JP2003280715A - Production planning support method, its device and production control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically set work processes and estimate manhours for all the processes even if there is manual work by dispensing with manual work process setting and manhour estimation. <P>SOLUTION: Component structure information and feature information are extracted from three-dimensional CAD data of components stored in a three- dimensional design CAD device 3 by a component work CAPP 1. In the component work CAPP 1, attribute data comprising assembly information, surface finish information, dimensional tolerance information and material information are added to the component structure information and the feature information. On the basis of the information, a feature line is expanded to a using tool line and the like based on a certain rule to set the work process and estimate manhours for each component. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a production management system for managing the progress of machining a work and managing the actual man-hours of a man and a machine according to a machining process for producing a product or a part. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a production plan support method and apparatus for automatically performing machining process setting and man-hour estimation in the work of preparing a production plan, and a production management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an overall image of a production management system, showing production management for creating a construction schedule from product quotation information. On the production management server side, when drafting a production plan, setting of a machining process for manufacturing a designed product and estimation of the number of man-hours are performed. Next, the manufacturing number (No.), the names of the parts that make up the product,
Data such as the process name for each part and estimated time is input, then the processes are associated with each other, the landslide process is performed, the delivery date is adjusted, etc., and finally the part process slip and the work schedule for each person are issued.

On the other hand, on the side of the production control client, every time each part is processed, the process name, the person in charge, the machine name, and the part number are input, and the start of work is input by the bar code before the part processing operation. After finishing the processing work, enter the actual results of the work using a bar code. And work, NC (Numerica
Control) data, drawings, parts process sheet.

In such a production management system, it is necessary to manually set the process steps for manufacturing a product and estimate the man-hours when drafting a production plan. These machining process settings and man-hour estimation work are performed based on the drawings to be machined, such as shape and dimensions, surface finishing degree, dimensional tolerance,
The material information is read, the processing procedure (process) is determined, and the processing man-hour is estimated for each process. In this work, it is necessary for an operator who is familiar with the performance and processing method of the processing machine deployed in each assumed processing step to set the process and estimate the man-hours.

FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b) are diagrams showing an example in which process setting and man-hour estimation are performed. FIG. 9 (a) shows a part shape, and FIG. 9 (b) shows process setting and man-hour estimation. Indicates. The processing contents for this part are groove processing, pocket processing, ground surface processing, hole processing, screw processing, and the specific processing steps are:
Milling machines, machining centers, surface grinding, drilling machines and tapping machines are used. Estimated man-hours are 1, 2 h, 0.8 h, 0.7 h, 1.2 h, 0.
It is 5h.

The worker who estimates the man-hours for each of the machining steps performs a work for calculating the man-hours by referring to a standard table for man-hour estimation which is divided according to the machining shape and the degree of surface finish, or based on an empirical value.

A symbol representing each machining process name and the number of man-hours estimated for each machining process are input to the production management system.
As a result, time-series data regarding the processing of the target component is prepared on the production management system.

In the production management system, however, the production plan is created by rearranging the data, such as the machining process relating to the machining of the parts, which is input for each product, so as not to cause any inconvenience as a whole. In this case, the production management system creates an operation plan for each person and machine so that machining is completed within the deadline specified by the scheduling function, and which process is to be performed when the parts are not completed within the specified deadline. Indicates whether to overflow.

In the mechanism of such a production management system, it is extremely important to perform the process setting and the man-hour estimation input work as accurately as possible in order to improve the accuracy of the production plan. The reason is that even if one is estimated as process data that is significantly different from the actual one, it will affect the overall plan itself, and the construction plan for the person or machine created by the production management system will not be actually applicable. Is. For this reason, in the production management system, the manual setting of the working process and the man-hour estimation work require the skill and time.

In recent years, in designing parts and mechanisms, C
An AD (Computer Aided Design) device is generally used, and in many cases, a drawing is created using a two-dimensional CAD device.

Even when a drawing is created using a two-dimensional CAD device, the data input to the production control system is
Basically, there is no change in the action of an expert reading a drawing created using a two-dimensional CAD device.
Further, a mechanism is also considered in which machining process information and process estimation information are added to the attribute value of the two-dimensional CAD data created by the two-dimensional CAD device and the information is passed to the production management system.

