JP3009103B2 - Sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to computer aided design (CAD) systems and computer aided manufacturing (CA).
M) A sheet metal CAD / CAM system configured to link the systems and handle the sheet metal products. In particular, both the design side and the manufacturing side intuitively understand the geometry of the sheet metal products except for human thinking and judgment. By smoothly exchanging sheet metal product information through a common sheet metal model that is a form suitable for grasping the shape, sheet metal that can realize efficient work on both the design side and the manufacturing side It relates to a CAD / CAM integrated system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a link between conventional sheet metal CAD / CAM systems, for example, two-dimensional CAD data including design information such as the shape and dimensions of a sheet metal product drawn by a designer using a two-dimensional CAD system is as follows. IGES (Init
ial Graphics Exchange Spe
and DXF (Drawing E)
The file is once converted into an intermediate file such as xchange Format, and then transferred to the CAM system on the manufacturing side. Here, IGES and DXF are different types of CAD.
/ CAM system is an intermediate data format that is standardized for mutual data exchange. The two-dimensional CAD data converted to an intermediate file can be processed on the CAM system side in various data processes equivalent to the CAD system side. It becomes possible.

Upon receiving the converted two-dimensional CAD data into an intermediate file transferred from the two-dimensional CAD system on the design side, the CAM system on the manufacturing side converts the three-dimensional view, which is a projection view of the third trigonometric method, into a development system. A development plan is created using the development plan, and processing information such as processing procedures, processing conditions, allocation of dies and tools, etc. in an NC processing machine group such as a laser processing machine or a bending processing machine is appropriately added to the generated development view. By adding
Create C processing data.

[0004] Then, the created NC processing data is transferred to NC
The workpiece is supplied to a group of processing machines, and a desired sheet metal product is obtained through sheet metal processing such as cutting, drilling, and bending of the sheet metal work in the NC processing machine group.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional sheet metal CAD / CAM system has the following problems to be solved.

That is, the first problem is that the CAM on the manufacturing side
In the system, two-dimensional CA converted to an intermediate file
It is often necessary to modify two-dimensional CAD data before creating a development view from the D data using a development system, which hinders efficiency.

As to the cause of the first problem, drawing information represented by two-dimensional CAD data generally includes ambiguity such as omitting hidden lines and redundant portions, and is designed by a receiving person. Accurate drawing information is transmitted by interpolating and correcting omissions while adding thoughts and judgments while taking into account intentions. Therefore, it is difficult to apply software-based deployment systems to actual operations as they are. Because there is. In addition, in order to solve the first problem, if detailed design rules such as prohibition of omission of hidden lines and redundant portions when creating a design drawing are defined, a great burden is imposed on the design side. Again, efficiency will be hindered.

[0008] The second problem is whether or not the design side can cope with the sheet metal work of the size to be used by the NC processing machine group side, that is, for example, whether or not cutting can be performed by the own cutting processing machine. Or, when designing a sheet metal product without considering the constraints caused by the NC processing machine group side, such as whether or not bending can be performed by the bending machine or the molds owned, if the manufacturing side, It is necessary to make a design change in consideration of the constraints caused by the NC processing machine group, but it is difficult to reflect the intention of the manufacturing side including the contents of the design change on the drawing and feed it back to the design side. This requires repeated meetings in order to unify the intention with the manufacturing side, which hinders efficiency.

[0009] These problems can be solved if the information can be smoothly exchanged between the design side and the manufacturing side. In view of such a situation, both the design side and the manufacturing side can solve the problem. New sheet metal C that allows smooth information exchange between
The development of an integrated AD / CAM system has been awaited among stakeholders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and both the design side and the manufacturing side intuitively grasp the geometric shape of a sheet metal product except for human thinking and judgment. A sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system capable of realizing business efficiency on both the design side and the manufacturing side by exchanging smooth sheet metal product information through a common sheet metal model that is a form suitable for The task is to provide

