JP2002312007A - Numerical control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a numerical control device enabling an operator, etc., to certainly find a fact a parameter of which is rewritten and to easily control the parameter. SOLUTION: The numerical control device 1 to control motion of a machine tool 2 by using the various parameters is furnished with a parameter memory means 12 to freely rewrite and memorize each of the parameters and a parameter rewriting means to rewrite the parameter memorized in the means 12. A rewriting fact detection means 15 to detect a fact that of rewriting when the parameter memorized in the parameter memory means 12 is provided. A rewriting fact output means 16 to output this detected rewriting fact information (a) is provided. A storage demand message output means 21 to output a message to promote storage of the parameter to the operator in accordance with the rewriting fact information (a) is provided.

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 using parameters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, software for numerical control has become complicated due to diversification of user demands, and it has been generally performed to correspond to each user's demands by using parameters. I have. If the selection of the material loading direction, the selection of the execution of in-machine measurement during processing, the selection of the spindle rotation speed, and the like in the automatic machine tool equipped with the transfer device are set by parameters, the creation and control of the program are simplified. Dozens or hundreds of such various parameters are prepared, these are gradually changed by experience or the like, and the know-how of the machine tool user is accumulated. However, the set parameters are
Inadvertently changed due to operator error,
It may be lost due to unforeseen circumstances in the power system. Unforeseen changes in parameters result in unscheduled operation of the machine. In these cases, it is necessary to change the parameters or return to the state before the data loss, but the recovery process is not easy.

In general, parameters are set to standard values at the time of shipment from a machine tool maker, and the parameters at the time of shipment are stored in an external storage medium such as a floppy disk and provided in the shipping machine. Further, at the time of maintenance, information on change of various parameters, which is sent by a service technician of a machine tool to a shipping destination, is recorded together with the date and time when the maintenance is performed, and is collectively managed by a maker of the machine tool. However, parameter changes made by the user are often not recorded. Also, you may inadvertently forget to record changes. For example, the parameter is changed by calling a number and setting data.
There is a case where the data is called as number 10 and the data is set incorrectly. Normally, many parameters are set to be effective only after the power is once turned off. Therefore, the power is turned off after the setting. If you do so, you won't even know what number you set. This error is noticed when the machine is turned on and appears as an unexpected movement of the machine.

[0004] In such a case, the user cannot cope with the situation and contact the manufacturer of the machine tool by telephone or the like. If it is not known which parameter has been changed,
Manufacturers can only give advice to the extent that these extra parameters are wrong. Even if a service person is present, it is difficult to find the cause of the failure. If it is unavoidable, reload the data from the floppy disk installed in the machine in order to return all parameters to the initial state once, but after the machine is shipped from the factory, the parameters changed due to modification or user's convenience If not backed up, it takes a lot of time to recover.

[0005] For example, parameters are prepared for a machine tool when a material is loaded from the left and when a material is loaded from the right. Assume that no backup is performed after the parameters are changed due to the rearrangement of the user's line after shipment. After that, if parameters are lost due to lightning strike or failure of the hardware, data is input from the floppy disk provided in the machine, but since it is the data at the time of shipment, each parameter changed to change the loading direction at the user's place Is not left anywhere.
In such a case, the user has to spend time while inquiring again about the operation performed when changing the line.

[0006] As for the management of parameters in the numerical control device, a management computer for managing a plurality of machine tools sometimes manages the parameters via a communication line. For example, an unlock key for parameter setting is transmitted from each numerical control device to the management computer,
In some cases, parameters are changed after the lock is released on the management computer. After the change operation is completed, maintenance information including the changed parameter information is recorded by the management computer. For this reason, by accessing the management computer when necessary, each numerical control device can obtain data such as the last maintenance information including the current parameter values and the maintenance history at any time. Therefore, it becomes easy to change the parameter due to an error or to recover from loss due to a failure.