However, in principle, a system that decomposes CAD data into shape elements and can flexibly deal with any shape has not been created. The reason is,
In a two-dimensional CAD device, when defining a shape, lines, points,
Since it is represented by a combination of vector elements such as circles, it is not possible to know what the shape of these elements is like from the individual vector elements.

On the other hand, when the three-dimensional CAD is used for defining the shape, the shape of the part is constituted by shape elements such as a hexahedron called a feature, a hole, a cutout, and so on. It can be considered in connection with the processing step of processing.

However, a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturin) for setting a machining tool based on the feature information.
g) There is a system, which is applied to, for example, a CAM device that creates NC data for NC machine tools.

However, no system has been devised for creating machining process information and machining man-hour estimation information required by the production management system from the feature information of the three-dimensional CAD data.

[0016]

Only a skilled person can accurately perform the manipulating process setting work and the man-hour estimation work which must be performed at the time of drafting a production plan. If these operations are performed incorrectly, the entire production plan will be inaccurate, and the production management system will output a plan that cannot be actually used.

Further, when a skilled person makes a process setting or estimates man-hours, errors and errors, individual differences in calculation by humans, and variations occur because humans perform work, and complete input cannot be expected.

On the other hand, even if a skilled person can make an accurate input, if the production plan is not confirmed before the actual parts flow into the process, the start plan of the human and machine for individual parts does not make sense. . Even if a new construction plan is issued with the processing advanced even a little, the plan will already be different from the actual one.

Therefore, before the parts flow into the process, that is, before the machining is started, the machining process setting work and the man-hour estimation work must be completed, and the production plan must be prepared.

For this reason, a quick machining process setting work and man-hour estimation work are required, but it is difficult to reduce the time due to the manual work by the skilled person as described above.
Therefore, machining cannot be started while waiting for the input of the production control system.

On the other hand, in the existing CAM system, the whole process is set and estimated only for the NC process. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, as processing contents, hexahedron processing (general-purpose milling), upper surface groove processing (machining center), upper surface hole processing (machining center), back surface hole processing (general-purpose drilling machine), grinding processing (general-purpose grinding machine). If there is, upper surface groove processing and upper surface hole processing are NC processes, and other hexahedron processing (general-purpose milling cutter),
Backside hole processing (general-purpose drilling machine) and grinding processing (general-purpose grinding machine) are manually performed.

Therefore, in the existing CAM system, N
The man-hours can be estimated only for the upper surface groove processing and the upper surface hole processing in the C process, and the process design and the man-hour estimation of the entire process cannot be automatically calculated.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the need for manual setting of a machining process and estimation of the number of man-hours, and the production plan supporting method and apparatus and the production thereof which can automatically perform the setting of the machining process and the estimation of the number of man-hours even if there is a manual work. The purpose is to provide a management system.

[0024]

According to the present invention, at least part configuration information and shape element information of an object to be processed are extracted from three-dimensional CAD data of the object to be processed, and processing is performed based on these part configuration information and shape element information. It is a production planning support method characterized by setting a machining process and estimating man-hours for an object.

According to the present invention, the extraction means for extracting at least the part configuration information and the shape element information of the processing object from the three-dimensional CAD data of the processing object, and the part configuration information and the shape element information extracted by this extraction means are used. The production planning support apparatus is provided with a calculation means for setting a processing step and estimating the number of man-hours based on the processing object.

According to the present invention, an extracting means for extracting at least the component configuration information and the shape element information of the processing object from the three-dimensional CAD data of the processing object, and the attribute for adding the attribute data to the component configuration information and the shape element information. Data adding means, calculation means for performing processing step setting and man-hour estimation for the object to be processed based on the component configuration information extracted by the extracting means, the shape element information and the attribute data added by the attribute data adding means. Master storage means for storing the machining process setting and man-hour estimate obtained by the calculation means in the first database, an existing database in which the machining process setting and man-hour estimate for the existing machining target are saved, and machining in the existing database Existing data that determines whether or not there is already data for processing process setting and man-hour estimation for similar products of the object. And determination means, the result of the determination of the existing data determination means, if the data of the similar products are present,
The machining process setting and the man-hour estimate obtained by the calculation means are stored in the second database, and if similar product data already exists, the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate are edited with reference to the data. The production planning support apparatus is provided with an editing means for storing in a second database.

