JP2001042912A - Nc data generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an NC data generation system in which all works can be machined together successively in the order of used tools. SOLUTION: When a work name 'AA' is inputted, its tool trace file is read-in sequentially to read only the data indicating an operation order, etc., and tool data ○1, ○2... are entered into an array table 31 in use order. A stage 32-2 is additionally generated as a section area to be used for the process of a next stage and tool data are entered therein in the use order reverse to the use order of all tools set previously to a stage 32-1. For a work BB, tool data ▵1, ▵2... are similarly entered. Words CC and DD are the same. The tool data are related to machining coordinate position data of tools and tool trace file names. The tool data are read out of this array table 31 laterally from the top stage line to read corresponding tool trace files out, and they are connected to automatically generate machining order NC data 41 by the tools.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention rearranges a plurality of tool trajectory files for each work and each tool and each tool and each work so that the work order can be observed and optimized. The present invention relates to a post processor for quickly creating NC data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a design system called CAD for performing design and drafting using a computer incorporating design / manufacturing support software has been known. For example, when performing an operation such as shaving an electrode of a specific shape from a copper lump, first, the shape of the electrode to be created is designed using CAD. The designed electrode shape is drawn three-dimensionally on a computer screen.

On the basis of this design data, processing machines for cutting a workpiece (an object to be processed like the copper lump described above and a workpiece in the process of processing the workpiece) have been used since ancient times, such as milling machines and lathes. Although there are manually controlled processing machines, many of them are now automatic machines that employ numerical control by programs. This is generally N
It is called C processing machine. In order to automatically operate an NC machine on a workpiece by numerical control, NC data to be read by a control program is required.

[0004] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing N from conventional CAD design data.
NC from creating C data to operating NC processing machine
It is a figure showing the work procedure of a data creation system. In the CAD 1 shown in the figure, the shape of the product cut out from the work is designed as described above. Then, shape data corresponding to the shape created in the computer of CAD1;
That is, design data is created. Since this design data is merely mere shape data, in order to operate the NC machine based on this design data, first, from the design data, cutting locus data for cutting tools having different dimensions and shapes (hereinafter simply referred to as tools). Must be created and further converted to NC data according to the model of the NC processing machine.

[0005] Therefore, a computer system called CAM has been provided which creates trajectory data of a tool corresponding to various types of NC machines based on the design data created by the CAD 1 described above. CAM2 shown in FIG.
The trajectory data of the tool for each workpiece is output in the form of a tool trajectory file (hereinafter, referred to as “CL”) based on the design data of CAD1.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the CL. In the figure, the header part 6 and the trajectory data part 7 of the CL are respectively partially shown. In this CL, a file name or a work name, a tool name (tool number), and a tool specification are always described in predetermined places. Usually, the tool number is indicated by the number of a holding position of a tool holding device that detachably holds a number of tools called a tool changer. The file name or the work name is also called the representative number of a plurality of CLs relating to the work. By designating the work name, all the CLs for cutting the work are stored separately from the work order. Can be removed from the device.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a plurality of workpieces having various finished shapes set in the virtual working area of the NC processing machine. The virtual work area 8 shown in the figure corresponds to the work table of the NC machine, and the arrangement position of each work 9 corresponds to a plurality of work coordinates set on the work table. As shown in the figure, a plurality of (in the example of FIG. 12, 12 works, but generally up to several tens of works) 9 are set in the work area 8 of the NC processing machine. .
Conventionally, these workpieces 9 have been completed one by one.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a work to be cut by the NC processing machine 5. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, work table mounting jigs 12 are formed at several tens of places on the work table 11 of the NC processing machine 5.
The work holder 1 is mounted on the work holder mounting jig 12.
3 is fixed. The work 9 is placed and fixed on the work holder 13. FIG. 3 shows the final finished shape of the work.

