JP2012190113A - Processing data generation system, and solver program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To organically integrate respective functions for processing process determination, tooling determination, and cutting condition determination and to consistently generate NC data for drilling processing with CAD data as an input.SOLUTION: A processing data generation system includes processing data generation means 21 as a core, processing process determination means 22, tooling determination means 23, cutting condition determination means 24, integrated database 25, and the like. The processing data generation means 21 extracts a shape of respective holes from product shapes. The processing process determination means 22 determines processing processes for respective holes that satisfy requested roughness and requested accuracy by referring to the integrated database 25. The tooling determination means 23 performs processing simulation and determines an optimal tooling form for respective drilling processing. Then, the processing data generation means 21 sequentially determines an approach route and a retract route, and adds the optimal cutting condition determined by the cutting condition determination means 24 to partial NC data for respective drilling processing to generate integrated NC data.

Description

  The present invention relates to a machining data generation system for creating machining data for drilling in machining. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for realizing efficiency and automation of machining data creation work of hole machining for parts and products mainly for single-piece machining such as molds and machine tool parts.

  Conventionally, in the process of creating NC (Numerical Control) data as machining data, the machining process and tools used in each process, tooling, cutting conditions, etc. are sequentially determined, and the CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) system stores this information. Upon receipt, the tool movement path (NC path) necessary for machining is calculated and NC data is created.

Here, in the prior art, the following two methods are mainly used for determining the machining process for the hole machining.
(1) Using a CAM system, a person determines the machining process of each hole by interactive processing while looking at the drawing.
(2) By registering the machining process according to the hole pattern (hole shape, application, etc.) and the tool used for each process in advance in the CAM system, the machining process and use according to the hole pattern when creating NC data The machining process of each hole is determined by the method of assigning tools.

  For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose a mechanism for determining a processing step mainly by the method (2). Further, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a research content related to process design focusing on the dependency of the machining shape feature. Non-Patent Document 2 discloses commercially available CAM software that determines a machining process mainly by the method (2).

JP 2009-274160 A JP 2010-27018 A JP 2008-149382 A

Journal of Japan Society for Precision Engineering Vol.73 No.4-5,2007 “Study on process design focusing on the dependence of machining shape characteristics (1st-3rd reports)” http://www.machinesol.jp/solution/proglesys1.html (searched February 16, 2011)

However, in the case where the person manually performs the drawing based on the drawing as in the method (1), the machining process design requires a person's thinking work involving trial and error, and takes time required for skill. Work.
In addition, the conventional technique using the method (2) including Patent Documents 1 to 3 and Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 has the following problems.

  Even in the case of the method (2), registration of the machining process according to the hole pattern to the CAM system is necessary in advance. Since the hole pattern varies depending on the shape and application, there are a large number of patterns. It takes time to register, and if a new pattern occurs, new registration is required. It took a lot of effort.

  Tooling is mainly determined by the operator according to the machining process and the tool to be used, and is input in such a manner that it is designated before NC path calculation on the CAM system. In such a case, when an interference occurs in the NC path calculation and an error is displayed, the operator re-determines the tooling that is considered to be able to avoid the interference and continues the NC data creation work. Some CAM systems can calculate NC paths that avoid tooling interference. In this case, however, tooling interference does not allow the tool to enter a deep location, resulting in machining residue. NC data creation work was continued by re-determining tooling. In any case, since NC data was created after the tooling was decided, interference and machining residue frequently occurred in NC path calculation, and the result was that the work was repeatedly returned with trial and error. In addition, if the tooling is determined to be thin so that interference does not easily occur in order to avoid backtracking, there is a demerit that the machining efficiency is greatly reduced due to low rigidity.

  In addition, cutting conditions such as tool rotation speed and tool feed speed are determined by quoting those registered in advance according to the tool or those registered in accordance with the tool and partly standardized tool protrusion length. Was. Therefore, it was not determined in detail in consideration of the overall tooling configuration including the protrusion length of each tool and the configuration of the holder.

  Furthermore, since a series of NC data creation processing using the CAM system is performed by dialogue processing, a person has to be resident in the CAM system, which requires constant manpower and a lot of man-hours. . In addition, machining process determination, tool use for each process, tooling determination, and cutting condition determination are intermittent operations through operator interaction, and are discontinuous in terms of data flow. Met.

  As described above, an automated system that organically combines the functions of machining process determination, tooling determination, and cutting condition determination and that consistently generates NC data for drilling using CAD data as an input has not yet been constructed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to organically combine the functions of machining process determination, tooling determination, and cutting condition determination, and drilling with CAD data as input. It is to provide a machining data generation system or the like that can consistently generate NC data.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the first invention is to extract product shape data including a hole shape and material data, a processing target hole from the product shape data, and input each processing target hole. A machining process determining means for determining a partial machining process that is a machining process, and based on the partial machining process and the material data, a movement path of a tool is calculated only by a tool shape for each machining target hole, and the machining target Supporting the tool and the tool for each hole to be machined on the condition that no interference occurs based on the partial machining data and partial machining data generation means for generating partial machining data that is machining data for each hole Tooling determining means for determining tooling which is a combination of holders to be cut, and cutting for determining a cutting condition for each hole to be processed based on the tooling The condition determining means and the cutting conditions are given to the partial machining data, the tool moving path from the machining target hole to be machined in advance and retracted from the machining target hole to reach the machining target hole to be machined immediately is sequentially determined. By doing so, there is provided a machining data generation system comprising: integrated machining data generation means for generating integrated machining data which is machining data for continuously machining all the machining target holes.
According to the first invention, it is possible to generate integrated machining data that is machining data for machining all holes by simply inputting product shape data and material data. In particular, by determining tooling on the condition that interference does not occur based on partial machining data that is machining data for each machining target hole, there is no reversal of process design work.

The first invention indicates an appropriate machining procedure and tool type in association with finishing information indicating the finished state of the hole for each element shape which is a general-purpose shape constituting a part of the hole shape. It is desirable to further include storage means for storing machining process information or tool capability information indicating the capability of the tool in advance.
As a result, it is possible to make use of on-site machining know-how and standardize machining data generation work.

Further, the machining step determining means in the first invention extracts the element shape from the hole to be machined, and searches the storage content stored in the storage means for each element shape, for each element shape. A machining process is generated, the order of the machining process for each element shape is provisionally determined based on a predetermined integration rule, and the order is provisionally determined based on a predetermined correction rule. It is desirable to determine the partial machining step by correcting the machining step for each element shape.
Accordingly, since the machining process for the entire hole shape can be created only from the information for each element shape, it is not necessary to prepare a template for the machining process for each overall shape of the hole, and the maintainability and expandability are excellent.

Further, the cutting condition determining means in the first invention estimates the tooling rigidity determined by the tooling determining means, determines the cutting condition based on the estimated tooling rigidity, and the integrated machining The data generation means preferably outputs the partial machining process determined by the machining process determination means and the integrated machining data without changing the tooling determined by the tooling determination means.
By determining the cutting conditions based on the rigidity of the tooling, machining data with high cutting efficiency can be generated. Furthermore, in the past, there was a possibility that the tooling decision itself may be reworked, so even if the tooling stiffness estimation process that requires a relatively long calculation time is incorporated and the entire process is automated, it may be wasted. However, in the first invention, since no return occurs in the determination of the tooling, even if the tooling rigidity estimation process is incorporated, the process does not end in vain. Therefore, machining data with high cutting efficiency can be generated without increasing the process design work time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the processing is performed based on the input means for inputting the product shape data including the hole shape and the material data, the partial processing step that is a processing step for each processing target hole, and the material data. A machining path is calculated based on only the tool shape for each target hole, partial machining data generating means for generating partial machining data that is machining data for each of the machining target holes, and the cutting conditions are given to the partial machining data. The machining for machining all the machining target holes by sequentially retreating from the machining target hole to be processed in advance and sequentially determining the movement path of the tool until reaching the machining target hole to be machined immediately after It is a solver program for a computer-aided manufacturing program for functioning as an integrated machining data generation means for generating integrated machining data as data. A machining step determining means for extracting a machining target hole from the product shape data inputted by the input means, and determining a partial machining process which is a machining process for each machining target hole; and the partial machining data generation Tooling determining means for determining tooling that is a combination of the tool and a holder that supports the tool for each hole to be processed on the condition that no interference occurs based on the partial machining data generated by the means; A solver program for functioning as cutting condition determining means for determining a cutting condition for each hole to be processed based on the tooling determined by the tooling determining means.
Thus, even if the computer-aided manufacturing program is changed, only the interface with the computer-aided manufacturing program is corrected without changing the programs for realizing the machining process determining means, tooling determining means, and cutting condition determining means. Good and excellent system expandability.

The solver program according to the second aspect of the invention relates to an appropriate processing by associating the computer with finish information indicating the finish state of the hole for each element shape which is a general-purpose shape constituting a part of the hole shape. It is desirable to function as storage means for storing in advance machining process information indicating the procedure and tool type, or tool capability information indicating the capability of the tool.
As a result, even if the computer-aided manufacturing program is changed, reuse of already registered data becomes easy.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a machining data generation system and the like that can organically combine machining process determination, tooling determination, and cutting condition determination functions and can consistently generate NC data for drilling using CAD data as an input. be able to.

