JPH04365530A - Index control method for tool magazine using number correspondence table - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve rate of operation by inserting at random tools recorded with tool numbers on a machining program into the pots of a tool magazine, memorizing a correspondence table between a pot number and a tool number in a computer, and performing renewal of record and indexing of a pot if necessary. CONSTITUTION:An ID element 2 previously recorded with the tool number on a machining program is fitted to a tool 1. The tool is inserted at random into the tool pot 4 of a tool magazine 3. A correspondence table 10 between the tool numbers A-L and the pot 4 numbers 1-12 is memorized in a computer 11. At exchanging a tool, the correspondence table is rewritten. When the tool number is called following to the machining program, the pot number is searched based on the correspondence table 10, and the corresponding pot 4 is positioned on the indexed position 6 with a NC device 5.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for controlling the indexing of a pot in a tool magazine, and in particular, a number correspondence table suitable for indexing tools randomly inserted into a pot according to a machining program. The present invention relates to a tool magazine indexing control method.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In a numerically controlled machine tool having an automatic tool changer, as shown in FIG. , various tools are stored in the pot 4. During machining, a tool having a tool number written on the machining program is indexed to a predetermined index position and mounted in the main spindle 8 by the replacement arm 7. In this case, in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 4, it was necessary to match the pot number of the pot 4 with the tool number of the tool inserted therein. In other words, the pot numbers are 1 to 12, and the tool numbers on the machining program are A to L (A corresponds to tool number 1, the numbers are sequentially advanced in alphabetical order, and L is tool number 12). Then, the tool A is inserted into the first pot 4, and the tool A is inserted into the first pot 4.
A tool B is inserted into the th pot 4, and a tool L is inserted into the twelfth pot 4 in the same manner.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As explained above, in the conventional technology, it is necessary to always match the pot number and the tool number, so when the A-th tool is needed, the first pot It is necessary to index the pot 4 with the number, and after using it, move the A-th tool to the first pot 4.
It is necessary to bring it back inside. In addition, if a tool is damaged, it is necessary to insert a new tool into the pot 4 in which the tool was inserted, and to match the tool number on the machining program of the inserted tool with the tool number of the damaged tool. Met. Therefore, there are problems in that it takes time to insert and remove the tool, and the tool indexing operation becomes complicated, which causes a decrease in the machine operating rate.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and allows tools to be inserted freely into pots, and indexing of a desired tool can be performed easily and accurately, thereby increasing machine operation rate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool magazine indexing control method using a number correspondence table that can be improved.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention randomly inserts tools that record tool numbers on a machining program into pots of a tool magazine, and A number correspondence table between the pot number and the tool number of the inserted tool is stored in a computer, and each time a tool is replaced, the number correspondence table is rewritten and updated, and when a desired tool is commanded, the number correspondence table is The present invention is characterized by a tool magazine indexing control method using a number correspondence table, in which the pot having the pot number into which a desired tool is inserted is indexed and positioned.

[0006]

[Operation] Tools whose tool numbers on the machining program are recorded are randomly inserted into the pots of the tool magazine. Thereby, the pot number and the corresponding tool number are stored in the computer as a number correspondence table. When a command to call a desired tool is issued by the machining program, the pot with the pot number in which the tool with the corresponding tool number is inserted is indexed and positioned at a predetermined index position according to the number correspondence table, and the pot is mounted in the spindle. Ru. After use, the tool is returned to its original pot.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, an ID element 2 is attached to the tool 1 in which a tool number on a machining program is stored in advance. In this example, the tool numbers are A,
The tool numbers are displayed in English letters B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, G, K, L. Number A is number 1, B is number 2, and so on, and L is numbered. Number 12. As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of tool pots 4 (hereinafter referred to as pots 4) are arranged in the tool magazine 3.
is inserted. The tool magazine 3 is driven by the NC device 5 and is configured to index and position each pot 4 at a pot indexing position 6. The tool 1 in the pot 4 indexed to the pot indexing position 6 is automatically exchanged with the main shaft 8 side by the exchange arm 7 or the like. Further, when inserting a new tool 1 into the pot 4, the pot 4 of the tool magazine 3 is indexed and positioned at the tool exchange position 9.