The NC machine 5 is a machining center (an NC milling machine equipped with a tool changer). Above the work 9, a cutting tool 15 held at the tip of a work head is shown. The machining center 5 shows a three-axis control processing machine, and has a configuration in which the direction of the work head and the direction of the work 9 cannot be changed unlike the processing machine capable of controlling four or more axes. . In this type, the cutting tool 15 performs the cutting of the workpiece 9 with its tip vertically downward as shown in FIG.

In this work cutting, for example,
If the NC processing machine is a machining center as described above, various types of end mills, which are rod-shaped tools having different diameters and also have blades on the side surfaces, are used for the work of cutting the workpiece. The movement of the tool must be given a relief from the shape of the design data by an amount corresponding to the shape of the tool. In addition, depending on the rough cutting, medium cutting, finishing, etc., or the part to be cut, not only the tool changes, but also cut or adhere closely to the shape with a margin from the design data shape. A different CL is created depending on whether cutting is performed while copying.

Therefore, as described above, there are various types of tools to be used depending on the accuracy of rough cutting, medium cutting, finishing, etc., on the part to be cut, the shape of the work, and the like. Is necessary for That is,
From CAM2, not only for each work, but also for each tool, and if there are many, several tens of CLs are created for each work and output to the file holder of the storage device. CLs are output in order from the CAM2, but are not always stored in order in the file holder. These CLs are manually edited by the operator 3 as shown in FIG.

This editing operation is performed by arranging CLs in the order of the operations. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a set of CLs edited in the order of work for each work is sorted from the first to the nth by the number n of the works.

As described above, the operator inputs n sets of CLs sorted in the order of each work and each process to the post processor 4 which is a data creating device of the NC processing machine system. The post-processor 4 links the CLs one by one for each set, that is, for each work, in the process order, and creates connected NC data for each work, that is, n connected NC data.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the linked NC data for each work. In the figure, the header part 19 and the data part 21 of the connected NC data are respectively partially extracted and shown. The header 19 describes a tool name (tool number) such as "T34", and coordinate data indicating the number of revolutions of the main shaft and a cutting position of the tool such as "S15000". In the data section 21 (21-1, 21-2), the machining path of the tool and, for example, "F150", "F10
A cutting feed speed such as "0" is described.

As described above, conventionally, an operator manually edits a plurality of CLs created by a CAD / CAM system from rough cutting to finish cutting in the order of processes for each work. Then, the post-processor 4 reads and links the CLs that have been edited in the process order for each work, and creates one piece of connected NC data for each work. The connected NC data is read into the NC processing machine 5 for each work, and is stored in each processing position of the work table as shown in FIG.
The workpieces 9 set and fixed as shown in (1) are sequentially cut one by one and completed.

[0016]

However, for example, when several tens of workpieces are set in a work area for cutting, the same tool is often used for a plurality of workpieces. However, since the NC data for operating the NC processing machine is designed to complete the work one by one sequentially, other work that can be cut by the tool in use during the cutting of a certain work. Can not be performed continuously. For this reason, the cutting by the NC machine has a problem that the number of tool changes increases in proportion to the number of workpieces.

When the tool is replaced, a temperature difference occurs in the main shaft due to a difference in the number of revolutions of the main shaft, and the main shaft expands and contracts by an amount corresponding to the temperature difference. Normally, the spindle speed should be increased to secure the cutting speed of the tool when using a small diameter end mill, and to ensure the tool life and cutting accuracy when using a large diameter end mill. To reduce the number of revolutions. For this reason, after the tool change, the rotation speed of the spindle increases and decreases, and the increase and decrease in the rotation speed causes the temperature of the spindle to fluctuate and the spindle to expand and contract. However, if the main shaft expands and contracts during the cutting, the accuracy of the cutting decreases. Therefore, a temperature adjustment time for waiting until the temperature of the spindle becomes constant is required for each work. However, this temperature adjustment time requires several tens of minutes for one work, and this is a considerable waste of time, which is a factor that hinders the improvement of the working efficiency of the NC processing machine.

Even so, hundreds of CLs are separated for each work by an operator's manual operation, and further sorted in the process order. Even if it is determined in order, this work is considered to be an extremely time-consuming and time-consuming work, and no such work has been performed so far, and no evidence of any attempt has been found.

