JP2001043255A - Designing device, graphic converting method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably reduce man-hour for the design of graphic conversion and to reduce production defects caused by entry errors in a drawing. SOLUTION: A multiline graphic approximating a curved line with the aggregate of plural small straight lines is selected out of graphic elements composing any one of diagrams for three viewing angles (S1) and a conversion conditions are set to the selected multiline graphic (S2). While satisfying the set conversion conditions, the selected multiline graphic is converted to a combination graphic composed of plural circular arcs, or a circular arc and straight lines (S5).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a design device, a graphic conversion method, and a storage medium, and more particularly to a design device having a three-dimensional model creation function or drawing creation function, a graphic conversion method applied to the design device, And a storage medium storing a program for executing the graphic conversion method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a drawing is created in a design support apparatus (CAD) for creating a drawing of a product such as a mold, a graphic element representing a curved surface of the product may be an arbitrary curve. In such a case, these arbitrary curved shapes are created by converting multiple arcs and straight lines into figures that are smoothly connected within the range that does not impair the required precision of the product shape and design when drawing into a three-view drawing Is done. By performing approximate conversion of a figure on a plurality of arcs or straight lines in this manner, it is possible to clearly specify dimensions at the time of processing and perform efficient NC processing.

[0003] In the design support apparatus, such an approximate-converted figure is converted into N by using two-dimensional CAD data.
It is useful in processing information generation processing for generating C processing data, and is used as data for generating so-called 21/2 shape automatic processing NC data.

[0004]

However, in the conventional two-dimensional CAD design system, there is no efficient graphic conversion means for smoothly connecting a plurality of arcs and straight lines to obtain an arbitrary curve, and the design drawing At the time of creation, calculation of figure conversion and drawing entry work were performed manually.

[0005] For this reason, the ratio of the drawing annotation notation time to the drawing creation time is large, and the design man-hour is excessively required. In addition, there is a secondary problem that a manufacturing failure occurs due to an artificial entry error. Furthermore, when NC processing data is created using a figure (two-dimensional CAD data) that has been approximately converted, there is a restriction on figure conversion without impairing the continuity of the converted figure.

In recent years, three-dimensional drawings have been automatically generated from three-dimensional models by using a three-dimensional CAD system, and improvement in design efficiency has been realized. Since it is created as a figure, and thereafter, the figure shape conversion work is still performed manually, the problem that the design man-hours increase and erroneous writing failures remain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a design apparatus and a graphic conversion apparatus which greatly reduce the number of design steps for graphic conversion and reduce manufacturing defects due to drawing entry errors. It is an object to provide a method and a storage medium.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a two-dimensional three-view drawing is created by a design apparatus having a three-dimensional model creation function or a drawing creation function. Creating means, and extracting means for extracting a multi-line graphic in which a curve is approximated by a set of a plurality of small straight lines, from among graphic elements constituting any of the three-view drawings created by the generating means, Setting means for setting a conversion condition for the multi-line graphic extracted by the means, and a multi-line graphic extracted by the extracting means, while satisfying the conversion condition set by the setting means, a plurality of arcs or arcs and straight lines. And converting means for converting the combined figure into a combination figure.

According to the invention of claim 12, 3
In a graphic conversion method applied to a design apparatus having a three-dimensional model creation function or a drawing creation function, a creation step for creating a two-dimensional three-view drawing, and any drawing of the three-view drawing created in the creation step is configured. An extracting step of extracting a multi-line graphic whose curve is approximated by an aggregate of a plurality of small straight lines among graphic elements; a setting step of setting a conversion condition for the multi-line graphic extracted by the extracting step; and the setting step A conversion step of converting the multi-line figure extracted in the extraction step into a plurality of arcs or a combination of arcs and straight lines while satisfying the conversion conditions set by the above.

