JP3619539B2 - Tool path editing method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a tool path editing method , and more particularly to a tool path editing method for editing CL (Cutter Location) data representing a tool path created in a CAD / CAM (Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing) system or an automatic programming device. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The CAD / CAM system creates the shape to be machined, specifies the machining method for it, and finally outputs NC (Numerical Control) data or sequence program. In the process of outputting the NC data, the tool path Data (CL data) is created. This tool path data has a general form that does not depend on the machine tool. Graphic information related to the movement of the tool expressed in absolute coordinate values, that is, tool position data, feed speed when moving the tool, etc. And accompanying information. Thereafter, the tool path data is applied to a post processor to create NC data or a sequence program suitable for a specific machine tool.
[0003]
When tool path data is created in a CAD / CAM system, the created result may not be in the desired form. In such a case, it is necessary to edit the tool path data. Conventionally, the tool path data created in the CAD / CAM system is saved in a file in ASCII format, and the file is edited with an editor. Alternatively, graphic information related to the tool position in the tool path data is displayed in the CAD window, and is edited using the CAD function.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the conventional editing method, first, when editing with an editor, the tool position data and accompanying information are edited by opening a file and changing the numerical value of the corresponding part. For information, it is difficult to imagine the actual shape of the tool moving. Further, when editing on the CAD window, only the graphic information related to the tool position can be edited out of the tool path data, and other accompanying information cannot be edited. For this reason, there has been a problem that the efficiency is low when NC data or a sequence program is created in a CAD / CAM system.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of these points, and in the CAD / CAM system, the tool position data relating to the tool movement of the tool path data and the accompanying information relating to the individual tool positions other than the respective are efficiently edited simultaneously. An object of the present invention is to provide a tool path editing method capable of performing the above.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, in a method of creating NC data based on tool path data obtained by inputting a machining shape, tool position data relating to tool movement and individual tool positions based on the shape The tool path data composed of accompanying information representing a tool axis vector, a preparation function, a feeding function or an auxiliary function is created, and the accompanying information is stored in association with the created tool position data, and the tool path is stored. At the time of editing, the position data is displayed in the tool position data display window, and the tool axis vector, feed function, preparation function and auxiliary function of the accompanying information associated with the tool position data are displayed in the window for editing the accompanying information. tool, characterized in that changeably displaying, and editing the tool position data and the accompanying information is displayed Road editing method is provided.
Further, an element identifier of a graphic element composed of the tool position data is also displayed in the window for editing the accompanying information. Further, when editing the tool path data, the details of the element data are displayed in a window. Details of the element data are an element type, start point coordinates, end point coordinates, element gradient, and element length.
[0007]
[Action]
The accompanying information about the tool position data and the respective tool position on the movement of the tool created as a tool path data on the basis of the shape, is stored in association with the accompanying information to the tool position data This created, the tool path At the time of editing, the position data is displayed in the tool position data display window, and the tool axis vector, feed function, preparation function and auxiliary function of the accompanying information associated with the tool position data are displayed in the window for editing the accompanying information. The tool position data and accompanying information displayed can be edited.
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a tool path editing method of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes CL data creating means for creating tool position data relating to tool movement and accompanying information relating to individual tool positions based on the shape to be machined in the CAD / CAM system. The generated tool position data 2a of the CL data is stored in the CL data storage means 2 together with the accompanying information 2b. When CL data is stored in the CL data storage means 2, the tool position data 2a and the accompanying information 2b are linked. A CL data editing unit 3 is connected to the CL data storage unit 2, and a display unit 4 is connected to the CL data editing unit 3. When editing the CL data, the CL data editing means 3 takes out the CL data from the CL data storage means 2 and displays the tool position data in the form of the tool path in the CL window on the CAD window of the display means 4. Further, a window for accompanying information is created on the display means 4, and the accompanying information in the CL data is displayed in this window so that it can be edited. This editing can be performed from the CAD window or the accompanying information window. When editing is performed on the one hand, the result is reflected on the other. When the editing is finished, the edited CL data is stored in the CL data storage means 2.
[0009]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the tool path editing method . In this figure, the left side shows an external operation by the user, and the right side shows an internal operation of the system.
[0010]
First, when the user commands the creation of CL data from the outside (Step S1), CL data is created inside the system (Step S2), and the created CL data is stored in the database (Step S3). Next, a link is made between the tool position data and the accompanying information, and the two are linked (step S4). When the creation of the CL data is completed, the creation process completion is notified to the outside (step S5).
[0011]
When the user wants to edit the CL data, first, the user instructs to edit the CL data (step S6). A graphic element representing a tool position to be edited on the CAD window is designated using, for example, a mouse (step S7). Then, in the system, the database is searched to extract accompanying information regarding the element (step S8). The extracted accompanying information is displayed in the newly generated accompanying information window (step S9). The user can edit the tool position data and the accompanying information on the displayed CAD and accompanying information window (step S10). When the editing is completed, the data is saved (step S11), and the updated new data is stored again in the CAD database (step S12).
