JP4666811B2 - Cost estimation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cost estimation apparatus that estimates a machining cost of a part in a machine product or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, when developing a product such as a mechanical device, in order to meet the demand for reducing the manufacturing cost, the design is made in consideration of the processing cost. Therefore, there is a need to provide a system that can quickly calculate the processing cost from the initial stage of product development. Conventionally, various cost estimation apparatuses that can easily estimate the manufacturing cost using a computer have been proposed from such a viewpoint.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a system configuration of a conventional cost estimation apparatus. In this conventional system, an input device 51 including a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various data and processing commands, and a display device 52 for displaying input data, arithmetic processing result data, and the like from the input device 51 are provided as a user interface. An estimation logic database unit 55 and a result output format database unit 56 are connected to the system main body 54 via the unit 53. Here, the estimation logic database unit 55 stores calculation formulas for cost estimation corresponding to parts / shapes and machining processes.
[0004]
The system main body 54 includes, for example, a cost factor data input unit 57 for inputting cost factor data such as a material of a component, a plate thickness, a hole diameter, a hole depth, a weld line length, etc., gas cutting, and temporary attachment Based on the data input from the processing steps / work content data input unit 58 for inputting the processing steps such as welding and the work content data in the processing steps, and the estimation logic database unit 55 A cost calculation processing unit 59 that performs processing cost calculation by referring to the calculation result calculated by the cost calculation processing unit 59 and outputs the result to a form with reference to a result output format database unit 56 Part 60.
[0005]
In order to perform cost estimation using such a system, the user first processes the target part with respect to the shape of the target part to be estimated, and what kind of process is performed in the processing process. The user determines whether the work content is necessary. For example, when drilling a hole in a required shape on a part, decide whether to perform machining, lathe processing, or punch press processing, and what kind of work will be performed in the determined machining process Will determine if is necessary. When the machining process and its work content are determined and input from the machining process / work content data input unit 58, the cost calculation processing unit 59 is combined with the cost factor data previously input from the cost factor data input unit 57. Then, the machining cost is calculated while referring to the estimation logic database unit 55, and the calculation result is output to the form by the result output processing unit 60 with reference to the output format database unit 56 of the result.
[0006]
As a prior art related to the present invention, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-160945. The technology disclosed in this publication extracts and acquires information necessary for estimation calculation from the two-dimensional CAD data of a molded article to be estimated, and includes title column information and notes in the two-dimensional CAD data. In such a case, information such as a used material name, a secondary processing name, and the number of pieces of information is extracted from the information, and a cost element is calculated based on the information.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional cost estimation apparatus shown in FIG. 8, it is necessary for the user to determine and input the machining process and the contents of the work for the shape of the cost estimation target part. There is a problem that the cost cannot be estimated unless the user is a skilled user with expertise in the processing process. It should be noted that it is extremely difficult to make a rule because this processing step needs to be determined and determined in consideration of factors such as the efficiency and productivity of the entire factory.
[0008]
In addition, the data stored in the estimation logic database unit 55 includes the range of parts and shapes to be estimated, the range of processing steps, and the estimation logic fixed by the system. It is impossible to arbitrarily register / modify the system, and it is also impossible to register / modify the estimation logic arbitrarily, and there is a problem that the system lacks flexibility.
[0009]
Further, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-160945 cited as the prior art related to the present invention is applied only to a specific processing method such as processing performed using an injection molding machine. Therefore, it cannot be applied as it is to the purpose of use such as selecting an optimum processing method from various processing methods and performing cost estimation.
[0010]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, without any knowledge of the machining process, can be performed at all stages from the initial stage of product development in a short time the cost estimate product The object is to provide a cost estimation device .
[0011]
[Means for solving the problems and actions / effects]
To achieve the above purpose, the cost estimation device according to the present invention,
In the cost estimation device that estimates the processing cost of parts,
(A) a process design database section for storing process design data including specific data such as dimensions, weight, and material of existing parts and graphic data;
(B) A machining process / part / shape combination database section for storing data relating to a combination of a machining process and a part / shape related to the machining process;
(C) a machining process data input unit for inputting machining process data of an existing part similar to the cost estimation target part based on the process design database unit ;
(D) Based on the machining process data of the existing part input from the machining process data input unit, the process database / part / shape combination database unit is referred to the cost estimation target part / shape, and the part / shape Parts / shape / machining process combination processing unit that performs processing for associating with the machining process ,
(E) Estimated logic database that registers cost calculation formulas for parts / shape data, machining process data and annotation data as cost factors, and
(F) Referring to the estimation logic database, an allocation process for a cost calculation formula for each cost factor data, and a calculation formula allocation process / cost calculation processing unit for performing a cost calculation based on the calculated calculation formula <br />.
