JP4160768B2 - NC machine tool management method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of managing a plurality of NC machine tools equipped with NC (numerical control) devices by a plurality of computers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The NC machine tool performs workpiece machining by controlling the selection of a tool and the relative position or speed between the workpiece and the tool based on a machining program loaded into the NC device and executed. Recent NC devices have a data communication function. By using this function, a personal computer can be connected to the NC device, and the state of the machine tool and the execution status of the machining program can be monitored by the personal computer. The personal computer holds various management data and history data such as the machining program number executed by the machine tool, the planned number and time of machining of workpieces, the number of machining and the elapsed time. The operator can manage the operating status and machining history of the machine tool by referring to these data of the personal computer.
[0003]
Further, the operator can change the management data stored in the personal computer. These changes are processed by an application program installed in the personal computer to change the command signal given to the NC device. This command signal is, for example, a command signal for execution or load / unload of a machining program for the NC device, display of an operation history or operation schedule, operation of a machine tool, failure diagnosis, or the like.
[0004]
When managing NC machine tools with a personal computer, application software provided by the NC device manufacturer or machine tool manufacturer is installed on the personal computer, and the communication port is connected to the NC device of the machine tool. In a highly automated machine tool, a single operator usually manages multiple machine tools. A plurality of machine tools are connected to one personal computer, and the multiple machine tools are connected to each other. Management can be performed by switching screens.
[0005]
In a factory where a large number of machine tools are installed, multiple management PCs are required. Also, when managing by switching multiple machines connected to a single personal computer, if only two of the multiple machines are in the alarm state at the same time, only one unit is restored. Inconvenience and loss time increases. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of management PCs 9 and NC devices 2 of a plurality of machine tools 1 are connected by a LAN so that a plurality of machine tools can be managed by one PC. One machine tool can be managed by multiple PCs.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the number of personal computers connected to the network is limited in the data communication means of the NC unit, the number of management personal computers that can be connected to one machine tool is limited. Is a limitation when building a system to manage multiple machine tools. Also, it is necessary to install management application software on a plurality of personal computers, and it is troublesome because it is necessary to individually update and set up the software when the software is improved. Also, with the conventional management system, the machining schedule of each machine tool cannot be changed on the personal computer side.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, NC devices 2 of a plurality of machine tools to be managed are connected to one server computer (hereinafter simply referred to as “server”) 3, and management data for all the connected NC devices 2 is obtained. And the history data are collectively managed by the server 3, and the display or update screen of the data for each machine tool managed by the server is made public on a network including the Internet, and a client computer connected to the network (hereinafter simply referred to as “client”). By accessing the open screen from 4), it is possible to manage any machine tool connected to the server 3, thereby solving the above-mentioned problems of the conventional system.
[0008]
That is, according to the NC machine tool management method of the present invention, a server 3 is network-connected to an NC (numerical control) device 2 having a data communication means attached to a plurality of machine tools and a plurality of clients 4. The management data and history data of a plurality of NC devices 2 are stored in, and a screen for displaying these data is generated for each NC device and made public on the network, and the client 4 calls and displays the above screen. The plurality of machine tools are controlled by causing the server to change the stored management data when the data is changed.
[0009]
In the management method according to claim 2, the screen generation means includes schedule screen generation means, and the server 3 changes the machining schedule of the corresponding NC device when the client 4 changes the data of the schedule screen. That's it. This schedule change function is owned by the server when the server 3 is provided with means for generating a schedule screen, and when the screen is accessed and an operation signal of a control display element (such as a button on the screen) 7 is received. This can be realized by providing schedule change means for changing the schedule data of the corresponding machine tool.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a management system for carrying out the present invention. Each of a large number of machine tools 1 installed in a factory is provided with an NC device 2 having a data communication function. Then, this large number of NC devices 2 are connected to the server 3 via the bus 5. On the other hand, a plurality of clients 4 for managing these machine tools are installed, and the server 3 and each client 4 are connected to the Internet or a LAN. In the auxiliary storage device of the server 3, management data such as machining programs and machining schedules of all connected NC devices are inputted from the client 4 and stored. The server 3 includes storage means for storing data received from the NC device 2 in an auxiliary storage device. Data sent from the NC device 2 connected to the server 3 is processed by application software and stored in the auxiliary storage device as status data and history data.
[0011]
The server 3 includes a data display screen generation unit similar to that included in a personal computer for NC device control in a conventional system. The screen generated by this screen generator includes, for example, a list screen of connected machines, a detailed screen for each machine, an operation status display screen, a tool compensation screen, a machining program input / output screen, a load meter display screen, a custom screen Macro screen.
[0012]