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is based on a computer-aided design (CA).
D) Sheet metal CAD which is configured in cooperation with the system and a computer assisted manufacturing (CAM) system and handles sheet metal products.
/ CAM system, wherein a sheet metal model representing the geometrical shape of a sheet metal product is created, and the created sheet metal model is stored and saved in a sheet metal model database, and the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the C
AM system, the CAD system and the C
By connecting with the AM system via a network so as to share the sheet metal model database, both the design side and the manufacturing side can exchange smooth sheet metal product information through a common sheet metal model. The point is to do it.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the CAM system are connected via the network so that the CAD system and the CAM system share the sheet metal model database. By connecting, both the design side and the manufacturing side
Smooth exchange of sheet metal product information is performed through a common sheet metal model which is a form suitable for intuitively grasping the geometric shape of a sheet metal product except for human thinking and judgment.

[0013] Since information is transmitted between the CAD system and the CAM system using a common sheet metal model instead of a medium of drawings, a reliable sheet metal model using a sheet metal model equivalent to a real model of a final product is provided. It is possible to transmit product information, and as a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of operations on both the design side and the manufacturing side.

[0014] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that when a correction is made to a sheet metal model in the CAD system or the CAM system, the correction is reflected in the storage contents of the sheet metal model database. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a correction is made to a sheet metal model in a CAD system or a CAM system, the correction is immediately reflected in the storage contents of a sheet metal model database. Even if a modification of the cut or bent part that can only be added to the sheet metal model is made on the sheet metal model, the sheet metal model on which this correction is reflected can be very easily fed back to the design side. As a result, it is possible to improve the efficiency of operations on both the design side and the manufacturing side.

Further, according to the present invention, the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the CAM
The gist of the system is that it is installed in a place separated from each other.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the CAM system are installed at locations separated from each other, the sheet metal models are separated from each other in real time and directly. This can be referred to at a place, and as a result, the efficiency of business on both the design side and the manufacturing side can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the CAM
The gist of the system is that it is connected to a network via a public telephone line network.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the CAM
The gist of the system is that it is connected to the network via the Internet.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A sheet metal CAD according to the present invention will be described below.
An embodiment of the / CAM integration system will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sheet metal CAD / CAM according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are sheet metal CAD / C sheets according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model creating method applied to the AM integrated system. FIG. 7 shows a sheet metal model created by using the sheet metal model creating method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a view showing a developed state, and FIG. 8 is a sheet metal CAD / CAM according to the present invention.
FIGS. 9 to 12 are flowcharts showing schematic procedures of a sheet metal model expanding method applied to the integrated system. FIGS. 9 to 12 supplement the schematic procedures of the sheet metal model expanding method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention. It is a state transition diagram used at the time of explanation.

The integrated sheet metal CAD / CAM system according to the present invention creates a sheet metal model representing the geometrical shape of a sheet metal product, and stores the created sheet metal model in a sheet metal model database. CA between the CAD system and the CAM system
By connecting the D system and the CAM system via a network so as to share the sheet metal model database, both the design side and the manufacturing side can intuitively exclude sheet thinking and judgment from sheet metal products. It is characterized by performing smooth exchange of sheet metal product information via a common sheet metal model that is a form suitable for grasping the geometric shape of
As a result, information is transmitted between the CAD system and the CAM system using a common sheet metal model instead of a drawing medium, so that reliable sheet metal product information can be obtained using a sheet metal model equivalent to the actual model of the final product. Communication is possible, and as a result, the efficiency of work on both the design side and the manufacturing side is realized.

The schematic block configuration of this sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system will be described with reference to FIG.
The sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system 1 is configured by linking a computer-aided design (CAD) system 3 and a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system 5.

The CAD system 3 includes a three-dimensional design device (hereinafter, referred to as “3D design device”) 7, a graphic display device 9 such as a graphic display, and a graphic device such as a keyboard connected to the 3D design device 7. Referring to the operation input device 11, the position input device 13 such as a mouse and a light pen, and CAD data including drawing information drawn by using the 3D design device 7, a paper model or a sheet metal model of a sheet metal product is created. Paper model / sheet metal model creation device 15
And a paper model / sheet metal model storage device 1 that stores the paper model and the sheet metal model created by the paper model / sheet metal model creating device 15 in a database and stores them.
7 are provided.