Computer hardware configuration diagram Diagram showing the outline of the machining data generation system Diagram showing an example of hole shape Figure showing an example of hole processing specifications (hole information) Diagram showing an overview of the consolidated database Figure showing an example of construction method table The figure which shows an example of a processing step table Flow chart showing processing of processing step determination means The figure which shows an example of the process determined by the process determination means The figure which shows an example of a tool capability table Flow chart showing processing of tooling determination means The figure explaining a tooling determination means Flow chart showing processing of cutting condition determining means Flow chart showing processing of machining data generation means Flow chart of processing step decision processing The figure which shows an example of a machining allowance table Flowchart of a part of the processing step determination process of the first example Diagram showing an example of provisional processing steps The figure which shows an example of a tool classification priority table Flowchart of provisional machining step determination process Processing step correction flowchart The figure which shows an example of a process addition requirement table The figure which shows the modification of a process step table Table derivation flowchart Flowchart of a part of processing step determination processing of the second example Flowchart of a part of the processing step determination process of the third example The figure which shows an example of the software constitution for realizing the processing data generation system Schematic diagram explaining the conventional machining process decision algorithm Schematic diagram illustrating the processing step determination algorithm of the present invention

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the following, first, an outline of the configuration and processing of the machining data generation system will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. Next, details of the processing step determination means will be described with reference to FIGS. Next, a software configuration for realizing the machining data generation system will be described with reference to FIG. Next, the difference between the prior art and the machining process determination algorithm of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

<1. Outline of processing data generation system configuration and processing>
First, the outline of the configuration and processing of the machining data generation system will be described with reference to FIGS.
Each means included in the machining data generation system of the present invention is realized by installing dedicated software in a computer. First, the hardware configuration of the computer will be described.

FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a computer. The hardware configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and various configurations can be adopted depending on applications and purposes.
In the computer 1, a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a media input / output unit 13, a communication control unit 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, a peripheral device I / F unit 17 and the like are connected via a bus 18.
The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like.
The CPU calls a program stored in the storage unit 12, ROM, recording medium, or the like to a work memory area on the RAM and executes it, and drives and controls each device connected via the bus 18. To achieve the process.
The ROM is a non-volatile memory, and permanently stores a boot program for the computer 1, a program such as BIOS, data, and the like.
The RAM is a volatile memory, and temporarily stores programs, data, and the like loaded from the storage unit 12, ROM, recording medium, and the like, and includes a work area used by the control unit 11 for performing various processes.
The storage unit 12 is an HDD (hard disk drive), and stores a program executed by the control unit 11, data necessary for program execution, an OS (operating system), and the like. As for the program, a control program corresponding to an OS (operating system) and an application program for causing the computer 1 to execute processing to be described later are stored.
Each of these program codes is read by the control unit 11 as necessary, transferred to the RAM, read by the CPU, and executed as various means.
The media input / output unit 13 (drive device) inputs / outputs data, for example, media such as a CD drive (-ROM, -R, -RW, etc.), DVD drive (-ROM, -R, -RW, etc.) Has input / output devices.
The communication control unit 14 includes a communication control device, a communication port, and the like, is a communication interface that mediates communication between the computer 1 and the network, and controls communication with other computers 1 via the network. The network may be wired or wireless.
The input unit 15 inputs data and includes, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, and an input device such as a numeric keypad. An operation instruction, an operation instruction, data input, and the like can be performed on the computer 1 via the input unit 15.
The display unit 16 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and a logic circuit (video adapter or the like) for realizing the video function of the computer 1 in cooperation with the display device.
The peripheral device I / F (interface) unit 17 is a port for connecting a peripheral device to the computer 1, and the computer 1 transmits and receives data to and from the peripheral device via the peripheral device I / F unit 17. The peripheral device I / F unit 17 is configured by USB, IEEE 1394, RS-232C, or the like, and usually includes a plurality of peripheral devices I / F. The connection form with the peripheral device may be wired or wireless.
The bus 18 is a path that mediates transmission / reception of control signals, data signals, and the like between the devices.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the machining data generation system.
As shown in FIG. 2, the machining data generation system of the present invention has a machining data generation unit 21 as a core, and further includes a machining step determination unit 22, a tooling determination unit 23, a cutting condition determination unit 24, an integrated database 25, and the like. Is done.
The integrated database 25 includes a construction method database 26, an equipment database 27, and the like.
Further, the machining data generation system may include product shape design means 28 and jig setting means 29 as necessary.

  When the dedicated software is installed in the computer 1, the control unit 11 of the computer 1 causes the machining data generation unit 21, the machining process determination unit 22, the tooling determination unit 23, the cutting condition determination unit 24, and the product shape design unit 28. The storage unit 12 and the external storage device of the computer 1 function as the integrated database 25.

For example, consider a case where the machining data generation system is realized by a plurality of computers 1 (hereinafter referred to as computers 1-1 and 1-2).
The product shape designed by the product shape design means 28 of the computer 1-1 is sent to the machining data generation means 21 of the computer 1-2 in order to generate NC data (machining data) for drilling as product shape data. These are input via the input means of the computer 1-2 (for example, the media input / output unit 13, the communication control unit 14, the input unit 15, the peripheral device I / F unit 17, etc.).
In addition, if necessary, the product shape is converted into a predetermined input / output format such as IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) or STEP (Standard for The Exchange of Product model data), and then converted into a data format. Sometimes.

Further, for example, consider a case where the machining data generation system is realized by a single computer 1.
The product shape designed by the product shape design unit 28 is transferred to the machining data generation unit 21 as product shape data, for example, held in the RAM or the storage unit 12.

  After the product shape data is input or delivered, the processing data generation means 21 includes input means (for example, media input / output unit 13, communication control unit 14, input unit 15, peripheral device I / F unit). 17), the shape specification and material of the material, and the name of the processing machine used for processing are input.

  Here, as the shape specification of the material, for example, in the case of a block material, the size specification is input, and in the case of a casting material or the like, the thickness amount added from the product shape is input. As the material of the material, for example, a material name such as cast iron or a predetermined material symbol is input. Further, as the processing machine name, for example, one of the processing machine names set in advance in the processing machine table of the integrated database 25 is input. The input means for inputting the shape specifications and materials of these materials, and the name of the processing machine is, for example, input by a user using the input unit 15 such as a mouse or a keyboard, or collectively written in a file, and entered into the media. There is a case where the input is performed via the output unit 13, the communication control unit 14, the input unit 15, the peripheral device I / F unit 17, or the like. Moreover, it may be stored in the storage unit 12 in advance.

  First, the processing data generation means 21 generates material shape data based on the input material shape specifications. At this time, when the shape specification of the material is designated as the thickness from the product shape, the product shape data is also referred to. Further, the processing data generation unit 21 may include a material shape generation unit (not shown), and the material shape generation unit may generate the material shape data. Further, after generating the material shape data, the jig setting means 29 may set a jig for fixing the material to the table of the processing machine. The jig setting means 29 sets the jig based on the shape of the jig registered in advance and the installation position input by the user using the input unit 15.

  Next, the machining data generation means 21 extracts the shape of each hole as shown in FIG. 3 (details will be described later) from the product shape, and generates the machining parameters of the hole based on the shape of the hole. In the hole shape extraction, the surface that forms the hole is searched from the product shape, the hole type, hole shape dimension, reference point position, reference axis direction, etc. are recognized from the set, and the required surface of each surface Recognize roughness and required accuracy (shape accuracy and dimensional accuracy).

  Next, the machining data generation means 21 generates machining specification data of individual holes as shown in FIG. 4 (details will be described later) from the recognized information, and the generated machining specification data is used as the machining process determination means 22. Pass to. Here, the creation of the machining specification data from the hole shape extraction is performed for each individual hole.

Next, the processing step determination means 22 is based on the processing specifications of the individual holes and the material of the material acquired from the processing data generation means 21, and the construction method table 31 (see FIG. 6) of the construction method database 26 (see FIG. 5). ) And the machining step table 32 (see FIG. 7), and the tool table (see FIG. 5) of the equipment database 27, the required surface roughness and required accuracy of the holes specified as the machining parameters of each hole. 8 is determined by a processing procedure (details will be described later) shown in FIG.
In the construction method table 31, information on a construction method that satisfies a predetermined required surface roughness and required accuracy is registered according to the material of the material, and in the processing step table 32, information on a processing step corresponding to the construction method is stored. Registered (details will be described later).
Here, the processing step is information necessary for determining the tool type and processing operation for processing the material to be processed. The tool type information is information on a name indicating the type of a tool to be processed into a workpiece material and information indicating a symbol of a tool to be processed into a workpiece material. That is, the information on the tool type is at least one of information on a name indicating the type of a tool to be processed into the work material and information indicating a symbol.