[0010] Further, according to the invention of claim 23,
In a computer-readable storage medium storing a graphic conversion method applied to a design apparatus having a three-dimensional model creation function or a drawing creation function as a program, the graphic conversion method creates a two-dimensional three-view drawing. An extraction step of extracting a multi-line graphic in which a curve is approximated by a set of a plurality of small straight lines, from among graphic elements constituting any of the three-view drawings created in the creation step, and the extraction step A setting step of setting a conversion condition for the multi-line figure extracted by the multi-line figure extracted by the extraction step, while satisfying the conversion condition set by the setting step, from a plurality of arcs or arcs and straight lines. And a conversion step of converting into a combination figure. To.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a design apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a design device, to which an NC data generating device 11 is connected via a communication interface 9 which is a communication means, enabling various mutual data communications with the NC data generating device 11. It is. In addition, the NC machine tool 1 is connected to the NC data creating device 11 by communication means.
2 are connected.

The design apparatus 10 performs a drawing preparation process and the like to create a three-dimensional model and a three-view drawing, an input device 2 such as a keyboard for inputting data and parameters, and displays data and parameters. A display unit 3 such as a CRT, an output device 4 such as a printer, a ROM 6 storing fixed parameters and programs, a RAM used as a temporary storage of variable parameters and a working area.
7, a storage device 8 such as a hard disk drive or a floppy disk drive, and the communication interface 9 described above, and each unit is connected by a bus 5 for internal communication.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a memory map of a main memory in the CPU 1.

In the figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a control program for generating CAD data and multi-line graphic conversion processing, etc., 14 denotes three-dimensional model data to be prepared in advance, and 15 denotes three planes to be processed in advance. FIG. 3 is diagram data, and includes a multi-line graphic to be converted according to the present invention. The multi-line graphic is a graphic approximated by an aggregate of a plurality of small straight lines.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a grouping table for grouping and storing annotation notation arrows connected to the multi-line figure, reference numeral 17 denotes dimensions at the time of drawing creation, dimensions to be added to the annotation notation, and annotation notation table. Reference numeral 18 denotes various processing. This is a parameter table to be referenced and stores standard values such as control parameters at the time of conversion of a multi-line figure.

Next, a multi-line figure conversion process performed in the design apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the multi-line figure conversion process executed by the CPU 1.

In the figure, in step S1, an operator (designer) selects an element to be converted in a multi-line graphic as preparation for multi-line graphic processing. Here, the element to be processed by the operator can be easily selected according to the use, such as the entire three-view drawing, the designated front view and side view in the three-view drawing, or the specified individual multi-line graphic elements. is there.

In step S2, as a preparation for the multi-line graphic processing, the operator sets the conversion format of the multi-line graphic. A conversion mode for converting the element selected in step S1 into only an arc or an arc and a straight line is set, and the constituent points of the multi-line graphic, the allowable error from the multi-line graphic constituent, The maximum allowable number of arcs per multiline figure at the time of arc conversion is set and stored. If the operator does not particularly set the constituent points of the multi-line figure, the permissible errors from the multi-line figure components, and the maximum number of permissible arcs per multi-line figure at the time of arc conversion, the parameters are stored in the parameter table 18. Use the standard values provided.

In step S3, a multi-line figure is
It is extracted from the three-view drawing data 15 according to the set conversion mode.

Here, the extraction of the multi-line figure is as follows.
In steps S1 and S2, the multi-line figure is detected from the table of the three-view drawing data 15 and taken out according to the setting input value designated by the operator. Furthermore, find the arrow for annotation notation that connects to the multi-line figure,
It is stored in the grouping table 16. Each group may constitute a plurality of groups, and the grouping table 16 also stores their states.

In step S4, first, it is determined whether the multi-line figure obtained in step S3 can be converted with the parameters set in step S2.

Whether the conversion of the multi-line graphic is possible or not is determined for each element of the multi-line graphic obtained in step S3, the constituent point of the multi-line graphic set in step S2, the allowable error from the multi-line graphic constituent, Using the maximum allowable number of circular arcs per multi-line figure at the time of circular arc conversion, it is determined whether graphic conversion within the maximum allowable number of circular arcs and within the allowable error is possible.

As a result, when it is determined that conversion is impossible, the maximum number of arc elements that can be converted is calculated and stored in the grouping table 16.

