JP2001318708A - Numerical controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a numerical controller capable of unitarily managing a series of plural numerical control programs until one article to be worked is completed not connected by sub program calling or the like, improving the efficiency of the initial setup operation of an operator and reducing the numerical control program selection errors or the like of the operator. SOLUTION: This numerical controller is provided with a working information definition file 22 for describing information for unitarily managing a series of the plural numerical control programs 21 until one article to be worked is completed not connected by sub program calling or the like and working information relating to the series of the plural numerical control programs and a means 4 for displaying the list of the series of the plural numerical control programs and the working information in the working information definition file 22 at a display device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a numerical controller for controlling a machine tool according to a numerical control program to perform machining. In the management of a plurality of numerical control programs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, 1 is a numerical control program reading unit for reading a numerical control program (machining program) 21, 2 is a numerical control program display unit for displaying the read numerical control program 21 on a display device 24, 23 is numerical control program information and work Machining execution data set by the operator based on the instruction sheet 22a, 5 is the read numerical control program 21
And a machining unit (not shown) for controlling the machine tool 25 based on the machining execution data 23.

[0003] Generally, when processing, first, a CAM
The numerical control program reading unit 1 reads the numerical control program 21 created by the
The data is transferred to the memory of the numerical controller via a floppy (registered trademark) disk or the like. In the numerical control device, the numerical control program 21 is managed by a program number, and the numerical control program display unit 2 displays the program number and a few-character comment (such as a comment indicating what the numerical control program is for processing) on the display device 24. Display as a list. When performing machining, the operator inputs a work instruction 22 from a list of numerical control programs shown on the display device 24.
The numerical control program designated by a is selected and operated. The control unit 5 controls the machine tool 25 by performing shape correction such as tool diameter correction, interpolation / acceleration / deceleration according to the numerical control program 21 and the machining execution data 23.

[0004]

In recent years, with the increase in the memory capacity of the numerical control device, a large number of numerical control programs can be stored. Also, with the speeding up of communication means such as Ethernet (registered trademark), numerical control programs stored in an external storage device such as a personal computer can be transferred to the numerical control device in a short time.
Along with these, a numerical control program having a large size per program has been used as a numerical control program in which each block is composed of a set of minute line segments, which is used for die machining.

[0005] As described above, the data is stored in a large-capacity memory,
It is a troublesome task for the operator to find a necessary numerical control program from among the many numerical control programs displayed on the display device 24. Further, since the size per one numerical control program is large, it takes time to check the contents of the numerical control program and check the drawn path.

As a method for improving this, as disclosed in JP-A-6-149342 and JP-A-10-049211, characters such as numerical control program numbers, comments, work names, tool names, and tool diameters are used. In some cases, information and machining information such as tool path image data are input to a numerical control device together with a numerical control program, and are displayed in association with the numerical control program.

However, in the inventions disclosed in these publications, the correspondence between the processing information and the numerical control program is one-to-one, and a sub-routine is included in a series of plural numerical control programs until one workpiece is finished. In the case of a group of numerical control programs that do not have any description such as program calls that link each other, information common to these numerical control programs cannot be centrally managed.

In the invention disclosed in the above publication, even in such a numerical control program group, common processing information is described in individual numerical control programs or in a processing information definition file corresponding to each numerical control program. As a result, the same information as the number of the numerical control programs is stored in the memory in the numerical control device, and the capacity of the memory is wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has a centralized program for a series of plural numerical control programs which are not connected by a subprogram call or the like until finishing one workpiece. The present invention provides a numerical control device which can improve the efficiency of the setup work of the operator, and can reduce the operator's mistake in selecting a numerical control program.

[0010]

The numerical controller according to the present invention is not connected by a subprogram call or the like.
A processing information definition file describing information for centrally managing a series of a plurality of numerical control programs up to finishing one workpiece and processing information related to the series of a plurality of numerical control programs; Means for displaying a list of the series of numerical control programs and the processing information in a file on a display device.

Further, in the numerical control device according to the present invention, in the numerical control device, the information for centrally managing a series of a plurality of numerical control programs described in the machining information definition file includes the series of a plurality of numerical control programs. Each of the numerical control programs is a program number, and the series of the plurality of numerical control programs describes the identifier of the machining information definition file corresponding to the series of the numerical control programs.

