JPH05277893A - Machining process setting method for automatic programming system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate troublesome setting work of machining conditions and facilitate setting operation by automatically setting tool cutting directions and cut regions for a rough machining process as those for a finishing machining process. CONSTITUTION:After setting a rough machining process, an operator uses a CPU 1 to determine the set order of finishing machining steps according to the set order of rough machining steps to set a finishing machining process. Once the setting of a first finishing machining process has been selected, an automatic programming system traces lack the rough machining process the contents of which have been defined, retrieves rough machining steps corresponding to finishing machining steps originally selected, and uses the CPU 1 to automatically set the tool cutting directions and cut regions set for the corresponding rough machining steps as tool cutting directions and cut regions for selected finishing machining steps.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a machining process setting method for an automatic programming system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The type of outer diameter machining, inner diameter machining, grooving, etc., and the stage of rough machining, finishing, etc. are selected for each machining process,
An interactive automatic programming system is already known in which a value of a finishing allowance to be left in a part shape, a tool cutting direction, and a cutting region are set to define a machining content for each machining process. In this kind of automatic programming system, in order to simplify the selection and setting operation of the machining process, various machining processes that combine machining types and machining stages, such as outer diameter rough machining, outer diameter finish machining, and inner diameter rough machining, are performed. A lot of machining process names such as inner diameter finish machining are stored in the system in advance. When the operator selects the machining process name, the automatic programming system activates the data setting program for each machining process and displays it. Various questions are displayed above, and the operator inputs data such as finishing allowance, tool cutting direction, and cutting area by a simple operation in response to this question, and the above-mentioned data setting program performs machining for each machining process. The contents are automatically defined, and finally, when the operator inputs an NC data creation command, the machining contents for each machining process are automatically programmed. Is converted into NC data in the order of processes by the ring system, a series of machining programs is adapted to be automatically created.

[0003]

However, in the conventional automatic programming system, even in the case of machining processes having the same machining type but different machining stages, for example, rough outer diameter machining, outer diameter finishing machining, etc. Every time a process is selected, the operator must input data such as the tool cutting direction and cutting area, etc., and the automatic programming system cannot automatically define the processing contents, and the tool cutting direction and cutting area can be used in common. In the case of the processing step, there has been the trouble of repeatedly performing the same operation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machining process setting method for an automatic programming system which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art and eliminates unnecessary and troublesome operations related to the tool cutting direction and cutting area.

[0004]

A machining step setting method of an automatic programming system according to the present invention determines a setting order of finishing machining steps according to a preset order of rough machining steps and a first finishing machining step. When the setting of is selected, the rough machining process corresponding to the selected finishing machining process is searched from the beginning by tracing back the rough machining process in which the machining content is defined in advance, and the tool set in the corresponding rough machining process is searched. The cutting direction and cutting area are automatically set as the tool cutting direction and cutting area of the selected finishing process, and each time the setting of the finishing process is selected, the roughing process of the unsearched portion is traced back. The roughing process corresponding to the newly selected finishing process is searched from the beginning, and the tool cutting direction and cutting area set for the corresponding roughing process are updated. By automatically set as the tool cutting direction and the cutting area of the selected finishing steps, to achieve the above object.

[0005]

After the rough machining process is set, the operator decides the setting order of the finishing machining process according to the setting order of the rough machining process and sets the finishing machining process. When the setting of the first finishing process is selected, the automatic programming system traces back the roughing process whose machining content is defined in advance, and from the beginning, selects the roughing process corresponding to the selected finishing process. The tool cutting direction and the cutting area set in the corresponding roughing step are searched and automatically set as the tool cutting direction and the cutting area in the selected finishing step. Every time the operator selects the finishing machining process setting, the automatic programming system traces back the rough machining process of the unsearched portion and searches for a rough machining process corresponding to the newly selected finishing machining process from the beginning. Then, the tool cutting direction and cutting region set in the corresponding roughing process are automatically set as the tool cutting direction and cutting region in the newly selected finishing process.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an automatic programming system according to an embodiment to which the method of the present invention is applied. 1 is a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU), and 7 is a ROM storing a control program of the automatic programming system. Reference numeral 2 is an RA for storing the system program loaded from the floppy disk 11 and various data.
M, 3 is a keyboard, 4 is a CRT display device (hereinafter referred to as CRT) as a display means for constituting an interactive screen, 9 is a tablet device, 8 is a disk controller, 11 is a floppy disk storing various system programs and the like, 10 is an XY plotter for outputting the created drawing,
A printer 5 is connected to each of these elements via a bus 6.