The CAM system 5 includes an NC processing data creation device 19 for creating NC processing data,
A graphic display device 21 such as a graphic display, a graphic operation input device 23 such as a keyboard, a position input device 25 such as a mouse and a light pen, and an NC processing data generating device 19 connected to the processing data generating device 19. Referring to the input CAD data, a paper model / sheet metal model creation device 27 for creating a paper model or a sheet metal model of a sheet metal product, and a sheet metal model created by the paper model / sheet metal model creation device 27 are developed and developed. The apparatus is provided with a sheet metal model automatic development device 29 for creating a drawing, and a paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17 for storing the paper model and the sheet metal model created by the paper model / sheet metal model creation device 27.

A paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17 positioned as a sheet metal model database in the present invention is connected to a local area network 18 such as an Ethernet or a token ring which connects between the CAD system 3 and the CAM system 5. Connected, so that the CAD system 3 and the CAM system 5
Are configured so that shared use is possible.

The paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17, the CAD system 3, and the CAM system 5 can be installed at locations separated from each other. Thus, even when the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17, the CAD system 3, and the CAM system 5 are installed at locations separated from each other, the sheet metal model can be stored in a place separated from each other in real time and directly. As a result, it is possible to realize efficient operations on both the design side and the manufacturing side. In this case, the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17
The CAD system 3 and the CAM system 5 are, for example,
The network is connected via a public telephone line network or an information transmission medium such as the Internet.

As described above, the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17 can be shared and used by both the CAD system 3 and the CAM system 5. Therefore, both the CAD system 3 and the CAM system 5 can be used. In, access to the paper model and the sheet metal model stored in the database stored in the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17 is permitted, such as reading and writing of a corrected portion.

Specifically, for example, the CAD system 3,
Alternatively, when a correction is made to the sheet metal model in the CAM system 5, the correction is immediately reflected in the storage contents of the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17.

Thus, the CAD system 3 or the CA
When a correction to the sheet metal model is made in the M system 5, this correction is immediately reflected in the storage contents of the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17, so that, for example,
Even if changes to cut or bent parts that can only be added on the manufacturing side are corrected for the sheet metal model,
The sheet metal model in which the contents of the correction are reflected can be very easily fed back to the design side, and as a result, the efficiency of work on both the design side and the manufacturing side can be realized.

The NC machining data created by the NC machining data creation device 19 of the CAM system 5 is, for example, NCT
It is supplied to a group of NC processing machines such as a processing apparatus 31, a laser processing apparatus 33, an NCT / laser combined processing apparatus 35, and a bending processing apparatus 37. In the NC processing machine group, cutting and punching of a sheet metal work according to the NC processing data are performed. It is configured to obtain a desired sheet metal product through sheet metal processing such as bending.

Next, a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model creation method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS. This sheet metal model creation method is based on sheet metal CA.
It is executed by being applied to the paper model / sheet metal model creation devices 15 and 27 in the D / CAM integrated system 1.

First, the paper model / sheet metal model creating devices 15 and 27 are used to create a sheet metal model among the paper models stored in the database stored in the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17, for example, FIG.
Read the paper model shown in (a) (step S
1) Attach attribute information on a bent portion, a cut portion, and a butt pattern to the paper model read in step S1, and set the material,
An information adding process for adding sheet metal information relating to the sheet thickness and the sheet thickness direction is executed (step S2). The additional information includes fillet processing, offset plane creation processing, butting interference processing, creation processing of various shaped parts,
It is used as appropriate when calculating the elongation of a sheet metal work. FIG.
In the example of (b), bending point information is added to four ridgelines that define the outer periphery of the upper side surface of the paper model.

Next, the paper model / sheet metal model creating devices 15 and 27 perform a fillet process on the portion of the paper model to which the bending portion information has been added in step S2 (step S3). At this time, whether or not to add a plate thickness to a fillet to be created is automatically corrected based on the connection direction between the plate thickness direction and the adjacent surface. In the example of FIG. 4A, fillet processing is performed on four ridge lines that define the outer periphery of the upper surface of the paper model, in which an edge portion that is a connection portion between mutually adjacent surfaces is rounded.

