JPH0741523B2 - Tool management method for machining system - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a tool management method in a machining system having at least one NC machine tool with a tool magazine and a tool room for storing tools.

[Conventional technology]

When performing continuous machining or unmanned machining on an NC machine tool, it is essential to check the tools for the machining schedule of the next machining process in advance and prepare the necessary tools in advance.

Specifically, first, whether or not a series of machining can be performed with the tools accommodated in the current tool magazine (including the tools taken out from the tool magazine for machining and existing on the spindle, if any), in other words, For example, it is necessary to judge whether or not there are all the tools on the tool magazine that satisfy the tool conditions of the tools to be used during execution of a large number of NC programs constituting the machining schedule. If it is not there, it is necessary to transfer (replenish) it from the tool room or another place onto the tool magazine. However,
When the tool storage capacity of the tool magazine is exceeded when the tools should be replenished, the machining schedule cannot be continuously executed.

The above determination process is usually performed carefully by a worker over time.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, the above process of selecting tools one by one on the basis of the tool conditions etc. of all the tools to be used for a large number of NC programs is actually a very troublesome work, and this Therefore, a drastic solution that can be mechanically and quickly processed without relying on human labor is desired.

Therefore, the present invention can perform tool replacement with good work efficiency in consideration of the priority of dropping the tool from the tool magazine, and output work contents necessary for tool replacement of the tool magazine in order to improve the work efficiency of the worker. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool management method for a machining system that enables the following: [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention stores at least one NC machine tool with a tool magazine and tools. A tool management method for preparing a tool required to execute machining according to a machining schedule assigned to a certain NC machine tool in a machining system having a tool room To prioritize the removal of tools from the tool magazine in order to replace the tools in the tool magazine, the list of required tools is given in advance. The required tools are categorized into three types, i.e., whether they are currently in the tool magazine of the NC machine tool, if they are not in the tool room, or if they are not further installed, they should be newly introduced. And the tools that are currently in the tool magazine of the NC machine tool are compared to select unnecessary tools, and the contents of the tool replacement work together with the storage pot number in descending order of priority of the selected unnecessary tools. And a tool replacement procedure slip indicating the tool number, and the created tool replacement procedure slip is output to a display device together with the tool list classified into the above-mentioned B and C.

[Work]

Since priorities are assigned to each tool beforehand from the tool magazine, tools with higher priorities are lowered first, and tools with lower priorities, that is, tools that are likely to be used in subsequent processes, are not lowered as much as possible. You can Further, since the tool replacement work is arranged in order and the tool replacement procedure form is created and output, the worker can easily perform the tool replacement work mechanically while viewing the procedure form. Further, the tool replacement procedure form also displays the type of tool to be introduced in the tool magazine, whether it is in the tool room or newly introduced, and the work can be performed easily and quickly.

〔Example〕

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic principle of a tool management device 1 for realizing a tool management method for a machining system according to the present invention.

The tool management device 1 includes a registration storage unit 3, a tool presence determination unit 5, a registration storage renewal unit 7, a workability determination unit 9, and an information output unit 11.

The registration storage means 3 develops and stores, in the virtual magazine, the tools accommodated in the pot of the tool magazine 15 of the NC machine tool 13 along with the tool conditions. The tool condition is a functional tool number (FTN) and a consumption time (Exh Time) indicating the diameter, the number of blades, the material, etc. of the tool displayed by the serial individual number (ITN) attached to all the tools. The tools in the tool room 17 are similarly registered and stored. In addition, tool status information such as damage may be appropriately registered and stored.

The tool presence determination means 5 first extracts, one by one, the tool conditions of a tool to be used when executing a plurality of NC programs constituting the target machining schedule. Specifically, it is FTN and use (processing) time (Ctime). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a tool satisfying the tool condition in the virtual magazine, the tool room, or neither.

The registered memory renewal means 7 determines, in accordance with the result of the tool presence determination means 5, a tool in a virtual magazine, a tool in a tool room, and a tool which is not in any one, which are necessary for machining, in a format capable of identifying each. Make it possible to newly register and store it on the virtual magazine.

Machinability determination means 9 determines whether or not the number of tools required for machining on the renewed virtual magazine exceeds the actual number of pots in the tool magazine, and if the number exceeds the actual pot number, it means that machining is impossible. Outputs content information.

