JP7296672B2 - Automatic operation system for machining center - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic operation system for a machining center that can selectively perform automatic operation control by a terminal device at a remote location via a cloud server for a plurality of machining centers registered in advance, More specifically, for the selected machining center, based on the 3D CAD design data of the processed product input from the terminal device, a dedicated learned model is applied on the cloud side to create a processing command, The present invention relates to a system for automatically driving and controlling a machining process in a machine tool in accordance with the machining command.

At present, many machine tools are equipped with an automatic tool change function, equipped with a numerical control device, a so-called NC (Numerical Control) device, or a computer numerical control device, a so-called CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) device, and are controlled and driven as machining centers. there is That is, the machine tool is caused to automatically execute various cutting processes according to a predetermined NC machining program by a numerical controller to form a target product.

The NC machining program is the tool used and the X, Y, and Z coordinate axes during machining by the tool, or the movement amount and speed values related to the simultaneous 5 axes (X, Y, Z, A, and C) in advanced machine tools. It is created based on numerical control information of machining conditions and machining processes including data (NC data). Further, in the CNC device, automation is promoted by automatically calculating tool diameter correction, interpolation calculation, speed control, etc. by a built-in computer.

Therefore, an NC machining program for causing a machine tool to execute cutting to obtain a desired product is created after setting the machining conditions, machining steps, and the like in advance. Each processing step is determined by a processing method for cutting out each characteristic portion of the processed product, such as uneven steps, curved surface shapes, holes, pockets, slots, and the like. Tools suitable for forming these features are appropriately selected from various tools, such as various milling cutters, various drills, various end mills, and the like. Machining conditions, including cutting conditions, are set for each selected tool, and the tool trajectory is determined based on these machining conditions. Then, a machining process including tool exchange and tool locus execution is set based on such tool selection, and an NC machining program corresponding to the machining process is created.

Normally, an NC machining program corresponding to the machining process for cutting out each characteristic part is written in NC language such as G code or M code by an engineer based on the CAD (computer aided design) design drawing of the target machined product. created. However, in many cases, such as simultaneous 5-axis drive machining with advanced machine tools, there is an increasing need for more complicated control that allows smooth and automatic cutting without the interference of these multiple axes. The NC machining program is also created using a CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) system based on a three-dimensional CAD drawing.

CAM operation eliminated the need for manual code entry, but complex machining programs were created by skilled workers while examining machining methods, selecting tools, and determining machining conditions, which took time. there were. Therefore, various devices capable of automatically creating a machining program have been studied.

Above all, the inventors of the present invention automatically create machining instructions without the need for skilled knowledge and immediately start the machining process on the spot as long as they acquire the three-dimensional CAD design data of the target processed product. We are developing an automatic operation device for a machining center based on CAD data that enables the execution of This is because when three-dimensional (hereinafter also referred to as 3D) CAD design data of the target product is acquired, possible installation directions are immediately suggested in a 3D model display, and the features of the product are extracted, and the optimum Once the mounting orientation is selected and determined, the extracted features are applied to the learned model based on the determined mounting orientation to cause the machine tool to perform all the machining steps necessary to obtain the product in a short period of time. Machining instructions to be made are automatically created.

Japanese Patent No. 6719790 JP 2016-71407 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-12542

In recent years, however, the demanded processed products have become more complex, and along with this, the volume of 3D design data has also increased. Furthermore, since the data of the learned model that is updated in such a complicated machining process is also increasing in volume, each machining center has a capacity problem and a data processing function in the control device installed in the machine tool. It is also necessary to improve the performance, and the burden on the machine side is large, which also increases the cost. In addition, from the creation of the machining command to its execution, it is almost automatically performed, and the only necessary operations are the input of the initial 3D CAD design data and the selection and determination of the mounting direction, which are short and simple. Since these operations were performed by the operator using the CNC control panel on the machine side, restraint at the site was unavoidable.

On the other hand, a machine tool that reduces the load by sharing some functions of the control device with a cloud server is also being considered. For example, a numerical controller can be separated into a host computer (cloud) on the network and a machine tool side. There is a machine tool that is configured to operate control and spindle control software, and manages and maintains each software and hardware on the cloud side, thereby reducing the maintenance cost of the machine tool (see Patent Document 2). ).

In addition, for the purpose of helping to eliminate the deterioration of machining accuracy due to aging of each machine tool, the machined product manufacturer measures the rigidity of components such as the spindle and tools of the machine tool and measures it to the cloud server. A management computer that transmits information and creates a machining program based on the rigidity measurement information and machining basic data received on the cloud server side and also transmits the rigidity measurement information to the machine tool maker's computer and the tool maker's computer is also conceivable. (See Patent Document 3.).

However, as mentioned above, although there have been those that mainly used a cloud server to manage multiple machine tools, the feature part of the machine tool is based on the 3D CAD design data of the target processed product without using a CAM system. is automatically created by applying the learned model in the proposed and selected optimal mounting direction to automatically create the machining command to obtain each characteristic part, and the machining command is executed by an arbitrary machining center. There was nothing that could be easily operated remotely via a cloud server.

In view of the above problems, the object of the present invention is to use a cloud server for a plurality of machining centers to eliminate the need to increase the capacity of data storage and provide high-performance data processing capability to the control device on the machine tool side. Further, without the operator being constrained by the machine tool side, a machining command is automatically created for the machine tool of the selected machining center based on the three-dimensional CAD design data of the target machined product, and the machining command is generated. To provide an automatic operation system for a machining center that can cause the machine tool to execute