The tablet device 9 has a screen corresponding area 9a and a menu table 9b, and the operator moves the tablet cursor 9c within the screen corresponding area 9a to move the graphic cursor on the CRT 4 to perform an instruction operation. To specify an arbitrary position on the screen of the CRT 4 or to move the tablet cursor 9c on the menu table 9b to perform an instruction operation to select various menu items from the system program prepared in the floppy disk 11. I am supposed to do it.

When the machining process is set by the automatic programming system, first the keyboard 3 is used as in the conventional case.
Or a tablet device 9 selects a machining definition system program and activates the CPU 1. A machining definition selection screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the CRT 4, and machining type numbers “1” to “11” are displayed. By selecting "" according to the process number, the execution order of the machining process to be executed and its contents are set.

2 to 3 are flowcharts showing an outline of the "machining process setting process" (a part of the system program) started at the stage when the machining definition mode is selected. Hereinafter, referring to this flowchart The machining process setting method in this embodiment will be described. In order to obtain the part shape 13 by cutting the cylindrical work 12 as shown in FIG. 4 with an NC lathe, the following steps “1” to
The description will be given assuming that the machining process of the process “3” is set.

Process "1" Outer Diameter Roughing Without leaving a finishing allowance for outer diameter finishing, the tool cutting direction is downward (the tool is moved from top to bottom) and the work 1
The setting operation for cutting the end face of 2 is performed. Process "2" Outer Diameter Roughing Leave a finishing allowance for outer diameter finishing, and set the tool cutting direction to left (move the tool from right to left), and work 12
Perform the setting operation for cutting the outer peripheral part of. Process “3” Outer Diameter Finishing Processing A setting operation for finishing the outer periphery of the work 12 is performed with the tool cutting direction on the left.

The CPU 1, which has detected the selection of the machining definition mode and started the "machining process setting process", first initializes the search start position storage index I and the process number storage index j to 0 (step S1). A selection screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the CRT 4, the value of the process number storage index j is incremented, and the operator waits for the input of the machining type number (step S2). Then, when the operator selects and inputs the machining type number, the CPU 1 responds to the operator's selection operation together with the work shape and the part shape on the finishing allowance setting screen, the tool cutting direction setting screen, the cutting area setting screen, and the like. It is displayed on the CRT 4 together with a guidance message, and the input data relating to the tool cutting direction, cutting area, finishing allowance, etc. set by the operator is stored as the process number storage index j.
It is stored in the RAM 2 corresponding to the value of (step S3).

The setting method of the tool cutting direction, the cutting area, the finishing allowance, etc. in step S3 is the same as that of the conventional automatic programming system. In the setting screen of the tool cutting direction, the arrow keys of CRT 4 (left, right, up, down are displayed. Operation) to specify the tool cutting direction, move the graphic cursor in the cutting area setting screen, specify the cutting start position and cutting completion position, and operate the arrow keys to set the cutting area. To do. The area defined by the extension line of the arrow passing through the position indicated by the graphic cursor, the contour line of the work 12 and the contour line of the part shape 13 is a cutting region. In this case, the operator selects the "outer diameter rough machining" of the machining type number "3" and operates the down arrow key on the tool cutting direction setting screen to operate the tool cutting direction in the first "outer diameter rough machining". , And move the graphic cursor to the position P1 as shown in FIG. 4 on the cutting area setting screen and operate the up arrow key, and then move the graphic cursor to the position P3. 4 to operate the right arrow key, the area shown by hatching in the lower right of FIG.
The area delimited by the contour line of 2 and the contour line of the part shape 13 is set as the cutting region of the first "outer diameter rough machining". For the finishing allowance, enter "0" (unit: mm) using the numeric keypad on the setting screen. The respective data of the tool cutting direction, the cutting area, and the finishing allowance set here are stored in the RAM 2 as data of "outer diameter rough machining" of the process number "1" corresponding to the current value of the process number storage index j. (See Figure 8).

Next, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the machining type number selected this time belongs to finishing machining (step S4). At the present stage, the "outer diameter rough machining" of the machining type number "3" is performed. "Is selected, the determination result in step S4 is false, and the CPU 1 displays a guidance message on the display screen of the CRT 4 asking whether to continue or stop the machining process setting, and waits for the operator to operate the continue key or the stop key. Yes (step S14). In this case, since there are other machining processes to be set, the operator operates the continuation key to additionally set a new machining process.