The information output means 11 indicates that the tool in the virtual magazine should remain based on the determination of the workability by the workability determination means 9, and that the tool in the tool chamber is not necessary for opening the tool in the pot or for processing. Information indicating that the tool should be replaced with a pot, and that any tool that is not present should be newly registered is output.

The tool management device 1 has been outlined above, but it can be basically configured by a centralized computer capable of controlling a plurality of NC machine tools, the description of which is omitted in this specification. Then, FTN data and the like are input by, for example, a tool presetter, and the status of the tool room is electrically connected to this or a supervising computer or is input by a terminal device, and these various data are stored in the auxiliary storage device. It should be stored in. In addition, the consumption time of each tool may be measured by using a time meter included in the NC machine tool. Further, the tool magazine is preferably a fixed-address type, but it is not limited to the fixed-address type tool magazine as long as the communication means is separately provided so that the changed location of the tool can be input to the controlling computer one by one. Absent.

The operation and effect of the tool management apparatus of this embodiment described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 101, the data of the current tool magazine (hereinafter, Cmag) is developed on a virtual magazine (hereinafter, Vmag). That is, ITN (Individual tool number) and FTN (Functional tool number) of all tools stored in each pot of Cmag (including tools that have been taken out of the pot for machining and are on the spindle) , And Exh Time (consumption time) are substituted on Vmag, and it is assumed that these tools are not used for the time being and a flag (Lock Fla
Reset all (g). At this time, the pot number (Pot No) is expanded on a virtual magazine (hereinafter, Vmag2) different from Vmag in order to clarify an empty pot in which no tool is stored.

Next, the tool conditions (FTN and usage time (Ctime)) to be used in one NC program based on the schedule data are sequentially extracted one by one (step 10
3) The extraction and the loop processing from step 107 onward are performed for all NC programs (step 105).

In step 107, among the extracted tool conditions, the tool having the function with respect to the FTN has a target NC machine tool
Whether or not it exists on Cmag (current tool magazine) and Vmag (virtual magazine) in actual processing is determined. Here, if the corresponding tool exists (YES),
It is determined whether it further has a satisfactory lifetime value (step 109). In other words, the so-called remaining life or remaining life of the tool (specifically, the total consumption time (Exh Tim
(Life time)-(Exh Ti
me) required usage time (Ct
ime) is determined. Step 109
In (Life Time)-(Exh Time) ≥ Ctime (YES), there is a tool on Cmag (Vmag) that satisfies the function and life required for machining. (Step 111). That is, the ITN (individual tool number) and pot number (Pot No) of the tool are fixed (ITN = fixed, Pot No = fixed), and the tool is necessary for machining. In other words, it should never be removed from Cmag. Set (ON) the Lock Flag to clarify that it is a prohibited tool. In addition, assuming that the tool has performed the machining, the accumulated consumption time before machining (Ctim
The new cumulative consumption time is calculated by adding e) ((Exh
Time) + (Ctime) → (Exh Time)).

There is no corresponding tool in step 107 (NO)
In either case, or if there is a tool in step 109 but the service life is not satisfied (NO), the process proceeds to step 113, and it is determined whether or not the tool of the FTN is present in the tool chamber. There is a corresponding tool here (YE
In the case of S), it is determined whether or not the tool has a satisfactory life value as in step 109 described above (step 11
Five). In step 115, when the tool has reached the end of its life (YES), processing is performed to the effect that there is a usable tool in the tool chamber (step 117). That is, ITN is confirmed (ITN = confirmation), and Lock Flag is set (ON). Also,
The same applies to the cumulative consumption time ((Exh Time) +
(Ctime) → (Exh Time)). However, it is necessary to bring this tool from the tool room and insert it in Cmag in advance before actually performing the machining, and do not fix the pot number to clarify it (Pot NO = undefined) . In addition,
In the subsequent processing, this tool is transferred from the tool chamber to Vmag, that is, is treated as existing on Vmag.