Here, the construction method table 31 and the machining step table 32 are not necessarily required, and it is possible to determine a tool having the best machining efficiency using a tool capability table 33 as shown in FIG. .
In the tool capability table 33, information related to the processing capability of the tool corresponding to the material is registered, and the processing step can be determined by selecting the most suitable tool in terms of processing efficiency based on the processing capability of the tool. (Details will be described later).

  An example of the machining process determined by the machining process determining means 22 is shown in FIG. 9 (details will be described later). Each hole processing step determined by the processing step determination unit 22 is transferred to the processing data generation unit 21. Here, the process step is determined for each hole.

  The machining data generation means 21 calculates a movement path of a tool for machining a hole based on the machining process of each hole acquired from the machining process determination means 22, and based on this, the NC portion of each hole machining is calculated. Data (partial machining data) is generated. Here, the partial NC data means partial NC data corresponding to each hole for processing the hole. The generated partial NC data for drilling the hole together with the material shape data and the machining process for each hole determined by the machining process determining means 22 and the tool and holder (for gripping the tool) when machining the hole. , Also referred to as a chuck)) is passed to the tooling determining means 23 for determining a tooling form which is a combined form. Here, if necessary, the name of the processing machine and the material used for processing are also passed.

The tooling determination means 23 uses the material shape data based on the machining process of each hole and the partial NC data of each hole machining, and uses the tool table and tooling table of the equipment database 27 (see FIG. 5), as well as necessary. Accordingly, by performing a machining simulation with reference to the processing machine table and the jig table, there is no interference in the machining of the individual holes, and the optimum tooling configuration of the individual hole machining that is predicted to have the highest rigidity is shown in FIG. It is determined by the processing procedure shown (details will be described later).
In the determination of the tooling form, in addition to the method of determining from the tooling table registered as fixed tooling in a state where the tool and the holder are combined in advance, both the tool table and the holder table of the equipment database 27 (see FIG. 5) are used. It is also effective to use and determine a tool / holder combination form. The latter has the advantage that the tool protrusion length and the holder protrusion length when a plurality of holders are combined can also be determined.

  The optimum tooling form of each hole machining determined by the tooling determination means 23 is transferred to the machining data generation means 21. Here, the optimum tooling configuration is determined for each hole.

The machining data generation means 21 delivers the optimum tooling form for each hole machining acquired from the tooling decision means 23 to the cutting condition decision means 24, and the optimum cutting conditions for each hole machining considering the tooling rigidity from the cutting condition decision means 24. To get. The processing procedure for determining the optimum cutting condition in the cutting condition determining means 24 is shown in FIG. 13 (details will be described later).
After that, the machining data generation means 21 retreats from the approach path and retract path for machining all holes, that is, the tool to retract from the machining target hole to be machined in advance and reach the machining target hole to be machined immediately thereafter. The path of movement is determined sequentially, the optimum cutting conditions for each hole drilling are given to the NC data for each hole drilling, and these are integrated based on the approach path and retract path for machining all holes. The integrated NC data for machining all holes is generated, and the machining process, optimum tooling configuration, and integrated NC data are output means (for example, media input / output unit 13, communication control unit 14, display unit 16, peripheral Output via the device I / F unit 17). Further, the machining data generation means 21 may store the machining process, the optimum tooling configuration, and the integrated NC data in the storage unit 12.

  As described above, the machining data generation system of the present invention organically couples the machining process determination means 22, the tooling determination means 23, the cutting condition determination means 24, and the integrated database 25 with the machining data generation means 21 as the core. Thus, machining data in which the machining process, the tooling configuration, and the cutting conditions are comprehensively examined can be automatically generated consistently without human intervention. The processing procedure of the machining data generation means 21 as the core of the machining data generation system is shown in FIG. 14 (details will be described later).

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a hole. As shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the hole is configured by a combination of element shapes which are general-purpose shapes. That is, the element shape is a shape constituting a part of the hole shape. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the shape of the hole is constituted by a combination of three element shapes. Each stage (first stage, second stage, and third stage) shown in FIG. 3 is an element shape.
The element shape is defined by the processing parameters (hole information) of the hole including finish information indicating the finish state of the hole. The hole information includes information representing the finished state of the side surface, information representing the type of the side surface, information representing the finished state of the bottom surface, information representing the type of the bottom surface, and the like.
Hereinafter, as an example of the element shape, the shape of each stage shown in FIG. 3 will be described as an example.

The finish information includes, for example, at least one of information representing surface roughness, information representing shape accuracy, and information representing dimensional accuracy. Further, the information representing the type of the side surface includes, for example, at least one information of a general cylindrical surface, a tapered surface, a parallel thread surface, and a tapered thread surface. The information indicating the type of the bottom surface includes, for example, at least one information of a flat surface, a tool tip transfer surface, and a penetration.
In the following description, a case where shape accuracy or dimensional accuracy is used as processing accuracy will be described as an example. For example, the hole information is information indicating the reference coordinates of the hole, the header portion indicating the number of steps and the diameter and depth of each step, the surface roughness and processing accuracy of the side surface, and the surface roughness and processing accuracy of the bottom surface.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of hole processing specifications (hole information).
As a method of expressing surface roughness, for example, a continuous surface roughness range is classified based on restrictions such as processing methods, and expressed as `` superior '', `` upper '', `` medium '', `` roughness '', etc. To do. The relative order of the roughness indicated by each expression becomes rougher in the order of “excellent” <“up” <“medium” <“rough”.
Similarly, the processing accuracy is expressed as “extremely high”, “high”, “normal”, “general”, or the like. The relative order of processing accuracy indicated by each expression decreases in the order of “extremely high”, “high”, “normal”, and “general”. Here, “general” indicates “general tolerance” defined by the drafting standard.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of the integrated database.
As shown in FIG. 5, the integrated database 25 includes a construction method database 26 that stores information on construction methods, and an equipment database 27 that stores information about equipment.
The construction method database 26 includes a construction method table, a machining step table, a cutting condition table, a tool capability table, a cutting allowance table, a tool type priority table, a process addition requirement table, and the like. The equipment database 27 includes a processing machine table, a jig table, a tool table, a holder table, a tooling table, and the like.

For the construction method table, machining step table, tool capability table, machining allowance table, tool type priority table, and process addition requirement table, refer to FIGS. 6, 7, 10, 16, 19, and 22, respectively. It will be described later.
The cutting condition table stores information on cutting conditions such as the tool rotation speed and the tool feed speed. The processing machine table stores information on available processing machines. The jig table stores information on usable jigs. The tool table stores information about available tools. The holder table stores information on available holders. The tooling table stores information on tooling forms that can be combined among the tools stored in the tool table and the holders stored in the holder table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a construction method table.
As shown in FIG. 6, the construction method table 31 includes a combination code of surface roughness and processing accuracy on the side surface of a hole to be processed into a work material, and a combination of surface roughness and processing accuracy of the bottom surface of the hole. The method classification code and attached information of the method (method name) that satisfies the surface roughness and processing accuracy on the side surface of the specified hole and the surface roughness and processing accuracy of the bottom surface of the hole corresponding to the code are registered. Yes.
In addition, since there are cases where the bottom surface is a through hole or the tip shape of the tool may remain the same (when the state of the bottom surface is not known), a combination code for the bottom surface is separately provided in such a case. For example, in the case of a through hole, a bottom surface combination code is separately provided for bottom surface penetration.
In addition, the construction method classification name (construction method classification code) may describe a name representing a general name of the construction method suitable for realizing the specified surface roughness and processing accuracy. For example, the description may be made based on terms normally used by operators in the field such as “side rough-penetration” and “side rough-stop”.

  Surface roughness and processing accuracy are individually expressed by independent scales. On the other hand, when high processing accuracy is required, surface roughness adapted to processing accuracy is required, and there is a certain degree of correlation with each other. From the standpoint of machining, if a machining method that achieves high machining accuracy is selected, a corresponding surface roughness can be obtained as a result. From these, as a mechanism to represent the finished state (surface roughness, machining accuracy) of the side and bottom surfaces, the combination of the surface roughness and machining accuracy of the hole to be machined into the workpiece material is assigned to some symbol This hole can be expressed. At this time, even for a hole having a specific form such as a screw, a symbol may be assigned as a hole having surface roughness and processing accuracy expressed as “screw”. This merely represents the surface roughness and the machining accuracy, and does not represent the function, application, or machining method of the hole.