The CPU 1, which has detected the operation of the continuation key in the determination processing of step S14, returns to the processing of step S2 again, displays the selection screen as shown in FIG. 7 on the CRT 4, and displays the value of the process number storage index j. Increment and wait for the operator to input the machining type number. Then, when the operator selects and inputs the processing type number, the CPU 1
Similar to the above, the finishing allowance setting screen, the tool cutting direction setting screen, the cutting area setting screen, etc. are displayed on the CRT 4 together with the work shape and the part shape together with the guidance message in accordance with the operator's selection operation, and the operator sets them. The input data relating to the tool cutting direction, cutting area, finishing allowance, etc. are stored in the RAM 2 corresponding to the value of the process number storage index j
(Step S3).

In this case, the operator has a machining type number "3".
"Outer diameter rough machining" is selected again, and the left arrow key is operated in the tool cutting direction setting screen to specify the tool cutting direction in the second "Outer diameter rough machining" to the left, and the cutting area By moving the graphic cursor to the position P1 and operating the right arrow key as shown in FIG. 4 on the setting screen of, and further moving the graphic cursor to the position P2 and operating the up arrow key, An area indicated by hatching in the upper right direction in FIG. 4, that is, an area delimited by the outlines of the arrows B and B and the outline of the workpiece 12 and the outline of the part shape 13 is set as the cutting region for the second "outer diameter rough machining". Will be done. Regarding the finishing allowance, an arbitrary finishing allowance (other than 0) is input on the setting screen. The respective data of the tool cutting direction, the cutting area, and the finishing allowance set here are stored in the RAM 2 as data of "outer diameter rough machining" of the process number "2" corresponding to the current value of the process number storage index j. (See Figure 8).

Next, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the machining type number selected this time belongs to finishing machining (step S4). At the present stage, the "outer diameter rough machining" of the machining type number "3" is performed. Is selected, the determination result in step S4 is false, and the CPU 1 causes the CRT4
A guidance message asking whether to continue or discontinue the machining process setting is displayed on the display screen of, and the operator waits for the operation of the continuation key or the termination key (step S1).
4). In this case, since there are other machining processes to be set, the operator operates the continuation key again to additionally set a new machining process.

The CPU 1, which has detected the operation of the continuation key in the discrimination processing of step S14, returns to the processing of step S2 again, displays the selection screen as shown in FIG. 7 on the CRT 4 and displays the value of the process number storage index j. Increment and wait for the operator to input the machining type number. Then, when the operator selects and inputs the processing type number, the CPU 1
Similar to the above, the finishing allowance setting screen, the tool cutting direction setting screen, the cutting area setting screen, etc. are displayed on the CRT 4 together with the work shape and the part shape together with the guidance message in accordance with the operator's selection operation, and the operator sets them. The input data relating to the tool cutting direction, cutting area, finishing allowance, etc. are stored in the RAM 2 corresponding to the value of the process number storage index j
(Step S3).

In this case, the operator has a machining type number "5".
Select "Outer diameter finishing", and perform any key operation on the tool cutting direction setting screen and cutting area setting screen to temporarily set the tool cutting direction and cutting area, and then use the numeric keypad on the finishing allowance setting screen. Input “0” (unit: mm) with. The data of the tool cutting direction, the cutting area, and the finishing allowance set here are stored in the RAM as the data of the "outer diameter finishing" of the process number "3" corresponding to the current value of the process number storage index j.
2 (see FIG. 8).

Next, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the machining type number selected this time belongs to finishing machining (step S4). At the present stage, the "outer diameter finishing machining" of the machining type number "5" is performed. Is selected, step S4
Is true, the CPU 1 sets a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the current value of the process number storage index j, that is, a value indicating the process number of the machining process defined immediately before, in the search completion position storage register N. After that (step S5), the value of the search start position storage index I having the initial value 0 is incremented (step S5).
6) Based on the value of the index I, the rough machining process of the process number "I" is read from the RAM 2 and it is determined whether or not this rough machining process is the rough machining process corresponding to the finishing machining selected this time. (Step S7). In this case, process number "I"
The machining process of (= 1) is "outer diameter rough machining" and belongs to outer diameter machining similarly to the "outer diameter finishing machining" selected this time, so the determination result of step S7 is true. ..
Therefore, the CPU 1 further reads the data of the finishing allowance set in the "outer diameter rough machining" of the process number "I" (= 1), and whether or not the value of the finishing allowance is 0, that is, this time It is determined whether or not it is necessary to set a finishing process for the rough process performed (step S8).

