JP2838330B2 - Electric discharge machining method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric discharge machining method and apparatus for improving a setup work in electric discharge machining.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional electric discharge machine. In the drawing, 1 is an electrode, 2 is an X-axis motor, 3 is a Y-axis motor, and 4 is an X-axis motor that can be freely moved in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the X-axis motor 2 and the Y-axis motor 3.
A Y-cross table 5 has an electrode 1 of a predetermined shape detachably mounted thereon, and a lifting / lowering shaft adapted to be movable in a Z-axis direction by a Z-axis motor 6, and 7 is an X-axis motor 2 and a Y-axis motor 3.
A position detector 8 for detecting the amount of rotation of the Z-axis motor; a Z-axis scale 8 for detecting the amount of movement of the elevating shaft 5 by the Z-axis motor 6; and 9 for electric discharge machining between the electrode 1 and a workpiece (not shown). A processing power supply 10 for supplying necessary electric energy is an electrode changing device for automatically changing electrodes.

[0003] Reference numeral 11 denotes a hand-operated operation box provided with a speed switching button for moving the XY cross table 4 and the elevating shaft 5 by changing the speed in several steps, and an axis selection button for selecting the direction in which to move. An input medium of an NC program for moving the XY cross table 4 and the elevating shaft 5 and exchanging the electrode 1 by automatic operation, for example, a paper tape, a floppy disk, and a keyboard. Reference numeral 13 denotes a hand box control unit that transfers speed data, axis data, and the like from the hand box 11 to the axis movement control unit 15. Reference numeral 14 denotes data that is received from the input medium 12, and the shaft movement control unit 15 and the electrode exchange device control unit. Operation command means for commanding an operation to
Reference numeral 15 denotes axis movement control for outputting axis data from the hand box control means 13 and the operation command means 14 to the X-axis motor 2, the Y-axis motor 3, and the Z-axis motor 6, and driving the XY cross table 4 and the elevating shaft 5. Means, 16 are position detecting means for detecting the positions of the XY cross table 4 and the elevating shaft 5 from the position detector 7 and the Z-axis scale 8, and 17 is an electrode changing device 10 based on an electrode changing command from the operation command means 14. Is an NC apparatus including a hand box control means 13, an operation command means 14, an axis movement control means 15, a position detection means 16, and an electrode exchange apparatus control means 17. .

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the operation surface of the conventional operation box 11. 11a is a speed switching button for switching an axis moving speed, 11b is an axis selection button for selecting an axis to be moved, 11
c is a mode selection button for selecting a mode for positioning the end face of the workpiece by contact between the electrode and the workpiece, and 11d is a set zero button for setting the program coordinates to zero.

FIG. 9 shows a corner 1 of a conventional workpiece 101.
It is explanatory drawing of the positioning of 00. In the figure, arrows 31, 3
Reference numerals 4, 35, 38, 39, and 42 denote operations of approaching the electrode 1 to the XYZ end face of the workpiece 101 by manual feeding, and arrows 32, 36, and 40 indicate the actual electrical connection between the electrode 1 and the workpiece 101. The operation of determining the end face of the workpiece 101 by contact positioning by conduction is represented by 33, 37,
Reference numeral 41 denotes an operation of setting the end face of the workpiece 101 to zero of the program coordinates for each axis. Here, the electrode 1 is approached to the workpiece 101 by manual feed by the speed switching button 11a and the axis selection button 11b of the hand operation box 11, and the workpiece is set by the end face positioning mode selection button 11c and the axis selection button 11b. An end face position is determined on 101, and further, zero setting of program coordinates is performed by a set zero button 11d and an axis selection button 11b, and the corner 100 is set as the origin on the program coordinates.

[0006]

However, in the conventional electric discharge machining apparatus as described above, in setting up the workpiece 101 and the electrode 1, the approach of the electrode 1 to the workpiece 101 and the Since the three manual operations of positioning the contact end face due to the electrical conduction of the electrode 1 and setting the program coordinates to zero after the end face positioning are repeated, not only is it burdensome for the operator, but also it takes time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and specifies a point on a machining path of an electrode by a manual operation, and specifies the specified point in a positioning operation program provided with a pattern passing through the point in advance. And take the coordinates of the
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric discharge machining method and apparatus for automating manual operations such as positioning of an end face of a workpiece and setting of program coordinates to zero.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric discharge machining method in which an electrode is manually moved to a position near a workpiece .
Determining the points required for positioning the end face of the workpiece at a position not in contact with the workpiece , storing the coordinates of these points, and presetting the electrodes so that they pass through the points. The coordinates of the point are taken into the positioning operation program, and the positioning operation program is executed to determine the end face position of the workpiece by electrical conduction between the electrode and the workpiece, and to determine the zero of the program coordinates based on the end face position. And setting a point.