Further, as described above, attached information is registered in the construction method table 31. As ancillary information, for example, there are uncut amounts of diameter and depth. This uncut amount is registered in the construction method table 31 when, for example, it is desired to specify the uncut amount for the design value. The expression of the uncut amount is a case where an actual remaining amount such as “0.1” or “−0.2” is designated, and a coefficient for a diameter such as “0.1D” or “−0.2D”, Or it may be specified by a coefficient for the depth such as “0.1 L” or “−0.2 L”. Similarly, when some dimension adjustment is required, the corresponding attached information may be registered in the construction method table 31.
As described above, the method table 31 includes information indicating the finished state of the side surface of the hole to be processed into the workpiece material, information indicating the type of the side surface of the hole, and information indicating the finished state of the bottom surface of the hole and the hole. A method name suitable for machining a hole corresponding to information indicating the type of the bottom surface is registered in advance.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the processing step table.
As shown in FIG. 7, the machining step table 32 is a table in which candidates for machining steps (machining processes) corresponding to the construction method names are defined. The machining step describes and expresses the tool type used when machining the target hole in the order of application. Machining step candidates are described in the machining step table 32, and one step is expressed by one tool type. In the machining step table 32, one step (one tool type) is called one process. Here, the method indicated by the name of the target method is a method capable of realizing the surface roughness and processing accuracy of the side surface of the target hole, and the surface roughness and processing accuracy of the bottom surface of the target hole. The method consists of the final process (finishing tool type and machining method) that can achieve the required surface roughness and machining accuracy and the subordinate processes (tool type and machining method) required to reach the final process. Describe. Since there are a plurality of processes for realizing the required surface roughness and machining accuracy, the process candidates are described according to the priority order in consideration of the machining efficiency and the like.
As described above, in the processing step table 32, processing steps (processing step candidates) suitable for processing holes corresponding to the processing method names suitable for processing holes are registered for each method name (method classification).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the processing step determination means. FIG. 8 shows an outline of the processing procedure, and details of the processing procedure will be described later with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 11 inputs the processing parameters of the hole and the material of the material (S101), recognizes the required surface roughness and the required accuracy from the processing parameters of the hole (S102), With reference to the construction method table 31 and the tool table in the database based on the material, a processing step that satisfies the required surface roughness and the required accuracy is determined (S103), and the processing step is output (S104). The machining process to be output is stored in the RAM or the storage unit 12 or the like.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a machining process determined by the machining process determining unit.
As shown in FIG. 9, the machining process data determined by the machining process determining means 22 includes a hole number, a process number, a cutting mode, a tool type, a tool number, a tool diameter, a machining diameter, a start height, and an end height. Etc.
In FIG. 9, the data of the processing process regarding three holes with the hole numbers “H001” to “H003” are shown. For example, for the hole number “H001”, three processes with process numbers “1” to “3” are associated. For example, in the process with the process number “1”, the cutting mode is “rough”, the tool type is “center drill”, the tool number is “T0012”, the tool diameter is “14.000”, and the machining diameter is “14”. .000 ", the start height is" 10.0 ", and the end height is" -5.5 ".
In this way, the machining process determining means 22 outputs data of machining processes in which a plurality of processes are associated with each of the machining target holes with respect to the plurality of machining target holes.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tool capability table.
As shown in FIG. 10, in the tool capability table 33, information representing the tool capability corresponding to the machining step (tool type) is registered for each tool type.
Information indicating the tool capability includes a combination code (applicable side surface code) of surface roughness and processing accuracy on the side surface of the hole to be machined in the work material, and a combination of surface roughness and processing accuracy on the bottom surface of this hole. The code (applicable bottom surface code), attached information, machining capability, pre-machining step (pre-tool type), and machining capability of the pre-machining step (pre-tool type) are registered in the tool capability table 33.
As ancillary information, for example, there are uncut amounts of the diameter and depth (finishing allowance for the side surface and the bottom surface). This remaining amount of machining is registered in the tool capability table 33 when, for example, it is desired to specify the remaining amount of machining with respect to the design value. The expression of the uncut amount is the same as the description of the attached information of the construction method table 31.
The processing capability is, for example, the material removal capability of the tool. Further, the pre-machining step (pre-tool type) means what is necessary as a pre-machining step (pre-tool type) when adopting the noticed machining step. Along with the pre-machining step (pre-tool type), the machining capability of the pre-tool type is registered.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the processing capability is indicated by A, B, and C (a three-stage range) in descending order. For example, with respect to the applied surface state of the applied side code “C1” and the applied bottom code “c1”, the tool capability of the tool type “carbide drill” is the highest (A), and the tool type “standard drill” tool Is the next highest (B), and the tool type “rough boring” has the lowest machining capability (C).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the tooling determining means. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining tooling determining means. FIG. 11 is an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
For example, the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 3444072 can be applied to the tooling determination unit 23. Below, the processing content of the tooling determination means 23 is demonstrated, referring FIG. 11, FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 11 inputs the shape of the material, the shape of the mounting jig, the machining process data, the partial NC data, and the machining machine name (S201).
Next, the control unit 11 sets the shape of the material in the processing simulation execution unit (S202), sets the shape of the mounting jig in the processing simulation execution unit (S203), and the equipment database based on the processing machine name. The processing machine data is acquired from the processing machine table 27 and set in the processing simulation execution unit (S204), the tooling candidate data is acquired from the tooling table of the equipment database 27 based on the processing machine name, and the processing simulation is performed. The tool name and partial NC data name of each process are read from the machining process data and set in the machining simulation execution part (S206).

Next, the control part 11 performs the process simulation of each process, and produces | generates a proper tooling area | region (non-interference area | region) (S207).
The machining simulation process is S301 shown in FIG. The control unit 11 as the execution unit of the machining simulation sets the initial virtual tooling unit as a tool, moves the tool based on the partial NC data, cuts the workpiece with the tool, and sets the virtual tooling unit with the workpiece. I will sharpen it. In FIG. 12, the virtual tooling portion is indicated by diagonal lines. And the control part 11 produces | generates the virtual tooling part after moving a tool to the last based on partial NC data as a proper tooling area | region (non-interference area | region).

Next, the control unit 11 refers to the tooling candidate data based on the appropriate tooling region (non-interference region), and determines the optimum tooling mode for each process (S208).
The process for determining the optimum tooling form is S302 and S303 shown in FIG. The control unit 11 refers to the tooling table 34, selects the most rigid tooling that fits in the appropriate tooling region (non-interference region), and determines the optimum tooling.

The control unit 11 repeats the processes of S206 to S208 for the number of processes, outputs the optimum tooling form (S209), and ends the process. The optimum tooling form to be output is stored in the RAM or the storage unit 12 or the like.
As described above, the tooling determination unit 23 can determine a tooling having high rigidity without interference.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing of the cutting condition determining means. FIG. 13 is an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 13, the control unit 11 inputs the material material, the tool used, and the optimum tooling form (S401), and based on the material material and the tool used, the basic cutting condition is determined from the cutting condition table of the construction method database 26. (S402), and the rigidity of the optimum tooling configuration is estimated (S403). The estimation of rigidity is to calculate the amount of deflection of the tool used based on the material quality, the tool used, the optimum tooling configuration, and the basic cutting conditions. A known technique can be applied to the rigidity estimation process.
Next, the control unit 11 determines the optimum cutting condition from the basic cutting conditions according to the rigidity of the optimum tooling form (S404), outputs the optimum cutting condition (S405), and ends the process.
As described above, the cutting condition determination unit 24 can determine the optimum cutting condition according to the rigidity of the tooling form actually used.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing processing of the machining data generation means. FIG. 14 shows the overall processing flow of the machining data generation system with the machining data generation means 21 as a main component. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the machining data generation means 21 is mainly used, and other means are described separately, but actually, the control unit 11 functions as each means. FIG. 14 is an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.

As shown in FIG. 14, the processing data generating means 21 inputs the shape of a product to be processed, and separately inputs the shape specifications and materials of the material and the name of the processing machine used for processing. Input is performed via the input / output unit 13, the communication control unit 14, the input unit 15, the peripheral device I / F unit 17, and the like (S501).
Here, the product shape to be input to the machining data generation means 21 is the product shape data generated by the product shape generation means 28 and then the hole shape data in the generated product shape data. It may be product shape data to which hole attribute data is assigned based on the type of hole, required surface roughness, and required machining accuracy. Further, it may be product shape data converted into a predetermined input / output format (IGES, STEP, etc.) as necessary. Since the hole attribute data is not defined in the file format of the predetermined input / output format, the hole attribute data may be converted into “information representing color” in the predetermined input / output format.

Next, the processing data generation means 21 generates the shape of the material before processing based on the input material shape specifications and the product shape as necessary (S502), and the mounting jig. (S503), the shape of the hole is extracted from the shape of the product (S504), the processing parameters of each hole are generated based on the shape of each hole (S505), and the generated individual holes The machining specifications and the material of the material are transmitted to the machining process determining means 22 (S506).
Here, after the processing data generation unit 21 generates the shape of the material before processing, the jig setting unit 29 fixes the material to the processing machine with respect to the input material shape as necessary. The shape of the jig may be provided, and the shape of the jig may be included in the shape of the material in the subsequent processing.
Further, the product shape design means 28 may generate the shape of the material before processing, and the input information to the processing data generation means 21 may include the shape of the material before processing. In this case, it is not necessary to generate the shape of the material by the machining data generation means 21.