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an automatic operation system for a machining center that selectively performs automatic operation control for a plurality of machining centers equipped with CNC devices that numerically control each machine tool and an automatic tool changer. and
A cloud-side control unit provided in a cloud server on a network connected to the CNC device of each machining center via a communication line, creating a machining command for each machine tool, and transmitting the machining command to the corresponding CNC device. Then, the 3D CAD design data of the target processed product is input, the 3D CAD design data is transmitted to the cloud side control unit via a communication line, and the information transmitted from the cloud side control unit and one or more terminal devices displayed on the display unit,
Each CNC device
In accordance with a predetermined machining command, drive control is performed on the machining unit of the machine tool and the automatic tool changer, and the tool is moved to the rotary spindle of the machining unit in accordance with each machining process included in the machining command. A CNC device side control unit that executes cutting to the processing material while replacing and mounting it on the
Identification information of a plurality of tools that are exchangeably mounted on the rotating spindle via the automatic tool changer, storage position information of each tool, and the material, shape, and shape of each tool corresponding to the identification information. and a CNC device side storage unit in which tool information including
The cloud-side control unit
Based on the three-dimensional CAD design data transmitted from the terminal device, the machine tool of the machining center selected in advance executes all the machining processes necessary for cutting the machining material into the target machined product. a machining command automatic creation unit that automatically creates a machining command for
a cloud-side storage unit that stores a registration list in which all machining centers to be driven and controlled are registered together with their model information;
The cloud-side storage unit includes tool information for each machine tool, machining conditions including the tools and cutting conditions used when the cutting process is performed according to the characteristics of various cutting processes in advance, tool trajectories, and execution programs thereof. A trained model generated by learning corresponding processed data is stored,
The machining command automatic creation unit
A characteristic portion extraction function for extracting a characteristic portion of cutting from the three-dimensional CAD design data of the processed product based on the shape of the processed material;
Machining conditions necessary for cutting for each characteristic portion by applying each characteristic portion extracted by the characteristic portion extraction function to the learned model corresponding to the selected machining center along with the corresponding tool information is automatically determined, and a machining process including a tool locus is automatically set based on the machining conditions;
a total machining process setting function for determining a procedure for executing all the machining processes of the characteristic part extracted by the characteristic part extracting function and setting a series of all machining processes necessary to complete the machined product;
and a machining command creation function for creating a machining command for causing the machine tool to execute all the set machining steps based on the learned model, and the CNC device side control unit corresponding to the created machining command. is to be sent to
The machining process automatic setting function of the machining command automatic creation unit is
The tool information to be applied to the learned model together with the characteristic portions is updated by referring to the latest tool information stored in the CNC device side storage unit of the selected machining center before being applied. tool information update function to
Based on the three-dimensional CAD design data, a 3D model of the processed product is created, the 3D model is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device, and a possible 1 to the processing unit of the machine tool of the processed product is displayed. a function of selecting one or more different mounting directions, and displaying the 3D model in a state of each of the selected mounting directions in a selectable manner on the display unit of the terminal device, wherein the terminal device selects automatically setting a machining process for cutting each characteristic portion using the latest updated tool information based on the installed orientation,
After the machining command created by the machining command automatic creation unit is transmitted to the CNC device side control unit, the terminal device can be operated at an arbitrary timing by the operator or at a preset time. , having a function of transmitting a processing command start signal to the cloud side control unit,
When the cloud-side control unit receives the processing command start signal from the terminal device, the cloud-side control unit transmits a processing command start instruction signal to the CNC device-side control unit to execute cutting according to the processing command. a machining command start instructing unit that causes the machine tool to start ,
The machining command automatic creation unit includes a machining center determination unit that determines a machining center to be used for cutting the processed product from among the machining centers registered in the registration list,
The machining center determination unit,
A function of displaying the registration list on the display unit of the terminal device so that an arbitrary machining center in the list can be selected, and determining the machining center to be used by receiving a selection command signal indicating the selected machining center from the terminal device. and/or
Based on the design information including the dimensions and weight of the processed product acquired from the 3D model created by the processing command automatic generation unit, and the model information of each machining center included in the registration list, the processed product is manufactured. It has a function to select a machining center model suitable for cutting and decide which machining center to use.
wherein the plurality of terminal devices are present, and the machining center determination unit causes the display unit of the terminal device to display the registration list so that any machining center in the list can be selected, and a selection command signal indicating the selected machining center. In the case of having a function to determine the machining center to be used by receiving
When the machining center used by one terminal device has already been determined, the machining center determination unit is in a state in which the already determined machining center cannot be selected when displaying the registration list on the display unit of another terminal device. It further has the function of

The machining conditions in the present invention are the same as the machining conditions set in a general machine tool, and are the conditions necessary for determining the machining process, mainly including the type, shape, tool diameter, and material of the tool. Also, cutting conditions such as spindle rotation speed, cutting feed, cutting width, cutting depth (Z direction) of the cutting tool, materials to be processed, clamping method and clamping position to the jig of the processing part, mounting direction, etc. . Based on these machining conditions, a tool trajectory, a so-called toolpath, is determined for obtaining the respective desired machining feature.

In the present invention having the above configuration, the three-dimensional CAD design data of the target processed product can be obtained from the terminal device in the company building or office where the operator is working on a daily basis via the cloud server. selects a suitable machining center from among a plurality of pre-registered machining centers, and creates a machining command for the selected machining center even if the selected machining center is installed in a facility such as a remote factory; Automatic operation can be performed remotely according to the processing command. As a result, the operator does not have to move to the facility where the target machining center is located, so that the target processed product can be manufactured easily in a short time.

In addition, the cloud-side storage unit contains not only a registration list that includes model information for each registered machining center, but also tool information for each machine tool of each machining center, and cutting processing that is performed in advance for each characteristic part of various cutting processes. It also contains a learned model generated by learning by associating the machining data including the tool used and the cutting conditions, and the machining data including the tool trajectory and its execution program at the time of the target machine tool. There is no need to store the learned model applied to the automatic creation of machining commands for the CNC device side, and the creation of 3D models in each mounting direction is also performed by the cloud side control unit, so the amount of data to be handled It is no longer necessary for the CNC device to bear the burden of increasing the capacity and improving the performance of its data processing function. As a result, it is possible to avoid high costs associated with increasing the capacity and performance of each machining center and CNC device.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the tool information update function further provided in the machining process automatic setting function of the machining command automatic generation unit is used to apply the tool information to the learned model for automatic setting of the machining process together with each characteristic part. The information is updated with reference to the latest tool information stored in the CNC device side storage unit of the selected machining center. It is assumed that each machining center is used for various machining processes on site using the tool information and NC programs stored in the memory of the CNC device. Therefore, at the time when the automatic processing command generation unit of the cloud side control unit according to the present invention is about to create a new processing command for the processing step of a new processed product, The current tool information may be different from the tool information when used in another previous machining process. Therefore, when creating a new machining command according to the present invention, by referring to and updating the latest tool information stored in the target CNC device side storage unit, tool information different from the actual one is used. Since it is possible to avoid the risk of creating and executing a machining command by using a computer, a safer and more accurate machining command can be created.

In the present invention, the communication line that connects the cloud server on the Internet, the terminal device, and the CNC device of each machining center can be a currently available wired or wireless high-speed, large-capacity communication such as an optical line or a fifth-generation communication line. (5G) By using a mobile communication system, data transmission and reception between devices can be performed almost in real time without delay, and multiple simultaneous connections can be made. Autonomous driving control is performed very smoothly. The terminal device of the present invention may be a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) terminal or tablet terminal, and includes a display unit such as a PC monitor or a touch panel display. The terminal device and the CNC device may be equipped with a 5G-compatible communication device/module or the like so that the operator can connect to and use the Internet via a communication line.

For example, between the terminal device and the cloud side control unit, when the 3D CAD design data of the target processed product input by the terminal device is sent to the cloud side, the processing command automatic generation unit of the cloud side control unit A 3D model of the processed product is immediately created based on the 3D CAD design data by the processing process automatic setting function. Subsequently, one or more different possible mounting directions of the processed product to the processing part of the target machine tool are selected, and the 3D model is selectably displayed on the display of the terminal device side in each of the selected mounting directions. be done. If the operator selects the optimum one from the displayed 3D models of each mounting direction, the decision signal is immediately transmitted to the cloud-side control unit. Based on the selected mounting direction, the cloud-side control unit's automatic processing command generation unit advances the automatic setting of the processing steps for the cutting of each characteristic portion necessary to reach the target processed product. Even if the target processed product has a complicated shape and the 3D CAD design data is relatively large, the data processing to create the 3D model is performed on the cloud side in a short time, and the data transmission of the 3D model to the terminal device is delayed. You can proceed smoothly without

The mounting direction of the processed product selected/determined here is the direction of the processed product when the final processing is completed, and the cutting direction of each characteristic portion is determined with the state at the time of completion as the target. . Based on this cutting direction, the machining conditions and tool locus for setting the machining process are determined. Therefore, the mounting direction of the workpiece is determined by selecting from one or more different mounting directions automatically suggested and displayed on the display of the terminal device, the one that provides the most substantially efficient processing process. be done.