If such work is to be performed by taking time and effort, the size of a concatenated file becomes a huge file having a size of several hundred megabytes, and is calculated using an editor. There is too much volume to repeat the connection of CL by hand, and it is difficult to put it to practical use.

Also, since the order of tools to be used is not always the same for each work, it is not easy to rearrange the order of work for all the works in a comprehensive manner. The time required can be tens of hours. Therefore, the time for setup work is too long,
In this case, the capability of the NC processing machine cannot be fully utilized, and it is unrealistic and cannot be adopted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide an NC data creation system capable of easily creating an NC data file which is capable of automatically editing a CL and continuously editing a plurality of workpieces for each tool to be connected so that continuous machining can be performed.

[0022]

The configuration of an NC data creation system according to the present invention will be described below. NC of the present invention
The data creation system is an NC data creation system for creating NC data from a plurality of CLs output from a CAD / CAM system. The data creation system is a work name input unit for inputting a work name, and is input by the work name input unit. A tool name obtaining means for searching a plurality of CLs based on the work name, sequentially reading all the CLs related to the work, and obtaining all tool names related to the work, and a tool name obtaining means; A work order recording means for recording all the tool names relating to the work acquired by the above in association with the CL name corresponding to the tool name and in the work order, and a tool in the work order recorded by the work order recording means File reading means for reading the CL associated with the tool name based on the name,
NC data creating means for creating linked NC data by sequentially linking the CLs read by the file reading means.

The file reading means may be, for example,
As described, it is preferable to read the CL based on the overall work order of the tool names related to all the workpieces, or, for example, as described in claim 3,
The CL may be read for each work based on the work order of the tool name related to the work.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an NC data creation system according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a work procedure in the NC data creation system. N in this example
The C data creation system is the same as the conventional NC data creation system shown in FIG. 4 up to the point where design data is created by the CAD 25 shown in FIG. 1 and CL is created by the CAM 26. That is, as shown in the procedure S1 of FIG. 2, in the CAD / CAM system, a range of a portion to be cut in a single machining unit for each of a plurality of workpieces to be processed by the NC processing machine at this stage. And a tool used for the cutting is designated and input. Based on this input, CL for each workpiece and each tool is automatically created and output to a predetermined folder. In this example, the subsequent processing, that is, the processing after step S2 in FIG. 2 is different from the conventional processing. First, in step S2, a person in charge of the CAD / CAM system creates a list of work names to be processed by the NC processing machine. This work name list is passed to the operator 27 shown in FIG.
The operator 27, as shown in step S3 of FIG.
A work name is sequentially input from a keyboard or the like of the automatic connection post-processor 28. The CL automatic connection post-processor 28 is composed of a normal personal computer, and incorporates a special program according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, a storage device 29 for storing a folder storing a large number of CLs output from the CAD / CAM system is connected to the CL automatic connection post-processor 28. I have. The CL automatic connection post-processor 28 sequentially reads out all the CLs related to the work based on the input work name as shown in step S4 in FIG. Tool name). Then, in step S5, an alignment table of CL names is created based on the acquired tool names and work names.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data structure of a CL name sorting table created by the CL automatic connection post-processor 28. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the alignment table 31 includes an area named a stage 32 (32-1, 32-2, ...). When the use order of the tool indicated by CL for one work reverses to the use order of the tool set in advance in the alignment table 31, the stage 32 uses the tool in the next step. Area. The stage 32 is sequentially added downward whenever the use order of the tools is reversed.

In this stage 32, the names of all tools used in this NC machine are described in a column 33. In the example shown in the figure, T1, T29, T3,.
And 10 kinds of tool names are shown, but in fact, 50 or more, sometimes more than 100 tool names are shown in this column 3
3 is described. These tool names are described in order of most frequently used, based on the experience of the person in charge of the CAD / CAN system. In this stage 32, a list number of an array storing a list of tool names prepared in advance may be described.