In step S4, it is determined in advance whether the conversion is possible by the conversion in accordance with the setting in step S2, and if the conversion is not possible, the setting is changed so that the conversion is possible. In the case where a large amount of multi-line figures are processed by reducing the calculation amount in step S5, the overall processing speed of the multi-line figure conversion process is to be increased.

In step S5, a multi-line figure conversion process is executed.

The conversion process of the multi-line figure includes a figure forming step of forming an arc figure based on the constituent points of the multi-line figure, and a step of converting one arc when a continuous arc is within an allowable error.
It consists of a figure creation process to be integrated, and even if it is a plurality of continuous multi-line figures, an arc is determined from the constituent points of the multi-line figure, and if the conditions for unifying the arc are satisfied, a smoothly continuous arc is approximated. It becomes possible to obtain figures.

In the multi-line figure conversion process according to the present invention, the coordinates of the start and end points of the multi-line figure which is the end point among the constituent points of the multi-line figure are held so as not to lose the continuity of the figure connection. It has the characteristic to do.

That is, in the NC data creation device 11,
Since the graphic data having no more than an allowable error between the graphics before and after the conversion is necessary to create accurate NC data, the above-mentioned feature is met.

Further, the conversion processing of the multi-line figure is as follows.
Stored in the grouping table 16 in step S3,
There is a step of recalculating coordinate points of the arrow so that the annotation arrow connected to the multi-line graphic is connected to the graphic after the graphic conversion.

In step S6, the result of the multi-line graphic conversion process is displayed. The display contents are the constituent points of the multi-line figure, the converted figure, and the unconverted multi-line figure, which are displayed in different colors. The operator determines the quality of the conversion result by looking at the displayed content.

In step S4, when it is determined that conversion is impossible, the maximum number of arc elements that can be converted is not calculated, and steps S5 and S6 are skipped. Good.

In step S7, based on the result of the conversion process displayed in step S6, the operator determines whether the conversion has been confirmed. If it is determined to start over, step S
2, the conversion mode is reset, and the conversion process is repeated. When it is determined to be determined, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the multi-line graphic in the three-view drawing data 15 is replaced with the converted graphic and annotation arrow obtained in step S5. Further, the grouping table 16 is initialized.

In step S9, it is determined whether or not an unprocessed multi-line figure exists in the three-view drawing data 15. If an unprocessed multi-line graphic exists, the process returns to step S1. If there is no unprocessed multi-line figure, the processing ends.

In step S9, the process is interrupted at the discretion of the operator, and the process can be exited. Further, even if the process is interrupted, the process can be restarted from step S1. Good.

Thus, the multi-line figure conversion process is performed within the allowable error and the number of arc elements required by the operator (designer), and three-view drawing data is obtained. The obtained three-view drawing data can be printed on the output device 4 as a drawing.

The three-view drawing data is passed as input data to the NC data creating device 11 and used for creating processed data. The obtained NC data is downloaded to the NC machine tool 12 and used.

An example of a figure actually created by the above-described multi-line figure conversion process will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a multi-line figure of three-view drawing data which is one of the input data.

In the figure, reference numeral 19 denotes a multi-line figure in a three-view drawing obtained from three-dimensional data created by a three-dimensional CAD system, and reference numeral 20 denotes an arrow for annotation. An arrow 20 for annotation is connected to the multi-line graphic 19.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conversion process of the multi-line graphic 19.

In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes an arc figure obtained based on the multi-line figure 19. Here, arrow 2 for annotation
New coordinates for connecting 0 to the arc graphic 21 are calculated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the multi-line figure is converted into an arc figure and replaced (the state at the end of step S8 in FIG. 3).

The converted arc figure 21 and this arc figure 2
1 shows an arrow 20 for annotation notation newly connected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing processing items to be considered when converting a multi-line graphic into an arc graphic.

In the figure, the end point 24 of the multi-line figure 22
When the multi-line graphic 22 is converted into the arc graphic 23, its coordinates are held as the end points of the arc graphic 23.
Also, the distance 25 between one element of the multi-line figure 22 and the arc figure 23 and the distance 26 between the constituent point 27 of the multi-line figure 22 and the arc figure 23 are within an allowable error at the time of arc figure conversion. An arc figure is calculated.