The one or more different mounting orientations automatically suggested are possible mounting orientations for the workpiece based on the three-dimensional CAD design data obtained from the terminal device. For example, if the center axis is set from the outer shape of the processed product, the mounting direction can be selected by changing the direction of the center axis. Specifically, first, the mounting direction in which the center axis is vertical and the mounting direction in which the center axis is horizontal can be selected. In addition, depending on the outer shape of the processed product, it is also possible to select a mounting direction in which the central axis line is inclined. By selecting a relatively large surface that can be used as the mounting surface for each direction of the central axis, it is possible to determine each possible mounting direction. Therefore, in this way, the cloud side selects possible mounting directions of the processed product based on the three-dimensional CAD design data, creates 3D models in a plurality of selected mounting directions, and displays them on the display unit of the terminal device. It takes a very short time to get it to work. The optimum one is selected from these mounting directions automatically displayed as described above.

Work products often typically have at least one face on which no work features are formed. If it does not have such features (that is, it has a surface that does not require machining), it is practical to use that surface as the mounting surface. Therefore, the operator confirms the 3D model in one or more proposed mounting directions on the display unit of the terminal device, and selects the optimum mounting direction in which the surface of the processed product that does not require processing is the mounting surface. The direction can be selected instantly. In addition, if there are one or more surfaces that do not have features that can be used as mounting surfaces, it is possible to eliminate the need for complicated calculations using a computer based on the shape of the fixture, processed product, and processed material. The operator himself/herself can easily judge in a short time from the viewpoint of stability.

In addition, the input of 3D CAD design data in the terminal device can be obtained not only by acquiring data stored in a storage medium such as USB from an input port such as a USB port provided in the terminal device, but also through a computer network. It is sufficient if it can be performed by a general data input method, such as obtaining by network communication from another computer.

In addition, the model information of each machining center consists of horizontal or vertical type, cutting area determined by table, column, head movement amount and table rotation angle in each axial direction, and maximum workpiece size. , each movement speed (rapid traverse speed), spindle end shape, spindle rotation speed range, spindle motor power output, table work surface area, maximum load weight, automatic tool changer (ATC) exchange method, magazine type, and maximum number of tools that can be stored , maximum tool weight, and the like. Further, in order to further automate and save manpower, various machining centers are sometimes provided with an automatic conveying device that automatically conveys the material to be processed to a predetermined position in the processing section. In the case of a machining center equipped with an automatic transfer device that cooperates with such a machine tool, information on the automatic transfer device can also be included as model information. As for the type of automatic transfer device, for example, the work (processing material) stored in the work stocker is placed and fixed on the pallet of the processing section by a loading system consisting of a multi-axis robot arm or an auto work changer. , a pallet changer, a multi-pallet system, and the like, which exchangeably move a pallet on which a workpiece is placed to a predetermined position in the machining section of a machine tool.

In the present invention, a 3D model is created based on the 3D CAD design data of the target processed product transmitted from the terminal device as described above in the processing command automatic creation unit of the cloud-side control unit, and displayed on the terminal device. The state of each mounting direction is displayed in the part, and the optimum mounting direction is determined from among them. On the other hand of the process from the creation of such a 3D model to the determination of the mounting direction, based on the 3D CAD design data, the characteristic portion to be formed by cutting is extracted with reference to the shape of the material to be processed. .

These extracted feature parts are based on the mounting direction selected on the terminal device side, and also on the model information of the machining center included in the registration list and the target machining center stored in the cloud side storage part. Applied to the corresponding trained model along with the corresponding tool information. As a result, the machining conditions for each characteristic portion are automatically determined, and based on these machining conditions, the tool to be used and the tool locus are determined, and the machining process including tool designation, replacement, and execution of the tool locus is automatically performed. is set Furthermore, the procedure for executing the machining steps of all feature portions is also determined to set a series of all machining steps. Then, a machining command for causing the machine tool to execute all of the set machining steps is automatically created based on the learned model.

In the cloud side control unit, when the machining command is created by the machining command automatic creation part as described above, the machining command is transmitted to the CNC device side control part, and when the creation of the machining command is completed, the CNC device side The terminal device is notified that it has been sent to After that, in the terminal device, a processing command start signal is transmitted to the cloud-side control unit at an arbitrary timing of the operator or at a preset time. In the cloud-side control unit, when the machining command start instruction unit receives the machining command start signal from the terminal device, the machining command start instruction signal is transmitted to the CNC device side control unit to follow the previously sent machining command. Let the machine tool execute the cutting process.

In addition, the learned model in the present invention refers to a large amount of past cutting data accumulated in advance for each machining center model, and for each characteristic part, the machining conditions including the tool used and the cutting conditions, and the tool trajectory and machining data including its execution program, that is, all the data necessary for cutting each characteristic portion, are learned correspondingly. Therefore, the machining conditions necessary for cutting a characteristic portion for manufacturing a new machined product and the machining process including the tool locus based thereon are automatically determined and set in a short time based on the learned model. Furthermore, a machining command for causing the machine tool to execute the machining process is immediately and automatically created. In addition, in the cloud-side storage unit of the present invention, every time each stored learned model is applied to create a new machining command, it learns and updates the data related to the new created machining command. It is assumed that As a result, each trained model is always updated, contributing to higher accuracy in setting machining processes without interference trajectories, which leads to further speed and safety when creating the next new machining command.

As described above, according to the present invention, the operator does not need to create an NC program in advance, and inputs the three-dimensional CAD design data with a terminal device remote from the actual machine, and as a result, the display section By simply selecting the optimum one from the mounting directions of one or more 3D models displayed in , it is possible to automatically create a machining command for causing the target machining center to manufacture the target machined product. After creating the machining command, only by sending a machining command start signal to the cloud side, the machining center can remotely start the cycle start of the machining process substantially in line with the machining command. Moreover, in the present invention, the operator can arbitrarily select not only a specific machining center but also a plurality of registered machining centers and remotely control them in real time. Furthermore, if the machine model is the same, it is possible to manufacture the same processed product by automatic operation using the same machining command in a plurality of machining centers.

The execution of the machining process in the machine tool is substantially achieved by executing the tool locus by the designated tool. It is performed by relative linear movement or rotational movement with a table or the like. That is, the tool locus is executed by drive control of the motors of each axis. More specifically, in a normal NC program, each motor is driven by a pulse train signal obtained by converting read NC data in an information processing circuit. The pulse train signal commands the actual tool movement amount by the rotation angle of the motor corresponding to the number of pulses, that is, by position control, and also commands the actual tool movement speed by controlling the rotation speed of the motor according to the pulse frequency. Therefore, execution of the toolpath can be achieved by directly commanding each motor using the corresponding pulse train signal without going through the NC program.