The present invention receives the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate created by the above-mentioned production planning support device, and carries out the production control of the object to be machined based on the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate. System.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a production management system to which the production planning support device of the present invention is applied. The production planning support device 1 is added to the production management system 2 and is used for parts machining CAPP (Computer Aided Process Planning).
The device is used. Hereinafter, the component processing CAPP apparatus 1 will be described.

The part processing CAPP1 is connected to a three-dimensional CAD device 3 for designing a part which is an object to be processed. The production management system 2 and the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 are connected to the component processing CAPP1 via a computer network to exchange data with each other.

In the three-dimensional design CAD device 3, when designing a three-dimensional shape part, a method of subtracting a shape element (hereinafter referred to as a feature) that forms an individual three-dimensional shape from a basic shape, and vice versa. Two methods are taken: a method of adding features. In the processing of individual parts, a removal processing method (for example, a processing method such as turning, cutting, electric discharge, or grinding) is generally used, and therefore a method of subtracting a feature from the basic shape is adopted.

That is, when designing a part shape as shown in FIG. 2 by the three-dimensional design CAD device 3, for example, a hexahedron shape which is a processing material is first defined, and a feature (cutout feature) for cutting out the hexahedron shape.
Take the steps to define. As a result, the three-dimensional design C
The AD device 3 defines the final part shape by performing the subtraction of the shape of the Boolean operation, for example. The shape of the part shown in FIG. 2 is from the first extruded shape to the grooved shape
After defining it as a punched shape, it is finished as the final processed shape.

Therefore, the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 has the three-dimensional CAD data of the part shape obtained by subtracting the features from the basic shape. This three-dimensional CAD data includes component configuration information including information such as component names,
The feature information of each part is included. For example, the part configuration information is stored in the three-dimensional CAD database 4.

In the three-dimensional design CAD device 3, it is generally possible to write the part configuration information and the feature information to the outside as the attribute information of the three-dimensional CAD. Even if what is defined on the three-dimensional CAD is an assembly by combining some parts, the feature information of each part can be inherited as the attribute value of the three-dimensional CAD assembly file. , Similarly, it is possible to write to an external file in a structured form.

Parts processing CAPP1 is a three-dimensional design CAD
It has a function of extracting part configuration information and feature information included in the three-dimensional CAD data of the device 3, and setting a machining process of the part and estimating man-hours based on the part configuration information and the feature information.

The function of this part processing CAPP1 is as follows.
Extraction means 5, attribute data addition means 6, calculation means 7, master storage means 8, existing data determination means 9 and editing means 10
There is. The extraction means 5 has a function of extracting the component configuration information and the feature information from the three-dimensional CAD data stored in the three-dimensional CAD database 4 which can be written directly to the outside of the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 via a computer network. .

The method of receiving the component configuration information and the feature information in the component processing CAPP1 may be indirectly performed via a storage medium (for example, a flexible memory). The component configuration information and the feature information may be individual component data or assembled data.

Here, the part processing CAPP1 may have a three-dimensional CAD function, and in this case, the three-dimensional CAD function is used when the part processing CAPP1 is used even if it is not written out to an external file. Then, the component configuration information and the feature information are directly extracted from the three-dimensional CAD data.

The attribute data adding means 6 interactively inputs the attribute data and adds the attribute data to the part configuration information and the feature information. As the attribute data, the assembly information of the part shape, the surface finishing information, and the dimension are included. It is at least one of the tolerance information or the material information. These attribute data are obtained by reading with reference to the designed drawing.

The assembly information is information such as which assembly it belongs to and how many it is used. The surface finishing information is information such as how many surfaces require such a specific surface roughness because the machining process and the estimated man-hours vary depending on the degree of surface finishing. The dimensional tolerance information changes the machining process and the estimated number of man-hours in the same manner as the surface finishing, and is information such as how many locations have such specific tolerances added. The material information is information classified into levels according to the type of material and the state of heat treatment because the processing process and the estimated man-hours change depending on whether or not the material is easy to process.

The reason for interactively inputting these attribute data will be described. This is because there is a limit to the data that can be passed from the 3D CAD data, and in general, surface finishing information, dimensional tolerance information, material information, etc. cannot be defined uniformly in the 3D CAD model, and are passed to an external system. Is difficult. In particular, it may be defined as an attribute value of a three-dimensional CAD model and added to the three-dimensional CAD data to be passed, but it is technically complicated and is not practical except for material information.

