JPH07110458B2 - Tool management method and apparatus for numerical control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a numerical control (hereinafter referred to as NC) machine tool, a tool transfer device, and a tool storage room for commonly storing tools of a plurality of NC machine tools. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a tool management method and a device thereof, in which an NC device manages a tool life and a tool breakage for each tool.

(Conventional technology) With the aim of improving productivity and reducing downtime, NC machine tools have been systematized and automated, and various functions have been developed and put into practical use. Among them, by managing and automating tool life and breakage, automatic changeover of tools in the tool magazine is performed at the time of tool life and tool breakage in order to reduce machine downtime and operator intervention. The automation is designed to enable long-term operation. However, in order to support high-mix low-volume production, it is necessary to have a large number of spare tools for transfer tools, and in reality it is not possible to have many spare tools, so the operating time of the machine is slightly extended. Nothing more than. Therefore, in the prior art, there were many problems such as having a large capacity tool magazine for each machine in order to operate for a long time.

The above conventional technique will be described below with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 5 and the flowchart of FIG.

The conventional tool management section is composed of four parts as shown in FIG. That is, the next tool command section 10 for preparing the next tool according to the T number command of the NC program, the life / broken tool judgment section 11 for judging whether the command tool is an NG tool due to life / breakage, and the command tool are NC In the case of a tool, a spare tool presence / absence determination unit 12 that determines whether or not there is a spare tool that is not an NG tool for a transfer tool, and a tool change command (M06) in the NC program (The tool specified in step 1) and the tool attached to the spindle are exchanged, it is determined whether the selected tool is an NG tool, and if it is an NG tool, an alarm is processed and the tool change command unit 13 that stops the machine It is configured.

In such a configuration, the NC machine tool executes the NC program when the NC is activated (step S30). When the NC program is executed, the NC machine tool will issue command codes (G, M,
(T, S, etc.) and interpret its contents according to the NC machine tool axis,
Controls the spindle, ATC (automatic tool change), etc. Then, when the next tool command (T code) comes during the interpretation of the NC program (step S31), the command tool is
It is judged whether it is a G tool (step S32), and the command tool is NG.
If it is a tool, it is determined whether or not there is a spare tool grouped as a transfer tool (step S33). If there are spare tools, it is determined whether or not the spare tools themselves are NG tools (step S34), and if all the spare tools are NG tools, they are stored in the memory as NG tools (step S35). If the spare tool is not the NG tool in step S34, move the spare tool to the tool ready station (step
S36), even if it is an NG tool, the spare tool is moved to the tool ready station after storage (step S36). If the command tool is an NG tool and a spare tool does not exist, the command tool is stored in the memory as an NG tool (step S3
7) The command tool is moved to the tool ready station (step S38). If the command tool is a tool that can be machined instead of the tool having a life and breakage, the command tool is moved to the tool ready station (step S38).

On the other hand, when the tool change command (M06) is received during the interpretation of the NC program (step S40), the tool set in the tool ready station is replaced with the tool mounted on the spindle (step S41). After installing a new tool on the spindle,
It is determined whether or not the tool is an NG tool (step S42), and NG
If it is a tool, the NC device outputs an alarm and stops the machine (step S43). If the tool attached to the spindle is not an NG tool, then start machining with that tool. The NC program is interpreted as described above, and the above operation is repeated until the machining is completed (M02, M30) (step S44).

(Problems to be solved by the invention) Therefore, when a command tool without a spare tool has a life or breakage, or even if there is a spare tool, if all spare tools have a life or breakage and become NG tools, , NC machine tools are stopped by an alarm, and it is necessary to change tools due to operator intervention.

That is, conventionally, when the tool life or the tool breakage occurs, the tools are automatically transferred in the tool magazine, and automation is performed so that unmanned operation can be performed for a long time. However, in order to handle high-mix low-volume production, it is necessary to have a large number of spare tools for transfer tools, and in reality, it is not possible to have many spare tools. Not too much. Therefore, in the prior art, in order to operate for a long time, it was necessary to equip each machine with a large capacity tool magazine.

The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention is to have a tool storage chamber common to a plurality of NC machine tools, to convey a tool at the time of tool life or breakage, and NC.
It is to provide a tool management method and an apparatus thereof in an NC device capable of operating unmanned for a long time without making a machine stop by making a determination before issuing a next tool command in a program.

(Means for Solving the Problem) According to the present invention, a tool storage chamber for commonly storing tools of a plurality of numerically controlled machine tools, and a predetermined space between the tool storage chamber and a tool magazine of the numerically controlled machine tool are provided. The present invention relates to a tool management method and device for managing tool life and tool breakage for each tool in a numerical control device that includes a tool transfer device that transfers tools. The next tool determination command is set before, the contents of the command code of the NC program are interpreted when the NC program is executed, and based on the next tool number specified when the next tool determination command is interpreted. Searching for a spare tool in the tool magazine or the tool storage chamber, determining whether or not there is a workable tool such as a tool that has not reached the tool life or a tool that has not been broken in the spare tool, If a tool that can be processed is present in the tool magazine, the next tool command is executed to continue processing, and if a tool that can be processed is not present in the tool magazine, the same tool as the spare tool from the tool storage chamber Is transferred to the tool magazine by the tool transfer device, and the machining is restarted when the spare tool is mounted on the tool magazine.