In the next column 34, the count value of the mother counter is shown as "1, 2, 3,..., 48, 49,..." They are not written, but are appended to make the following description easier to understand.

Further, on the stage 32, row columns 35 (35-1, 35-2, 35-3,...) Corresponding to the respective works are provided.
Is provided. These column columns 35 are column columns corresponding to the work names. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the work name is “AA, BB, CC,...” In the work name description line 36 corresponding to each column column 35.
・ ・ 」. “C1, C2, C3,...” Shown in the row column 37 above these work names corresponding to the work names AA, BB, CC,. Like the counter, it is not actually written in the alignment table 31, but is set in a counter area such as a RAM corresponding to each work, and is added to make the following description easy to understand. .

The area in which the tool name and the work name are opposed to each other is an area for aligning and storing data. In these frames, an area for describing processing coordinate position data and CL name is provided. . As described above, the alignment table 31 is composed of a two-dimensional array, and this two-dimensional array is generated by overlapping a plurality as shown in the alignment tables 31-2 and 31-3 of FIG. Takes a three-dimensional array structure.

First, the work AA will be described. CL
The automatic connection processing device 28-1 of the automatic connection post-processor 28 includes the above-mentioned acquired tool name, the work name data “AA”, the processing coordinate position data (data indicating the position of each work set in the NC processing machine). ), And at least three pieces of work order data, and store the data as work order temporary data.

Next, based on the work order temporary data, the tool T1 in the first place in the work order is read out, and the mother counter and the counter C1 corresponding to the work AA are sequentially counted in ascending order. 33 stages 32
-1 are sequentially searched to detect a tool name T1 that matches the tool name T1. In the column 33, the tool name T1 is 1
The second is described. Therefore, at this time, the count values of the mother counter and the counter C1 are both “1”.

The automatic connection processing device 28-1 of the CL automatic connection post-processor device 28 outputs the detected tool name T1.
The data “欄 1” in which the processing coordinate position data relating to the tool and the CL name are associated with each other is written in the frame of the column 35-1 corresponding to the work AA.

Subsequently, the tool name T9 in the second place in the work order is read out, and the mother counter and the counter C1 corresponding to the work AA are sequentially counted in ascending order.
The tool name of the third stage 32-1 is sequentially searched to find a tool name T9 that matches the tool name T9.

In each of the stages 32 in the column 33, the tool name T9 is described sixth. Stage 32-1
In the case of, the mother counter has counted up from "1", so the count value of the mother counter is "6". The count value of the counter C1 is also "6".

The automatic connection processing device 28-1 of the CL automatic connection post-processor 28 has the detected tool name T9
The data “○ 2” that associates the processing coordinate position data relating to the tool with the CL name is written in the frame of the column 35-1 corresponding to the work AA.

Further, the tool name T3 at the third place in the work order is read out, and the mother counter and the counter C1 corresponding to the work AA are sequentially counted in ascending order, and the column column 33 of the alignment table 31 is read.
Is sequentially searched for the tool name of the stage 32-1. But,
The tool name T3 has already been skipped when searching for the tool name T9 of the second highest working order. Therefore, the count value of the counter C1 is set to the upper limit value (“15” in the example of FIG. 9 but actually “50” or more, and in some cases “100” or more) without being detected by the stage 32-1. Over). As described above, when the count value of the counter C1 exceeds the upper limit value, a new stage 32-2 is set below the stage 32-1, the counter C1 is initialized to “0”, and counting is started from “1” again. Start.
The mother counter continues counting. Then, the tool name T3 is detected, and the detected stage 32-
Column 35-1 corresponding to the tool name T3 of No. 2 and the work AA
The data “○ 3” in which the processing coordinate position data relating to the tool and the CL name are associated with each other is written in the frame.

Thus, the tool name T for the work AA
1, T9, T3, T13, T11,.
In the frame corresponding to the tool names 2-1, 32-2, 32-3,... And the work AA, data “○ 1” associating the processing coordinate position data and the CL name with respect to each tool, "○ 2",
It is written as “「 3 ”,“ ○ 4 ”,“ ○ 5 ”,.