However, regardless of whether or not the parameter value is actually changed, the parameter is automatically saved each time the parameter is unlocked or the operation is terminated, so that the parameter is changed. There is a problem that the fact is difficult to determine. For example, when the lock is released with the intention of changing the parameter but is not actually changed, or when the parameter is returned to the original value after the change, the entire parameter as a result is recorded. For this reason, when parameters are stored more frequently than necessary and the number of parameters is large, it is difficult to find out which parameter has actually been changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a numerical control device that allows an operator or the like to reliably know the fact that a parameter has been rewritten, and that can easily manage the parameter. Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to know an appropriate timing for performing a parameter saving operation, and to prevent saving an extra parameter or forgetting to save a necessary parameter. It is. Still another object of the present invention is to reliably avoid forgetting to save a parameter.

[0009]

The present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 corresponding to an embodiment. This numerical controller (1)
Is a numerical control device for controlling the operation of the machine tool (2) using various parameters, and a parameter storage means (12) for rewritably storing the parameters, and a parameter storage means (12) for storing the parameters. Parameter rewriting means (14) for rewriting a parameter which has been rewritten, and rewriting fact detecting means (15) for detecting the fact that the parameter stored in the parameter storage means (12) has been rewritten when the parameter has been rewritten. Rewriting fact output means (16) for outputting the detected rewriting fact information (a). According to this configuration, when the parameter of the parameter storage means (12) is rewritten by the parameter rewriting means (14), the fact of the rewriting is detected by the rewriting fact detection means (15). The detected rewriting fact information (a) is output by the rewriting fact output means (16). Since the rewriting fact information (a) is output in this way, it is possible to take measures such as making the operator recognize the rewriting fact and storing the change history in an appropriate storage unit. In this case, the rewriting fact detecting means (15) detects the fact when the rewriting is actually performed. If the rewriting fact is not actually rewritten even if the operation of the parameter rewriting means (14) is performed. , Do not detect. For this reason, unnecessary storage of the parameters is avoided, and when the parameters are erroneously changed or lost, the recovery work is prevented from becoming complicated due to an increase in unnecessary data.

In the present invention, a storage request message output means (21) for outputting a message urging the operator to save parameters based on the rewriting fact information (a) may be provided. With this message,
The operator can know the appropriate timing for performing the parameter saving operation, and can prevent the extra parameters from being saved or the necessary parameters from being forgotten to be saved.

In the present invention, a parameter content storage means (1) for storing the content of each parameter stored in the parameter storage means (12) in an external storage means (17).
3) and a parameter for confirming whether or not the process of storing the rewritten parameter after the rewriting of the parameter stored in the parameter storage unit (12) by the parameter content storage unit (13) has been performed. A storage confirming means (25) and an operation restricting means (23) for restricting an operation for operating the machine tool (2) when the storage cannot be confirmed by the means (25) may be provided.
In the case of this configuration, the operation for operating the machine tool (2) is performed by the operation restriction unit (23) when the parameter storage confirmation unit (25) fails to confirm the parameter storage.
Limited by Therefore, when the operation of the machine tool (2) can be operated, the parameters are always stored, and even if a malfunction occurs due to improper parameter change, a recovery operation is performed by the stored parameters. Can be easily performed.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The numerical controller 1 controls a machine tool 2 and includes a numerical controller 3, a programmable controller 4, and an operation panel 5. Machine tool 2
The term means a machine tool in a broad sense including a plate material processing machine such as a punch press and a laser beam machine in addition to a machine tool in a narrow sense that performs cutting, grinding, and the like typified by a lathe. The machine tool 2 includes a machine tool main body 6 for processing an object, and a transfer device 7 for loading and unloading a workpiece to and from the machine tool main body 6. The machine tool 2 may not include the transfer device 7.