(Operation) In the present invention, a life / broken tool occurrence determination unit that counts the usage history of tools used in the NC device and determines whether or not breakage has occurred by determining the presence or absence of breakage, When the tool life / breakage occurs, the supply tool and return tool are determined, and the tool transfer command section that transfers and exchanges tools between the tool storage room and the tool magazine of the NC machine tool, and the NC machine tool When the NC program is started and the NC program is executed, it is determined whether or not there is a machining tool by the next tool determination unit that determines whether the next tool is a machineable tool and the flag determined by this next tool determination unit. Machining tool presence / absence judgment unit, the next tool command unit that moves the corresponding tool from the tool magazine to the tool ready station by the next tool command (T code), and the tool ready station by the tool replacement command (M06). Composed of a tool change command unit for exchanging a tool in the tool and the spindle is mounted.

As a result, when a tool life or breakage occurs, the tool is transported and the judgment is made before the next tool command in the NC program, so even if the tool life or tool breakage occurs, the machine will not be stopped and will be operated for a long time unattended. It is possible to construct a system that does not reduce the operating rate.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

A life / broken tool occurrence determination unit 1 that checks the service life and whether or not breakage has occurred by counting the actual results of the tools used in the NC device and determining the presence or absence of breakage.
A tool transfer command unit 2 that determines the supply tool and the return tool when the tool life or breakage occurs, and transfers and exchanges the tool between the tool storage room and the tool magazine of the NC machine tool
Then, when the NC program is executed and the NC program is executed in the NC machine tool, the next tool determination unit 3 that determines whether the next tool is a machineable tool, and the machining tool based on the flag determined by the next tool determination unit 3 By the machining tool presence / absence judging unit 4 for judging whether or not there exists, the next tool command unit 5 for moving the corresponding tool from the tool magazine to the tool ready station by the next tool command (T code), and the tool replacement command (M06). It is composed of a tool exchange command section 6 for exchanging the tool of the tool ready station and the tool mounted on the spindle.

With such a configuration, its operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the NC machine tool is activated by the NC (step S1), the NC device interprets the NC program and controls by the command code (G, M, S, T, etc.). Then, when the tool is mounted on the spindle (hereinafter referred to as a machining tool), the usage record of the tool is counted, and the counting method is performed by time, the number of workpieces, or the like. Since the set value is preset by the operator for each tool, it is determined whether or not the tool has reached the end of life by comparing the set value with the actual value. Regarding breakage, a tool is applied to a certain reference block to determine whether the set value and the measured value are above a certain range, and whether the tool is broken or not is determined. When the tool life or the tool breakage is recognized by such a judgment (step S2), the NC device controls the mounting of the tool magazine to the tool magazine by the tool transfer device and the tool exchange device between the tool storage chamber and the tool magazine. On the host computer to manage,
Notify that tool life / breakage has occurred and tool transportation is required (step S3). Next, when the tool whose life has expired / broken is returned to the tool magazine, the current machining tool (CT
The tool registered as L) is stored in the registration memory as a return tool (RTL) (step S4). Next, it is determined whether or not the tool conveyance is completed (step S5), and if not completed, the next process is entered. When the conveyance is completed, the newly supplied tool is stored in the registration memory as a spare tool (SPR) (step S6). Then, when the next tool determination command is issued during execution of the NC program (step S7), it is determined whether or not the command tool is the machining tool (CTL) (machinable tool) (step S8). System variable = 1
(Processable flag) (step S9). When the command tool is not the machining tool (CTL), it is checked whether or not there is a spare tool (SPR) (step S10), and if there is, the system variable is set to 1 (step S11), and if not, the system variable is set to 0 ( Step S12). Next, the system variable is "1"
Check whether or not it is a workable tool (step S13), if there is no it waits until it is possible (until conveyance is completed), and if there is, sets the next tool number in the argument Yes (step S14).

On the other hand, if there is a next tool command (T code) during execution of the NC program (step S15), the tool number set in the argument is commanded (step S16), and the tool is moved from the tool magazine to the tool ready station (step S15). Step S17). When the tool change command (M06) is executed (step S18), the tool of the tool ready station and the tool mounted on the spindle are replaced (step S19). Then, the tool newly attached to the spindle is stored in the registration memory as a machining tool (CTL) (step S20).

Such operations are repeated until the machining is completed (M02, M30) (step S21). Therefore, by supplying a tool from the tool storage chamber to the tool magazine when the next tool determination command and tool life / breakage occur, unmanned operation for a long time without machine stoppage becomes possible.

Next, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the program example of FIG. 3 and the transition of the tool state due to the tool life and the breakage occurrence of FIG.