The server 3 publishes the screen generated by the screen generation means on the LAN and the Internet individually for each NC device. That is, when a client accesses via the LAN or the Internet, the access right is confirmed and a data display screen is transmitted to the client. The server 3 also has a schedule change function for changing the machining schedule of the NC device 2. This schedule change function includes means for generating a schedule change screen, and when the screen is accessed and an operation signal of a control display element is received, the schedule data of the corresponding machine tool held by the server This can be realized by providing a schedule changing means for changing.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the overall processing flow in the method of the present invention. First, an operator starts machining a workpiece by automatically operating a machine tool in charge. The NC device 2 of each machine tool performs data processing with processing support software such as a work counter and a tool counter owned by each machine tool, and transmits these data to the server 3 in response to a request from the server.
[0014]
The server 3 is connected to the NC device 2 via a LAN, and the operation status of the machine sent from each NC device, the processing load and tool correction amount detected by the load meter, and the processing managed by various processing support software Data such as the number is acquired and stored in the auxiliary storage device as a database. Then, the server performs arithmetic processing on the acquired data with the application software of the server, and publishes it as a Web page such as HTML on the LAN and the Internet.
[0015]
The manager or operator of the machine browses data published by the server using the Web browser of the client 4. Operators can check the machine operation status and machining progress status based on the viewed data, and perform timely preparation for the next machining, setting and changing data, and restoring the machine in the alarm state. be able to. Such a worker performed by the worker and the management data are transmitted to the server in the form of a change, and the server application software changes the management data according to the change.
[0016]
FIG. 3 illustrates a schedule screen as one of the screens that the server 3 discloses to the LAN and the Internet. On this screen, the name of the machine used for each process name, the time allocated to the process, the number of workpieces processed for the planned number of processes, the processing program number used in the process, the processing progress rate, the processing A list of workers in charge and the like is displayed, and control display elements (buttons on the screen) 6, 7, and 8 for changing data are displayed. When the operator wants to change the schedule, the target process is selected, the order of the processes is changed by dragging, the machining time zone is changed or the planned number of workpieces is changed, and the OK button 7 is pressed. To change the schedule between multiple machines, press the machine list display button 6 to display the machine list, select the machines related to each other, and display their schedule screens. Change the schedule at.
[0017]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing between the client 4, the server 3, and the NC device 2 showing the flow of processing performed by calling the schedule screen. First, the operator operates the client keyboard to connect to the server. The server processes the data in the database with application software, transmits a schedule screen as shown in FIG. 3 to the client, and the schedule screen is displayed on the display of the client. The operator browses the displayed schedule screen, changes the schedule on the screen using the keyboard, and presses the OK button. The changed schedule is transmitted to the server 3, the application software of the server is executed, and the data in the database is updated.
[0018]
When the schedule of the database is changed, schedule change notification software for notifying the NC device of the change is automatically activated to transmit the schedule change notification to the NC device. This change notification interrupts the NC device, and an alarm indicating the change notification is displayed on the display of the NC device. If necessary, the worker on the NNC device side requests the server 3 for schedule data. In response to this request, the server 3 transmits schedule data of the machine to the NC device, and the changed schedule screen is displayed on the display of the NC device. In addition, the display of the progress status of processing and the display and change of the schedule can also be performed on the NC apparatus side as in the past.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the method of the present invention, a large number of machine tools can be collectively managed by one server, and the history data of each machine tool can all be managed by one server, which is necessary for management. Various types of application software need only be installed on the server, and it is easy to add or change programs. Further, since each NC device is connected to only one server, the number of management terminals (clients) is not limited by the limitation on the number of computers connected to the NC device side. The worker can call the machine he / she is responsible for from any client connected to the LAN or the Internet, and therefore, a system with less restrictions due to duplication with the installation location of the client and other workers can be constructed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overall processing flow. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a schedule screen. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing schedule change processing. System configuration diagram [Explanation of symbols]
1 Machine tool 2 NC device 3 Server 4 Client

Claims (2)

A server computer (3) is network-connected to an NC device (2) having a data communication means attached to a plurality of machine tools and a plurality of client computers (4), and a plurality of NC devices are connected to the server computer (3). The management data and history data of (2) are stored and a screen for displaying those data is generated for each NC device and made public on the network, and the client computer (4) calls the screen and displays the displayed data. An NC machine tool management method for controlling the plurality of machine tools by causing the server computer to change the stored management data when changed. The screen generating means includes schedule screen generating means, and the server (3) changes the machining schedule of the corresponding NC device when the client computer (4) changes the data of the schedule screen. Management method.

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