At this time, when the same tool is used in two or more consecutive CLs, a new alignment table 31-2 is generated, and the tool of the same stage 32 of the newly generated alignment table 31-2 is generated. In the frame of the column 35-1 corresponding to the name and the work AA, the processing coordinate position data and C
Write the data associated with the L name. When the writing of data to the alignment table 31 (or 31-2, 31-3,...) Has been completed for all the tools for the work AA as described above, the work name “BB” is input next.

Based on the input, the tool name T5 of the first work order, the tool name T3 of the second work order, the tool name T15 of the third work order, and the tool name T15 of the fourth work order for the work BB in the same manner as described above. The tool name of the stage 32 (32-1, 32-2,...) Of the alignment table 31 and the work BB correspond to the tool name T13,. Similarly, data # 1, # 2,... In which the processing coordinate position data relating to the tool and the CL name are associated are written.

Also in this case, the mother counter is sequentially incremented from "1" to the end, and the counter C2 corresponding to the work BB is incremented from "1" to the upper limit ("1" in the example of FIG.
5)) is counted repeatedly. Further, the same processing is performed for the work CC, the work DD,..., And the alignment table 31 (or further, 31-2, 31-3,
..) Is completed.

Thereafter, in step S6, the above-mentioned alignment table 3
The reading of the used tool order CL name based on No. 1 is performed by the post processor 28-
2 does. First, a search is made as to whether data is written in the first row of the alignment table 31, that is, in each work corresponding frame of the row of the tool name T1. If there is data such as the data "１1" shown in FIG. 6, the CL associated with the data is read out from the storage device 29, and the processing coordinate position data is inserted (added) as a code to the post-processor 2.
Input to 8-2. This is sorted into alignment tables 31-2, 31-3,
.. Are performed in the same manner.

Next, it is searched whether data is written in the second row of the alignment table 31, that is, in each work corresponding frame of the row of the tool name T29, and if there is data, it is sequentially associated with the data. The read CL name is read from the storage device 29, the processing coordinate position direct data is inserted as a code, and input to the post processor 28-2.
31-3,..., While if there is no data in any of the rows, the tool name T3 in the next row
In the same manner as described above.

As described above, from the tool name T1 on the first row to the tool name on the last row, the search is performed in the row direction for each tool name, and the data “○ 1”, “○ 2”, “○ 3”, ..., "△
If there is any one of "1", "$ 2", "$ 3",..., Etc., the CL corresponding to the data is read out, and the post-processor 28- 2 is sequentially performed.

Subsequently, in step S7, the post processor 28-2 makes the automatic connection processing device 28-
The CLs in the processing order for each tool input from 1 are sequentially connected to create comprehensive connected NC data for all the workpieces, that is, NC data 41 for the processing order for each tool, and output it to the data file holder 39.

As a result, comprehensive connected NC data for simultaneously and simultaneously cutting all the workpieces set in the NC processing machine 39, that is, the machining order NC data 41 for each tool is completed.

Further, the connected NC data 43 for each work as in the prior art is also created and output to the data file holder 39 so that a simulation for an arbitrary work can be performed at any time.

The connected NC data 4 for each work as in the prior art
3 is also the alignment table 31, 31-2, 31-3,.
And the column 35-1 (or 35-2, 35-3) for each work.
-3,...) Are read out and linked, so that complicated editing work by the operator is not required, so that processing can be performed in a very short time.

Thereafter, the necessary connected NC data 43 for each work is read out as necessary, and cutting is performed by simulation to check whether there is a problem of performing unnecessary cutting that may cause a defect. Fix it. afterwards,
Each work is positioned at each predetermined position on the work table of the NC machining center 45, and cutting is performed on all the works simultaneously and in parallel according to the present invention. As described above, in the present invention, CL is not only treated as original data for creating NC data, but also treated as an information source for coupling CL, that is, data for determining a work order for coupling as NC data. . That is, once the CL is opened, only the data indicating the work order and the like described in the top part is read. Then, an alignment table 31 (31-2, 31-3,...) Is automatically created, and the machining order NC data 4 for each tool is further determined based on the alignment table 31.
1 is automatically created.