As described above, when converting a multi-line figure appearing in a two-dimensional three-sided view created from a three-dimensional model into an arc and a straight line, the operator (designer) has an allowable error (design). (Accuracy) and the number of arc elements after conversion are designated, and graphic conversion is performed based on these. As a result, CAD data for generating NC data that can be supplied to an NC processing apparatus that performs processing using an arc and a straight line is generated.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices, or to an apparatus constituted by a single device as in the present embodiment.

A storage medium storing program codes of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the present invention is also achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer is actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by performing a part or all of the processing described above.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It is needless to say that the present invention includes a case where a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0057]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a conversion condition is set, and a multi-line figure is formed by combining a plurality of arcs or a combination of arcs and straight lines while satisfying the set conversion conditions. Is converted to

As a result, it is possible to greatly reduce the number of design steps for graphic conversion and to reduce manufacturing defects due to drawing entry errors.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a design apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a memory map of a main memory in a CPU.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a multi-line graphic conversion process executed by a CPU.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a multi-line figure of three-view drawing data which is one of input data.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conversion process of a multi-line figure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a multi-line graphic is converted into an arc graphic and replaced.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing processing items to be considered when converting a multi-line graphic into an arc graphic.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU 2 ... Input device 3 ... Display device 4 ... Output device 5 ... Bus 6 ... ROM 7 ... RAM 8 ... Storage device 9 ... Communication interface 10 ... Design device 11 ... NC data creation device 12 ... NC machine tool 13 ... Control Program 14 ... 3D model data 15 ... Three-view drawing data 16 ... Grouping table 17 ... Dimensions, annotation note table 18 ... Parameter table 19 ... Multi-line figure 20 ... Arrow for annotation notation 21 ... Arc figure 22 ... Multi-line figure 23 ... Arc figure 24 ... End point of multi-line figure 25 ... Distance between one element of multi-line figure and arc figure 26 ... Distance between constituent point of multi-line figure and arc figure 27 ... Constituent point of multi-line figure