Further, the paper model / sheet metal model creating devices 15 and 27 apply the sheet thickness in the sheet thickness direction added in step S2 to all the surfaces constituting the paper model after the fillet processing in step S3. An offset plane is created by offsetting by an amount (step S4). At this time, the surface is divided according to the cutting location information added in step S2. FIG. 4 (b)
5 shows a state in which an offset plane has been created for the right side of the paper model. In the example of FIG. 5A, an offset plane has been created for all the planes constituting the paper model. FIG.

Next, the paper model / sheet metal model creating devices 15 and 27 take into account the butting pattern information added in step S2 and determine the interference portions in each offset plane between all adjacent offset planes. It is removed (step S5). Here, the butting pattern information will be described. A butting pattern refers to a pattern in a joined state between members when a pair of sheet metal members are butted at a certain angle. As this butting pattern, for example, one sheet metal A one-sided butting pattern that joins sheet metal members so that the end surface of the member is covered by the general surface of the other sheet metal member, and a double-pull joining that joins the end surface of one sheet metal member and the end surface of the other sheet metal member at a ridge line portion facing Butting pattern.

In the butting interference processing in step S5, specifically, attention is paid to each surface, interference calculation with the surrounding surface is performed, and at this time, an inner R (including R = 0) is added. The interference calculation is performed on the side that is performing the operation. Here, in the sheet metal model, since the shape of the front and back surfaces sandwiching the plate thickness is the same, the result of the interference calculation is reflected on the surface with the outside R. FIG.
The example of (a) shows a state after the buttering interference processing when the double butting pattern is applied between the respective sides of the paper model.

Then, the paper model / sheet metal model creating devices 15 and 27 create a sheet thick surface creating process for sequentially creating a thick surface connecting a certain surface and an offset surface corresponding to this surface at appropriate positions. Is executed (step S6). Specifically, this plate thickness surface creation processing searches for the boundary between a certain surface and the offset surface corresponding to this surface, and places the plate thickness surface connecting the surfaces hit by this search at an appropriate position. This is done by creating them sequentially.

The sheet metal model obtained through the above steps is added to the paper model of the sheet metal product.
It is created precisely by performing various processes while referring to the attribute information about the bent part, the cut part, and the butting pattern, and the material, thickness, and sheet metal information of the sheet metal work, and, moreover, Since bending and butting are taken into consideration, and the thickness is maintained constant, for example, even at the corners, it is equivalent to a real model of a sheet metal product actually created through sheet metal processing, as shown in FIG. In addition, the image data can be directly developed using the data development system without the need for the operator to make corrections.

Also, by using the above-described sheet metal model creation method, a sheet metal CAD capable of greatly reducing both the man-hours for modeling on the design side and the man-hours for deployment on the manufacturing side.
/ CAM integrated system can be constructed.

Next, a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model expanding method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to a state transition diagram shown in FIGS. It is explained along.
This sheet metal model development method is executed by being applied to the sheet metal model automatic development device 29 in the integrated sheet metal CAD / CAM system 1.

First, the sheet metal model automatic developing device 29 converts, for example, a sheet metal model shown in FIG. 9A to be developed from among the sheet metal models stored in the database stored in the paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17. Referring to the sheet thickness dimension of the sheet metal model that represents the geometrical shape of the read sheet metal product that has been read out, of the plurality of surfaces constituting the sheet metal model, as shown in FIG. A thick part recognition process is performed to separately recognize a pair of general faces and a thick face that face each other (step S11).

Next, as shown in FIG. 10A, the sheet metal model automatic development device 29 removes the sheet thickness component with reference to the pair of general surfaces recognized in the sheet thickness portion recognition processing in step S11. An intermediate plane generating process for generating the generated intermediate plane is executed (step S12). In this intermediate plane generation processing, an intermediate plane is generated at a position at an equal distance from both of the pair of general planes recognized in the plate thickness portion recognition processing in step S11.