When the work order is not described in the CL, a tool name list specifying the work order is prepared as a separate file, the CL is opened once, only the tool name at the top is read, and the work order is read. The configuration may be such that the work order of the tool is determined with reference to a list of the specified separate file.

In this embodiment, the alignment table 3
As described above, as the form of the file generated by automatically connecting the CLs using No. 1, the processing order NC data for each tool and the connected NC data for each work as in the prior art have been described. The work order is not limited to the NC data for each machining order or the NC data for each work, but can be generated in a more subdivided form, for example, by the capacity of a storage device.

[0053]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is necessary to sequentially open hundreds of CLs of dozens of workpieces only by continuously inputting work names. It is possible to automatically perform post processing to read only the part and arrange it in the working order and edit it into linked NC data.
It is possible to cut the entire work in the order of operation by limiting the exchange of tools as much as possible, thereby improving the work efficiency of the NC processing machine, and also, for example, unmanned processing for long hours at night or on holidays. And the like, and the management of tools is also easy, and the work during the working hours of the operator can be easily planned and convenient.

Further, it is easy to output the NC data in the machining order for each work only by continuously inputting the work names, so that the cutting simulation of the machining shape for an arbitrary work can be easily performed. Yes, this allows
It is convenient because the checking operation before cutting by the NC processing machine is facilitated.

Further, it becomes easy to add the processing coordinate position data to the NC data itself, thereby reducing the operation burden of the person in charge of the NC processing machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an NC data creation system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a work procedure in the NC data creation system of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a data table created by a CL automatic connection post-processor of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a work procedure of a conventional NC data creation system from creation of NC data from CAD design data to operation of an NC machine.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a CL.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a plurality of workpieces having different finished shapes set in a virtual working area of the NC processing machine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a work to be subjected to cutting by an NC processing machine.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of conventional linked NC data for each work.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 CAD (design data creating device) 2 CAM (tool locus file creating device) 3 operator 4 post-processor 4-1 data file holder 5 NC machine 6 NC tool locus file header 7 tool locus file locus data 8 NC machining Virtual work area of machine 9 Work 11 Work table 12 Work holder mounting jig 13 Work holder 14 Work 15 Tool (end mill) 16 Forward stroke 17 Return stroke 18 Feed speed range 19 Connected NC data header part 21 Connected NC data data Part 25 CAD 26 CAM 27 operator 28 tool path file automatic connection post-processor 28-1 automatic connection processor 28-2 post-processor 29 storage 31, 31-2, 31-3 alignment table 32 (32-1, 32- 2, 32-3, ...) Tage 33 Tool column column 34 Mother counter column column 35 (35-1, 35-2, 35-3, ...) Work column column 36 Work name description line 37 Work counter description line 39 Data file holder 41 Machining order NC data for each tool 43 Consolidated NC data for each work 45 NC machining center

Claims (3)

[Claims] An NC for creating NC data from a plurality of tool path files output from a CAD / CAM system
A data creation system, comprising: a work name input unit for inputting a work name; and searching for a plurality of tool path files based on the work name input by the work name input unit, and searching for all of the work related to the work. Tool name obtaining means for sequentially reading out the tool path file and obtaining all the tool names relating to the work, and all the tool names relating to the work obtained by the tool name obtaining means as the tool names A work order recording means for recording the work order in association with the corresponding tool path file name; and a file for reading the tool path file associated with the tool name based on the tool name in the work order recorded by the work order recording means Reading means; and an NC data generating means for sequentially connecting the tool path files read by the file reading means to generate connected NC data. NC data creation system characterized by comprising the at least. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the file reading unit reads the tool path file based on an overall operation order of the tool names of all the workpieces.
NC data creation system described. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the file reading unit reads, for each of the works, the tool path file based on a work order of the tool name related to the work.
NC data creation system described.