 3A, the second to eighth data excluding the first and last partial path data are all partial paths which are obtained by processing the same part of the workpiece in a plurality of stages. In the case of data, the code 0 at the position of the storage address of the preceding partial path data of the first partial path data is moved to the position of the storage address of the subsequent partial path data, and the first partial path data is transferred. The data is changed in the last processing order, and the storage address of the eighth partial path data is inserted at the position of the storage address of the partial path data located before the first partial path data, and the first partial path data is changed. To the eighth partial path data, and the code 0 at the storage address of the partial path data located after the last partial path data.
Is moved to the position of the storage address of the partial path data located before, the last partial path data is changed in the first processing order, and the storage address of the partial path data located after the last partial path data is changed. , The storage address of the second partial path data is inserted at the position, the second partial path data is connected to the last partial path data, and the remaining storage addresses are left unchanged without being replaced. In addition, a plurality of partial path data for processing the same part of the workpiece in a plurality of stages is added as one block of partial path data, and one storage address is added to the partial path data. As in the case of cutting, the storage address of the partial path data located before and after may be replaced. Therefore, this step 12
Corresponds to a processing order changing unit.

In the following step 13, a part other than the storage address of the partial path data located before and after the partial path data stored in the memory, that is, a part indicating the tool path and the processing direction is replaced with the processing direction. Is changed to be inverted. For example, if the partial route connects the start point and the end point with a straight line, the start point and the end point are exchanged, and the partial route traces some constituent points between the start point and the end point. , The start point and the end point are exchanged, and the order in which the constituent points are traced is reversed. Therefore, step 13 corresponds to a processing direction reversing means.

In the following step 14, the coordinate values of the respective constituent points of the respective partial path data stored in the memory are converted into the coordinates of the plane symmetric position with respect to the predetermined vertical plane to be plane symmetric by the mirror processing here. Convert to a value. Therefore, step 14 corresponds to a component point coordinate value conversion unit.

In the last step 15, it is determined whether or not there is no more NC data to be mirrored. If there is still NC data, the process returns to step 11, but if there is no more, the process is terminated.

According to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, for example, as shown by arrows on the left side in FIG. 4, similarly to those on the left side in FIG. The five partial paths P11 to P15 for cutting are changed from P11 to P12.
When mirror processing is performed on a vertical plane including the illustrated y-axis and the z-axis perpendicular to the paper based on the NC data of the tool path processed by the cutting tool T in the order of → P13 → P14 → P15, FIG. As shown by the arrows on the right side of the figure, the machining directions are all the down-cut direction, and five partial paths M11 to M15 for cutting the five plane-symmetrical portions with the above, respectively.
Is obtained in the order of M15 → M14 → M13 → M12 → M11, and becomes a tool path to be machined by the cutting tool T. The tool path can be made the shortest, and it is possible to create NC data which can perform cutting with good tool movement efficiency. it can.

According to the apparatus of the above embodiment, for example, as shown on the left side in FIG. 5, similar to the one on the left side in FIG. When mirror processing is performed on a vertical plane including the illustrated z-axis and the y-axis perpendicular to the paper surface based on the NC data of the tool path, as illustrated on the right side in FIG. 5, the processing directions are all down-cut directions. On the other hand, the machining order during machining in the three stages is not reversed, and a tool path for machining is performed in the order of the upper stage, the middle stage, and the lower stage, and machining can be performed from the upper stage to the lower stage with a predetermined cutting load.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated examples, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example. For example, a plurality of tool paths for machining a plurality of horizontally separated portions of a workpiece may be provided. The present invention can also be applied to a case where a tool path that is machined in steps is combined, and the above-described effects can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a cutting NC data generating apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a mirror process executed by an embodiment of the cutting NC data creating apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process of storing partial path data and a process of replacing a storage address performed by the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mirror process by the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the mirror processing by the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a pattern example of NC data for cutting.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a limitation of a processing direction of cutting NC data.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional mirror process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a tool path for performing a mirror process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional mirror process for the tool path shown in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Partial route data storage means 2 Processing order change means 3 Processing direction inversion means 4 Component point coordinate value conversion means T Cutting tool W Workpiece

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An original cutting NC having tool path data including a plurality of partial paths in which a processing direction is determined.
An apparatus for creating new NC data for cutting by mirror processing data, wherein tool path data in the original NC data is divided into partial path data for each processing unit, and each of these partial path data is Is added with the storage address of the partial path data located before and after the partial path data in the machining order in the tool path data, and if there is no partial path data located before or after the partial path data, Partial path data storage means (1) for adding a sign indicating the tool path end and storing the partial path data thereof
Processing order changing means (2) for changing the processing order by exchanging storage addresses of partial path data located before and after the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means, Machining direction reversing means (3) for changing a part other than the storage address of the partial path data located before and after each of the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means so that the machining direction is reversed; A component point coordinate value conversion means (4) for converting the coordinate values of each component point of each of the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means into coordinate values at plane-symmetric positions with respect to a predetermined vertical plane; An NC data creation device for cutting, characterized by comprising: 2. The machining order changing means (2), when the partial path data of the tool path data is for cutting a plurality of horizontally separated portions of the workpiece, respectively. For all of the partial path data stored in the data storage means (1), changing the processing order by exchanging the storage address of the preceding partial path data with the storage address of the subsequent partial path data. The NC data creation device for cutting according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The machining order changing means (2), when the partial path data of the tool path data is for cutting the same part of the workpiece into a plurality of stages, cutting the plurality of stages. The storage addresses of the partial path data located before and after the partial path data stored in the partial path data storage means (1) so as to maintain the processing order of the partial path data during cutting. 2. The NC data creating apparatus for cutting according to claim 1, wherein the order of machining is changed by changing the order of machining.