At this time, the generated intermediate plane is significantly reduced by removing the thickness component compared to the case where the sheet metal model is directly handled. By sequentially executing the following processing steps as a basis, the number of processing steps in each processing step can be significantly reduced. Also, as an effect accompanying execution of each processing step on the basis of the intermediate plane, for example, when each processing step is executed on the basis of a general plane without creating an intermediate plane, an inner radius R (radius of bending R) In the bent portion where the value of (dimension) is 0, there is no corresponding surface, which may hinder the execution of the processing. On the other hand, when each processing step is executed based on the intermediate surface, In the case where the R value becomes 0, a surface is created in the same manner as the other portions, so that a situation that hinders the execution of each process can be avoided beforehand, and the flow of each process can be reduced. It can be simplified.

In the intermediate plane generation processing in step S12, an example will be described in which an intermediate plane is generated at a position at an equal distance from both of the pair of general planes recognized in the plate thickness portion recognition processing in step S11. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. For example, it is possible to adopt a form in which an intermediate plane is generated at an arbitrary position between a pair of general planes according to a sheet metal product shape.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10B, the sheet metal model automatic unfolding device 29 recognizes a bending surface to be bent from among the intermediate surfaces generated in the intermediate surface generating process in step S12. Execute bending surface recognition processing (step S
13).

Subsequently, the sheet metal model automatic development device 29
As shown in FIG. 11A, at least the bending surface recognized in the bending surface recognition process in step S13 is:
An elongation value acquisition process for acquiring an elongation value of each bending surface is executed with reference to parameters determined from constraint conditions including a bending angle, a radius dimension of an inner R (bending R), and a material of a sheet metal work (step) S14). The setting value input by the operator is allowed for the elongation value of the bending surface obtained in the elongation value obtaining process. At this time, for example, when the operator sets and inputs the elongation value of the bending surface, the other bending processing conditions are interactive, that is, the setting input value of the elongation value of the bending surface and the other bending processing conditions are interactive. Changed to work together. Conversely, for example, when an operator sets and inputs a certain bending condition, the elongation value of the bending surface is interactive, that is, the setting input value of a certain bending condition and the elongation value of the bending surface are mutually linked. It is changed as follows.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the sheet metal model automatic development device 29 searches for the connection state between the respective surfaces for the plurality of surfaces constituting the intermediate surface generated in step S12. Then, based on the search result, an inter-plane connection state search process for creating an inter-plane connection relation table containing the connection state between the surfaces is executed (step S15).

Subsequently, the sheet metal model automatic development device 29
Determines whether or not all the planes constituting the intermediate plane generated in step S12 have been developed. If the result of this determination is that all of the planes have not been developed, the flow of the processing is changed to step S17. On the other hand, when all the surfaces have been developed, the flow of the process proceeds to step S19 (step S16).

If it is determined in step S16 that all of the surfaces have not been developed yet, the sheet metal model automatic developing device 29 proceeds to step S12. A developed shape calculation process for calculating the shape of the partial developed surface when the surface is developed is executed (step S17).

Further, the sheet metal model automatic unfolding device 29
Based on the inter-plane connection relation table created in the inter-plane connection state search process in step S15, as shown in FIG. 12A, the partially developed surfaces of the shape calculated in the expanded shape calculation process in step S17 are sequentially displayed. The development plane generation processing to be generated is executed (step S18).

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S16, if it is determined that all the surfaces have been developed, the sheet metal model automatic developing device 29 performs the developed surface generation processing in step S18 as shown in FIG. By removing the line segment existing between the partial development surfaces generated in step (1), an inter-plane line segment removal process of generating an entire development surface having an outer periphery as one closed path is executed (step S19), and the sheet metal model is removed. End the expansion processing. The inter-plane line segment removal processing in step S19 may be configured by adding a bending line generation processing for generating a bending line at an intermediate position of a bending surface, which is performed before this processing.