In the electric discharge machining apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the electrodes are
Move to a point near the set workpiece, and
From the point, the end face of the work is brought closer to the end face, and the end face position of the work is obtained at the end face of the work by electrical continuity between the electrode and the work, and the program coordinates are determined based on the end face position. Storage means for storing a positioning operation program for setting a zero point, axis movement control means for performing movement control of the electrodes and the machining table in accordance with instructions of an operator, and electrodes and machining tables to be moved by the axis movement control means. Mechanical position detecting means for detecting the coordinates of the current position, and, among the current positions of the electrodes and the processing table detected by the mechanical position detecting means, a position near the workpiece required for positioning the end face of the workpiece by the operator. Teaching point storage means for specifying the position based on the instruction, numbering and storing the coordinates of the position,
Operation command means for taking in the coordinates stored in the teaching point storage means as preset points of the positioning operation program, executing the positioning operation program and setting zero points of the program coordinates. .

The electric discharge machining apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second aspect, teaches the position of the position stored in the teaching point storage means as a graphic and displays the number of the stored position in a matrix. It is provided with point display means.

[0011]

[Action] In the first and second invention, first, approaching the electrode according to an instruction of the operator to the workpiece, before
The end of the workpiece at a position where it does not contact the workpiece
Points required for surface positioning are specified, and the coordinates of these points are stored in the teaching point storage means. Next, when the automatic operation is performed, the operation command means incorporates the coordinates of these points into a preset positioning operation program, executes the positioning operation program, and performs the end face positioning of the workpiece and the zero setting of the program coordinates. Run.

According to the third aspect, the coordinates of the position specified by the manual operation are graphically displayed on the teaching point display means, and the numbers of the stored positions are displayed in a matrix.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electric discharge machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 to 10, 12, 15
17 are the same as those of the conventional apparatus of FIG. Reference numeral 11 denotes a hand-operated control box having a button for causing the electrode to approach the workpiece by manual operation and storing a predetermined point in the NC device 20, reference numeral 13 denotes a hand-operated box control means for controlling the hand-controlled box 11, Reference numeral 14 denotes operation command means for instructing the axis movement control means 15 to position electrodes and the end face of the workpiece and zero setting of the program coordinates, and instructs the electrode exchange device control means 17 to perform electrode exchange. Reference numeral 21 denotes a machine at a predetermined point. Teaching point storage means for obtaining coordinates by the position detection means 16 from the data of the position detector 7 and the Z-axis scale 8, assigning a number to each point and storing the points sequentially; 22
Is a teaching point display means for displaying the points stored by the teaching point storage means 21 graphically by dividing them into an XY plane, a Z axis, and a rotation axis, and displaying the stored point numbers in a matrix.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the operation surface of the operation box 11 at hand in FIG. In the figure, reference numerals 11a to 11d denote buttons having the same functions as those of the conventional operation box of FIG. 11e is a point determined by manual operation (teaching point)
Mode selection button 11f for selecting a mode for storing in the teaching point storage means 21
Is a number selection button for numbering the teaching point, 11g is a teaching storage button for storing the teaching point in the teaching point storage means 21, and 11h is a number display of the teaching point.
It is a segment display.

FIG. 3 shows a display example of the teaching point display means 22 for displaying the stored teaching points graphically. Numeral 61 indicates the stored four teaching points P00 to P03 divided into an XY plane, a Z axis, and a rotation axis (A axis, B axis, C axis). 62 indicates the stored movement points P00 to P03,
It is displayed in a matrix. Numeral 63 indicates the numerical value of the machine coordinate of the teaching point P01, where P01 is X123456.789, Y12345.
6789, Z12345.6789, C12345.6
789, A123456.789, B12345.67
89. The 64 machine coordinates represent the current machine position (indicated by a black triangle in each coordinate axis) as a numerical value.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment in which the setup operation for positioning the corner 100 of the workpiece 101 is performed according to the present invention. Arrows 71 to 73 in FIG.
1a and a manual feed operation by the axis selection button 11b.
While performing this manual feed, the teaching mode selection button 11e, the number selection button 11f, and the teaching storage button 11g are operated to set the position (teaching point) at which the electrode 1 can be positioned with respect to the workpiece 101.
The four points P00 to P03 are determined and stored in the teaching point storage means 21.

When the automatic operation is performed, the operation command means 14 outputs the corner positioning operation pattern (8) shown in FIG.
1 to 92) are obtained from the program of the input medium 12, and an operation for setting the corner 100 of the workpiece 101 as the origin of the program coordinates is instructed to the axis movement control means 15, whereby the positioning of the corner 100 is executed. You. In the figure, arrows 81, 84, 85, 88, 89, and 92 are fast-forward operations, and are indicated by G00 on the NC program, and arrows 82,
86 and 90 are end face positioning operations, represented by G29 on the NC program, 83, 87, and 91 are zero setting operations of program coordinates, and represented by G92 on the NC program.