The machining step determination means 22 refers to a database in which information on the construction method and information on the tool are registered based on the machining specifications of each hole and the material of the material acquired from the machining data generation means 21. Each hole processing step is determined on condition that the required surface roughness and required accuracy of the hole specified by the hole processing specifications are satisfied, and the determined individual hole processing step is sent to the processing data generation means 21. Send back.
Here, the machining process of each hole is information on a machining procedure and a tool, and information on a processing machine may be included as necessary.

  Next, the machining data generation unit 21 acquires the machining process for each hole from the machining process determination unit 22 (S507), and processes the hole based on the machining process for each hole acquired from the machining process determination unit 22. A tool path (tool movement path) is calculated (S508), and partial NC data for each drilling is generated based on the tool path (S509). The shape of the material, the shape of the mounting jig, and the machine name Tooling determination for determining a tooling form which is a combined form of a tool and a holder when processing a hole, based on the machining process of each hole determined by the machining process determining means 22 and the generated NC data of each hole It transmits to the means 23 (S510).

  The tooling determining means 23 uses the shape of the material based on the machining process of each hole and the partial NC data of each hole machining, refers to the database in which the tool is registered, and, if necessary, a holder, tool By determining the optimal tooling configuration that is predicted to have the highest rigidity with no interference in the processing of individual holes by performing a processing simulation with reference to a database that stores tooling, processing machines, and jigs consisting of a combination of tool and holder Then, the determined optimum tooling form of each hole machining is returned to the machining data generating means 21.

  Next, the machining data generation means 21 acquires the optimum tooling form for each hole machining from the tooling determination means 23 (S511), and the optimum tooling form for each hole machining obtained from the tooling decision means 23 is determined as the cutting condition determination means. 24 is transmitted (S512).

  The cutting condition determination means 24 obtains basic cutting conditions from a database in which basic cutting conditions are registered, estimates the tooling rigidity based on the optimum tooling form of each hole machining, and estimates based on the basic cutting conditions. The optimum cutting conditions considering tooling rigidity are determined by obtaining the cutting conditions for individual hole machining according to the tooling rigidity, and the optimum cutting conditions considering the determined tooling rigidity are returned to the machining data generating means 21.

  Next, the machining data generation means 21 acquires the optimum cutting conditions for each hole machining considering the tooling rigidity from the cutting condition determination means 24 (S514), and the approach path and the retract path for machining all holes are obtained. Determine (S515), assign the optimum cutting conditions for each hole machining to the partial NC data of each hole machining, and further integrate these based on the approach path and retract path for machining all holes, Integrated NC data for machining all holes is generated (S516).

Then, the machining data generation unit 21 integrates the individual hole machining process determined by the machining process determination unit 22 and the optimum tooling form of the individual hole machining determined by the tooling determination unit 23 without changing. The data is output together with the NC data (S517), and the process is terminated.
As described above, the machining data generation system organically combines the machining process determination, tooling determination, and cutting condition determination functions, and can consistently generate NC data for drilling with CAD data as an input.

<2. Details of processing process decision means>
Next, details of the processing step determination means will be described with reference to FIGS.

<2.1 First Example of Processing Step Determination Unit>
A first example of the machining process determining means 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. The processing executed by the processing step determination means 22 (control unit 11) of the first example includes [1a] method classification determination processing, [2a] processing step determination processing, [3a] provisional processing step determination processing, and [4a] processing. This is a step correction process.

  [1a] In the method classification determination process, the control unit 11 includes information indicating the finished state of the side surface of each step and the information indicating the type of the surface indicated by the input hole information, and information indicating the finished state of the bottom surface of each step. Based on the information indicating the type of the surface and the surface type, the method of hole design method classification (that is, the method method suitable for processing the hole indicated by the hole information) is determined for each step from the registered contents of the method table 31. . More specifically, the control unit 11 is, for example, a method name corresponding to a combination code of the surface accuracy and processing accuracy of the side surface indicated by the hole information, and a combination code of the surface accuracy and processing accuracy of the bottom surface indicated by the hole information. Is obtained by searching the construction method table 31 to determine the construction method division. The control unit 11 determines the construction method division for each step by repeating the determination of the construction method for the number of steps indicated by the hole information.

  [2a] In the processing step determination process, the control unit 11 registers processing steps suitable for processing at each stage based on the method classification determined for each stage by the method classification determination process, as registered in the processing step table 32. Determine for each stage. Further, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a preliminary process is necessary for each individual processing process for each stage, and adds a processing step corresponding to the preliminary process for a process determined to require the preliminary process. An additional process may be executed.

  Further, in the machining step determination process, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the machining step determined for each stage can be performed based on information on the presence / absence of a predetermined applicable tool. If the machining step cannot be performed, the machining step that cannot be performed is changed to a work step that can be performed. Here, the “predetermined information on the presence / absence of an applicable tool” is obtained, for example, by searching a tool table (see FIG. 5) in which information on tools that can be used in advance is registered. In this case, the tool indicated by the information obtained from the tool table is “applicable tool”, and it can be determined that the corresponding machining step can be performed. Further, a tool whose information is not registered in the tool table is a “non-applicable tool”, and it can be determined that the corresponding machining step cannot be performed. Thereby, the processing step which cannot be performed is changed to the processing step which can be performed.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the processing step determination process. FIG. 15 shows an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 11 reads the construction method name for each stage (S601), and reads the machining step candidate corresponding to the construction method name read in S601 from the machining step table 32 (S602).

  Next, the control unit 11 selects the final process of the machining step candidate read in S602 (S603), compares the diameter of the target hole with the diameter of the tool used in the final process, and selects the latest tool in the tool table. Search from (S604). When the search result by S604 exists ("Yes" in S605), the control unit 11 proceeds to S607, and when the search result by S604 does not exist ("No" in S605), the control unit 11 proceeds to S606.

In S606, the control unit 11 checks whether or not the searched tool diameter can be corrected. When the diameter correction can be performed (“Y” in S606), the control unit 11 proceeds to S607, and when the diameter correction cannot be performed (“N” in S606), the process is repeated from S602.
In S <b> 607, the control unit 11 compares the depth of the target hole with the tool length of the searched tool and confirms whether the tool length is sufficient. When the tool length is sufficient (“Suffice” in S607), the control unit 11 proceeds to S608, and when the tool length is insufficient (“Sufficing” in S607), the process is repeated from S602.
In S608, the control unit 11 confirms whether there is a dependent process. When there is a dependent process (“Yes” in S608), the control unit 11 proceeds to S609, and when there is no dependent process (“No” in S608), the control unit 11 proceeds to S610.
In S609, the control unit 11 confirms whether the tool diameter of the dependent first process is smaller than the final process. If smaller than the final process (“Y” in S609), the control unit 11 proceeds to S610, and if not smaller than the final process (“N” in S609), repeats from S602.
In S610, the control part 11 records a process step, and complete | finishes a process.

  In addition to the processing shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 11 may add a prior machining step to the machining step so that the tool used in the machining step for each stage exhibits a sufficient function. This process will be described in more detail. There is a limit to the amount (amount expressed by cutting width, cutting depth, etc.) in which the target tool can efficiently remove the material in one process, and if it exceeds this, an additional preliminary process is required. For example, a pilot hole drilling process is required before a drilling process having a diameter larger than a certain size. Such process addition requirements are determined, for example, by applying a machining allowance table 35 as shown in FIG. Requirement items include the range of applicable tool diameter, depth, and tool type.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a machining allowance table. FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a part of the processing step determination process of the first example. FIG. 17 is an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 17, the control unit 11 takes out one of the machining steps (S701) and whether all the machining steps have been taken out, that is, a value indicating that the machining step taken out in S701 has ended (for example, NULL). Whether or not (S702). The control unit 11 ends the process when the process is finished (“Y” in S702), and proceeds to S703 when the process is not finished (“N” in S702).
In S703, the control unit 11 refers to the tool table based on the processing diameter, processing depth, and the like of the target hole, and determines an applicable tool. Next, the control unit 11 refers to the machining allowance table 35 based on the prepared hole diameter and prepared hole depth of the target hole, and confirms the necessity of the preliminary process (S704). When the preliminary process is necessary (“Y” in S704), the control unit 11 proceeds to S705, and when the preliminary process is not necessary (“N” in S704), the control unit 11 repeats the process from S701.
In S705, the control unit 11 adds a processing step as a preliminary process. And the control part 11 repeats a process from S701.

  [3a] In the provisional machining step determination process, the control unit 11 provisionally decides the order of the machining steps determined by the machining step determination process based on a predetermined integration rule. More specifically, the control unit 11 rearranges a collection of processing steps determined by the processing step determination process according to an integration rule described later, and determines a provisional processing step.