The numerical control device 1 is of a computer type, and the numerical control unit 3 and the programmable controller unit 4 are configured by a common computer even if they are configured by separate computers. There may be. The numerical control unit 3 is means for decoding the machining program 8 and controlling the axis feed of each axis of the machine tool 2 based on the result of the decoding. The programmable controller unit 4 has a function of sequence control of the machine tool 2 and a function of controlling various machine tools 2 that are not performed by the numerical control unit 3.
Also, it has a customizing function and a function as a man-machine interface. The programmable controller section 4 in this example is the same as a so-called programmable machine controller. The operation panel unit 5 is a unit for operating the numerical control unit 3, the programmable controller unit 4, and the machine tool 2, and includes an input device 9 such as a keyboard and a touch panel, and a CRT for displaying a screen.
And the like.

The numerical controller 3 controls the machine tool 2 using the machining program 8 and various parameters. The numerical control unit 3 has an arithmetic control unit 11 that decodes and executes the machining program 8,
At the time of execution, various parameters stored in the parameter storage means 12 are used. The numerical controller 3 executes an axis feed command in the machining program 8 to control a servo motor (not shown) of each axis of the machine tool 2, and transfers a sequence control command in the machining program 8 to the programmable controller 4. I do.

The parameter storage means 12 is a means for storing various parameters used for control, and the contents of the parameters, that is, values, are stored in respective storage areas specified by addresses. The number of parameters in the parameter storage means 12 is, for example, several tens to several hundreds. As the contents of the parameters, data for selecting the type of control, data for selecting the control amount, an identification code added to distinguish the position, and the like are set. As the data for selecting the type of control, for example, a binary code indicating whether the work is carried in from the right or from the left, a code distinguishing whether or not to perform a predetermined process such as in-machine measurement, or the like is used. Determined.
As the data for selecting the control amount, an override value or the like for the main spindle rotation speed, the work transfer speed, or the like is set.
As the identification code assigned to distinguish the positions, a code or the like for distinguishing each stop position on the work transport path by the transport device 7 is set.

The numerical control unit 3 includes a parameter storage unit 1
2 has a parameter rewriting means 14 for changing the content of each parameter, and a parameter content storage means 13 for storing the content stored in the parameter storage means 12 in the external storage means 17. The parameter rewriting means 14 may change the parameter contents from any of the input device 9, the communication line, the recording medium, and the like. In this example, the external storage means 17 is a portable and removable storage medium such as a floppy disk. However, the external storage means 17 is a hard disk device separate from the numerical controller 1 or an external information processing device 24 such as a personal computer. May be.

The programmable controller section 4 has a sequence control section 18 for controlling the sequence of the machine tool 2 as its basic function. The sequence control unit 18 has a parameter storage unit 19, and various parameters set in the unit 19, a sequence control program (not shown), and the machining program 8 transferred from the numerical control unit 3. The sequence control of the machine tool 2 is performed by the sequence control command. Each parameter of the parameter storage unit 19 in the sequence control unit 18 can be changed by a parameter rewriting unit (not shown) provided in the programmable controller unit 4, and can be changed by a parameter storage unit 20 to an external storage unit (not shown). ) Can be stored.

The numerical control device 1 of this embodiment has a rewriting fact detecting means 1
5, the rewriting fact output means 16 and the parameter saving and confirming means 25 are provided.
A storage request message output unit 21, an update history storage unit 22, and an operation restriction unit 23.
The operation restricting means 23 may not necessarily be provided.

The rewriting fact detecting means 15 is means for detecting, when the parameter rewriting means 14 rewrites a parameter in the parameter storage means 12, the fact that the parameter has been rewritten. It does not detect the contents of the parameters. Further, the rewriting fact detecting means 15 does not perform detection even if an operation is performed by the parameter rewriting means 14 unless the parameters of the parameter storage means 12 are changed as a result. The fact that the parameter has been rewritten may not distinguish which parameter has been rewritten, but in this embodiment, which parameter in the parameter storage means 12 has been rewritten, that is, which parameter of the address has been rewritten. Is detected by the rewriting fact detecting means 15, including whether or not is rewritten. Rewriting fact output means 16
Is a means for outputting the rewriting fact information a detected by the rewriting fact detecting means 15, and outputs the information to the outside of the numerical control unit 3. The parameter storage confirmation unit 25 is a unit for confirming that the contents of the parameters in the parameter storage unit 12 have been stored by the parameter content storage unit 13 after the rewrite fact information a has been output from the rewrite fact output unit 16.

