JP4738585B2 - Machining program graph display method and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of displaying a machining program created by combining programs created for each process executed by an NC (numerical control) machine tool, and an apparatus therefor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, in the field of NC machine tools, in order to be able to automatically machine complex and various shapes of workpieces, various types of tools such as tools, drills, mills, etc. can be exchanged to the tool rest and turning. Compound mechanization is being promoted that enables various machining processes such as machining, drilling, and milling. In such a multi-machined NC machine tool, when various machining processes are to be performed simultaneously or in a desired order on a material to be machined, a series of machining programs for that purpose are created and stored in the NC unit. The registration work tends to be a heavy burden on the operator because it requires sophisticated programming techniques.
[0003]
On the other hand, in the field of NC machine tools, in order to reduce the labor required for an operator when creating a machining program, automatic programming apparatuses having various configurations equipped in connection with the NC apparatus have been proposed. This type of automatic programming device is usually equipped with a CPU, memory, keyboard, display, etc., and the data necessary for carrying out the machining process is received from the operator for various selection items and requirements displayed in sequence on the display. Acquired from interactive instructions and input data, and, if necessary, geometric data of the workpiece entered in the form of drawings via a graphic input device such as CAD, thereby automatically generating the required machining program It is supposed to be. According to such an automatic programming apparatus, since the operator's operation of inputting the machining program verbatim is eliminated, even an operator inferior to the program creation technique creates a complicated machining program in a relatively short time. be able to.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventionally, the machining program created in this way has not been graphed and has been very difficult to understand. In particular, it was difficult to know the processing time of each process, which was an obstacle to shortening the processing time. Further, even if the processing order is rearranged to improve the processing efficiency, it is difficult to determine whether the rearrangement is possible and how the rearrangement affects the entire processing program.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to display a machining program in a graph so that the machining time of each machining process can be seen at a glance.
Another object of the present invention is to utilize the know-how possessed by each user and select the process to be changed directly from the graph display of the machining program so that the user can easily use it, and rearrange the machining order. Is to be able to do it.
[0006]
The present invention provides, as means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a method for displaying a machining program graph or an apparatus therefor as set forth in each of the claims.
In the machining program graph display method according to claim 1, the machine tool includes a plurality of control systems, and each control system is assigned a program for executing a machining process to configure the machining program . Calculate the operating time of the machine tool, and based on each operating time, calculate the machining program cycle time for each system, the elapsed time from the beginning of the entire program of each system to each line, and calculate the maximum elapsed time of the machining program The cycle time is calculated, and the interval of the scale of the graph is calculated so that the entire machining program is displayed over the entire display area of the graph based on the cycle time , and the start time of each machining step is calculated based on each operation time. Calculate the machining time and place a square block with the length corresponding to the machining time of each machining process based on the scale interval at the machining start time position. And displays, displays a table of a plurality of machining a predetermined pattern corresponding to a predetermined processing, and selects a predetermined machining pattern from the table of this pattern, a predetermined processing from the graph-like representation of the machining program By selecting a process, the selected machining process is automatically checked for changes to the selected machining pattern, and if the change is not possible, an error message is displayed. A graph of a machining program based on the changed machining process is displayed .
[0007]
Thereby, in this invention, each process is displayed by the square block according to the length of machining time, and the machining time of each process can be known at a glance. In addition, the waiting position of each system program can be seen at a glance. Furthermore , the machining order can be rearranged on the graph display in accordance with changes in machining program setting conditions (cycle time priority, machining accuracy priority, tool placement priority, etc.). Moreover , it is also possible to correct the processing process according to the user's preference.
[0008]
Graphical display of the machining program of claim 2 is an apparatus for implementing a graphical method for displaying the machining program according to claim 1, merely changing the invention of a method in device invention, according to claim 1 The same effect as the method is achieved.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a method for displaying a machining program according to an embodiment of the present invention and a method for rearranging the machining order of the machining program displayed in a graph will be described with reference to the drawings.