Here, the integration rule will be described. In many cases, there are tool types (tools) to be preferentially used and process design rules due to the improvement of processing efficiency and the rules of the processing site. This is called an integration rule. The main examples of integration rules are as follows. First, when the target hole is composed of a plurality of stages, the ratio of the hole diameter (diameter) to the processing depth (for example, the smallest diameter among the plurality of stages of holes) The ratio of the diameter of the step and the depth of the lower surface of the step from the surface of the material is compared with a preset ratio, and the processing step is determined so that the step on the hole entrance side is preferentially processed. This is a rule that determines the order of the machining steps by selecting the case and the case of determining the machining step so as to preferentially machine the step on the hole exit side (bottom side). . Second, the order (priority) of tool types to be preferentially used in the machining process determined for each stage is determined in advance in the tool type priority table 36 (see FIG. 19). This is a rule for rearranging the usage order of tools in accordance with the priorities indicated by the type priority table 36. The third is a rule for rearranging the use order of tools according to the size of the tool diameter in the same tool type in the machining process determined for each stage. The integration rule includes a rule for moving up the order of the machining steps of the stage to be preferentially machined from the machining steps determined by the machining step determination process for each stage. In the provisional machining step determination process, based on such an integration rule, the order of the machining steps of the stage to be preferentially machined from the machining steps determined by the machining step determination process is advanced for each stage.
The temporary machining step process can be configured not to apply the second and third rules.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a provisional processing step. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tool type priority table. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of provisional machining step determination processing. FIG. 20 shows an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 20, the control unit 11 takes out the object of the temporary machining step determination process, that is, the machining step determined by the machining step determination process (S801), and compares the ratio between the machining diameter and the machining depth ( S802). The control unit 11 performs the upper priority sort (S803) if it is equal to or greater than the specified value (S802). If it is less than the specified value ("less than the specified value" in S802), it performs the lower priority sort (S802). S804).
Next, the control unit 11 refers to the tool type priority table 36, rearranges the tool types in order of priority (S805), and sorts by tool diameter (S806), thereby performing a temporary machining step performed for each stage. Rearrange and finish the process.

  [4a] In the machining step correction process, the control unit 11 determines the machining step by correcting the machining step whose order has been provisionally determined by the provisional machining step determination process based on a predetermined correction rule. . The determined processing step is stored in the RAM or the storage unit 12 or the like.

Here, the correction rule will be described. The correction rule includes three rules (rules 1 to 3) that will be described in detail below.
Rule 1 has a predetermined priority corresponding to at least one of tool type, tool diameter, and machining depth information from each machining step whose order is provisionally determined by the provisional machining step determination process. This is a rule for moving up the order of processing steps to be preferentially performed. The machining step correction process corresponds to at least one of information on the tool type, the tool diameter, and the machining depth from each machining step whose order is provisionally determined by the provisional machining step determination process based on the rule 1. The order of machining steps to be preferentially performed is advanced based on the predetermined priority.
Rule 2 is a rule for deleting a machining step that does not perform substantial machining from each machining step whose order is provisionally determined by the provisional machining step determination process. In the machining step correction process, a machining step that does not perform substantial machining is deleted from each machining step whose order is provisionally determined by the provisional machining step determination process based on Rule 2.
Rule 3 determines, for each machining step, whether or not a prior process is necessary for each machining step whose order has been provisionally determined by the provisional machining step determination process, and the machining step that is determined to require a prior process. Is a rule for correcting each machining step so as to add a machining step corresponding to this prior process. In the processing step correction process, based on Rule 3, it is determined for each processing step whether or not a prior process is necessary for each processing step whose order has been provisionally determined by the provisional processing step determination process. For machining steps determined to be necessary, each machining step is corrected so as to add a machining step corresponding to this prior process.
The correction rule may include at least one of the rules 1 to 3 described above.

The processing step correction process will be described in detail. The provisional machining step (provisional machining step) whose order is determined by the provisional machining step determination process is based on the state in which the selected machining steps are arranged on the basis of the arrangement of the tool types determined from the machining steps for each stage. Then, the following processing (a), (b), and (c) is used to replace the tool array suitable for practical use. At this time, the presence or absence of tool stock and the addition of tools necessary in advance in the machining process are performed. Processes (a), (b), and (c) will be described.
(A) The necessity of the additional process is inspected according to the process additional requirement table 37 shown in FIG. The process addition requirement table 37 is a table in which requirements for selecting a process required in advance for using the target tool are described. As the requirements, for example, there is a requirement to perform a center hole processing that serves as a guide for the drill in advance before using the standard drill. The requirement items include the type of material, the target tool type, the range of tool diameters to be applied, and the like.
(B) After identifying additional steps with respect to the provisional machining step, the tool usage order is rearranged according to the priority of the tool type and the size of the tool diameter based on the contents of the tool type priority table 36. Thereby, a tool row is determined.
(C) Taking out the determined tool row in accordance with the order of use and comparing whether or not it contributes to cutting with the tool diameter, the machining depth, the tool tip shape, and the shape of the machining part when the target tool is used. Judge with. Here, by recording the tool determined to contribute to the cutting, the final hole machining step is determined, and the correction of the temporary machining process is completed.
Then, the control unit 11 stores the determined final hole machining step in the RAM or the storage unit 12 or the like.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the processing step correction process. FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process addition requirement table. FIG. 21 is an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 21, the control unit 11 extracts a temporary machining step (S901), and determines whether or not the extracted temporary machining step is the last machining step (S902). In the case of the last machining step (“Y” in S902), the control unit 11 proceeds to S907, and when it is not the last machining step (“N” in S902), the control unit 11 proceeds to S903.
In step S <b> 903, the control unit 11 refers to the process addition requirement table 37 and determines whether there is an additional processing step. When there is an additional process step (“Yes” in S903), the control unit 11 proceeds to S904, and when there is no additional process step (“No” in S903), the control unit 11 repeats from S901.
In S904, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the additional process step is the same as the provisional processing step. When the additional process step is the same (“Y” in S904), the control unit 11 repeats from S901, and when the additional process step is not the same (“N” in S904), the control unit 11 proceeds to S905.
In S905, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the machining step addition requirement is satisfied. Specifically, the control unit 11 determines whether the determination condition is (1) within the specified machining diameter range, (2) within the specified machining depth range, or (3) whether the material conditions match. To do. When the processing step addition requirement is satisfied (“Y” in S905), the control unit 11 adds an additional process step to the provisional processing step (S906), and repeats from S901, and does not satisfy the processing step addition requirement (“S905”). N "), repeating from S901 without adding additional process steps.
In step S907, the control unit 11 refers to the tool type priority table 36 and rearranges the tool types in order of priority. Next, the control unit 11 sorts by the tool diameter (S908), takes out the machining step (S909), and determines whether or not the taken machining step is the last process (S910). In the case of the last process (“Y” in S910), the control unit 11 terminates the process, and when it is not the last process (“N” in S910), the control unit 11 proceeds to S911.
In S911, the control unit 11 determines whether the machining step extracted in S909 contributes to cutting. When the control unit 11 contributes to the cutting (“Y” in S911), the processing step taken out in S909 is registered (S912). When the control unit 11 repeats from S909 and does not contribute to the cutting (“N” in S911), the processing is performed. It repeats from S909 without registering the step.

In the foregoing, the first example of the processing step determination unit 22 has been described. In the machining process determining means 22 of the first example, in the process classification determining process, information indicating the finished state of the side surface for each step indicated by the hole information, information indicating the type of the surface, and the finished state of the bottom surface for each step On the basis of the information indicating the type of the surface and the information indicating the type of the surface, the method classification suitable for the processing of the hole indicated by the hole information is determined for each stage from the storage content stored in the storage unit 12. In the processing step determination process, a processing step suitable for processing at each stage is determined for each stage from the storage content stored in the storage unit 12 based on the method classification determined for each stage. In the provisional machining step determination process, the order of the machining steps is provisionally determined by determining the order of machining in each stage in which the machining steps are determined by the machining step determination process based on a predetermined integration rule. . In the machining step correction process, the machining step is determined by correcting the machining step whose order has been provisionally determined by the provisional machining step determination process based on a predetermined correction rule.
Therefore, in the machining data generation system including the machining process determination means 22 of the first example, the machining steps according to the actual situation determined by a skilled operator or the like are automatically determined. It is possible to automatically determine the processing step to be performed. Moreover, the know-how of the site can be reflected by using the on-site keyword as the expression of the content registered in each table. Further, by configuring as described above, it is possible to cope with the introduction of a new tool or the introduction of a new machining method by changing a part of the corresponding table.

<2.2 Second Example of Processing Step Determination Unit>
A second example of the processing step determination means 22 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 23 to 25. In addition, about the part which becomes the same structure as a 1st example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the second example, the information indicating the tool capability corresponding to the tool type is stored in advance for each tool type, the machining step corresponding to the hole information is automatically derived, and the derived hole The point which memorize | stores the process step suitable for a process for every hole information previously differs from a 1st example.
The process executed by the machining process determination means 22 (control unit 11) of the second example includes [1b] table derivation process, [2b] machining step determination process, [3b] provisional machining step determination process, and [4b] machining. This is a step correction process.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a modification of the processing step table.
The processing step table 32a includes a combination code (applicable side surface code) of the surface roughness and processing accuracy on the side surface of the hole to be processed into the material to be processed, and a combination code of the surface roughness and processing accuracy of the bottom surface of the hole ( This is a table in which candidates for processing steps (processing steps) corresponding to (applicable bottom surface code) and attached information are defined. The machining steps are described and expressed in the order in which the tool types used when machining the target hole are applied. Machining step candidates are described in the machining step table 32a, and one step is expressed by one tool type. The construction method can achieve the required surface roughness and machining accuracy, the final process (tool type, machining type and cutting mode) and the dependent processes required to reach the final process (tool type, machining type and cutting mode) ) Since there are a plurality of processes for realizing the required surface roughness and machining accuracy, the process candidates are described according to the priority order taking into account the material removal capability.