The calculating means 7 includes the component configuration information extracted by the extracting means 5, the feature information and the assembly information added by the attribute data adding means 6, the surface finishing information,
It has a function of setting machining steps and estimating man-hours for parts based on dimensional tolerance information and material information.

The calculating means 7 has a function of performing basic process setting for each part based on the part configuration information and the feature information extracted from the three-dimensional CAD data. However, the process information created at this stage is mainly a feature. It is not accurate because it is based on information only.
For this purpose, assembly information, surface finish information, dimensional tolerance information and material information are input.

Specifically, the calculating means 7 extracts the feature string extracted from the three-dimensional CAD data. FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram on a computer showing a feature sequence for the part shape shown in FIG. 2 as an example from the feature information of the three-dimensional CAD data. The calculating means 7 takes out a feature row and develops this feature row into a tool row or the like to be used based on a certain rule. FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram on a computer of an example in which a feature row is expanded into a tool row to be used based on a certain rule. As shown in FIG. 10, in the data structure expanded to the tool row to be used, a hexahedron machining (general-purpose milling machine), an upper surface groove machining (machining center),
Top surface hole machining (machining center), back surface hole processing (general-purpose drilling machine), and grinding processing (general-purpose grinding machine), of which the top surface groove processing and top surface hole processing are NC processes, and other hexahedral processing (general-purpose milling) and back surface hole processing The (general purpose drilling machine) and the grinding process (general purpose grinding machine) are manual operations, but data of these NC processes and manual operations are also included.

Therefore, the calculating means 7 uses the principle that the final shape is formed by accumulating the feature information, and develops the process and man-hour information from the feature information into all processes including the NC process and the manual work. 5 is shown in FIG.
It is a data structure figure on the computer which expanded the data structure on the computer expanded to the tool row etc. which were shown in to NC processing.

The master storing means 8 uses the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate obtained by the calculating means 7 as the CAPP for each part.
It has a function of storing in the master database (first database) 11. These machining process settings and man-hour estimates are information that is the basis of input to the production management system 2,
Specifically, for example, it includes a part name, the number of pieces, a step name sequence, and a temporary estimated man-hour for each step.

The parts processing CAPP1 is provided with a process / estimation library database (existing database) 12. The process / estimation library database 12 stores machining process settings and man-hour estimates for a plurality of existing parts. This process / estimation library database 12 is stored inside the parts processing CAPP1,
Alternatively, it is provided on an accessible storage device.

The existing data judging means 9 inquires of the process / estimation library database 12 whether or not data of machining process setting and man-hour estimation of a component similar to the component to be machined already exists, that is, similar to the past. It has a function of determining whether or not there is data for machining process setting and man-hour estimation. That is, since a part whose process and man-hours have been defined once can be used as a similar product from the second time, the process and man-hours of the part once defined are stored in the process / estimation library database 12 and can be searched.

As a result of the judgment of the existing data judging means 9, the editing means 10 determines the process / estimation library database 12
If there is no similar-article data, the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate obtained by the calculation means 7 are stored in the process master database (second database) 13, and if similar-article data already exists. It has a function of referring to the data, setting the machining process, editing the man-hour estimate, and storing the data in the process master database 13.

In this case, if the data of the similar product already exists, the editing means 10 rewrites the data of the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate of the similar product into more correct data and saves it in the process master database 13, and the similar product. If the data of No. does not exist, the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate obtained by the calculating means 7 are taken out, and the temporary process and the temporary man-hour are corrected interactively.

The process master database 13 generally describes data in a text format or a CSV format so that the production management system 2 can easily extract the data.

The part processing CAPP1 has a function of associating each part among the data of each part stored in the process master database 13. The association between the respective parts is an association between the processes when which parts are combined with each other and when several pieces are simultaneously processed in each process sequence.

The production control system 2 is a part processing CAPP.
Data of machining process setting and man-hour estimation is read from the process master database 13 of No. 1, and the progress management of the machining of the work and the actual man-hour management of the man and machine are performed according to the machining process for producing the product or the part. The production management system 2 is provided with a man-hour estimation database 14, and the machining process setting and man-hour estimation read from the process master database 13 are added to the man-hour estimation database 14.