Further, in the numerical control device according to the present invention, in the numerical control device, the information for centrally managing a series of a plurality of numerical control programs described in the machining information definition file includes the series of a plurality of numerical control programs. Each program number of the numerical control program, and information indicating each storage location where the series of the plurality of numerical control programs are stored, and the series of the numerical control programs include the series of the numerical control programs. The description of the identifier of the processing information definition file corresponding to.

In the numerical control device according to the present invention, in the numerical control device, a program desired from a list of the series of numerical control programs displayed on the display device based on the contents of the processing information definition file. When a number is selected, there is provided a means for performing a program search for the numerical control program of the selected program number.

Further, in the numerical control device according to the present invention, in the numerical control device, a list of numerical control programs is displayed on the display device, and when a desired numerical control program is selected from the display, the selection is performed. The contents of the machining information definition file corresponding to the numerical control program thus displayed are displayed on the display device.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a numerical controller according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, 1, 2, 5, 21, 23, 24, and 25 denote a numerical control program reading unit, a numerical control program display unit, a control unit, a numerical control program (processing program), and processing execution data, respectively, as in the related art. (Set by an operator using a keyboard or the like based on processing information and numerical control program information displayed on the display device 24), a display device, and a machine tool. Reference numeral 3 denotes a processing information reading unit that reads a processing information definition file 22 in which processing information indicating the content of processing is described, corresponding to the numerical control program 21. The correspondence between the numerical control program 21 and the machining information definition file 22 will be described later in detail. Reference numeral 4 denotes a processing information display unit that displays the numerical control program 21 and the processing information of the processing information definition file 22 on the display device 24 in association with each other. The details of this display will be described later with reference to FIG. The machining information includes product name, machining shape, comment on machining content, machining process sequence, machining condition data, tool used, creation date of numerical control program, creator, maker, C
The type of AM, the number of lines, the estimated processing time, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the numerical control program 21 and the machining information definition file 22. P in the figure
ARTSABC. DEF is an identifier (file name and extension) of the processing information definition file 22. The program numbers O1100, O1200, and O1300 are independent numerical control programs 21 that are not related to each other, such as sub-pro calls, but are a series of numerical control programs necessary for processing the part ABC.

Each numerical control program 21 includes:
** DEFINE FILE = D01 \ PARTSABC.DEF ** is described in addition to the description of the normal numerical control program (such as G code (registered trademark)). The correspondence can be understood. D01 represents a storage device name in which the processing information definition file 22 is stored. For example, the storage device D01
Represents a memory. When D02 is described, for example, the storage device D02 represents a hard disk. Thus, even if the processing information definition file 22 is stored in an arbitrary storage device, the storage location of the corresponding processing information definition file 22 can be known.

The machining information definition file 22 describes machining information common to the numerical control programs of program numbers O1100, O1200, and O1300, and also includes program numbers O1100, O1200, and O1300.
As information for centrally managing the numerical control program of 1300, [rough machining program] D = 01, O1100 [sub-pro] D = 01, O1110 (called from the rough machining program) [Semi-finishing program] D = 02, O1200 [Sub-pro] D = 01, O1210 (Called from the semi-finish program) [Sub-pro] D = 01, O1220 (Called from the semi-finish program) [Finish program] D = 01, O1300 The relationship between the numerical information control program 21 and the numerical control program 21 can be understood from the machining information definition file 22, and the numerical control programs that cannot be recognized as being related only by the contents of the numerical control program are linked to each other. In the drawing, D = 01 and D = 02 represent the names of the storage devices in which the numerical control programs 21 are stored (for example, the storage device D = 01 is a memory, and the storage device D = 02).
Represents a hard disk.) Even if the numerical control program 21 is stored in an arbitrary storage device, the storage location of the corresponding numerical control program 21 can be known. Furthermore, since the machining information definition file 22 describes machining information common to a series of a plurality of numerical control programs, the machining information is converted into individual numerical control programs or machining information corresponding to each numerical control program. There is no need to describe it in the definition file, and thus the memory can be used efficiently.