In this case, since the finishing allowance 0 is set in the "outer diameter rough machining" read this time, it is not necessary to set the finishing machining process for this rough machining process, and then the CPU 1 retrieves. It is determined whether or not the current value of the start position storage index I has reached the value of the search completion position storage register N (step S9). At present, the value of the search start position storage index I is 1, and the value of the search completion position storage register N is 2.
Therefore, the determination result of step S9 is false and CP
U1 returns to the process of step S6 again.

Then, C returned to the process of step S6.
The PU1 increments the value of the search start position storage index I again, reads the roughing process of the process number "I" from the RAM2 based on the value of the index I, and this roughing process becomes the finishing process selected this time. It is determined whether or not it is the corresponding roughing process (step S7). In this case, the machining process of process number “I” (= 2) is “outer diameter rough machining”,
Since it belongs to the outer diameter machining similarly to the “outer diameter finishing machining” selected this time, the determination result of step S7 is true. Therefore, the CPU 1 further causes the process number “I” (=
The data of the finishing allowance set in “Outer diameter rough machining” of 2) is read and whether or not the value of the finishing allowance is 0, that is, the finishing machining process is set for the rough machining process read this time. It is determined whether it is necessary (step S8).

In this case, since the finishing allowance other than 0 is set in the "outer diameter rough machining" of the process number "I" (= 2) read this time, the finishing machining process is performed for this rough machining process. Need to be set. Therefore, the CPU 1
Because the tool cutting direction and cutting area set in "Outer diameter rough machining" of process number "I" (= 2) is "Outer diameter finish machining" of the process number "j" (= 3) selected this time The tool cutting direction and cutting area are updated and stored in the RAM 2 in correspondence with the process number “j” (= 3) “outer diameter finishing”, and the tool cutting direction and cutting area are displayed on the display screen of the CRT 4. (Step S10) Further, a guidance message is displayed on the display screen of the CRT 4 asking whether the tool cutting direction or the cutting area needs to be corrected, and the operator operates the confirmation key or resets the tool cutting direction or the cutting area. Is waited for (step S11). FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the setting screen of the tool cutting direction is selected at this stage, and the process number “j” (=
As the tool cutting direction for 3) "Outer diameter finish machining", the cutting direction of "Outer diameter rough machining" of process number "I" (= 2) is "CD (cutting direction) = left arrow" on CRT4. When the cutting area setting screen is selected, the cutting area of the "outer diameter rough machining" of the process number "I" (= 2), that is, the arrow, is displayed as shown in FIG. An area delimited by B, B and the outline of the workpiece 12 and the outline of the part shape 13 is displayed on the CRT 4.

Therefore, the operator refers to the display screen of the CRT 4 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to judge whether or not the tool cutting direction and the cutting area need to be reset. If there is not, operate the confirmation key as it is, and set the tool cutting direction or cutting area set in "Outer diameter rough machining" of the process number "I" (= 2) to the process number "j" (= 3).
The tool cutting direction and cutting area for the "outer diameter finishing" are retained in the RAM 2 as they are (automatic setting), and if resetting is necessary, the tool cutting direction and cutting direction are set by the same processing as in step S3 described above. The cutting area is reset and the newly set tool cutting direction and cutting area are stored in the RAM 2 as the tool cutting direction and cutting area for "outer diameter finishing" of the process number "j" (= 3). (Step S12).

Next, the CPU 1 detects the presence / absence of a sub-process to be processed with the same processing definition (step S1).
3) If there are sub-processes, the processes of steps S10 to S12 are repeated for each of the sub-processes as described above, and if there are no sub-processes, the process directly proceeds to step S14. , A guidance message asking whether to continue or stop the machining process setting is displayed on the display screen of the CRT 4, and the operator waits for the operation of the continue key or the stop key.

In this case, the work 12 is made into the part shape 13 by the above-mentioned setting operations corresponding to the process numbers "1" to "3".
Since all setting operations for finishing are completed, the operator operates the abort key. Upon detecting the operation of the abort key, the CPU 1 downloads the contents of the processing file as shown in FIG. 8 to the floppy disk 11, completes all the processing relating to the setting of the processing process, and displays the initial menu screen on the CRT 4. (Not shown), and enters a standby state waiting for another selection operation.