FIG. 6 shows an NC program of the above-described corner positioning operation pattern. In this NC program, the G00 command corresponds to a manual feed operation of manual operation, the G29 command corresponds to end face positioning by manual operation, and the G92 command corresponds to zero setting operation of program coordinates by manual operation. Note that the step numbers in FIG. 6 correspond to the operations 81 to 92 in FIG.

The operation pattern is as follows.
Is positioned at P01 (step 81), and then, at P01, the workpiece 101 is moved in the X-axis direction to position the end surface of the X plane by electrical contact with the electrode 1 (step 82). The program X coordinate is set to zero (step 83), and the electrode 1 is returned to P01 by rapid traverse again (step 84). Subsequently, the electrode 1 is positioned at P02 by rapid traverse (step 85). Next, at P02, the electrode 1 is moved in the Z-axis direction to position the end surface of the Z surface by electrical contact with the workpiece 101. (Step 8
6), the position is set to zero of the program Z coordinate (step 87), and the electrode 1 is returned to P02 by rapid traverse again (step 88). Further, the electrode 1 is positioned at P03 by rapid traverse (step 89). Next, at P03, the workpiece 101 is moved in the Y-axis direction to position the end surface of the Y surface by electrical contact with the electrode 1 ( (Step 90), the position is set to zero of the program Y coordinate (Step 9)
1) Return the electrode 1 to P03 by fast-forward again (step 9)
2).

In this embodiment, the operation command means 1
4 is configured to receive the positioning operation program from the outside, but these programs may be stored internally from the beginning.

[0021]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the electrode is brought closer to the workpiece, the contact end face is positioned by electrical conduction between the workpiece and the electrode, and the program coordinates are set to zero after the end face is positioned. The conventional setup operation, which had to repeat two manual operations, changed the electrodes to the workpiece .
Move it to the vicinity and place it
Only by performing a simple manual operation of specifying and storing points required for positioning the end face of the workpiece ,
Quickly in automatic operation, and mistakes can be obtained an effect that can be performed without.

According to the third aspect, the position specified by the manual operation is graphically displayed by the teaching point display means, and the stored position numbers are displayed in a matrix, so that the electrode approaches the workpiece. It is possible to obtain the effect that the points can be visually judged and the operation can be executed reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electric discharge machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the operation surface of the operation box at hand in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a display example of a teaching point display unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of corner positioning according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of corner positioning according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a program for a corner positioning operation pattern.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional electric discharge machining apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a hand operation box of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional setup operation for performing corner positioning.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 electrode 10 electrode exchange device 11 hand operation box 12 input medium 13 hand operation box control means 14 operation command means 15 axis movement control means 16 position detection means 17 electrode exchange device control means 20 NC device 21 teaching point storage means 22 teaching point display Means 31 to 42 Conventional corner positioning operation 61 Graphic display of teaching point 62 Number display of teaching point 71 to 73 Corner positioning point determination operation 81 to 91 Corner positioning operation according to the present invention 100 Corner of workpiece 101 Workpiece

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An electrode is manually moved to a position near a workpiece.
At a position where the workpiece does not contact the workpiece.
Determining the points required for positioning the end face of the workpiece and storing the coordinates of these points; taking in the coordinates of the points into a positioning operation program preset so that the electrodes pass through the points; Execute the program to determine the end face position of the workpiece by electrical conduction between the electrode and the workpiece,
Performing a zero point setting of program coordinates based on the end face position. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electrode is located at a predetermined position near the workpiece.
To the point and further from the point
The end position of the workpiece is determined by the electrical continuity between the electrode and the workpiece at the end surface of the workpiece, and the zero point of the program coordinates is set based on the end surface position. Storage means for storing an operation program; axis movement control means for controlling movement of the electrode and the machining table in accordance with an instruction of an operator; detecting the coordinates of the electrode and the current position of the machining table moved by the axis movement control means Machine position detecting means, of the current position of the electrode and the processing table detected by the machine position detecting means, to specify a position near the workpiece required for end face positioning of the workpiece based on an instruction of the operator, Teaching point storage means for numbering and storing the coordinates of the position; and coordinates stored in the teaching point storage means. And an operation commanding means for executing the positioning operation program and setting a zero point of the program coordinates. 3. The teaching point display means for displaying coordinates of the positions stored in the teaching point storage means in a graphic form and displaying the numbers of the stored positions in a matrix. EDM equipment.