In the example of FIG. 2, since the processing information definition file 22 is stored in the storage device 01 (memory),
Although each numerical control program describes ** DEFINE FILE = D01 \ PARTSABC.DEF **, for example, the machining information definition file 22
Is stored in the storage device 02 (hard disk), ** DEFINE FILE = D02 \ PARTSABC.DEF ** is described in each numerical control program. In the example of FIG. 2, the numerical control programs of the program numbers O1100 and O1300 are stored in the storage device 01 (memory), and the numerical control program of the program number O1200 is stored in the storage device 02 (hard disk). Therefore, in the machining information definition file 22, D = 01, O110, D = 02, O1200, D = 0
Although it is described as 1, O1300, for example, program number O
When the numerical control programs 1100 and O1300 are also stored in the storage device 02 (hard disk), D = 02, O
110, D = 02, O1200, and D = 02, O1300.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a screen for displaying a numerical control program number (machining program number) list and machining information. FIG. 3 shows an example in which one processing information definition file 22 is stored and the program number 1100 is selected. When a program number for which information is to be viewed is selected from the machining program list (numerical control program number list) on the left screen (by selecting a program number to be viewed by cursor or inputting a program number from a keyboard), the numerical control program 21 Based on the described “** DEFINE FILE = D01 \ PARTSABC.DEF **”, the corresponding processing information definition file 22 is searched, and the processing information described in the processing information definition file 22 is displayed on the right screen in FIG. Is displayed in a display format that is easy for the operator to understand. When the desired numerical control program number is not displayed on the screen on the left side of FIG. 3 when selecting the program number, the operator performs a scroll operation on the screen on the left side of FIG. Is displayed.

At the time of displaying the right side portion, the cursor is moved from the left side screen to the selected program number display position by software in the numerical controller so that the selected program number can be seen at a glance. It is moved to the right screen and displayed. At this time, on the left screen, the software inside the numerical control device displays the background color of the selected program number display location in a different color from the other locations, so that at a glance what the selected program number was. It is displayed so that it can be understood. In this display mode, the color of the program number display character may be displayed in a different color from the other display characters.

If the machining information definition file 22 corresponding to the selected program number does not exist, a comment is displayed on the right screen to notify that the corresponding machining information definition file 22 does not exist. At this time,
The operator moves the cursor displayed on the right screen to the left screen using a mouse or the like, and selects a desired program number different from the previously selected program number in the same manner as described above.

Thus, the operator can instantly know the contents of the selected numerical control program, and can reduce the time required for the operator to find the desired numerical control program. Further, since the operator sees detailed information of the numerical control program, mistakes such as erroneously operating another numerical control program are reduced.

Also, a list of related numerical control programs can be displayed, and it is possible to instantly understand what other numerical control programs are related to create one product.

In the first embodiment, when there are a plurality of machining definition files related to the selected numerical control program (for example, when only the rough machining program is common and the intermediate finishing and finishing machining programs are different), FIG. On the right side of the screen, one processing definition is displayed, and a comment indicating that another processing definition file exists is displayed. In this case, the operator performs a next page key or a screen scroll operation to display the remaining machining definition files. In the first embodiment, when the storage location of the machining definition file is changed, the operator calls the machining definition file whose storage location has been changed on the screen, and changes the numerical control program number described in the machining definition file. After the recognition, each numerical control program number is input, each numerical control program is called on the screen, and the description of the storage location of the machining definition file described in each numerical control program is corrected. However, if the storage location of the machining definition file is changed, it is troublesome for the operator to modify each numerical control program one by one as described above. In this case, each numerical control program number described in the machining definition file is used. When inputting the storage location of the machining definition file and inputting a command to rewrite the storage location of the machining definition file described in each numerical control program with the storage location of the input machining definition file,
Each numerical control program is searched based on the input numerical control program number, and the storage location of the machining definition file described in each searched numerical control program is stored in the storage location of the input machining definition file. It is preferable that the automatic correction program to be rewritten is built in the numerical controller. Further, in the first embodiment, when the storage location of the numerical control program is changed, the operator calls up a machining definition file in which the numerical control program number whose storage location is changed is described on a screen, and the operator calls the machining definition file described in the machining definition file. Correct the description of the storage location of the numerical control program number used. However, if the storage location of the numerical control program is changed, it is troublesome for the operator to modify the machining definition file one by one as described above. Enter the file name and the storage location of the numerical control program, and enter a command to rewrite the storage location of the numerical control program described in the machining definition file with the storage location of the input numerical control program. Based on the definition file name, search the machining definition file in which the numerical control program number is described, and store the storage location of the numerical control program described in the searched machining definition file in the input numerical control program. An automatic correction program for rewriting the storage location is built in the numerical controller. It is preferable.