If there is no corresponding tool in the tool room in step 113 (NO), or if there is a tool in step 115 but the tool life is not satisfied (NO), proceed to step 119, and bring a new tool from outside the machining system. Come on Cm
It is necessary to insert it in ag in advance, and the pot number and individual tool number are not fixed to clarify it (Pot No = undefined, ITN = undefined). In the subsequent processing, this tool is treated as if it exists on Vmag after receiving the tool registration. In addition, this tool is still a tool necessary for machining (a tool that should never be lowered), and with Lock Flag set (ON), it is assumed that it is a new unused tool Exh Time
Substitute the usage time (Ctime) as

The steps 103, 105, 107, ...
If the loop processing returning to 103 is performed for all the NC program tools based on the schedule data, that is, if YES in step 105, the next step 123 is performed.
Proceed to. Note that Vmag at this stage shows tools that will not be used for machining (and therefore may be removed from the magazine).
Lock Flag = OFF data and Lock Flag = O that indicates the tool required for machining (must never be removed from the magazine)
N data is mixed.

In step 123, the number of tools with Lock Flag = ON, that is, the number of tools that should never be removed from the magazine, is simply compared with the number of tools that can be accommodated in the tool magazine of the target machine, and the former is the latter. In the case of turning (YES), it is estimated that machining cannot be performed or cannot be continued because the tool essential for machining does not exist on the tool magazine by that amount, and that is displayed (step 125). That is, a predetermined machining range based on the schedule data based on the actual tool situation at the time of executing this control routine (this corresponds to the simulation range using Vmag above)
In, the tool becomes practically insufficient and machining becomes impossible,
Notify the operator. Then, the processing of this control routine ends.

On the other hand, if NO in step 123, the corresponding Cmag
It means that the tools necessary for machining that do not exceed the number of tools that can be accommodated in are formally present on Vmag.
However, it includes tools that are virtually registered in step 119 because they do not exist in the actual tool magazine or the tool room.

Therefore, in step 127, it is determined whether or not there is a virtually registered tool on Vmag, in other words, whether or not there is a tool that must be newly prepared (supplemented) separately.
If there is a virtually registered tool (YES), it is displayed that there is a tool to be newly registered (step 129). Specifically, a tool registration request form is issued to notify the operator by issuing a tool registration request form as shown in FIG. 3 with the content of what kind of FTN tool is required, and processing of this control routine. To finish.

In step 127, if there is no tool to be newly registered (NO), the process proceeds to step 131. It should be noted that at this stage, the tools required for machining are available on Vmag, but those tools have an uncertain factor that they exist either in the actual tool magazine or in the tool room, so it should be clarified. In other words, the process of bringing the tools in the tool room onto the tool magazine becomes a problem. Step 131 The following steps solve this.

First, in step 131, Pot No = indefinite tool, that is, a tool existing in the tool chamber and which needs to be inserted into Cmag in advance, is selected from Vmag and set as an "additional tool". Then, the loop processing from step 135 onward is performed for all the additional tools thus selected (step 133).

In step 135, it is first determined whether or not some of the tools with Lock Flag = OFF (tools that can be removed from the tool magazine because they are not used for machining) have reached their end of life. Here, there are tools that have reached the end of their life (YE
S), the pot number of the tool is received and used as the pot number of the additional tool (step 137). In other words,
Since the tool is unnecessary, we will take it off the tool magazine and insert the additional tool into the empty pot. It should be noted that this information becomes data for creating a tool change slip in step 145 described later.

There is no tool that has reached the end of its life in step 135 (N
In the case of O), the process proceeds to step 139, and it is determined whether or not there is an empty pot. If there is an empty pot (YES), the pot number is received and used as the pot number of the additional tool (step 141). In other words, since the pot is empty, we will insert an additional tool into it. Note that this information also serves as data for creating the tool change slip in step 145 as in the case of step 137 above.

If there is no empty pot in step 139 (NO), an appropriate tool is again selected from the tools of Lock Flag = OFF, the pot number of the tool is received, and the pot number of the additional tool is set (step 143). , As a criterion for tool selection at this time, the priority order of unloading from the tool magazine is determined, specifically, for example, the rule that the higher the number is, the lower the priority is set, the number from 1 to 10 is set for each FTN. It should be attached to each separately. If the priorities are the same, the pot numbers may be selected according to the size. Needless to say, the information such as the pot number of the additional tool obtained in this way can be found in step 14
This will be the data for creating the tool change slip in item 5.

Steps 133, 135, ... Described above, and Step 133
If all the loop processing for returning to Step No. is performed with respect to tools with Pot No = indefinite, that is, if YES in step 133, the process proceeds to the next step 145.