When a workpiece W having a complicated shape as shown in FIG. 2 is machined from a rod-like workpiece material, a multi-function NC lathe is used, and machining is performed by a variety of processes. For example, in the workpiece W shown in FIG. 2, an outer diameter cutting process 1, an outer diameter threading process 2, a D cut process 3, a cross hole center process 4, a cross hole process 5, and a parting pickoff process 6 are performed in front machining. Then, an outer diameter cutting process 7, an end face hole center process 8, an end face hole process 9 and an end face hole tapping process 10 are performed by back surface processing, and the workpiece W is processed through each process. Such process data is programmed for each process, and the NC lathe is controlled and processed in accordance with this program. In the multi-function NC lathe, the processing time can be shortened by using two workpiece materials and simultaneously processing the front surface of one material and the back surface processing of the other material at the same time. To create a simple machining program.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for displaying a machining program created by combining programs created for each process according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the creation of the graph is started, in step S1, a program for each process is extracted from the table T1 in which data for each process is stored, and this is assigned to three systems, in this embodiment, to create a machining program. The process data stored in the table T1 includes a machining program, process number, process name, tool information (type, number, name), holder information, and the like. Along with the creation of the machining program, the system, the start block position, and the end block position are written in the table T2 as the break of each process.
[0011]
Next, the time for each block (indicating one line of the program) is calculated in step S2. This time is calculated from the feed rate of the tool and the machining distance. The calculated time for each block is written in the elapsed time table T3.
In step S3, the waiting position of the program of each system is checked, and the system, the waiting number, the block position, etc. are written in the waiting block position table T4.
Next, in step S4, the elapsed time from the beginning of each system program to each block is calculated. In the calculation of the elapsed time, the information of the system, the waiting number, and the block position written earlier from the waiting position table T4 is taken in. Then, add the time of each block, calculate the elapsed time from the beginning to each block, and if there is a waiting block in the middle, check the elapsed time to the same waiting block of the other system, the most elapsed time Is the start time of the next block to wait, and the elapsed time of the subsequent blocks is calculated. The calculated elapsed time for each block is written in the elapsed time table T3.
[0012]
In step S5, the largest value among the elapsed times of the last block of each system is set as the cycle time of this machining program. Next, in step S6, the start time and machining time of each process are calculated. In this case, the system, start block position, and end block position information is extracted from the process partition table T2, and the block time and block time information is extracted from the elapsed time table T3. The calculated start time and machining time of each process are written in the process time data table T5.
[0013]
In step S7, the interval between the scales of the graph is calculated based on the cycle time so that the entire display area can be displayed. Next, in step S8, the square of the block representing each process is displayed at the start time position of the graph. In this case, each information of the process start time and the machining time is extracted from the process time data table T5 and used. The square length of each block indicates the machining time.
The graph creation is completed through the above steps.
[0014]
The graph obtained by this is shown in FIG. 3A, and these are displayed on the screen. In the present embodiment, each processing step is attached to three systems of system $ 1, system $ 2, and system $ 3. The system $ 1 includes an outer diameter cutting process, an outer diameter thread cutting process, a D cut process, a cross hole center process, a cross hole process, and finally a parting off pick-off process in order. 2 is pasted with an outer diameter cutting step and a back surface collecting step for back surface processing, and similarly, an end surface hole center step, an end surface hole step, and an end surface hole tapping step for back surface processing are pasted to the system $ 3. These three systems $ 1, $ 2, and $ 3 start at the same time and work in time series displayed on the graph.
[0015]
The comb blade, the turret, and the back three axes in the process shown in the lower right of the graph of FIG. 3 indicate the machining with the respective tool rests of the multifunctional NC lathe. The twin turret machining in the machining pattern is the most frequently used standard machining pattern. It is suitable for alternating machining with a comb blade and a turret in the system $ 1 on the front machining side. It is used when machining the front and back separately, and on the back processing side, it is possible to perform alternate processing with the turret and the back three axes, and the two-saddle processing pattern is the system $ 1, $ 2 on the front processing side It is used for simultaneous machining such as roughing / finishing and simultaneous threading (different pitch is possible), and the back machining can be done with back 3 spindles with system $ 3 on the back machining side. Three processes such as outer diameter and front and rear center (drill) machining can be performed at the same time, but machining with three back axes is not possible, and the pick-off machining pattern is So that the can switch engagement workpiece by the back spindle.
Also, the dotted lines drawn vertically over the three systems in the graph indicate the waiting positions of each system when the machining pattern is changed, and the scale on the horizontal axis is shown in seconds.