Embodiment 2 FIG. Next, Embodiment 2 is shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention. Step 1: The operator operates the cursor and selects a desired numerical control program (for example, 1100) from the numerical control program list on the left side of FIG. 3 as described above. Step 2: The numerical control device obtains the corresponding machining information definition file (** DEFINE FILE = D01 \ PARTSABC.DEF **) from the selected numerical control program (for example, O1100 in the storage device 01) of FIG. For example, PARTSABC.DEF in the storage device 01 is searched, and if a corresponding processing information definition file exists, the contents of the processing information definition file are displayed (the right screen in FIG. 3). In the displayed machining information, a list of related numerical control programs (in the example of FIG. 3, program numbers O1100, O1110, O12
00, O1210, O1220, O1300), and the numerical controller selects the numerical control program selected by the operator in step 1 (in the software inside the numerical controller, the cursor is moved to the selected program number display position). The display is moved from the left screen to the right screen and displayed, and only by pressing a program search button (not shown), the selected numerical control program is searched (right screen in FIG. 3). At this time, on the left screen, the software inside the numerical control device displays the background color of the selected program number display location in a different color from the other locations, so that at a glance what the selected program number was It is displayed so that it can be understood.

Step 3: The operator looks at the processing information on the right side of FIG. 3 and determines whether the processing information is related to the numerical control program to be executed from now on or a list of related numerical control programs (in the processing information on the right side of FIG. 3). Determine whether there is a numerical control program you want to
Proceed to ep4, otherwise return to step1. Step 4: The operator looks at the list of numerical control programs in the processing information on the right side of FIG. 3 and determines whether the numerical control program selected in step 1 is just in the selected state of the numerical control to be executed. If the numerical control program you want to execute is selected,
Proceed to step 6, otherwise proceed to step 5. Step 5: The operator operates the cursor to select a numerical control program to be executed from the numerical control program list in the machining information on the right side of FIG. 3, and proceeds to step 6. Step 6: When the operator presses a program search button (not shown) (not shown), the numerical controller searches for a numerical control program in a selected state. Step 7: When the operator presses an operation start button (not shown), the numerical controller executes automatic operation. Note that, for example, after the roughing is completed, in the right screen of FIG.
When the steps 6 and 7 are repeated, the intermediate finishing is executed. After the intermediate finishing is completed, the finishing is selected at the step 5 on the right screen in FIG. 3 and the steps 6 and 7 are repeated, the finishing is executed. You.

Thus, even if the numerical control program initially selected by the operator is not the numerical control program to be executed from now on, if the numerical control program is related to the numerical control program selected first,
Fig. 3 showing only related numerical control programs instead of many numerical control program lists on the left side of Fig. 3
Select from the numerical control program list on the right
Since it can be executed, the operator can quickly search and execute the target numerical control program.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a numerical control program creating device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Numeral 12 denotes a numerical control program creating unit for creating a numerical control program 21, and 13 denotes a numerical control program creating unit which automatically calculates a numerical control program 21 when creating the numerical control program 21 and input information to the numerical control program creating apparatus, as shown in FIG. The processing information definition file creating unit creates the processing information definition file 22 shown in FIG.

Here, the input information includes information to be input to a general numerical control program creating device such as a product shape, a material shape, a material, a maker of a numerical control program, a creator's name, a comment, etc .; This is information required to describe the correspondence with the processing information definition file. The information necessary to describe the correspondence between the numerical control program and the machining information definition file includes a storage device (D01: memory, D02: storage device such as a hard disk) for storing the numerical control program shown in FIG. The control program number (O1100, O1200, etc.), the storage device (D01: memory, D02: hard disk, etc.) for storing the machining information definition file 22, the file name (PARTSABC.DEF, etc.), and the numerical control device are set. It is a correspondence relationship between a device name storing a numerical control program and a device number (memory = D01, hard disk = D02, etc.). The information automatically calculated includes the estimated machining time, machining process sequence, tools used, machining conditions, pallet number, coordinate system offset, tool correction amount, number of lines of the numerical control program, creation date, and CAM type. . However, the machining process sequence, tools used, machining conditions, pallet number, coordinate system offset, tool correction amount, and the like may be input information.