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. A design device having a three-dimensional model creation function or a drawing creation function, comprising: a creation means for creating a two-dimensional three-view drawing; and a figure constituting one of the three-view drawings created by the creation means An extracting unit that extracts a multi-line graphic whose curve is approximated by an aggregate of a plurality of small straight lines among the elements; a setting unit that sets a conversion condition for the multi-line graphic extracted by the extracting unit; A design apparatus comprising: a conversion unit that converts a multi-line figure extracted by the extraction unit into a combination of a plurality of arcs or an arc and a straight line while satisfying a set conversion condition. 2. The design apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extracting means extracts a multi-line figure corresponding to an instruction from an operator. 3. The design apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the conversion condition according to an instruction from an operator. 4. The design apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means uses a predetermined exchange condition as said conversion condition. 5. The design apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion condition is an allowable maximum value of a distance between the multi-line graphic and the combination graphic. 6. The design apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion condition is an allowable maximum value of the number of arcs constituting the combination graphic. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conversion condition is a designation of whether the combination graphic is composed of only an arc or an arc and a straight line. The described design device. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising numerical control data generating means for generating numerical control data based on said combined graphic converted by said converting means and supplying the numerical control data to a numerical control processing device. A design device according to claim 7. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the conversion unit matches the coordinates of the start and end points of the combined graphic with the coordinates of the start and end points of the multi-line graphic, thereby ensuring continuity. Item 9. The design device according to any one of Items 8. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising symbol conversion means for converting a non-graphic symbol corresponding to the multi-line graphic into a non-graphic symbol corresponding to the combination graphic. The design device according to any one of the above. 11. The design apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the non-graphic symbol is an arrow connected to the multi-line graphic or the combination graphic. 12. A graphic conversion method applied to a design device having a three-dimensional model creation function or a drawing creation function, wherein: a creation step of creating a two-dimensional three-view drawing; and a three-view drawing created in the creation step. An extraction step of extracting a multi-line graphic whose curve is approximated by a set of a plurality of small straight lines from among the graphic elements constituting the drawing, and setting for setting a conversion condition for the multi-line graphic extracted by the extraction step And a conversion step of converting the multi-line figure extracted by the extraction step into a combination of a plurality of arcs or arcs and straight lines while satisfying the conversion conditions set by the setting step. Characteristic conversion method. 13. The graphic conversion method according to claim 12, wherein said extracting step extracts a multi-line graphic corresponding to an instruction from an operator. 14. The graphic conversion method according to claim 12, wherein the setting step sets the conversion condition in accordance with an instruction from an operator. 15. The graphic conversion method according to claim 12, wherein said setting step uses a predetermined exchange condition as said conversion condition. 16. The graphic conversion method according to claim 12, wherein the conversion condition is an allowable maximum value of a distance between the multi-line graphic and the combination graphic. 17. The graphic conversion method according to claim 12, wherein the conversion condition is an allowable maximum value of the number of arcs constituting the combination graphic. 18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the conversion condition is a designation of whether the combination graphic is composed of only an arc or an arc and a straight line. Described figure conversion method. 19. A numerical control data generating step of generating numerical control data based on the combination graphic converted in the converting step and supplying the numerical control data to a numerical control processing device,
Claim 12 to Claim 1 further comprising
8. The graphic conversion method according to any one of 8. 20. The method according to claim 12, wherein in the converting step, the coordinates of the start and end points of the combination graphic are matched with the coordinates of the start and end points of the multi-line graphic, thereby ensuring continuity. Item 20. The graphic conversion method according to any one of Items 19. 21. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a symbol conversion step of converting a non-graphic symbol corresponding to the multi-line graphic into a non-graphic symbol corresponding to the combination graphic. A figure conversion method according to any of the above. 22. The graphic conversion method according to claim 21, wherein said non-graphic symbol is an arrow connected to said multi-line graphic or said combination graphic. 23. A computer-readable storage medium storing, as a program, a graphic conversion method applied to a design apparatus having a three-dimensional model creation function or a drawing creation function, wherein the figure conversion method is a two-dimensional three-sided A drawing step of drawing a figure, and an extraction step of extracting a multi-line figure that approximates a curve by a set of a plurality of small straight lines, from among figure elements constituting one of the three views drawn in the drawing step Setting a conversion condition for the multi-line graphic extracted by the extraction step; and satisfying the conversion condition set by the setting step, while converting the multi-line graphic extracted by the extraction step into a plurality of circular arcs or A conversion step for converting into a combined figure consisting of an arc and a straight line; Storage medium characterized by having. 24. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said extracting step extracts a multi-line figure corresponding to an instruction from an operator. 25. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said setting step sets said conversion condition in accordance with an instruction from an operator. 26. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said setting step uses a predetermined exchange condition as said conversion condition. 27. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein the conversion condition is an allowable maximum value of a distance between the multi-line graphic and the combination graphic. 28. The storage medium according to claim 23, wherein said conversion condition is an allowable maximum value of the number of arcs constituting said combined graphic. 29. The method according to claim 23, wherein the conversion condition is designation of whether the combination graphic is composed of only an arc or an arc and a straight line. The storage medium according to the above. 30. The graphic conversion method, further comprising a numerical control data generating step of generating numerical control data based on the combined graphic converted in the converting step and supplying the numerical control data to a numerical control processing device. The storage medium according to any one of claims 23 to 29, characterized in that: 31. The conversion step according to claim 23, wherein the coordinates of the start and end points of the combination graphic are made to coincide with the coordinates of the start and end points of the multi-line graphic, thereby ensuring continuity. Item 31. The storage medium according to any one of items 30. 32. The graphic conversion method, further comprising: a symbol conversion step of converting a non-graphic symbol corresponding to the multi-line graphic into a non-graphic symbol corresponding to the combination graphic. The storage medium according to any one of claims 23 to 31. 33. The storage medium according to claim 32, wherein the extra-graphic symbol is an arrow connected to the multi-line graphic or the combination graphic.