  [1b] In the table derivation process, based on the tool capability table 33 (see FIG. 10), a combination code (applicable side surface code) of surface roughness and processing accuracy on the side surface of the hole to be processed in the workpiece material, and When the processing steps corresponding to the combination code (applicable bottom surface code) of the surface roughness and processing accuracy of the bottom surface of this hole and the attached information are arranged according to the priority order, and a prior processing step is required The candidates for machining steps (machining processes) are derived by arranging the pre-machining steps in accordance with the priorities of the prior machining steps. In the table derivation process, the derived combination code of the surface roughness and machining accuracy on the side surface of the hole (applicable side surface code) and the combination code of the surface roughness and machining accuracy of the bottom surface of this hole (applicable bottom surface code) And the candidate of the machining step (machining process) corresponding to the attached information are stored in the machining step table 32a.

The table derivation process will be described in detail. In the table derivation process, the control unit 11 derives the machining step table 32a by executing the following processes (1) to (6).
(1) A combination code (applicable side surface code) of surface roughness and processing accuracy on the side surface of the hole prepared in advance, and a combination code (applicable bottom surface code) of surface roughness and processing accuracy on the bottom surface of the hole; A target combination is determined as target hole information from a plurality of combinations of attached information.
(2) The machining step (tool type) corresponding to the target hole information is searched from the tool capability table 33 and arranged in order according to the priority order.
(3) When a pre-machining step (pre-machining type) is registered in the searched machining step in the tool capability table 33, the pre-machining steps are sequentially arranged according to the priority order.
(4) The machining step candidates and the preliminary machining step candidates are registered in the machining step table 32a in accordance with the order of arrangement as machining step (tool type) candidates corresponding to the target hole information.
(5) If there is other hole information, the machining step (tool type) candidates are searched and registered in the same manner as in the processes (1) to (4).
(6) The machining step table 32a in which machining step candidates and preliminary machining step candidates are registered for each hole information is stored in the storage unit 12 or the like.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of the table derivation process. FIG. 24 shows an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 24, the control unit 11 determines hole information (S1001), arranges a corresponding tool (S1002), arranges a tool necessary for pre-machining (S1003), and performs processing in which the tool is arranged. The step is registered in the machining step table 32a (S1004).
Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not processing has been completed for all hole information (S1005). When the processing has not been completed for all hole information (“N” in S1005), the control unit 11 repeats from S1001, and when the processing has been completed for all hole information (“Y” in S1005). ”), The processing step table 32a is stored in the storage unit 12 (S1006), and the process is terminated.

[2b] In the machining step determination process, the control unit 11 determines the information indicating the finished state of the side surface for each step and the information indicating the type of the surface indicated by the input hole information, and the finished state of the bottom surface for each step. Based on the information to be represented and the information to represent the type of surface, a machining step suitable for machining at each stage is determined for each stage from the machining step table 32a. Furthermore, in the processing step determination process, whether or not a preliminary process is necessary is determined for each individual processing process, and a processing step corresponding to this preliminary process is added for a process that is determined to require a preliminary process. You may make it perform the process addition process to perform.
Further, in the machining step determination process, it is determined whether or not the machining step determined for each stage is feasible based on information on the presence / absence of a predetermined applicable tool, and the machining step is performed. When it is not possible, the processing step that cannot be performed is changed to a processing step that can be performed.

The processing step determination process of the second example will be specifically described. In the machining step determination process of the second example, the following steps (1) to (8) are executed to determine a machining step, thereby determining a machining step suitable for machining at each stage.
(1) Based on the input hole information, a search is started from the processing step table 32a in accordance with the registration order of processing step (processing step) candidates specified in the side and bottom combination codes for each stage.
(2) The type of tool used in the final process of the machining step candidate, the diameter of the target hole, and the processable depth are compared. The type of tool can be obtained by searching a tool table (see FIG. 5) in which information on tools that can be used in advance is registered (defined).
(3) If there is no matching tool, the next machining step candidate is searched in the same manner as described above.
(4) When there is no tool (usable tool) applicable to the machining step candidate specified in the combination code of the side and bottom surfaces, after returning an error code indicating that there is no machining process to the caller , Stop the process design of the target hole and move on to reading the next hole information.
(5) If there is a tool applicable to the final process, the presence / absence of a subordinate process tool is inspected. Depending on the process candidate, there may be no subordinate process.
(6) The presence / absence of a subordinate process tool requires that the tool diameter is smaller than the machining diameter processed in the final process.
(7) If there is no tool applicable to the subordinate process, the next machining step candidate is searched.
(8) A pre-machining step is added to the machining step so that the tool used in the machining step for each stage selected by (1) to (7) exhibits a sufficient function. Note that the process of adding a processing step in this way can be omitted. The process (8) is the same as in the first example.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a part of the processing step determination process of the second example. FIG. 25 shows an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 25, the control part 11 reads the hole information for every step first (S1101). The subsequent processing procedures shown in S1102 to S1110 are the same as S602 to S610 in the first example shown in FIG. The table to be referred to and the processing content are different from those in the first example as described above.

[3b] The provisional machining step determination process and the [4b] machining step correction process are the same as the [3a] provisional machining step determination process and the [4a] machining step correction process in the first example. Description is omitted.
As described above, the machining step determination means 22 of the second example uses the tool capability table 33 to automatically derive machining steps suitable for machining holes for each hole information and store them as the machining step table 32a. Then, the machining step at each stage can be determined using the stored machining step table 32a.

<2.3 Third Example of Processing Step Determination Unit>
A third example of the processing step determination means 22 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the part which becomes the same structure as a 1st example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the third example, the information indicating the tool capability corresponding to the tool type is stored in advance for each tool type, and the processing step of each stage is determined without using the processing step table. Is different from the first example.
The processing executed by the machining process determination means 22 (control unit 11) of the third example is [1c] machining step determination processing, [2c] temporary machining step determination processing, and [3c] machining step correction processing.

[1c] In the processing step determination process, the information indicating the finished state of the side surface for each step and the information indicating the type of the surface indicated by the input hole information, and the information indicating the finished state of the bottom surface for each step and the surface Based on the information indicating the type, the machining step (tool type) corresponding to the combination information (applicable side surface code and applied bottom surface code) of the hole information and the attached information is determined from the tool capability table 33 according to the priority order. Select for each stage.
Further, in the machining step determination process, whether or not a preliminary process is necessary is determined for each individual machining process based on the tool capability table 33, and the preliminary process is determined for the process determined to be a preliminary process. Processing steps corresponding to the process may be selected and added according to the priority order.
Further, in the machining step determination process, it is determined whether or not the machining step determined for each stage is feasible based on information on the presence / absence of a predetermined applicable tool, and the machining step is performed. When it is not possible, the processing step that cannot be performed is changed to a processing step that can be performed.

The processing step determination process of the third example will be described in detail. In the processing step determination process of the third example, the following processing steps (1) to (8) are executed to determine processing steps, thereby determining processing steps suitable for processing at each stage.
(1) Based on the input hole information, a processing step (tool type) candidate corresponding to the combination code of the side surface and the bottom surface is searched from the tool capability table 33 according to the priority order for each stage.
(2) The type of tool used in the final process of the machining step candidate, the diameter of the target hole, and the processable depth are compared. The type of tool can be obtained by searching a tool table (see FIG. 5) in which information on tools that can be used in advance is registered (defined).
(3) If there is no matching tool, the machining step candidate of the next priority is searched in the same manner as described above.
(4) When there is no tool (usable tool) applicable to the machining step candidate corresponding to the combination code of the side surface and the bottom surface, an error code indicating that the machining process does not exist is returned to the calling side, Stop the process design of the target hole and move on to reading the next hole information.
(5) If there is a tool applicable to the final process, the presence / absence of a subordinate process tool is inspected. Depending on the final process, there may be no subordinate process.
(6) The presence / absence of a subordinate process tool requires that the tool diameter is smaller than the machining diameter processed in the final process.
(7) If there is no tool applicable to the subordinate process, the next machining step candidate is searched.
(8) In order for the tool used in the machining step for each stage selected by the above (1) to (7) to exhibit a sufficient function, a prior machining step may be added to the machining step. The process (8) is the same as in the first example.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of a part of the processing step determination process of the third example. FIG. 26 is an example of the processing procedure, and the present invention is not limited to this example.
As shown in FIG. 26, the control part 11 reads the hole information for every step first (S1201). The subsequent processing procedures shown in S1202 to S1210 are the same as S602 to S610 in the first example shown in FIG. The table to be referred to and the processing content are different from those in the first example as described above.