The numerical control program creating apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention is adapted to output a series of numerical control programs up to finishing one workpiece which are not connected by subprogram call or the like. The output is performed so that the correspondence between the numerical control program 21 and the machining information definition file 22 can be understood from the information necessary to describe the correspondence between the numerical control program and the machining information definition file obtained as the input information. In the numerical control program, the location and file name of the machining information definition file are described in addition to general control commands. Further, the machining information definition file 22 includes machining information common to a series of a plurality of numerical control programs, a program number of a series of a plurality of numerical control programs until finishing one workpiece,
Describe the location of the numerical control program.

As a result, the machining information definition file 22 that can be used in the numerical control devices described in the first and second embodiments can be created.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, information for centrally managing a series of a plurality of numerical control programs up to finishing one workpiece, which are not connected by a subprogram call or the like, and Since the contents of the machining information definition file that describes machining information related to a series of multiple numerical control programs are displayed, the operator can instantly determine which numerical control programs are related to create one product. Thus, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the setup work of the operator, and to reduce mistakes in selecting a numerical control program.

According to the present invention, since the identifier of the machining information definition file corresponding to the series of numerical control programs is described, the machining information related to the numerical control program from the numerical control program side is provided. The correspondence with the file can be understood, and the target numerical control program can be easily found from a large number of numerical control program lists, so that the operator's setup work efficiency can be improved.

According to the present invention, information indicating a location where the series of the plurality of numerical control programs is stored is described in the machining definition file, and the machining corresponding to the series of the plurality of numerical control programs is described. Since the identifier of the information definition file is described, even when the series of the plurality of numerical control programs are separately stored in the plurality of storage locations, the machining definition file and the series of the plurality of numerical control programs are Can be easily associated with each other, and a target numerical control program can be easily found from a large number of numerical control program lists, so that the efficiency of the setup work of the operator can be improved.

According to the present invention, when a desired program number is selected from a list of the series of numerical control programs displayed on the display device based on the contents of the machining information definition file, the selected program number is selected. A means for performing a program search for a numerical control program of a program number is provided, so that a numerical control program to be searched can be searched not from a list of a large number of numerical control programs but from a program list in a narrowed machining information definition file. Therefore, the setup work efficiency of the operator can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a numerical control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence relationship between a numerical control program and a machining information definition file in the numerical control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which processing information described in a processing information definition file is displayed in the numerical control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart in a numerical control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a numerical control program creating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional numerical control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Numerical control program reading unit, 2 Numerical control program display unit, 3 Machining information reading unit, 4 Machining information display unit, 5 control unit, 21 Numerical control program, 22
Processing information definition file, 23 Processing execution data, 24
Display device, 25 machine tool.

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kenji Entrance 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (72) Inventor Tomonori Sato 2-3-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Electric Co., Ltd. In-house F-term (reference) 5H269 AB01 BB07 EE11 EE29 QA02 QB15 QC01 QC03 QC06 QD10 QE05 QE10 QE13 QE14

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for unifying a series of plural numerical control programs until finishing one workpiece, which are not connected by a subprogram call or the like, and processing related to the series of plural numerical control programs. A numerical control device comprising: a machining information definition file in which information is described; and means for displaying a list of the series of numerical control programs and the machining information in the machining information definition file on a display device. 2. The information for centrally managing a series of a plurality of numerical control programs described in the machining information definition file is a program number of the series of a plurality of numerical control programs, and the series of a plurality of numerical control programs. 2. The numerical control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of numerical control programs each include an identifier of the machining information definition file corresponding to the series of the plurality of numerical control programs. 3. The information for centrally managing a series of a plurality of numerical control programs described in the machining information definition file includes program numbers of the series of a plurality of numerical control programs and the series of a plurality of numerical control programs. This is information indicating each storage location where the numerical control program is stored, and the series of the plurality of numerical control programs describes the identifier of the machining information definition file corresponding to the series of the plurality of numerical control programs, respectively. The numerical control device according to claim 1, wherein: 4. When a desired program number is selected from a list of the series of numerical control programs displayed on the display device based on the contents of the processing information definition file, the selected program number is displayed. 4. The numerical control device according to claim 1, further comprising means for performing a program search for the numerical control program. 5. A list of numerical control programs is displayed on the display device, and when a desired numerical control program is selected from the display, the contents of a machining information definition file corresponding to the selected numerical control program are displayed. The numerical control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein is displayed on a display device.