Therefore, in the present invention, the machining command for causing the machine tool to execute the set machining process may be an NC program as in the conventional case, but is limited to a program using NC language such as G code. Instead, it may include a command signal for directly driving and controlling each motor as described above. For example, execution of a series of machining processes can be instructed by combining a pulse train signal for controlling the motor drive of each axis corresponding to the tool locus with command signals for tool specification and tool replacement. The pulse train signal itself can be easily created from the pulse train signal used corresponding to various tool trajectories included in the machining data learned when creating the learned model in advance. In this way, as the machining command, other machining programs or command signals that can directly drive and control the machine tool can be used as long as the set machining process can be executed.

In particular, when a direct command signal is used as a machining command without going through the NC program, an extremely large number of interpolation functions are used in the NC program created with the conventional G code or M code. On the other hand, since this interpolation function is omitted, it is possible to shorten the machining time and improve the machining accuracy. In addition, by performing positioning using automatically set real values instead of feedback control, thermal displacement is eliminated, and real-time control with no delay in servo control to commands is realized, enabling instant response to load fluctuations. This makes it possible to significantly shorten the machining time and achieve high accuracy.

Furthermore, the machining command automatic generation unit in the present invention has a simulation function for automatically verifying whether or not the tool locus of the set machining process can execute smooth machining without interference, and an interference detection function. It is desirable to further include This simulation function displays the tool locus created by the designated tool in the set machining process as a 3D computer graphics moving image, for example, an animation moving image, on the display unit of the terminal device. The interference detection function stops the video displayed on the terminal device as a result of interference detection and issues an interference warning when interference occurs between the tool and the non-machining area of the workpiece or the peripheral members of the processing part while the video is being displayed. shall be displayed. The operator can check the video to see if there is any interference with the tool trajectory of a specific tool, and when an interference warning is displayed, it is necessary to change the machining command created based on the tool trajectory. can be easily known.

In addition, if a machining command improvement function is further provided in the machining command automatic creation unit that changes the tool that caused the interference to a different tool when interference is detected and the machining command is automatically created again, the automatically created machining command can be used. It can be modified to be completely safe. This machining command improvement function automatically determines machining conditions and tool trajectories based on the machining conditions corresponding to the changed tool, automatically sets an improved machining process, and furthermore, sets the improved machining process. Corresponding improved machining orders will be generated automatically. The process of changing the tool, improving the machining command, and simulating with the improved machining command is repeated until the interference disappears. As a result, a machining process and machining instructions for execution of interference-free tool trajectories are automatically created without the need for time-consuming verification or the like by an expert. Therefore, the operator can easily obtain a good machining command in a short time and can carry out product machining without anxiety.

In addition, in the cloud-side control unit of the present invention, by providing the machining command improvement function in the machining command automatic creation unit as described above, after a good machining command that does not cause interference is created through the simulation process, the A good machining command is sent to the CNC device side controller. Then, when the machining command start instruction unit receives the machining command start signal from the terminal device, it transmits the machining command start instruction signal to the CNC device side control unit, thereby responding to the previously transmitted satisfactory machining command. Execution of the cutting along is initiated on the machine tool.

The processing command start signal is transmitted from the terminal device at an arbitrary timing by the operator, or at the time when the processing start time is set in advance. Execution of the cutting process according to the instruction is started on the premise that the material to be processed has already been transported to a predetermined position in the processing section. Therefore, the processing command start signal is transmitted from the terminal device after it is confirmed that the material to be processed has been completely transported to the processing section of the machine tool. For the actual transfer of the processed material, it is permissible for the worker on site at the equipment side to complete the transfer of the processed material to the processing section before starting the creation of the processing command. The process may be performed remotely and automatically.

In many cases, various machining centers are equipped with a specific automatic material transfer device. A processing material transfer program for driving and controlling the device is normally stored in the CNC device side storage unit, and is used as appropriate so as to cooperate with the automatic operation of the machine tool. Therefore, in the present invention as well, if the terminal device is connected to the CNC device via a communication line, the dedicated transfer program can be used remotely to complete the transfer of the workpiece at any time. can be done.

Therefore, the terminal device in the present invention automatically conveys the processed material to the CNC device side control unit of the target machining center via the communication line in accordance with the processed material transfer program stored in the CNC device side storage unit. Assuming that it has a function to send a command signal for automatic material transfer to drive and control the device, an operator at a remote location from the actual machine can control not only the automatic operation control of the machining center but also the automatic transfer of the material to be processed. can do.

Then, after the created processing command is transmitted to the corresponding CNC device side control unit, the terminal device confirms that the automatic transfer of the processing material to the machine tool processing unit is completed, cloud side control It further has a function of transmitting a machining command start signal to the machining command start instructing part of the unit. The confirmation itself of the completion of the transfer of the workpiece is substantially accomplished if the end of execution of the workpiece transfer program is determined, for example, by receiving a code indicating the end of the program. Therefore, the machining command start signal may be sent at any time after receiving this end code.

The transfer completion confirmation means may not only confirm the completion of program execution by the end signal from the CNC device side as described above, but may also be configured to directly confirm the completion visually. In this case, it is more reliable and preferable if a monitor image displayed on the display unit can be used to confirm that the material to be processed has been transported to a predetermined position in the processing unit by the monitor function of the terminal device. In many machining centers, a machine tool is equipped with an imaging device such as a CCD camera, and a photographed image of the peripheral area of the machining part is displayed on the display of the CNC device so that the area can be visually confirmed. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to use the image data obtained by the imaging device installed in each machine tool in order to confirm whether or not the material to be processed has been completely transported to the machine tool processing section. .

In this case, the terminal device acquires, from the CNC device via a communication line, image data of the peripheral area of the machining part where the machining material is installed, obtained by one or more imaging devices installed on each machine tool. Accordingly, the operator can directly check whether the conveyance of the workpiece has been completed satisfactorily from the monitor image of the area around the processing portion displayed on the display unit. Then, after the transport completion state is confirmed, the processing command start signal is transmitted from the terminal device to the processing command start instructing unit of the cloud-side control unit at an arbitrary timing. The machining command start instructing unit can receive the machining command start signal from the terminal device and transmit a machining command start command signal for starting the machining command to the CNC device side control unit.

In the present invention, it is assumed that the machining command automatic creation unit of the cloud-side control unit includes a machining center determination unit that determines the machining center to be used for cutting the processed product from among the machining centers registered in the registration list. be done. In addition, the operator may be able to quickly select a machining center suitable for the processing based on the size and weight of the target product to be processed based on the operator's experience.

Therefore, if the machining center determination unit has a function to display the registration list stored in the cloud storage unit on the display unit of the terminal device so that any machining center in the list can be selected, the operator can A machining center judged to be suitable for cutting the target product can be selected from the registration list displayed on the display unit. In this case, the machining center determining section may receive a selection command signal indicating the machining center selected by the operator through the terminal device and determine the machining center to be used. Further, in the terminal device, an authorized operator may update the registration list displayed on the display unit, such as addition or deletion of the machining center.