The storage request message output means 21 is a means for outputting a message urging the storage of parameters based on the rewriting fact information a. This message is to be output to the display device 10 by displaying characters such as words and sentences or by using marks such as illustrations. The storage request message output means 21 may output the above message by voice.

The change history storage means 22 is a means for storing the rewrite fact information a output from the rewrite fact output means 16 as a history together with the date and time of recording. The stored history information is, for example, data indicating the date and time of which parameter of the parameter storage unit 12 has been changed, and does not include the content of the parameter.

When the operation limiting means 23 recognizes the rewriting fact information a output from the rewriting fact output means 16, the operation limiting means 23 limits the operation for operating the machine tool 2 until the storage is confirmed by the parameter storage confirming means 25. It is. This restriction may prohibit all other operations of the storage operation by the parameter content storage unit 13 or may restrict only a predetermined operation. The process of causing the operation of the machine tool 2 affected by the stored parameters and the operation of making it unclear which parameter is the currently rewritten parameter is prohibited. In addition,
It is preferable to provide a means (not shown) for forcibly canceling the operation restriction by a predetermined operation to the operation restriction means 23.

The external information processing device 24 includes the numerical control device 1
May be a computer connected to the numerical control device 1 via a communication network, and may be a computer used for other purposes.

According to this configuration, the numerical controller 1 controls the machine tool 2 based on the machining program 8 and each parameter set in the parameter storage unit 12. At the time of shipment of the numerical control device 1,
As the content of each parameter, a standard content or a content according to a previously known request is set. The contents of each parameter of the parameter storage means 12 at the time of shipment are stored and stored in a storage medium (not shown) such as a floppy disk. The contents of each parameter set in the parameter storage unit 12 can be freely rewritten by the parameter rewriting unit 14, and are appropriately rewritten during use of the numerical control device 1, and gradually become optimal for processing.

When the parameter in the parameter storage means 12 is rewritten by the parameter rewriting means 14, the rewritten fact is detected by the rewriting fact detection means 15, and the rewriting fact information a which is the detected content is stored in the programmable controller. Output to the unit 16. The rewrite fact information a is information on the fact of the change as to which parameter content was actually changed. When the rewrite fact information a is input, the storage request message output means 21 displays a message requesting storage of the parameter on the screen of the display means 10. The operator sees this message and stores the content of each parameter in the parameter storage means 12 in the external storage means 17 such as a floppy disk by the parameter content storage means 13. Since the message is displayed in this manner, the operator can know the appropriate timing to perform the saving operation, and can prevent the user from saving extra parameters or forgetting to save necessary parameters. When an operation for performing a machine operation is performed without performing the saving operation, the operation is restricted by the operation restricting unit 23. As described above, unless the save processing is performed, the operation is restricted, so that the machine operation is performed only when the parameter is stored, and a malfunction occurs due to an inappropriate parameter change. Also, the recovery operation can be easily performed by using the stored parameters.

The rewriting fact information a output from the numerical control unit 3 is recorded by the change history storage means 22 as history information of the fact that which parameter of the parameter storage means 12 has been changed, for example, at what time of the month, at what time. Will be saved.

According to the numerical controller 1, the operator can surely know the fact that the parameters have been rewritten in this way. This makes it easy to manage parameters,
Even when the data stored in the parameter storage means 12 is lost due to a failure in the power supply system or the like, it can be easily recovered.