[0012]
In the present invention, when estimating the machining cost for the cost estimation target part, the machining process data of an existing part similar to the cost estimation target part is selected from the process design database unit, and the machining process data input unit When input, the processing database of the process / part / shape is referred to the cost estimation target part / shape based on the input process data of the existing part, and the part / shape / machining process After the processing for associating the part / shape with the machining process is performed in the combination processing unit, the estimation logic database is referred to, and the cost calculation for each cost factor data is performed in the calculation formula allocation processing / cost calculation processing unit. and provision process for the formula, cost calculation is executed on the basis of the allowance treated formula Thus, according to the present invention, even if there is no specialized knowledge about the machining process, the user can perform the process including specific data and graphic data such as dimensions, weight, material, etc. of the existing parts stored in the process design database unit. By simply referring to design data and selecting an existing part that is similar to the cost estimation target part, the process for the cost estimation target part and shape is automatically assigned based on the processing data of the selected existing part. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the cost of the product easily and in a short time at all stages of product development. As a result, it is possible to contribute to an improvement in efficiency at each stage such as design, trial manufacture, and manufacture of parts.
[0013]
In the present invention, it is preferable to include a result output processing unit that outputs the processing result of the calculation formula allocation processing / cost calculation processing unit in a desired form format (second invention). In this way, the calculation result of the cost calculation has been made in reserve processing cost calculation processing unit of the meter formula is, since it is force output at result output processing unit, a series of processing cost calculation is fully automated.
[0014]
Here, in the result output format database unit, various output values and related data related to the processing result of the calculation formula allocation processing / cost calculation processing unit are registered as variables, and the result output processing unit is registered. It is preferable that the output format of the processing result can be created by using the variable (third invention). In this way, to which position on the form each output value in the cost estimation result is output Can be set arbitrarily, so that there is no restriction in the output format, and the convenience for the user can be further improved.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, a specific embodiment of the cost estimation apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a cost estimation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
In the cost estimation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, an input device 2 including a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various data and processing commands, and a display for displaying input data, arithmetic processing result data, and the like from the input device 2. The apparatus 3 is connected to the system main body 5 via the user interface unit 4, and the system main body 5 is related to the process design database unit 6 of the existing part for storing the process design of the existing part, the machining process, and the machining process. Processing process / part / shape combination database section 7 for storing data related to the combination of parts and shapes, estimation logic database section 8 for storing estimation logic for each processing process, and results for storing the output format of calculation results The output format database unit 9 is connected.
[0022]
The system main body 5 includes, for example, a cost factor data input unit 10 for inputting cost factor data such as a material of a component, a plate thickness, a hole diameter, a hole depth, a weld line length, etc., and a cost estimation target component. Based on the processing data input unit 11 of the existing part for inputting processing data (for example, gas cutting, tack welding, automatic welding,...) Of similar existing parts, and data input from these input units 10 and 11. Referring to the machining process / part / shape combination database section 7, a part / shape / machining process combination processing section 12 that performs processing for associating the part / shape with the machining process, and the estimation logic database section 8, the allocation process for the cost calculation formula for each cost factor data, and the cost calculation based on the calculated calculation formula. Expression allocation processing / cost calculation processing unit 13 and a result output processing unit 14 that outputs the calculation result calculated by the allocation processing / cost calculation processing unit 13 to a form with reference to the output format database unit 9 of the result. And.
[0023]
The estimation logic database unit 8 includes a cost factor variable registration unit 15 capable of registering and editing each data such as shape data, annotation data, process data, and basic unit as a cost factor, and a cost factor variable. The cost estimation logic registration unit 16 for registering and editing the estimation logic incorporating the URL is attached, and the result output format database unit 9 has a form format for registering and editing the form format for finally outputting the estimation result. A registration unit 17 and a registration unit 18 for outputting an estimation result that can register / edit various output values of the estimation result and related data are output to which position on the form format are attached.
[0024]
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the cost factor variable registration unit 15 registers variables (for example, “hol_dia”, “temp_v”, and the like) in the cost calculation formula and the meanings of the variables, The cost estimation logic registration unit 16 also includes a calculation formula, a key for assigning the calculation formula (combination of parts / shape, machining process, and condition), an input value (for example, “work material”) and an output value for each variable. (For example, “cutting speed”) is registered. Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the form format registration unit 17 registers the output form format, and the estimation result output registration unit 18 stores each output form. On the other hand, a character string or expression to be output in each cell of the form is registered.
[0025]
Next, processing contents by the cost estimation apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 2 through a specific example. In the following description, the symbol S indicates a processing step.