In step 145, information about which pot number tool to drop and what tool to put on it (step
137 and step 143), and based on the information (step 141) regarding which tools to put in which empty pots, etc., create a tool change sheet and a tool change procedure sheet in a format that is easy for the operator to understand and Display on the monitor or on a piece of paper.

Here, an example of the tool change slip is shown in FIG. This is a list of the contents of the current tool magazine and the contents of the same magazine for the next machining process, sorted by pot number. From this vote, it can be seen that, for example, the current pot number 01 contains a tool with an ITN of 99, and it will be used in the next machining process without change, so that the tool will "remain". Also, for example, the 02 pot has a tool with an ITN of 98, but in the next processing step, the tool with an ITN of 97 should be placed in the pot, that is, from the 02 pot to the ITN.
It turns out that it is necessary to unload the 98 tool and load the ITN 97 tool. In addition, for example, the No. 03 pot contains nothing (empty pot), but it can be seen that the ITN 96 tool can be placed on this empty pot in the next processing step.

On the other hand, FIG. 5 shows an example of a tool replacement procedure form in which necessary work contents are briefly summarized. The same vote is written starting from the work on pot number 02 because there is no need to work on pot number 01. Regarding that, first put down the tool of ITN 98 and put the tool of ITN 97 instead, and for pot number 03,
Simply load the ITN 96 tool and for pot number 04 ITN
Drop 95 tools and put ITN 94 tools in its place ...
Thus, the necessary work is arranged in order so that the worker can easily perform the work mechanically.

As described above, according to the apparatus of the present embodiment, (a) processing is impossible within the range of the processing schedule because the capacity of the tool magazine is exceeded, or (b) processing is possible if a new tool is registered (the list is output). Or, if you change the tool, you can process with a hand-held tool (in the tool magazine or tool room) (output a list of tool changes), so you can get three specific answers in a timely manner. Conventional inconveniences, etc. are solved at once. That is, the troublesomeness of manually calculating the machinable range and the tool replacement slip is completely eliminated, and a specific procedure such as tool replacement can be output, so that the work efficiency and efficiency related to tool preparation and the like are dramatically improved. It can be said that the present device is suitable when it is necessary to continuously operate the NC machine tool unattended, for example, during the period from the weekend to the beginning of the week or on holidays. That is, this device can output the result of tool preparation safely and reliably and quickly by performing a simulation in advance regardless of the operation of the NC machine tool itself, and the operator can simply mechanically output the tool based on this. It suffices to prepare, so that the burden on the operator etc. is greatly reduced.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, since a specific instruction regarding a tool necessary for executing a predetermined machining schedule can be easily and quickly supplied, workability of work related to tool preparation and the like is significantly improved.

In other words, it is possible to prevent tools that have a low priority of unloading tools from the tool magazine, that is, tools that are likely to be used in subsequent processes, from being removed from the tool magazine as much as possible, and for the operator to mechanically replace the tools while viewing the procedure sheet. Work can be performed easily. Further, the tool replacement procedure form also displays the type of tool to be introduced in the tool magazine, whether it is in the tool room or newly introduced, and the work can be performed easily and quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic principle of a tool management device for realizing a tool management method for a machining system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram showing an example of the operation of the tool management device, FIG. Is a diagram showing an example of a tool registration request form, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a tool replacement form, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a tool replacement procedure form. 1 ... Tool management device, 3 ... Registration storage means, 5 ... Tool existence determination means, 7 ... Registration storage renewal means, 9 ... Machinability determination means, 11 ... Information output means, 13 ... NC Machine tool, 15 ... Tool magazine, 17 ... Tool room.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A machining system having at least one NC machine tool with a tool magazine and a tool room for storing tools.
In a tool management method for preparing tools required to execute machining according to a machining schedule assigned to one NC machine tool, a tool for replacing tools in a tool magazine with all tools used in the machining system Prioritize priorities for unloading tools from the magazine in advance, a list of the required tools is given in advance, and each of the required tools is currently in the tool magazine of the relevant NC machine tool, or if not, in the tool room, If it does not exist, it should be newly introduced. It is classified into three types, and the unnecessary tools are selected by comparing the necessary tools with the tools currently in the tool magazine of the NC machine tool. Create a tool replacement procedure sheet showing the contents of the tool replacement work and the tool number together with the storage pot number in order from the highest priority tool. Tool management method of machining system and outputs the tool replacement procedures form the display device together with a tool list classified into the B and C.