In addition, for the case that does not depend on the selection by the operator, the machining center determination unit includes the design information of the dimension and weight of the processed product acquired from the 3D model created by the machining command automatic creation unit, and the registered list The machining center to be used may be automatically determined by selecting a machining center of a model suitable for cutting the product based on the model information of each machining center.

Furthermore, when there are a plurality of terminal devices, it is desirable that the machining center determination unit has a function of avoiding the same machining center being selected by a plurality of terminal devices. For example, on the registration list displayed on the display unit of the terminal device, a machining center that has already been selected and used by another terminal device may be set to be in a non-selectable state.

In addition, access to the cloud server from the terminal device is permitted for automatic operation control of the registered machining center for security purposes, and only operators who have been granted access rights in advance are allowed after identity verification. As the personal identification method, a multi-factor authentication method combining authentication information such as a personal identification number and a password with a pre-registered e-mail address, a face authentication method, or the like may be appropriately set.

As described above, in the present invention, in a cloud server connected to a terminal device and a CNC device of a machining center via a communication line, only by acquiring 3D CAD data of a target processed product from the terminal device, Based on the data, a 3D model can be generated to determine the orientation of the installation, and based on the data, the data can be used to generate the processing steps necessary to form all features of the extracted work product. A machining command can be immediately created by applying a learned model stored in advance in the cloud-side storage unit corresponding to each machining center registered in advance. For this reason, it is not necessary to increase the capacity and performance of the CNC device to process large amounts of data. can be easily executed.

In addition, in the actual operation by the operator, in manufacturing a new processed product by cutting, after accessing the cloud server from the terminal device, the selection of the machining center from the registration list, the creation of the 3D CAD design data of the target processed product Input, thereby immediately selecting an appropriate mounting direction from 3D models presented in various different mounting directions on the display unit of the terminal device, and creating an appropriate processing command on the cloud side based on this selected mounting direction 5 to 6 simple operations such as sending an automatic transfer command signal to the CNC device, confirming the completion of transfer on the monitor image, and sending a processing command start signal to the cloud side at an arbitrary timing. By simply performing it on the device, it is possible to smoothly perform in real time from the creation of a machining command for manufacturing a target product for a specific remote machining center to the execution of the machining command on a machine tool.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing main parts of an "automatic operation system for a machining center" according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram showing an operation example of the main part of the "automatic operation system for the machining center" of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a block diagram mainly schematically showing a portion for carrying out an automatic processing material conveying process in a system different from that in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a sample diagram showing an example of a screen when a 3D model of a processed product created in the process of creating a processing command in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display of the PC terminal in FIG. 3D model display screen created immediately after loading, (b) the display screen upon selection of one of the 3D models displayed in different proposed mounting orientations. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen on which an animation video is displayed on the display of a PC terminal during the tool locus simulation of FIG. Screen (c) is the display screen at the end of the simulation. It is a schematic front view which shows the example of a basic composition of the operation panel of each CNC apparatus.

An embodiment of an automatic operation system for a machining center according to the present invention will be described below. In addition, in this embodiment, the case where remote control is performed between the facilities in a 5G area is illustrated. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing main parts of an automatic operation system for a machining center according to this embodiment. The plurality of machining centers (M1, M2, M3, . These may be mixed.

In this embodiment, automatic operation control is performed for a plurality of machining centers (M1, M2, M3, ..., Mn), and the machine tools (MT1, MT2, MT3, ..., MTn) of each machining center are CNC devices (C1, C2, C3, . . . , Cn) and numerically controlled in conjunction with the automatic tool changer ATC.

That is, the automatic operation system 1 of the machining center according to the present embodiment is connected to the cloud server 20 on the Internet network and the cloud-side control unit 21 for the automatic operation system of the machining center provided in the cloud server 20 via a communication line. A plurality of machining centers (M1, M2, M3, . , Mn). In this embodiment, the PC terminal 10 and each CNC device are equipped with 5G-compatible communication devices/modules, and data transmission/reception between each other can be performed in real time with almost no delay by communication connection with the cloud server 20 via the Internet by 5G. done.

Each CNC device (C1, C2, C3, . The configuration may be the same as that of the conventional CNC device. As a schematic configuration thereof, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the front surface of the main body serves as an operation panel, and a touch panel type display 30 is provided on this operation panel. The touch panel display 30 displays a menu screen displaying items of various work operation modes for a machine tool provided in advance in the CNC device as icons I, respectively. A USB port P is arranged around the display 30 so that various data can be input and output, and a keyboard 32 including a mouse pad 33 and a mouse button 34 is arranged as an input unit 31 below the display 30 . Further, in the area below the keyboard 32, an operation panel 35 having switches and buttons related to various operations of the machine tool is provided.

In addition, each CNC device (C1, C2, C3, . Also, the automatic tool changer ATC is driven and controlled, and the cutting of the material to be processed is executed while the tools are sequentially exchanged and mounted on the rotary spindle corresponding to each machining process. The CNC-device-side control unit 40 includes a CNC-device-side storage unit 41 that stores tool information, various machining programs, and an APC program for automatic operation of the linked automatic workpiece transfer device APC.

The tool information stored in each CNC device side storage unit includes identification information corresponding to a large number of tools stored in magazines of each machine tool, and the type, shape, and material of each tool linked to this. etc. Each tool is managed by identification information, and during automatic operation of machine tools (MT1, MT2, MT3, . are exchanged and mounted at a predetermined timing by the automatic tool changer ATC between the rotary spindle of the machining section and the magazine.

Each machining center (M1, M2, M3, . Each time, it is updated to the latest tool information (t1', t2', t3', . . . , tn').

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the machining centers (M1, M2, M3, . A list 25 is stored. The registration list 25 also contains model information (m1, m2, m3, . . . , mn) of the target machining centers (M1, M2, M3, . . . , Mn). Furthermore, in the cloud-side storage unit 24, tool information ( t1, t2, t3, . is provided.

These learned models (L1, L2, L3, . For each characteristic part, the tool used and the machining conditions including the cutting conditions, the machining process including the tool locus, and the machining data including the machining program for executing the machining process are learned and generated. It is.

Then, in the cloud-side control unit 21, the characteristic part of the processed product to be newly manufactured is applied to the learned model of the selected machining center, and the machining process for forming the characteristic part is automatically set. A machining command automatic creation unit 22 having a process automatic setting function and a machining command creation function for automatically creating a machining command Mc for causing the machine tool to execute the machining process is provided. The processing command automatic generation unit 22 also has a characteristic portion extraction function for extracting each characteristic portion of the processed product based on the acquired three-dimensional CAD design data of the processed product. That is, the characteristic part of the processed product applied to the learned model in setting the machining process and creating the machining command is obtained from the three-dimensional CAD design data of the target processed product by this characteristic part extraction function.