[0026]
S1 to S2: Cost factor data of a cost estimation target part is extracted from a three-dimensional (3D) model, and the data is input from the cost factor data input unit 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the cost estimation target part A includes a thick plate 1 and a thick plate 2 that are joined to each other by a welding line 1, and a drill hole 1 at a substantially central portion of the thick plate 1. It is assumed that is a shape in which is drilled. In this case, as the extracted cost factor data, as shown in FIG. 3B, data such as “material”, “plate thickness”, “cutting length”, etc. for “thick plate 1” and “thick plate 2”. For “Welding line 1”, data such as “Welding line length”, “Welding weight”, “Welding type”, etc., and for “Drilled hole 1”, data such as “Hole diameter”, “Hole depth”, “Chamfered”, etc. It becomes.
[0027]
S3 to S7: Next, in order to search for a part similar to the cost estimation target part A from the group of parts stored in the process design database unit 6 of the existing part while looking at the three-dimensional graphic data, First, a component category is input and search items corresponding to the component category are output. Next, a search key (for example, a part name, a part characteristic value (size, weight, material, etc.), etc.) is input from the output search item, and the search result is output. Normally, there are cases where a plurality of similar parts are output as the search result, so one similar part is selected from the plurality of parts. Note that the steps S3 to S6 are repeated until one similar part is selected. Thus, the existing similar part B (see FIG. 4) is selected for the cost estimation target part A.
[0028]
S8: When an existing part similar to the cost estimation target part is selected in the previous step, the machining process data attached to the similar part, in the case of this specific example, “gas cutting—tack welding— The machining process data “automatic welding-horizontal machining” is input from the machining process data input unit 11 of the existing part.
[0029]
S9 to S16: Next, processing is performed on the part / shape by referring to the processing process / part / shape combination data related to the processing process stored in the processing process / part / shape combination database unit 7. A process for associating processes is performed. For this process, first, a part / shape counter for counting the number of parts / shapes is reset (S9), and the number of parts / shapes is counted (S10). Then, it is determined whether or not the counter has reached the total number of parts / shapes (S11). If the count number has not been reached (YES), the machining process counter for counting the number of machining processes is reset. (S12), this processing step is counted up (S13). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the count of the machining process counter has reached the total number of machining processes (S14). If the total number has been reached (NO), the process returns to step S10 and the following steps are repeated. If the count of the machining process counter does not reach the total number of machining processes (YES), it is determined whether or not there is a combination of parts / shapes and machining processes in the machining process / part / shape combination database unit 7. (S15) If there is a combination, the combination of the part / shape and the machining process is stored (S16), and the process returns to step S13. On the other hand, if there is no combination, the process directly returns to step S13.
[0030]
The process in steps S9 to S16 will be described with a specific example. Based on the machining process data of the similar part B input in step S8, the items of the parts and shapes shown in FIG. Map “Processing Step 1”, “Processing Step 2”, “Processing Step 3”, “Processing Step 4”, etc. to each of the thick plate 1, “thick plate 2”, “welding line 1”, and “drilling hole 1”. In order to proceed, a process of referring to the machining process / part / shape combination database unit 7 as shown in FIG. 5A is executed. For example, in FIG. 5B, when “part / shape” is “thick plate 1”, referring to the processing / part / shape combination database section 7 in FIG. If you pick up the item “Thick plate” in the “Parts / Shapes” column), you can see that the processing steps are “gas cutting”, “tack welding”, “automatic welding”, and so on. Are sequentially mapped to the column of “thick plate 1” in FIG. In this way, combination data of machining processes for parts / shapes is created.
[0031]
S17: When the number of parts / shapes reaches the total number in the determination in step S11, the estimation logic database unit 8 is referred to search for a calculation formula that matches the parts / shapes, processing steps, and conditions. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when “part / shape” is “drilled hole” and “machining process” is “horizontal machining”, the “drilled hole” is “no chamfer” as “condition”. Since there is a separate calculation formula registered for each of the case and the case of “with chamfered” holes, the search is made using these “part / shape”, “machining process”, and “condition” as keys. Become.
[0032]
S18 to S20: Based on the calculation formula retrieved in the previous step S17, in order to execute the calculation formula allocation processing in the calculation formula allocation processing unit / cost calculation processing unit 13, first, variables in the calculation formula A real value (for example, “FC25” as “machining material” of the variable name “Drill_v”) is input as a name, and a basic unit (for example, an output value “100” as “cutting speed”) for the input value is obtained. Thus, after inputting a real value to a variable in the calculation formula, the calculation is executed.