[0016]
As described above, the present invention enables the graphic display of the machining program, and the machining time of each process can be understood at a glance by making the square display in the block according to the machining time length. In addition, the processing time is calculated and displayed in a graph taking into account the waiting between systems.
In addition, by clicking a square block representing a process in the graph with a mouse, as shown in the lower left of FIG. 3B, in the process information display area, the processing time, process number, process name, The tool type, tool number, tool name, and holder information of the tool being used are displayed.
[0017]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a graph obtained by correcting the graph created by the above-described method by rearranging the machining order of the machining program. This is best used when considering a more efficient processing sequence.
First, in step S11, a machining pattern to be changed is selected from the process alignment graph as shown in FIG. This is selected from five processing patterns displayed at the lower left of the graph display screen. Actually, when the square block of the selected processing pattern is double-clicked, the color of the square frame changes to white. Next, in step S12, a process that can be changed to the selected processing pattern is checked, and a mark is put on the graph. Actually, the display color of the square block of the process that can be automatically changed changes. Note that the process data information in this case is obtained from the process data table T1. Next, in step S13, a process to be changed is selected from the graph. That is, by clicking the square block of the process to be changed on the graph, the square frame is removed as shown in FIG.
[0018]
In step S14, it is checked whether or not the selected process can be changed in the case of machining patterns to be simultaneously machined. That is, whether the process is a pair of processes that can be processed simultaneously, whether the cutting conditions such as the number of rotations are appropriate, whether there is a relationship between the processing positions, and the like are automatically examined. Next, if it cannot be changed in step S15, an error message is displayed, and if it can be changed, the process proceeds to the next step S16.
In step S16, the process is rearranged. In other words, automatic waiting block insertion and tool reallocation are performed. The result is displayed graphically as shown in FIG. As a result of this process change, the cycle time of the machining cycle which took 42.3 seconds is shortened to 40.6 seconds.
[0019]
Thus, the rearrangement method of the machining order of the machining program displayed in the graph has the following characteristics.
The order of processes can be rearranged with a specified processing pattern. When changing to simultaneous machining, an appointment can be automatically inserted between the systems. In addition, the tools can be reassigned so that simultaneous machining is possible. Further, it is possible to check whether or not the specified machining pattern can be changed, and the machining time can be calculated and displayed as a graph based on the result of the rearrangement.
The rearrangement of the processing order can be performed with priority given to the processing time, and can also be arranged with priority given to processing accuracy and tool placement.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a machining program graph display method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a workpiece having a number of machining steps as an example, which is used in the machining program graph display method of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a graph created by the graph display method of the machining program of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of rearranging the processing order of the graph created by the graph display method of the processing program of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing that a process to be changed is selected in a graph of a machining program.
FIG. 6 is a graph showing a result of rearranging the processing order.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer diameter cutting process 2 ... Outer diameter thread cutting process 3 ... D cut process 4 ... Cross hole center process 5 ... Cross hole process 6 ... Parting off pickoff process 7 ... Outer diameter cutting process 8 ... End face hole center process 9 ... End face Hole process 10 ... End hole tapping process W ... Workpiece

Claims (2)

In the graph display method of the machining program for displaying the machining program of the machine tool consisting of each program for executing a plurality of machining processes in a graph,
The machine tool includes a plurality of control systems, and configures the machining program by assigning each program for executing the machining process to each control system,
Calculating the operating time of the machine tool of the respective program one row for each, based on the respective operating time, the elapsed time from the beginning of the entire program of each path to each row to calculate the cycle time of the machining program for each system, The maximum elapsed time is the machining program cycle time,
Based on the cycle time, calculate the interval of the scale of the graph so that the entire machining program is displayed over the entire display area of the graph,
Calculate the start time and processing time of each processing step based on each operation time, and place a square block having a length corresponding to the processing time of each processing step based on the interval of the scales at the processing start time position And display
Displaying a table of a plurality of predetermined machining patterns corresponding to a predetermined machining, selecting a predetermined machining pattern from the machining pattern, and selecting a predetermined machining step from the graphic display of the machining program Automatically checks whether the selected machining process can be changed to the selected machining pattern, displays an error message if the change is not possible, and if the change is possible, the machining pattern has been changed. A machining program graph display method for displaying a machining program graph based on a machining process. A machining program graph display apparatus for carrying out the machining program graph display method according to claim 1 .

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