[2c] The provisional machining step determination process and the [3c] machining step correction process are the same as the [3a] provisional machining step determination process and the [4a] machining step correction process in the first example. Description is omitted.
As described above, according to the machining step determination means 22 of the third example, the machining step at each stage can be determined based on the tool capability table 33 without using the machining step table.

<3. Software configuration for realizing machining data generation system>
Next, a software configuration for realizing the machining data generation system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration for realizing the machining data generation system.

  FIG. 27 corresponds to the configuration of the machining data generation system shown in FIG. The three-dimensional CAM software 40 (computer-aided manufacturing program) is a program for causing the computer 1 to function as the machining data generation means 21 and the jig setting means 29. Note that the jig setting means 29 is not essential. The process design solver program 41 is a program for causing the computer 1 to function as the machining process determination means 22. The tooling determination solver program 42 is a program for causing the computer 1 to function as the tooling determination means 23. The cutting condition determination solver program 43 is a program for causing the computer 1 to function as the cutting condition determination means 24. The three-dimensional CAD software 45 and the three-dimensional geometric model database 46 are programs for causing the computer 1 to function as the product shape design means 28. The integrated database 25 is the same as that shown in FIG.

Here, the solver program is a core software (in the present invention, in order to cause the computer 1 to execute a specific analysis process (in the present invention, a process design process, a tooling determination process, and a cutting condition determination process). This program is called from the three-dimensional CAM software 40).
An advantage of realizing a specific analysis process by a solver program is that the three-dimensional CAM software 40 can be easily changed. That is, even when new 3D CAM software 40 is introduced, the interface with 3D CAM software 40 (data to be passed, calling rules for solver program is not changed without changing the program for realizing the analysis process). Etc.) only.
In order to realize the present invention, the tooling determination solver program 42 uses the processing result of the process design solver program 41 as input data, and the cutting condition determination solver program 43 uses the process design solver program 41 and the tooling determination solver program 42. The processing result is used as input data.

It is desirable that the table definition included in the integrated database 25 does not depend on the three-dimensional CAD software 40 as described above. As shown in FIG. 27, the data access processing for the integrated database 25 is preferably executed by a process design solver program 41, a tooling determination solver program 42, and a cutting condition determination solver program 43.
Thus, even when new three-dimensional CAM software 40 is introduced, the data already registered in the integrated database 25 can be reused without changing the data access processing program.

Each program and database shown in FIG. 27 may be installed in a single computer 1 or may be installed in each of a plurality of computers 1.
For example, the computer 1 in which the three-dimensional CAD software 45 is installed is assumed to be a CAD terminal. The computer 1 on which the three-dimensional CAD software 40, the process design solver program 41, the tooling decision solver program 42, and the cutting condition decision solver program 43 are installed is assumed to be a CAM terminal. The computer 1 in which the three-dimensional geometric model database 46 and the integrated database 25 are installed is assumed to be a database server. The processed data generation system may be configured by one or more CAD terminals, one or more CAM terminals, and one or more database servers.

<4. Differences between the prior art and the machining process determination algorithm of the present invention>
Next, the difference between the prior art and the machining process determination algorithm of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram for explaining a conventional machining process determination algorithm. FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram for explaining the processing step determination algorithm of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 28, in the conventional machining process determination algorithm, [1] a procedure manual is prepared for each hole pattern, the hole type is assigned, and pattern matching is performed with the prepared procedure manual. Determine the process. [2] When a change of a process (for example, change of a tool used for each process or a processing type) is necessary, all related procedure manuals need to be changed.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 29, in the machining step determination algorithm of the present invention, the entire shape of the hole is regarded as a set of partial shapes, and the hole shape is decomposed into elements. [1] Register basic processes for each element in the database, create a process (provisional solution) for each element by referring to the database based on design information (roughness, accuracy, etc.) The final machining process is determined by referring to the database and optimizing the provisional solution by logical operation. [2] Even if the process needs to be changed, only the basic process needs to be changed.
Thus, the prior art is a process assignment type algorithm, whereas the present invention is a process creation type algorithm. Further, the conventional technique has a high load of maintenance work for the process change, whereas the present invention is different in that the load of the maintenance work for the process change is low.

The following effects are achieved by part or all of the configuration of the present invention described above.
(1) By including the above-described machining step determination means and by appropriately arranging and combining each means, NC data for drilling is automatically and consistently generated only by inputting CAD data and without manual intervention. The number of man-hours for the operator is remarkably reduced, and human errors such as input and operation due to interactive processing are prevented. In addition, stable quality NC data that does not depend on the skill level of a person is generated.
(2) The tooling determination means described above is arranged after NC data generation, NC data is calculated only with the tool shape (mainly tool blade shape), and tooling is determined using the generated NC data, so that the work can be returned. Disappears.
(3) Since the machining process decision and tooling decision are executed based on database information such as the construction method table, tool table, holder table, etc., machining based on unified information is performed, system management is facilitated, and machining is performed. Standardization is promoted.
(4) By consolidating machining know-how in a database, on-site know-how of a certain quality is preserved and continuously maintained, leading to the succession of technology.

Moreover, the following effects are produced by the above-described operation.
(1) The number of man-hours is significantly reduced, and stable quality NC data is generated.
(2) There is no return of work, and the optimal tooling decision is completed in one time.
(3) Standardization of machining and standardization of tools will be promoted, and the stock of jigs and tools will be reduced, leading to a reduction in equipment costs.
(4) Promotion and preservation of on-site know-how.

  The preferred embodiments of the machining data generation system and the like according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea disclosed in the present application, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

21... Machining data generating means 22... Machining process determining means 23... Tooling determining means 24... Cutting condition determining means 25... Integrated database 26. ……… Method table 32, 32a ……… Machining step table 33 ……… Tool capability table

Claims (6)

Input means for inputting product shape data including hole shape and material data;
A processing step determining means for extracting a processing target hole from the product shape data and determining a partial processing step that is a processing step for each processing target hole;
Based on the partial machining step and the material data, partial machining data generation for calculating a movement path of a tool by only a tool shape for each machining target hole and generating partial machining data as machining data for each machining target hole Means,
Tooling determining means for determining tooling that is a combination of the tool and a holder that supports the tool for each hole to be processed on the condition that no interference occurs based on the partial processing data;
Cutting condition determining means for determining a cutting condition for each hole to be processed based on the tooling;
By assigning the cutting conditions to the partial machining data, retreating from the machining target hole to be processed in advance, and sequentially determining the movement path of the tool until reaching the machining target hole to be machined immediately, Integrated machining data generation means for generating integrated machining data which is machining data for machining the hole to be machined continuously,
A machining data generation system comprising: For each element shape that is a general-purpose shape that constitutes a part of the hole shape, the machining process information indicating an appropriate machining procedure and tool type in association with the finishing information indicating the finishing state of the hole, or the tool Storage means for preliminarily storing tool capability information indicating the capability;
The processing data generation system according to claim 1, further comprising: The processing step determining means includes
Extracting the element shape from the hole to be machined;
A processing step for each element shape is generated by searching the storage content stored in the storage unit for each element shape,
Based on a predetermined integration rule, tentatively determine the order of processing steps for each element shape,
The machining data generation system according to claim 2, wherein the partial machining process is determined by correcting the machining process for each of the element shapes whose order is provisionally determined based on a predetermined correction rule. The cutting condition determining means estimates the tooling rigidity determined by the tooling determining means, determines the cutting condition based on the estimated tooling rigidity,
The integrated machining data generation means outputs the partial machining process determined by the machining process determination means and the tooling determined by the tooling determination means together with the integrated machining data without changing the tooling. The processing data generation system of Claims 3 to 3. Computer
Input means for inputting product shape data including hole shape and material data;
Based on the partial machining process, which is a machining process for each machining target hole, and the material data, a tool movement path is calculated based on only the tool shape for each machining target hole, and partial machining is machining data for each machining target hole. Partial machining data generation means for generating data;
By assigning the cutting conditions to the partial machining data, retreating from the machining target hole to be processed in advance, and sequentially determining the movement path of the tool until reaching the machining target hole to be machined immediately, Integrated machining data generating means for generating integrated machining data which is machining data for machining the machining target hole of
A solver program for a computer-aided manufacturing program for
Computer
A machining process determining means for extracting a machining target hole from the product shape data input by the input means, and determining a partial machining process that is a machining process for each machining target hole;
Based on the partial machining data generated by the partial machining data generation means, a tooling that is a combination of the tool and a holder that supports the tool is determined for each machining target hole on the condition that no interference occurs. Tooling decision means,
Cutting condition determining means for determining a cutting condition for each hole to be processed based on the tooling determined by the tooling determining means;
Solver program to make it function. Computer,
For each element shape that is a general-purpose shape that constitutes a part of the hole shape, the machining process information indicating an appropriate machining procedure and tool type in association with the finishing information indicating the finishing state of the hole, or the tool Storage means for preliminarily storing tool capability information indicating the capability;
The solver program of Claim 5 for functioning as.

Images