[0033]
As described above, since various data (for example, shape data, annotation data, process data, and basic unit data) that are cost factors are registered as variables in the estimation logic database unit 8, the user can arbitrarily specify the cost factors. There is an advantage that the range of parts / shapes, processing steps, etc., which can be registered / corrected, and cost estimation can be arbitrarily set.
[0034]
S21: Next, the result output processing unit 14 outputs the calculation result and the related information to the form with reference to the result output format database unit 9 as shown in FIG. FIG. 7B shows an example of the output cost estimation result.
[0035]
In the output format database unit 9 of the result, the form format to be output is registered in the form format registration unit 17, and the output form registration unit 18 of the estimation result stores the form of the form for each output form. Since the character string or formula to be output in each cell is registered, it is possible to arbitrarily set the output position in the form for each output value in the cost estimation result. In other words, the user desires Forms can be created freely.
[0036]
According to the cost estimation apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, for a cost estimation target part, using the process design database unit 6 of an existing part similar to the target part, based on the machining process data of the existing part, Since it is configured so that machining processes for parts and shapes subject to cost estimation are automatically allocated, even users who do not have specialized knowledge about machining processes can identify existing parts stored in the process design database 6 By simply referring to process design data including data (dimensions, weight, material, etc.) and graphic data, selecting an existing part that is similar to the cost estimation target part, it is easy to estimate the processing cost of the product in a short time. Can be executed. In addition, since this cost estimation can be performed at all stages including the initial stage of product development where the CAD data of the parts and the details of the product process are not fixed, the cost estimation apparatus 1 is an extremely useful system with a large implementation effect. It can be said that.
[0037]
In the estimation logic database unit 8 of the present embodiment, various data as cost factors are registered as variables. However, these various data may be registered as fixed data as in the past. Even in such a system, since the procedure for determining the machining process of the part for which the cost is to be estimated can be simplified as compared with the conventional method, a certain degree of effect can be obtained.
[0038]
Conversely, without using the process design database unit 6 of the existing parts, a specialist engineer only selects the machining process for the cost estimation target part / shape, and the subsequent processes are performed according to the procedure of this embodiment. It is also possible to adopt a system that performs the above. Even in such a system, since various data as cost factors can be registered and edited as variables, the cost calculation formula can be arbitrarily registered and corrected without being limited by the cost estimation target part / shape and the range of the machining process. An effect can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a cost estimation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow of the cost estimation apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a graphic data example (a) and cost factor data example (b) of a cost estimation target part;
FIG. 4 is an example of process design data for similar parts.
FIG. 5 is a data example (a) of a machining process / part / shape combination database unit and an example (b) of a combination map of parts / shape and machining process.
FIG. 6 is a data example of an estimation logic database unit.
FIG. 7 is a data example (a) and a cost estimation result example (b) of a result output format database unit;
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration of a conventional cost estimation apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cost estimation apparatus 2 Input apparatus 3 Display apparatus 4 User interface 6 Process design database part 7 of existing parts Process database part combination 8 of machining process / parts / shapes Estimate logic database part 9 Result output format database part 10 Cost factor data input part DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Processing part data input part 12 of an existing part Component / shape / machining process combination processing part 13 Calculation formula assigning process / cost calculation processing part 14 Result output processing part 15 Cost factor variable registration part 16 Cost estimation logic registration part 17 Form format registration section 18 Estimated result output section

Claims (3)

In the cost estimation device that estimates the processing cost of parts,
(A) a process design database section for storing process design data including specific data such as dimensions, weight, and material of existing parts and graphic data;
(B) A machining process / part / shape combination database section for storing data relating to a combination of a machining process and a part / shape related to the machining process;
(C) a machining process data input unit for inputting machining process data of an existing part similar to the cost estimation target part based on the process design database unit ;
(D) Based on the machining process data of the existing part input from the machining process data input unit, the process database / part / shape combination database unit is referred to the cost estimation target part / shape, and the part / shape Parts / shape / machining process combination processing unit that performs processing for associating with the machining process ,
(E) Estimated logic database that registers cost calculation formulas for parts / shape data, machining process data and annotation data as cost factors, and
(F) Referring to the estimation logic database, an allocation process for a cost calculation formula for each cost factor data, and a calculation formula allocation process / cost calculation processing unit for performing a cost calculation based on the calculated calculation formula <br A cost estimation apparatus comprising: Cost estimate device according to claim 1 and a result output unit for outputting the processing result of the allocation processing cost calculation processing unit of the formula in a desired form format.   In the result output format database unit, various output values and related data related to the processing result of the calculation formula allocation processing / cost calculation processing unit are registered as variables, and the result output processing unit stores the registered variables as variables. The cost estimation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cost estimation apparatus can be used to create an output format of the processing result.

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