As described above, according to the present sheet metal model developing method, the sheet metal model itself representing the geometric shape of the sheet metal product is used as it is, and the thickness portion recognition, the intermediate plane creation, the bending surface recognition, the elongation value acquisition, the surface Since the expansion processing including the search of the connection state, the calculation of the expansion shape, the generation of the expansion surface, and the removal of the inter-plane line segment is sequentially performed, if the sheet metal model has the correct geometric shape as the sheet metal product, Regardless of the type of system used to create the model, the sheet metal model can be directly developed without complicated operator input operations.

Furthermore, since the development is performed using the sheet metal model representing the geometrical shape of the sheet metal product as it is, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the development cannot be performed due to an erroneous operation input by the operator such as erroneous combination of the surfaces. Can be.

Further, since the development is performed by using the sheet metal model representing the geometrical shape of the sheet metal product as it is, only the approximate dimensions can be obtained by the conventional method. The portion can be accurately reproduced.

Further, by using the present sheet metal model developing method, it is possible to significantly reduce both the man-hours for modeling on the design side and the man-hours for developing on the manufacturing side.
An AM integrated system can be constructed.

Next, an operation example of the above-mentioned integrated sheet metal CAD / CAM system will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the design side makes a paper model / sheet metal model storage device 17 the database of the paper model and the sheet metal model in the trial production stage created using the paper model / sheet metal model creating device 15 and stores and stores them.

[0059] In response to this, the manufacturing side issues a paper model /
The sheet metal model (prototype model) at the prototype stage stored in the sheet metal model storage device 17 is read, and the productivity is examined for this sheet metal model. Here, since this productivity study is performed on a sheet metal model that is a form suitable for intuitively grasping the geometric shape of a sheet metal product excluding human thinking and judgment, it is not a medium of drawings but a medium. ,
Information transmission between the CAD system and the CAM system is performed using a common sheet metal model, and reliable sheet metal product information can be transmitted using a sheet metal model equivalent to the actual model of the final finished product. It is possible to realize the efficiency of business on the side.

Now, an example of a productivity study conducted on the manufacturing side for a sheet metal model will be described. Whether a designed sheet metal product can be efficiently processed from the viewpoint of welding, bending, assembly, and the like. Is considered. Specifically, considering that the machining operation is efficiently performed using the machining equipment such as the NC machining equipment group owned by the company, it is determined whether the bending, welding position, and the like are appropriate, and a range in which no significant change is made. As a result of making a design change request within the company or improving the welding quality in consideration of cost reduction and increasing the allowable strength, a design change request to replace the thickness of the sheet metal work to be used with a thinner one is Do. These design change requests are reflected in the sheet metal model as corrections to the sheet metal model.

Upon receiving the sheet metal model in which the contents of the correction are reflected, the design side verifies whether or not the design intention is maintained with respect to the sheet metal model from the viewpoints of external shape (design), strength, function, and the like. And if the design intention is maintained as a result of this verification, the design change request is approved. At this time, verification as to whether or not the design intent is maintained was performed on a sheet metal model that is suitable for intuitively grasping the geometric shape of the sheet metal product excluding human thoughts and judgments. Therefore, information is transmitted between the CAD system and the CAM system using a common sheet metal model instead of a drawing medium, and reliable sheet metal product information is obtained using a sheet metal model equivalent to the actual model of the final product. Communication becomes possible, and as a result, efficiency of work on the design side can be realized.

Then, the design side prepares three views based on the sheet metal model as necessary, while the manufacturing side prepares a development view from the sheet metal model and Is performed.

From the above case, both the design side and the manufacturing side can use a common sheet metal model in a form suitable for intuitively grasping the geometric shape of a sheet metal product except for human thinking and judgment. By exchanging the sheet metal product information smoothly, the information is transmitted between the CAD system and the CAM system using a common sheet metal model instead of the medium of the drawing, so that the actual model of the final finished product is obtained. It can be seen that sheet metal product information can be reliably transmitted using a sheet metal model equivalent to that described above, and as a result, it is possible to achieve efficient operations on both the design side and the manufacturing side.

It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in other modes by making appropriate changes.