As described above, in the case of the setting operation in the finishing process, there is a roughing process corresponding to the finishing process selected this time (the determination result of step S7 is true), and this roughing process is performed. As long as it is necessary to set the finishing process for the process (the determination result of step S8 is true), all the temporary data of the tool cutting direction and the cutting area set for the finishing process in step S3 are ignored,
RAM for the corresponding roughing process tool cutting direction and cutting area
It is automatically set to the second data file (step S10). Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to input the data in consideration of the tool cutting direction and the cutting area in the setting step of the finishing process, and if the data is given to the automatic programming system in some form (step S3), Since an appropriate tool cutting direction and cutting region are automatically selected (step S10), the operation of inputting data relating to finishing is very easy.

In the processing of steps S6 to S9 for searching the roughing process corresponding to the finishing process, the process number of the roughing process to be searched is restricted by the value of the search start position storage index I. Therefore, even if multiple machining of the outer diameter and end surface is defined with the same machining process name and it is necessary to perform finishing machining for each of them,
It is possible to set the finish processing step appropriately corresponding to each of the rough processing steps. For example, in the above-mentioned example, a finishing allowance is set for each of the outer diameter rough machining of the step "1" for cutting the end face and the outer diameter rough machining of the step "2" for cutting the outer circumference. In this case, the outer diameter roughing process of the process “1” is detected when the setting operation of the “outer diameter finishing process” is first selected, and the process “1” is added to the data of the “outer diameter finishing process” of the process “3”. The outer diameter rough machining tool cutting direction and cutting area are automatically set, and the value of the search start position storage index I becomes 1 at this stage. Therefore, if the setting operation of "outer diameter finish machining" is selected again at this stage, the search is started from the machining process of process number 2, and the process "4" is started.
The tool cutting direction and cutting area of the outer diameter roughing of the process "2" are automatically set in the data of "Outer diameter finishing" of the process "1" and the outer diameter outer peripheral part for roughing the outer diameter end face. For each of the rough machining step "2", the finish machining step "3" for finishing the outer diameter end face and the finish machining step "4" for finishing the outer diameter outer peripheral portion are surely set correspondingly. The Rukoto.

[0028]

According to the machining process setting method of the automatic programming system of the present invention, at the stage of setting the machining contents of the finishing machining process, the rough machining process whose machining contents are defined in advance is changed from the rough machining process to be set this time. Since the corresponding rough machining process is searched and the tool cutting direction and cutting area set for the corresponding rough machining process are automatically set as the tool cutting direction and cutting area for the finishing machining process to be set this time, Once the tool cutting direction and cutting area have been set in the processing conditions of the roughing process, it is not necessary to set the tool cutting direction and cutting area individually in the finishing process, and the tool cutting can be done manually each time the machining process is selected. The troublesomeness of inputting data such as the direction and cutting area is eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an automatic programming system according to an embodiment to which the method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of “machining process setting processing” by the automatic programming system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a continuation of the flowchart showing the outline of the “machining process setting process”.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a work and a part shape to be processed.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a CRT display device when executing a “machining process setting process”.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a CRT display device when executing a “machining process setting process”.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a display example of a CRT display device when executing a “machining process setting process”.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a main part of a storage area set in the automatic programming system of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Microprocessor (CPU) 2 RAM 3 Keyboard 4 CRT display device 6 Bus 7 ROM 8 Disk controller 9 Tablet device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic programming system in which a value of a finishing allowance to be left in a part shape, a tool cutting direction, and a cutting region are set for each machining process to define machining contents for each machining process is defined in advance. In addition to deciding the setting order of the finishing process according to the setting order of the roughing process,
When the setting of the first finishing process is selected, the roughing process corresponding to the selected finishing process is searched from the beginning by tracing back to the roughing process whose machining content is defined in advance. While automatically setting the tool cutting direction and cutting area set in the machining step as the tool cutting direction and cutting area of the selected finishing step,
Each time the finishing process setting is selected, the roughing process corresponding to the newly selected finishing process is searched from the beginning by tracing back the roughing process of the unsearched part, and is set as the corresponding roughing process. A machining process setting method for an automatic programming system, characterized in that the tool cutting direction and cutting region are automatically set as the tool cutting direction and cutting region of the newly selected finishing machining process.