Next, the operation of the apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to the production planning support flowchart shown in FIG.

In the three-dimensional design CAD device 3, for example, as shown in FIG.
When designing a part shape as shown in (1), first, for example, a hexahedron shape serving as a processing material is defined, and a feature for cutting out the hexahedron shape is defined. The component shape shown in FIG. 2 is defined as the final processed shape after defining the groove shape and the hole shape from the initial extruded shape.

Therefore, the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 stores the three-dimensional CAD data of the part shape obtained by subtracting the features from the basic shape in the three-dimensional CAD database 4. The three-dimensional CAD data includes part configuration information including information such as a part name, and feature information of each part.

The extraction means 5 of the parts processing CAPP1 can write the data directly to the outside of the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 through the computer network in step # 1.
3D CA stored in 3D CAD database 4
The component configuration information and the feature information are extracted from the D data.

Next, the attribute data adding means 6 reads the attribute data of the assembly information of the part shape, the surface finish information, the dimensional tolerance information and the material information with reference to the designed drawing in step # 2, and these attributes are read. Data is input interactively and this attribute data is added to the part configuration information and the feature information.

More specifically, the part processing CAPP1
Displays information such as which data the data read from the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 belongs to, which assembly the parts to be processed belong to, and how many of them are used. Correct the displayed information if it is incorrect.

Since the three-dimensional CAD data does not have the function of defining the degree of surface finish, the parts machining CAPP1
Display information such as how many surfaces require a specific surface roughness. In the display output example of the component processing CAPP1 shown in FIG. 7, since the surface roughness in the default state is cutting, the surface to be cut after finishing is specified. Then, the finishing degree is specified by the level. As a result, the number of man-hours for grinding is calculated.

Similarly, the size and the coordinate position of the surface to be ground can be obtained from the three-dimensional CAD data.

Even when a dimensional error is added to the dimensional value, information such as the number of places to which such a specific tolerance is added is input in the part machining CAPP1 in an interactive form. In FIG. 7, since the tolerance is entered in the depth of the hole, the default drill hole machining is not suitable as a machining process, and is changed to the end mill machining. There are cases in which this is determined by the size of the hole, and if the hole diameter is large, it is changed to end milling.

As for the material, the machining process and the estimated man-hours change depending on whether or not the material can be easily machined.
The P1 is input by classifying the level for each type of material and the state of heat treatment. In FIG. 7, the material is steel, but in the case of a super hard material, each process of grinding and electric discharge machining is selected as a basic process.

Next, the calculating means 7 is based on the part configuration information extracted by the extracting means 5, the feature information and the assembly information added by the attribute data adding means 6, the surface finishing information, the dimensional tolerance information and the material information. Set machining process and estimate man-hours for parts.

Specifically, the calculating means 7 takes out a feature row extracted from the three-dimensional CAD data as shown in FIG. 3, and uses this feature row as shown in FIG. 4 based on a certain rule. Expand to.

As shown in FIG. 10, the data structure developed in the tool row used in this process includes a hexahedron machining (general-purpose milling machine), an upper surface groove machining (machining center), an upper surface hole in the machining process of the component shape shown in FIG. Machining (machining center), backside hole machining (general purpose drilling machine), grinding process (general purpose grinding machine), of which upper surface groove machining and upper surface hole machining are N
In the C step, other hexahedron processing (general-purpose milling machine), back hole processing (general-purpose drilling machine) and grinding processing (general-purpose grinding machine) are manual operations, and data of these NC steps and manual operations are included.

Therefore, the calculating means 7 develops the process and man-hour information from the feature information to all processes including the NC process and the manual work by utilizing the principle that the final shape is formed by accumulating the feature information.

Next, the master storing means 8 performs, for each part, the machining process setting and the man-hour estimation which are obtained by the calculating means 7, for example, the part name, the number, the process name sequence, and the temporary man-hour estimated for each process. Save in the master database 11.

Next, the existing data judging means 9 determines in step # 3 the process / estimation library database 1
2 is inquired as to whether or not there is already a part similar to the part to be machined, that is, data of machining process setting and man-hour estimation of a similar part in the past, and the process / estimation library database 12 is searched in step # 4. .