A substantial machining command creation process in the machining command automatic creation unit 22 is started when the three-dimensional CAD design data of the target product to be processed is acquired. Acquisition of this three-dimensional CAD design data is achieved by data transmission from a terminal device, which is the PC terminal 10 in this embodiment. The machining command automatic generation unit 22 has a machining center determination unit that determines the machining center to be used for manufacturing a new machined product from among the machining centers (M1, M2, M3, . . . , Mn) registered in the registration list 25. It is provided with a section 23, and determines the machining center to be used this time before acquiring the three-dimensional CAD design data of the target processed product.

In this embodiment, the machining center determination unit 23 causes the liquid crystal display 11 of the PC terminal 10 to display the registration list 25 stored in the cloud storage unit 24 so that any machining center in the list can be selected. . The operator O can use the PC terminal 10 to select a machining center suitable for manufacturing the desired processed product from the registration list 25 based on the dimensions and weight of the desired processed product. Therefore, when the selection command signal for the machining center selected by the operator O is transmitted from the PC terminal 10 to the cloud-side control unit 21, the machining center determination unit 23 determines the machining center to be used this time from the registration list 25. At the same time, the corresponding tool information and learned model used for creating the current machining command are designated from the tool information storage unit 26 and the learned model storage unit 27, respectively.

Therefore, the machining command automatic creation unit 22 creates the machining command while reading the model information and tool information of the machining center determined to manufacture the current machined product and applying the learned model. It will be. The machining process automatic setting function of the machining command automatic generation unit 22 also includes a tool information update function, and the tool information specified when the machining center to be used is determined is updated by this tool information update function. The tool information is updated to the latest tool information stored in the CNC device side storage unit.

In addition, in the machining process automatic setting function of the machining command automatic generation unit 22, after extracting each characteristic part of the processed product based on the three-dimensional CAD design data of the processed product by the characteristic part extraction function, a 3D model of the processed product , and transmit the image data to display it on the liquid crystal display 11 of the PC terminal 10 . At the same time, one or more different mounting directions of the possible processed product are subsequently selected, a 3D model in each selected mounting direction is also created, and the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 of the PC terminal 10. It further has a function of displaying it in a selectable manner. The operator O can select the optimum mounting direction from among those proposed and displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 . Then, when a determination command signal indicating the mounting direction determined by the PC terminal 10 is transmitted to the cloud-side control unit 21, the processing command automatic generation unit 22 automatically sets the processing process in the determined mounting direction. can proceed based on

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the machining command automatic creation unit 22 has a simulation function of displaying the automatically created tool trajectory of the machining process as 3D computer graphics, for example, an animation movie on the liquid crystal display 11 of the PC terminal 10; It further includes an interference detection function that stops the moving image and displays an interference warning when interference between the tool and the non-machining area of the workpiece or the peripheral member of the processed portion occurs during the moving image display. In addition, when interference is detected, it also has a machining command improvement function that changes the tool that caused the interference to another tool and recreates the machining command. Therefore, by automatically repeating the above simulation process and improvement of machining commands for all tool trajectories until there is no interference, it is possible to easily perform machining using complete tool trajectories in a short time without requiring time-consuming verification by an expert. You get a directive.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the material to be processed is automatically transported to a predetermined position in the processing section before the processing command created and transmitted to the CNC device is executed. That is, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 3, the PC terminal 10 automatically conveys the material to be processed in a different system from the automatic creation of the processing command Mc via the cloud server 20 in FIG. It is assumed that the machine tool of each machining center is provided with an automatic processing material conveying device suitable for the machine model so as to be able to cooperate with it.

For example, a machining center is a pallet in which a workpiece is exchangeably placed on a pallet by a robot, and the pallet on which the workpiece is placed is controlled to move to a predetermined position in the machining part so that the workpiece is positioned in the machining part. When the changer APC is provided so as to be able to cooperate with the machine tool, in normal use, the CNC device side control section 40 executes the APC program 42 stored in the CNC device side storage section 41 to change the pallet It automatically controls the changer APC.

Therefore, in this embodiment, while the cloud server 20 creates the machining command MC corresponding to the cutting process for manufacturing the target machined product, the PC terminal 10 directly communicates with the CNC device via the communication line. to the CNC device side control unit 40 to control the driving of the pallet changer APC using the APC program 42, and automatically move the pallet on which the processed material is placed. It shall be moved to complete the transfer of the workpiece to the machine tool processing section.

The processing command start instructing unit 28 of the cloud-side control unit 21 confirms that the processing material is transported and positioned at a predetermined position of the processing unit of the machine tool, and then executes the previously transmitted processing command. A machining command start instruction signal is transmitted to the CNC device side control unit 40 . Here, as a means for the machining command start instructing unit 28 to confirm the completion state of the workpiece conveyance, it is possible to use an ATC program end code from the CNC device side. In this embodiment, since the PC terminal 10 starts the drive control of the automatic processing material conveying device APC, the PC terminal 10 confirms the completion of conveyance, and after confirmation, the processing instruction start signal transmitted from the PC terminal 10 15, a machining command start instruction signal is transmitted to the CNC device side control unit 40. FIG. At this time, the transmission of the machining command start signal 15 may be performed immediately by the operator O. A machining command start instruction signal may be transmitted at the point in time.

If the PC terminal 10 can acquire a code indicating the end of the ATC program via the CNC device, it is possible to confirm the completion of transportation of the workpiece. The machine tool is equipped with one or more imaging devices 50, such as a CCD camera, for imaging at least the peripheral area of the machining part, and the image is displayed on the display 30 of the CNC device. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the PC terminal 10 directly acquires the image data 51 of the area around the machining part from the CNC device via the communication line, and displays it on the liquid crystal display 11, so that the machining material in the machining part can be displayed. Conveyance status can be monitored.

Therefore, from the monitor image 13 of the region around the processing portion displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 of the PC terminal 10, the operator O can reliably confirm the completion of transportation of the processing material to the predetermined position of the processing portion. The machining command start signal 15 can be transmitted to the machining command start instruction unit 28 of the side control unit 21 . The machining command start instruction unit 28 receives the machining command start signal 15 from the PC terminal 10 and transmits the machining command start command signal to the CNC device side control unit 40 . Upon receiving the machining instruction start instruction signal from the machining instruction start instructing section 28, the CNC apparatus side control section 40 performs a cycle start to cause the machine tool to execute the previously sent machining instruction.

In the automatic operation system 1 of the machining center according to the present embodiment having the above configuration, the machining command corresponding to the required cutting process is automatically created from the selection of the machining center M1 to be used for manufacturing the target machined product. The process up to execution in the machining center M1 will be described below along the flow chart of FIG. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams showing examples of screens displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 of the PC terminal 10 in each process of the automatic machining process setting process.

First, the operator O selects and launches an application corresponding to the "automatic operation of the machining center" mode from various application menus displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 of the PC terminal 10, thereby enabling the automatic operation mode of the machining center. Start (step 100). Here, the operator O enters a personal identification number such as his/her own address registered in advance and a password, or authentication information such as a face image, etc., to the cloud server 20 to obtain authentication, and then automatically operates the machining center. Access (step 200) to the cloud-side control unit 21 for

In the cloud-side control unit 21, the machining command automatic creation unit 22 sends the machining command automatic creation unit 22 to the PC terminal 10 to which access is permitted, and the registration list 25 of the machining centers (M1, M2, M3, . . . , Mn) stored in the cloud-side storage unit 24. data is transmitted, and the registration list 25 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 (step 101). At the PC terminal 10, the operator O selects a machining center suitable for producing the desired processed product from the registration list 25 displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 (step 102). In this embodiment, the machining center M1 is selected.