The computer 11 communicates with the NC device 5,
Various information for automatic control of the NC device 5 is stored. A number correspondence table 10 is stored in the computer 11. The number correspondence table 10 is a correspondence table between pot numbers and tool numbers, and is a table in which the tool numbers of the tools 1 inserted into each pot 4 are associated with the pot numbers of the pots 4. In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the E-th tool 1 is inserted into the pot 4 of pot number 1, the C-th tool 1 is inserted into pot number 2, the A-th tool 1 is inserted into pot number 3, and so on. Fth tool 1 in pot number 4, pot number 5
G-th tool 1 in pot number 6, I-th tool 1 in pot number 7, K-th tool 1 in pot number 7, J-th tool 1 in pot number 8, D-th tool 1 in pot number 9, pot number 1
Lth tool 1 in pot number 0, Bth tool 1 in pot number 11
And the H-th tool 1 is inserted into pot number 12, respectively. As a result, a number correspondence table 10 as shown in the figure is stored in the computer 11. Of course, which pot 4 the tool 1 is placed into may be completely random, and a number correspondence table 10 as shown in the figure is stored in the computer 11 with the tools 1 inserted at random. Number correspondence table 10 is tool 1
When the correspondence between the tool 1 and the pot 4 changes due to replacement of the tool 1 and the pot 4, it is rewritten and updated each time. As described above, the tool 1 can be inserted into and removed from the tool magazine 3 very easily and without any care.

Next, the indexing control operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, a desired tool 1 is called by the machining program and a tool number is commanded (step 100). In this embodiment, it is assumed that, for example, the F-th tool 1 is called. A call command for the Fth tool 1 is input into the NC device 5, and the pot 4 having the pot number corresponding to the Fth tool 1 is searched from the number correspondence table 10 in the computer 11 (step 101). In this embodiment, the pot number corresponding to the F-th tool 1 is No. 4, and the No. 4 pot 4 is searched. Next, the NC device 5 operates the tool magazine 3 (step 102), and indexes and positions the pot 4 with a predetermined pot number (pot number 4 in this embodiment) at the pot indexing position 6 (step 103). . The replacement arm 7 mounts the F-th tool 1 in the pot 4 at the pot indexing position 6 into the main shaft 8. After being used, the F-th tool 1 is returned to any empty pot in the tool magazine 3 (step 105). below,
Repeat the same action. In addition, in this embodiment, since the case where 12 tools 1 are inserted into 12 pots 4 is explained, the used F-th tool 1 is replaced with the original 4
It will be returned to the pot 4.

In this embodiment, although the circuit structure of the recording circuit of the number correspondence table 10 in the computer 11, its calling circuit, rewriting circuit, etc. is not explained, a general software circuit structure is adopted. Further, although only 12 pots 4 are used in this embodiment, the same applies to cases where there are a large number of empty pots. Further, although only the tool number is recorded as the recorded content in the ID element 2 of the tool 1, other information regarding the tool may of course be recorded.

[0011]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved. (1) Since the tools can be randomly inserted into the pot, there is no need to be careful about inserting the tools, and the tools can be inserted quickly. (2) Since the desired tool is indexed and positioned based on the number correspondence table, accurate tool insertion is performed. (3) When a tool is damaged, the tool can be inserted freely,
New tool insertion time is reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a tool provided with an ID element.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a conventional tool indexing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Tools 2 ID element 3 Tool magazine 4 Tool pot (pot) 5 NC device 6 Pot indexing position 7 Replacement arm 8 Main shaft 9 Tool exchange position 10 Number correspondence table 11 Computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A tool that records a tool number on a machining program is randomly inserted into a pot of a tool magazine, and a number correspondence table between the pot number of the inserted pot and the tool number of the inserted tool is stored in a computer. The number correspondence table is stored and updated and recorded each time a tool is replaced, and at the time of a desired tool command, the pot corresponding to the pot number in which the desired tool is inserted is determined based on the number correspondence table. A tool magazine indexing control method using a number correspondence table characterized by positioning.