Next, in step # 5, the editing means 10 obtains by the calculating means 7 if there is no similar product data in the process / estimation library database 12 as a result of the determination by the existing data determining means 9. The machining process setting and the man-hour estimate are stored in the process master database 13. In this case, the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate obtained by the calculation means 7 are taken out, and the temporary process and the temporary man-hour are interactively corrected.

On the other hand, if similar item data already exists,
The editing means 10 refers to the data, edits the machining process setting and the man-hour estimation, and stores the data in the process master database 13. In this case, the data of the machining process setting and the man-hour estimation of the similar product are rewritten to more correct data and stored in the process master database 13.

Here, it is basically unnecessary to modify the machining process sequence, but the man-hours are changed unless the parts are exactly the same. Even if the same parts have different production quantities, they will be changed. Also, the setup man-hour required for processing is input here.

Finally, in step # 6, the parts machining CAPP1 associates the parts among the data for each part stored in the process master database 13, that is, which parts are combined with which parts. Correlation between processes when several processes are simultaneously processed in each process sequence.

The production control system 2 is a part processing CAPP.
Data of machining process setting and man-hour estimation is read from the process master database 13 of No. 1, and these machining process setting and man-hour estimation are added to the man-hour estimating database 14,
According to the processing process for producing products and parts, the progress management of the work and the actual man-hour management of the man and machine are performed.

As described above, in the above-mentioned one embodiment,
The part configuration information and the feature information are extracted from the three-dimensional CAD data of the part, and the feature sequence is developed into a tool sequence to be used based on a certain rule based on the part configuration information and the feature information, and the machining process setting and the process for the part are performed. Since the man-hour estimation is performed, since the data of the NC process and the manual work is included in the data structure developed in the tool row to be used, the process and man-hour information is converted from the feature information into the NC process and the manual work. Therefore, it is not necessary to manually set the machining process and estimate the man-hours, and it is possible to automatically perform the machining process setting and the man-hour estimation for the entire process even if the work is manually performed.

For example, the machining process shown in FIG. 10 includes hexahedron machining (general-purpose milling), upper surface groove machining (machining center), upper surface hole machining (machining center), back surface hole machining (general-purpose drilling machine), and grinding (general-purpose grinding machine). ,
Among these, the upper surface groove processing and the upper surface hole processing are NC processes, and other hexahedron processing (general-purpose milling machine), back surface hole processing (general-purpose drilling machine) and grinding processing (general-purpose grinding machine) are manual operations. Even if the process and manual work are included, it is possible to automatically estimate the man-hours of all the machining processes.

Further, in the component structure information and the feature information,
Attribute data consisting of assembly information, surface finish information, dimensional tolerance information, and material information is added to perform machining process setting and man-hour estimation, so basic process setting can be performed individually for each part from the part configuration information and feature information. Also, since the process information created at this stage is mainly based on feature information only, it is not accurate, but attribute data consisting of assembly information, surface finish information, dimensional tolerance information and material information should be added. Therefore, it is possible to accurately set the machining process and estimate the man-hours.

Thus, by automatically passing the data of the machining process setting and the man-hour estimation to the production management system 2, it is possible to make a quick plan, and as a result, a more accurate production plan that is consistent with the current progress. Can be planned, and more efficient operation of humans and machines can be achieved. That is, the production management system 2 reads the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate from the process master database 13 into the man-hour estimation database 14 of the process master database 13 at the time of drafting the production plan, and the expert performs the process design and the man-hour estimation of the part. Data entry for machining process setting and man-hour estimation can be completed with speed and accuracy equivalent to or higher than the case.

Further, it becomes possible to mechanically perform skill-less work of setting machining steps and estimating man-hours, which has been conventionally performed by a skilled person, and as a result, it is possible to prevent variation in data due to human factors. It can be a work that does not require much experience and knowledge about equipment capacity, and more efficient production activities can be realized.

Since the three-dimensional CAD data of the part shape as it is is received from the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 used for part design, the procedure of reading each combination of vector elements such as lines, points and circles defining the shape from the drawing one by one. It can be omitted, changed to a simple and error-free method, and as a result, planning mistakes can be reduced and more efficient production activities can be realized.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned one embodiment, and can be variously modified at the stage of implementation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the section of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and it is described in the section of the effect of the invention. When the effect of being obtained is obtained, a configuration in which this constituent element is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

For example, in the above-described one embodiment, the parts machining CAPP1 is the same as the production management system 2 and the three-dimensional design CAD.
It is connected to the device 3 via a computer network. The parts processing CAPP1 is originally intended to automate the data input work to the production management system 2, and the above configuration is most practical. Instead of such a configuration, the component processing CAPP1 may be incorporated into the production management system 2 as a part of the production management system 2 or may be incorporated into the three-dimensional design CAD device 3 depending on the case.