When the NC program is executed by starting the NC, the NC program is first read and interpreted. First, the next tool determination command is executed by reading and interpreting the block indicated by the sequence number "N001" (process). This next tool determination command sets the system variable of machining tool presence to "1" if the machining tool (CTL) or spare tool (SPR) exists for the tool with the next tool number passed as an argument Go to the block. If it does not exist, that is, the return tool (RT
L) If there is only one, set the system variable of whether or not there is a processing tool to "0"
And proceed to the next block. In the sequence "N002", it is judged whether or not the system variable for processing tool presence is "0" (processing). If it is "0", that is, the return tool (RT
If there is only L), it returns to the sequence "N001" and repeats the sequence "N001" and "N002" until the returned tool (RTL) is replaced with a new tool in the tool storage room When it becomes 1 ", proceed to the next block. In the sequence "N003", the next tool command is executed by the T code and the next tool number set in the argument of the above processing (processing). This command moves the specified tool from the tool magazine to the tool ready station, and advances to the next block. The block of the sequence "N004" is a tool change command, and the tool in the tool ready station is replaced with the tool attached to the spindle. that time,
Register the tool newly attached to the spindle as a machining tool (CTL).

Next, the transition of the tool state will be described with reference to FIG.

Tool names A, B, C among the tools installed in the tool magazine
Are in the same group, tool A is currently a machining tool (CTL), and tools B and C are registered in the memory as spare tools. First, when the tool numbers corresponding to the tools A, B, and C are instructed, the tool A registered as the machining tool (CTL) is selected and machining is performed. Then, when a life is generated during machining, the tool A is registered as a return tool (RTL) when the tool is returned to the tool magazine. Next, if the tool number corresponding to tools A, B, C is specified,
When the tool A has not been completely conveyed, the tool state remains as the return tool (RTL), so the tool B of the spare tool (SPR)
Is selected. Then, processing is started with tool B and tool B
Is registered as a machining tool (CTL). When the tool A completes the conveyance during processing with the tool B, the tool A is a spare tool (SPR).
Registered as. Next, when the tool B reaches the tool life during processing with the tool B, it becomes a return tool (RTL) when it is returned to the tool magazine similarly. Next, when the tool numbers corresponding to the tools A, B, and C are commanded, the tool A registered as a spare tool is selected, and when it is mounted on the spindle, the machining tool (CTL)
It is re-registered in and the processing is started with the tool A.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a system that can perform unmanned operation for a long time without stopping the machine even if a tool life or a tool breakage occurs and does not reduce the operating rate. Can be built.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of its operation, FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining the operation, and FIG. 5 is an example of a conventional device. And FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of its operation. 1 ... Life / broken tool occurrence determination unit, 2 ... Tool transport command unit, 3 ... Next tool determination unit, 4 ... Machining tool presence / absence determination unit,
5 ... Next tool command section, 6,13 ... Tool change command section, 10 ...
Next tool command section, 11 ... Life / broken tool determination section, 12 ... Spare tool presence / absence determination section.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G05B 19/4062 19/4065

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A tool storage chamber for commonly storing tools of a plurality of numerically controlled machine tools, and a tool transporting device for transporting a predetermined tool between the tool storage chamber and a tool magazine of the numerically controlled machine tool. In a tool management method for managing tool life and tool breakage for each tool in a numerical control device equipped with
The next tool judgment command is set before the next tool command of the NC program, the contents of the command code of the NC program are interpreted when the NC program is executed, and it is specified that the next tool judgment command is interpreted. Searching for a spare tool in the tool magazine or the tool storage chamber based on the next tool number, and whether or not there is a machinable tool such as a tool that has not reached the tool life or has not been broken in the spare tools. If the machinable tool is present in the tool magazine, the next tool command is executed to continue machining, and if the machinable tool is not present in the tool magazine, the tool storage chamber is operated. The same tool as the spare tool is transported to the tool magazine by the tool transport device, and the machining is restarted when the spare tool is mounted on the tool magazine. Tool management method in the numerical control apparatus. 2. A service life / broken tool occurrence determination unit for checking whether the service tool has a service life or breakage, a supply tool and a return tool when the service tool has a service life / breakage, and tool storage. And the tool magazine of the numerically controlled machine tool, the tool transportation command unit for carrying and exchanging tools, and when the numerically controlled machine tool executes the NC program, the next tool set before the next tool command. When the determination command is executed, it is determined whether or not the next tool exists in the tool magazine or the spare tool in the tool storage chamber as a machinable tool such as a tool that has not reached the tool life or has not been broken. Next tool determination unit, a processing tool presence / absence determination unit that determines whether or not a processing tool that can be processed by the determination is present in the tool magazine, and a tool conveyance command unit if it is determined that there is no processing tool From the tool storage chamber to the tool magazine by using the tool transfer device and then execute the tool command to move the corresponding tool from the tool magazine to the tool ready station, and a tool replacement command. The tool management device in the numerical control device according to claim 1, further comprising a tool replacement command unit for replacing the tool of the tool ready station and the tool mounted on the spindle.