A selection command signal indicating that the machining center M1 has been selected is transmitted from the PC terminal 10 to the machining command automatic generation unit 22, and based on the selection command signal, the machining center determination unit 23 determines the machining center M1 to be used this time. At the same time, the model information m1, the tool information t1 and the learned model L1 to be used are specified (step 201). Next, with respect to the specified tool information t1, the latest tool information t1' stored in the CNC device side storage section 41 of the corresponding CNC device C1 is read out, and the tool information t1 is updated (step 202).

On the other hand, in the PC terminal 10, the operator O selects the machining center M1 to be used, acquires the three-dimensional CAD design data of the target processed product from the data acquisition unit 12, and transmits the data to the processing command automatic generation unit 22. This completes the input of three-dimensional CAD design data (step 103). When three-dimensional CAD design data is stored in a USB, the data is acquired via the USB port as the data acquisition unit 12, but may be read from another computer via a computer network.

After reading the three-dimensional CAD design data (step 203), the processing command automatic creation unit 22 creates a 3D model of the processed product (step 204) based on the three-dimensional CAD design data. Subsequently, one or more possible mounting directions of the processed product are selected, image data of the 3D model in each selected mounting direction is transmitted to the PC terminal 10, and all characteristic portions are extracted (step 205). )I do.

In the PC terminal 10, the liquid crystal display 11 displays a 3D model of the target processed product in various mounting directions (step 104). Here, 3D models with different mounting directions are displayed so that an arbitrary model can be selected from them. As shown in FIG. 4, when the outer shape of the processed product is a pentagonal prism (a shape in which a pentagonal pyramid is combined with the upper surface of a pentagonal prism), the central axis of the pentagonal prism is along the vertical direction. and a mounting direction in which the central axis is along the horizontal direction. However, in the case of the mounting direction along the horizontal direction, any side surface of the pentagonal prism portion can be the mounting surface.

The operator O selects, on the liquid crystal display 11, the 3D model with the optimum mounting direction from among the displayed 3D models with different mounting directions, thereby determining the mounting direction (step 105). In the case of the pentagonal prism, since the bottom surface of the pentagonal prism portion is a surface that does not have a feature and does not require processing, the direction in which this bottom surface becomes the mounting surface, that is, the mounting direction along the vertical direction of the central axis is It can be immediately judged as practical and optimal.

When the operator O selects the optimum installation direction of the processed product, the PC terminal 10 transmits a determination signal indicating the installation direction of the selected 3D model to the cloud-side control unit 21 . In the cloud-side control unit 21, the machining command automatic generation unit 22 starts substantial machining process setting (step 206) based on the mounting direction indicated by the transmitted determination signal.

That is, by applying each characteristic portion extracted in advance to the learned model L1, a tool suitable for machining each characteristic portion is selected from the tools registered in the latest updated tool information t1, and various Cutting conditions and machining conditions are determined, and the tool locus is also determined based on the machining conditions. Then, a machining process including a tool locus is set from the specification and replacement of tools necessary for cutting each characteristic portion. Then, when there are a plurality of types of characteristic portions, an efficient sequence of processing steps corresponding to all the characteristic portions is determined, and a series of all processing steps necessary for manufacturing the desired processed product are set. Immediately after that, a machining command is created (step 207) for causing the machine tool to execute all the set machining steps.

As soon as the setting of the machining process and the creation of the machining command are completed as described above, the simulation of the tool trajectory of the set machining process (step 208) is started, and the machining command automatic creation unit 22 is created in this simulation process. 3D animation moving image data is transmitted to the PC terminal 10 . In the PC terminal 10, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), a 3D animation is displayed on the display 11 (step 106). In this simulation, the presence or absence of interference between the tool and the non-machining area of the workpiece or the surrounding members of the machining portion of the machine tool is detected (step 209) along the tool locus. If there is no interference, the simulation animation of the tool locus is displayed to the end without being stopped as shown in FIG. 5(c). In this way, when no interference occurs and interference detection is denied, the machining process and machining command Mc set and created based on the tool locus are complete and can be executed without interference on the machine tool MT1. It can be safely judged that

On the other hand, when interference occurs in the simulation process and interference detection is affirmative, a warning signal is transmitted to the PC terminal 10, the simulation video is stopped on the display 11, and an interference warning is displayed (step 107). . Then, when the interference detection is affirmative, the machining command automatic generation unit 22 identifies the tool that caused the interference, reselects the next best tool based on the learned model L1, and changes the tool (step 211). ), the machining conditions and machining trajectory for the changed tool are determined again, and the machining process setting (step 206) is redone. Then, a machining command is created again (step 207) corresponding to the improved machining process. Since this routine from tool change to machining command change is repeated until the occurrence of interference in the simulation is eliminated, an improved machining command with a complete tool and tool locus can be easily created in a short time.

As described above, when it is determined that a complete machining command Mc that can be executed without interference is created, this machining command Mc is transmitted to the CNC device, and the CNC device side control unit 40 receives the machining command Mc (step 220) is performed. At the same time, a signal is sent to the PC terminal 10 indicating that the processing command Mc has been created. Upon receipt of this signal, the PC terminal 10 confirms completion of the machining command generation (step 108), and directly transmits a signal of a machining material transfer command to the CNC device C1 via the communication line (step 109).

The CNC device-side control unit 40 receives a processing material transfer command from the PC terminal 10, and uses an APC program 42 stored in advance in the CNC device-side storage unit 41 to transfer a pallet as a processing material automatic transfer device APC. The drive of the changer is controlled to transport the material to be processed to a predetermined position in the processing section of the machine tool MT1. At this time, an imaging device 50 such as a CCD camera mounted on the machine tool MT1 takes an image of the peripheral area of the machining part, and the image data 51 is transmitted to the CNC device side control part 40 .

The PC terminal 10 directly acquires the image data 51 from the CNC device C1 and displays the monitor image 13 on the display 11. FIG. Therefore, the operator O sees the monitor image 13 of the peripheral area of the machining part on the display 11, and receives the execution completion code of the APC program 42 from the CNC device C1, so that the machining material is positioned at the predetermined position of the machining part. You can be sure that it has been transported to When the PC terminal 10 confirms the conveyance of the processing material (step 110), the operator O transmits the processing command start signal 15 to the processing command start instructing unit 28 of the cloud-side control unit 21 (step 111). can be done.