[0084]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to manually set the machining process and estimate the man-hours, and even if the work is manually performed, the machining process setting and the man-hour estimation for the entire process can be automatically performed. It is possible to provide a production planning support method and apparatus, and a production management system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a production management system to which an embodiment of a production planning support apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a shape of a part to be supported in the embodiment of the production planning support apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram showing a feature column of three-dimensional CAD data in the embodiment of the production planning support apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram expanded into a tool row using a feature row in the embodiment of the production planning support apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a data structure diagram developed for NC processing in an embodiment of the production planning support apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a production plan support flowchart in one embodiment of the production plan support apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an attribute data input screen in an embodiment of the production planning support apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an overall image of a conventional production management system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of conventional process setting and man-hour estimation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an NC process of a coverage area in a conventional CAM system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Production planning support device (part processing CAPP) 2: Production management system 3: 3D CAD system 4: 3D CAD database 5: Extraction means 6: means for adding attribute data 7: Calculation method 8: Master storage means 9: Existing data judgment means 10: Editing means 11: CAPP master database 12: Process / estimate library database 13: Process master database 14: Effort estimation database

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. At least part configuration information and shape element information of the processing object are extracted from the three-dimensional CAD data of the processing object, and a processing step setting for the processing object is performed based on the part configuration information and the shape element information. And a man-hour estimate, a production planning support method. 2. The production planning support method according to claim 1, wherein the processing step setting and the man-hour estimation are created by expanding the shape element information. 3. The production plan support method according to claim 1, wherein attribute data is added to the part configuration information and the shape element information to perform the machining step setting and the man-hour estimation. 4. The production plan support method according to claim 1, wherein the attribute data is at least one of assembly information, surface finish information, dimensional tolerance information, and material information of the workpiece. . 5. A judgment is made as to whether or not there is already data for processing step setting and man-hour estimation for a similar product of the object to be processed, and if the data for the similar product already exists, the data is referred to and the 2. The production planning support method according to claim 1, further comprising setting a machining process and editing the man-hour estimate. 6. The manufacturing process setting and the man-hour estimation are passed to a production management system that manages the progress of processing and the actual man-hour management of man and machine according to the processing process of the object to be processed. The production planning support method described. 7. Extraction means for extracting at least part configuration information and shape element information of the processing object from the three-dimensional CAD data of the processing object, and the part configuration information and the shape element information extracted by this extraction means. A production planning support apparatus comprising: a calculation means for setting a processing step and estimating the number of man-hours based on the object to be processed. 8. The calculating means calculates the shape element information by N.
8. The production plan support apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the machining process setting and the man-hour estimation are performed by expanding the machining process to C machining. 9. Extraction means for extracting at least part configuration information and shape element information of the processing object from the three-dimensional CAD data of the processing object, and attribute data for adding attribute data to the part configuration information and the shape element information. Addition means, setting of a machining process and estimation of man-hours for the workpiece based on the component configuration information extracted by the extraction means, the shape element information, and the attribute data added by the attribute data addition means. Calculating means, master storing means for storing the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate obtained by the calculating means in the first database, and an existing database storing the machining process setting and the man-hour estimate for the existing object to be processed. And, in the existing database, processing step settings and man-hour estimation data for similar products of the processing target are stored. Existing data judging means for judging whether or not the existing product exists, and if the data of the similar product does not exist as a result of the judgment by the existing data judging means, the processing step setting and the man-hour estimation obtained by the calculating means are performed. And (2) are stored in the second database, and the data of the similar product already exists, the processing step setting and the man-hour estimation are edited with reference to the data, and the data is stored in the second database. A production planning support device comprising: 10. The machining process setting and the man-hour estimate created by the production planning support apparatus according to claim 7, and receives the machining object based on the machining-process setting and the man-hour estimate. A production management system characterized by managing the production of goods.