As for the parameter storage means 19 in the programmable controller 4, the contents are stored on a floppy disk or the like by the parameter content storage means 20, and the fact of the change is stored by the change history storage means (not shown). Is preferred. The parameter storage means 19 also includes a rewrite fact detecting means for detecting the fact that the stored parameter has been rewritten when the stored parameter has been rewritten, and a rewrite fact detecting means for outputting the detected rewrite fact information. Output means (neither is shown) may be provided.

An example of how to use parameters in the numerical controller 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows that the machine tool body 6 is a parallel two-axis lathe, and the transfer device 7
Both the left material supply unit 26 and the right material supply unit 27 can be carried into the main shaft 28 of the machine tool main body 6. Which of the right and left material supply units 26 and 27 to carry in is selected depending on the convenience of the line. The selection result is set by, for example, a value of “0” or “1” in a parameter of a predetermined address in the parameter setting unit 12 of FIG. FIG.
An example in which whether or not each of the processes (1) to (4) is performed in the machine tool 2 is set by a parameter will be described. Numerical control device 1
When the content of the parameter at the predetermined address xx is "1", the process is performed. When the content is "0", the process jumps without performing the process and proceeds to the next process. The selection of such various controls is set according to the contents of the parameters,
By using the parameters, the machining program 8 can be simplified.

[0030]

The numerical controller according to the present invention is a numerical controller for controlling the operation of a machine tool using various parameters. The numerical controller includes parameter storage means for rewritably storing the above parameters, and Parameter rewriting means for rewriting the stored parameters, and when the parameters stored in the parameter storage means are rewritten,
Since it is provided with rewrite fact detection means for detecting the fact that the rewrite has been performed, and rewrite fact output means for outputting the detected rewrite fact information, the operator or the like can reliably confirm the fact that the parameter has been rewritten. It is possible to know and manage parameters easily.
When the storage request message output means for outputting a message urging the operator to save the parameter is provided based on the rewriting fact information, it is possible to know an appropriate timing for performing the operation of saving the parameter. It is possible to prevent saving unnecessary parameters and forgetting to save necessary parameters. Parameter content storage means for storing the content of each parameter stored in the parameter storage means in an external storage means; and after rewriting the parameter stored in the parameter storage means, storing the rewritten parameter content in the parameter content. A parameter saving confirmation means for confirming whether or not the saving processing has been performed by the means, and an operation limiting means for restricting an operation for operating the machine tool when the saving cannot be confirmed by this means. Can surely avoid forgetting to save the parameter.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a numerical control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a machine tool showing an example of how to use parameters.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a process showing another example of how to use parameters.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Numerical control apparatus 2 ... Machine tool 3 ... Numerical control part 4 ... Programmable controller part 5 ... Operation panel part 6 ... Machine tool main body 7 ... Transporting device 8 ... Machining program 10 ... Display device 12 ... Parameter storage means 13 ... Parameter contents Saving means 14 ... Parameter rewriting means 15 ... Rewriting fact detection means 16 ... Rewriting fact output means 17 ... External storage means 21 ... Save request message output means 22 ... Update history saving means 23 ... Operation restriction means 25 ... Parameter saving confirmation means a ... Rewriting fact information

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A numerical controller for controlling the operation of a machine tool using various parameters, comprising: parameter storage means for rewritably storing each of the parameters; and a parameter for rewriting the parameters stored in the means. Rewriting means, rewriting fact detecting means for detecting the fact that the parameter stored in the parameter storage means has been rewritten, and rewriting fact output means for outputting the detected rewriting fact information; Numerical control device equipped with. 2. The numerical control device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage request message output means for outputting a message urging an operator to store parameters based on the rewriting fact information. 3. A parameter content storage means for storing the content of each parameter stored in the parameter storage means in an external storage means, and after rewriting the parameter stored in the parameter storage means, the content of the rewritten parameter Is a parameter storage confirming means for confirming whether or not the processing for storing by the parameter content storing means has been performed,
3. The numerical control device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation restricting means for restricting an operation for operating the machine tool.