[0065]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, both the design side and the manufacturing side intuitively grasp the geometric shape of a sheet metal product except for human thinking and judgment. By smoothly exchanging sheet metal product information through a common sheet metal model which is a form suitable for performing, a CAD system and a CAM system can be exchanged between a CAD system and a CAM system using a common sheet metal model instead of a drawing medium. Since information is transmitted, it is possible to reliably transmit sheet metal product information using a sheet metal model equivalent to the actual model of the final finished product, and as a result, work efficiency on both the design side and the manufacturing side is realized be able to.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when a correction is made to a sheet metal model in a CAD system or a CAM system, the correction is immediately reflected in the storage contents of the sheet metal model database. Even if changes are made to the sheet metal model at the cutting and bending points that can only be added on the manufacturing side, the sheet metal model reflecting these corrections can be very easily fed back to the design side. As a result, it is possible to increase the efficiency of operations on both the design side and the manufacturing side.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the CAM system are installed at locations separated from each other,
The sheet metal model can be referred to in real time and directly at a place separated from each other, and as a result, there is an extremely excellent effect that the efficiency of work on both the design side and the manufacturing side can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation example of a sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model creating method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model creating method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model creating method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model creating method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a sheet metal model created by using a sheet metal model creation method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integration system according to the present invention is developed.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model expanding method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a state transition diagram used to supplementally explain a schematic procedure of a sheet metal model expanding method applied to the sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sheet metal CAD / CAM according to the present invention.
It is a state transition diagram used when supplementing the outline procedure of the sheet metal model development method applied to the integrated system.

FIG. 11 is a sheet metal CAD / CAM according to the present invention.
It is a state transition diagram used when supplementing the outline procedure of the sheet metal model development method applied to the integrated system.

FIG. 12 is a sheet metal CAD / CAM according to the present invention.
It is a state transition diagram used when supplementing the outline procedure of the sheet metal model development method applied to the integrated system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet metal CAD / CAM integration system 3 CAD system 5 CAM system 7 3D design device 9 Graphic display device 11 Graphic operation input device 13 Position input device 15 Paper model / sheet metal model creation device 17 Paper model / sheet metal model storage device 19 NC processing data Creation device 21 Graphic display device 23 Graphic operation input device 25 Position input device 27 Paper model / sheet metal model creation device 29 Sheet metal model automatic development device 31 NCT processing device 33 Laser processing device 35 NCT / laser combined processing device 37 Bending device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-272833 (JP, A) Metal Press, vol. 29, no. 12, pp. 32-35, Satoshi Sakaguchi, "3D Solid Sheet Metal CAD System" AP200 "" Sheet Metal, vol. 38, no. 10, p54-57, Naoki Komagamine, “Sheet Metal CAD / CAM System Approach to Bidirectional CAD / CAM System” (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/50

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sheet metal CAD / CAM system configured to cooperate between a computer assisted design (CAD) system and a computer assisted manufacturing (CAM) system and handling a sheet metal product, wherein the sheet metal model represents a geometric shape of the sheet metal product. And the created sheet metal model is stored and stored in a sheet metal model database, and a communication between the sheet metal model database, the CAD system, and the CAM system is performed by both the CAD system and the CAM system. By connecting via a network so as to share the sheet metal model database, both the design side and the manufacturing side exchange smooth sheet metal product information via a common sheet metal model. Sheet metal CAD / CAM integration system. 2. The sheet metal according to claim 1, wherein when a correction is made to the sheet metal model in the CAD system or the CAM system, the correction is reflected in the storage contents of the sheet metal model database. C
AD / CAM integrated system. 3. The sheet metal model database and the C
The AD system and the CAM system are installed at locations separated from each other.
3. A sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to item 1. 4. The sheet metal model database and the C
The integrated sheet metal CAD / CAM system according to claim 3, wherein the AD system and the CAM system are connected to each other via a public telephone network. 5. The sheet metal model database and the C
The sheet metal CAD / CAM integrated system according to claim 3, wherein the AD system and the CAM system are connected to each other via a network via the Internet.