The machining command start instruction unit 28 determines that the material to be processed has been conveyed by the machining command start signal 15 from the PC terminal 10, and transmits the machining command start instruction signal to the CNC device side control unit 40 (step 212). conduct. That is, until the processing command start signal 15 from the PC terminal 10 is received, the processing command start instructing unit 28 assumes that the processing material has not been completely conveyed and is in a standby state. The device-side control unit 40 receives the machining command start instruction signal and performs a cycle start (step 221) on the machine tool MT1 so as to start automatic operation in accordance with the previously received machining command Mc.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in manufacturing a new processed product by cutting, after accessing the cloud server from the PC terminal 10, the operator performs the following 5 to 6 simple operations; registration list 25, selecting a machining center, inputting 3D CAD design data of the target machined product, selecting an appropriate mounting direction from the 3D model immediately presented in various different mounting directions on the display 11, and selecting this selected After an appropriate processing command is created on the cloud side based on the mounting direction, a processing material automatic transfer command signal 14 is sent to the CNC device, and after confirming the completion of transfer on the monitor image 13, the processing command is started at an arbitrary timing. Only by transmitting the signal 15 to the cloud side with the PC terminal 10, from the creation of the machining command for manufacturing the target machined product for the remote machining center to the execution by the machine tool smoothly in real time. It can be carried out.

In the automatic operation system for the machining center according to the present embodiment, if there are a plurality of operators who are permitted to use the system and terminal devices that can be used by these operators, the first operator at the first terminal device selects a certain machining center from the registration list 25, it may have already been selected by the second operator on another second terminal device and used in the machining process. In this case, it is assumed that the registration list 25 is displayed on the display section of the first terminal device in a state in which the machining center cannot be selected. This allows the first operator to select another alternative machining center. Alternatively, the first operator can select and use the machining center again after the machining center becomes selectable in the registration list 25 after the second operator finishes using the machining center.

1: Automatic operation system of machining center O: Operator 10: PC terminal 11: Display 12: Data acquisition unit 13: Monitor image 14: Processing material automatic transfer command signal 15: Processing command start signal 20: Cloud server 21: Cloud side control Part 22: Machining command automatic generation part 23: Machining center determination part 24: Cloud side storage part 25: Registration list 26: Tool information storage part 27: Learned model storage part 28: Machining command start instruction part M1, M2, M3, . , Mn: machining centers m1, m2, m3, . . . mn: model information t1, t2, t3, . L2, L3, . . . , Ln: Trained models C1, C2, C3, .
MT1, MT2, MT3, ..., MTn: Machine tool ATC: Automatic tool changer (pallet changer)
APC: Processing material automatic conveying device 30: (CNC device) touch panel type display 31: input unit 32: keyboard 33: mouse pad 34: mouse button 35: operation panel P: USB port 40: CNC device side control unit 41: CNC device Side storage unit 42: APC program 50: Imaging device 51: Image data

Claims (1)

An automatic operation system for a machining center that selectively performs automatic operation control for a plurality of machining centers equipped with a CNC device that numerically controls each machine tool and an automatic tool changer,
A cloud-side control unit provided in a cloud server on a network connected to the CNC device of each machining center via a communication line, creating a machining command for each machine tool, and transmitting the machining command to the corresponding CNC device. Then, the 3D CAD design data of the target processed product is input, the 3D CAD design data is transmitted to the cloud side control unit via a communication line, and the information transmitted from the cloud side control unit and one or more terminal devices displayed on the display unit,
Each CNC device
In accordance with a predetermined machining command, drive control is performed on the machining unit of the machine tool and the automatic tool changer, and the tool is moved to the rotary spindle of the machining unit in accordance with each machining process included in the machining command. A CNC device side control unit that executes cutting to the processing material while replacing and mounting it on the
Identification information of a plurality of tools that are exchangeably mounted on the rotating spindle via the automatic tool changer, storage position information of each tool, and the material, shape, and shape of each tool corresponding to the identification information. and a CNC device side storage unit in which tool information including
The cloud-side control unit
Based on the three-dimensional CAD design data transmitted from the terminal device, the machine tool of the machining center selected in advance executes all the machining processes necessary for cutting the machining material into the target machined product. a machining command automatic creation unit that automatically creates a machining command for
a cloud-side storage unit that stores a registration list in which all machining centers to be driven and controlled are registered together with their model information;
The cloud-side storage unit includes tool information for each machine tool, machining conditions including the tools and cutting conditions used when the cutting process is performed according to the characteristics of various cutting processes in advance, tool trajectories, and execution programs thereof. Stores a trained model generated by learning by matching processed data,
The machining command automatic creation unit
A characteristic portion extraction function for extracting a characteristic portion of cutting from the three-dimensional CAD design data of the processed product based on the shape of the processed material;
Machining conditions necessary for cutting for each characteristic portion by applying each characteristic portion extracted by the characteristic portion extraction function to the learned model corresponding to the selected machining center along with the corresponding tool information is automatically determined, and a machining process including a tool locus is automatically set based on the machining conditions;
a total machining process setting function for determining a procedure for executing all the machining processes of the characteristic part extracted by the characteristic part extracting function and setting a series of all machining processes necessary to complete the machined product;
and a machining command creation function for creating a machining command for causing the machine tool to execute all the set machining steps based on the learned model, and the CNC device side control unit corresponding to the created machining command. is to be sent to
The machining process automatic setting function of the machining command automatic creation unit is
The tool information to be applied to the learned model together with the characteristic portions is updated by referring to the latest tool information stored in the CNC device side storage unit of the selected machining center before being applied. tool information update function to
Based on the three-dimensional CAD design data, a 3D model of the processed product is created, the 3D model is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device, and a possible 1 to the processing unit of the machine tool of the processed product is displayed. a function of selecting one or more different mounting directions, and displaying the 3D model in a state of each of the selected mounting directions in a selectable manner on the display unit of the terminal device, wherein the terminal device selects automatically setting a machining process for cutting each characteristic portion using the latest updated tool information based on the installed orientation,
After the machining command created by the machining command automatic creation unit is transmitted to the CNC device side control unit, the terminal device can be operated at an arbitrary timing by the operator or at a preset time. , having a function of transmitting a processing command start signal to the cloud side control unit,
When the cloud-side control unit receives the processing command start signal from the terminal device, the cloud-side control unit transmits a processing command start instruction signal to the CNC device-side control unit to execute cutting according to the processing command. a machining command start instructing unit that causes the machine tool to start ,
The machining command automatic creation unit includes a machining center determination unit that determines a machining center to be used for cutting the processed product from among the machining centers registered in the registration list,
The machining center determination unit,
A function of displaying the registration list on the display unit of the terminal device so that an arbitrary machining center in the list can be selected, and determining the machining center to be used by receiving a selection command signal indicating the selected machining center from the terminal device. and/or
Based on the design information including the dimensions and weight of the processed product acquired from the 3D model created by the processing command automatic generation unit, and the model information of each machining center included in the registration list, the processed product is manufactured. It has a function to select a machining center model suitable for cutting and decide which machining center to use.
wherein the plurality of terminal devices are present, and the machining center determination unit causes the display unit of the terminal device to display the registration list so that any machining center in the list can be selected, and a selection command signal indicating the selected machining center. In the case of having a function to determine the machining center to be used by receiving
When the machining center used by one terminal device has already been determined, the machining center determination unit is in a state in which the already determined machining center cannot be selected when displaying the registration list on the display unit of another terminal device. An automatic operation system for a machining center characterized by further comprising a function of

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