[0012]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of a window for accompanying information. This window 30 is displayed together with the CAD window by entering the element correction mode in the CAD window and specifying the tool position data to be edited, that is, the graphic element representing the tool path.
[0013]
According to the illustrated window 30, element data designated in the CAD window is displayed in the form of an element identifier (element ID) 31. Below that, an element data detail display button 32 for separately displaying the details of the element data and a button 33 used when modifying the element are arranged.
[0014]
The window 30 also displays data associated with the designated element. First, the tool axis vector 34 is displayed with the values i, j, and k, and these values can be directly edited by using the axis vector correction button 35, for example. Further, as accompanying data, a G code 36 for a preparation function, an F code 37 for a feed function, and an M code 38 for an auxiliary function are displayed. In addition, there is an optional code 39 display, which is selected from the choices in the pull-down menu that appears by pressing the button at that position when editing the G code 36 or M code 38. It is used when it is desired to embed a code that is not an option in NC data. At the bottom of the window 30, an apply button 40 used at the end of editing, an undo button 41 used when returning to the previous editing state, and a cancel used when it is desired to stop editing the specified element. A button 42 is arranged.
[0015]
The accompanying data displayed in this window 30 is changed to display of the accompanying data related to the newly designated element when the designation of the element displayed in the CAD window is changed.
[0016]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of another window for accompanying information. This window 50 appears when the element data detail display button 32 in the window 30 is pressed. According to this window 50, detailed display items of element data include an element type 51 representing the type of element, an element start point coordinate 52 and an end point coordinate 53, an element gradient 54, and an element length 55. The start point coordinates 52 and end point coordinates 53 are displayed as XYZ axis coordinate values.
[0017]
When an element designated in the CAD window is edited using the CAD function, the accompanying data relating to the element is reflected in the window 50, and the displayed value is automatically changed. When any editing is performed in the window 50, the result is reflected in the tool position data of the element displayed in the CAD window, and is displayed again with the edited data.
[0018]
FIG. 5 is a hardware block diagram of a CAD / CAM system for carrying out the present invention. In the figure, a CAD / CAM system includes a processor 11, a read only memory (ROM) 12, a main memory (RAM) 13, a graphic control circuit 14, a display device 15, a keyboard 16, a mouse 17, a hard disk device (HDD) 18, a floppy disk. A disk device (FDD) 19, a plotter 20, and a printer / paper tape puncher (PTP) 21 are configured. These components are connected to each other by a bus 10.
[0019]
The processor 11 controls the entire CAD / CAM system according to a system program stored in the read-only memory 12. The main memory 13 stores a program for executing a CAD function, CL data created or read from a CAD database, finally created NC data, a sequence program, or the like.
[0020]
The graphic control circuit 14 converts display data from the processor 11 into a display signal and sends it to the display device 15. The display device 15 receives the display signal and performs screen display. The display device 15 is a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display device or the like.
[0021]
The keyboard 16 includes operation keys used for data input, function keys, and the like. The mouse 17 is used to designate an element to be edited on the CAD window and to select various buttons on the accompanying information display window.
[0022]
The hard disk device 18 stores a CAD / CAM system program, created CL data, CAD database data, NC data, or a sequence program. The floppy disk device 19 can drive the floppy disk 19a to read out a sequence program or the like, or write a created or edited sequence program or the like into the floppy disk 19a.
[0023]
Further, NC data or a sequence program finally created by the automatic programming function can be output to the plotter 20 and the printer / paper tape puncher 21.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the created CL data is stored in the database, the accompanying information is also stored together with the accompanying information when the tool position data is edited on the CAD window. It was configured to be able to display and edit at the same time. As a result, when editing the CL data once created, it is possible to perform consistent editing processing on the CAD side, which is efficient.
[0025]
Further, according to the present invention, the editing process can be performed efficiently, so that the product cost can be reduced by shortening the design time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a tool path editing method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of a tool path editing method .
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a window for accompanying information.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of another window for accompanying information.
FIG. 5 is a hardware block diagram of a CAD / CAM system for carrying out the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 CL data creation means 2 CL data storage means 2a Tool position data 2b Accompanying information 3 CL data editing means 4 Display means

Claims (4)

In a method of creating NC data based on tool path data obtained by inputting a shape to be machined,
Creating the tool path data composed of the tool position data relating to the movement of the tool based on the shape and the accompanying information representing the tool axis vector, the preparation function, the feed function or the auxiliary function relating to the individual tool positions;
Storing the associated information in association with the created tool position data;
When editing the tool path, the position data is displayed in a tool position data display window, and the tool axis vector, feed function, preparation function and auxiliary function of the accompanying information associated with the tool position data are for editing the accompanying information. In the window of changeable,
A tool path editing method, wherein the displayed tool position data and the accompanying information are edited. Wherein the accompanying information window for editing, tool path editing method according to claim 1, wherein also display the element identifier of the element of figure composed of the tool position data. 3. The tool path editing method according to claim 2, wherein when editing the tool path data, the details of the element data are displayed in a window. 4. The tool path editing method according to claim 3, wherein the details of the element data include an element type, a start point coordinate, an end point coordinate, an element gradient, and an element length.

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