JPH09120308A - Tool path plotting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily plot a tool path by storing previously plural partial machining areas to be displayed with magnification, switching these machining areas to display them with magnification according to the moving positions of a tool, and plotting the moving path of the tool. SOLUTION: When a tool path, etc., is plotted together with production and simulation of a machining program, a CPU 1 produces a machining program equivalent to a single block based on the machining shape, the cutting conditions, etc., and repetitively plots the tool path on the moving locus of the tool display position on a graphic display 2 based on a moving command, etc. Then plural partial machining areas of a work are previously set s by a mouse 4 to be displayed with magnification. Thus the CPU 1 stores these machining areas in a RAM 7. Then the partial machining area including the tool position is automatically switched and displayed on the display 2 with magnification according to the moving positions of the tool. The moving path of the tool is plotted on a magnified display screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an improvement in a tool path drawing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a machining program is automatically created from a machining shape or tool data input to a CAD / CAM system or an automatic programming device, or a machining program is checked while running a simulation by running the created machining program. When performing, or when actually checking the progress of machining on the display screen while driving the NC machine tool by the NC device based on the machining program, etc. A tool path drawing method that draws a moving position and a tool path is used, and various devices therefor are also known.

When the tool path is complicated or when the micro-machining portion is displayed, the tool path or the current position of the tool may be difficult to see. To solve this,
Further, it is desired to display an enlarged partial area on the work.

In order to meet such a demand, a diagonal line is designated by a cursor on the display screen to set a rectangular area, the display of the entire work is once erased, and then the rectangular area is newly displayed as a new screen. A tool path drawing method has been already proposed in which the tool path is drawn in a fully enlarged display and the tool path is drawn on this new screen.

However, in this tool path drawing method, when there are a plurality of areas to be enlarged and displayed, the tool path must be drawn by performing the area reset operation each time.

Further, in this tool path drawing method, after the new screen is selected, only the tool path of the area is always drawn according to the processing procedure of the area displayed on the new screen. However, it is not possible to grasp the processing flow related to the whole work.To do this, apart from the partial confirmation by enlargement, the whole work is displayed again on the display screen and the whole work is displayed. There is the annoyance of displaying different tool paths.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and according to the flow of machining of the whole work, without performing a troublesome area setting operation each time.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool path drawing method capable of automatically displaying, one after another, partial machining areas on a workpiece that need to be enlarged and drawing a tool path.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a plurality of partial machining areas of a work to be enlarged and displayed are set and stored in advance, and the partial machining areas to which the tool position belongs are set according to the moving position of the tool. The above object is achieved by a configuration characterized in that the tool is automatically switched to be enlarged and displayed, and the movement path of the tool is drawn on the enlarged display screen.

Further, the display screen is divided into two screens of arbitrary size to provide an entire display screen for displaying the whole work, and in addition to the enlarged display of the partial machining area to which the tool position belongs,
By drawing the machining path on the whole display screen, the machining flow related to the whole work can be grasped more easily.

The setting operation of the partial processing area to be enlarged and displayed can be carried out by manual input from the input device while the entire work is displayed on the display screen.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment 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 NC device according to an embodiment to which the method of the present invention is applied. 1 is a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU),
Reference numeral 6 is a ROM storing a start-up program for the NC device, 8
Is a hard disk storing various control programs and system programs, 7 is a RAM for temporarily storing data used in the process of calculation and display processing, and 9 is machining shape data and machining programs stored in the floppy disk 10. Such as a disk drive unit used for reading data and writing new data, 3 is a keyboard (manual input device), 2 is a graphic display (display screen), 4 is a mouse for moving the cursor, picking, etc. (manual input) These devices are connected to the CPU 1 via the bus 5.

The NC device has various functions required for an automatic programming device, for example, a shape input function for creating a machining shape by an input operation using the keyboard 3 and the mouse 4, and the created machining shape and Automatic programming function to automatically create a series of machining programs according to the specified tool and cutting conditions, and also the specified machining sequence, etc.Also, while creating the machining program automatically, or the already created machining program Like the conventional automatic programming device, a drawing function for drawing a tool path and a tool position by performing a simulation while running is provided in the same manner as the conventional automatic programming device, and a system program for realizing this is stored in the hard disk 8.

These various functions are selected by moving the cursor on the graphic display 2 with the mouse 4 and picking the corresponding menu item from the menu display.

Incidentally, FIG. 1 shows only the constituent elements for realizing the various functions required of the automatic programming device, and the description relating to the drive control of the NC machine tool is omitted.

When performing a simulation while running a machining program that has already been created, the CPU 1 performs the pulse distribution processing according to the movement command, feed rate, etc. in the machining program in the same manner as the drive control of the NC machine tool. As a result, the tool display position on the graphic display 2 is fed, and the tool path is drawn on the trace of movement of the tool display position. In this case, it looks as if the tool draws the tool path on the graphic display 2. Further, by pre-reading all the machining programs and collectively analyzing the target position of the movement command, etc., all the tool paths are first drawn on the graphic display 2, and then the same processing as described above is performed to execute the tool. You may make it move only a display position. In this case, it appears on the graphic display 2 that the tool is moving along the preset tool path.

While the NC machine tool is not operated, the created machining program is run to simulate the movement of the tool and only the machining program is checked, while the NC machine tool is actually driven by the machining program. The difference from the confirmation processing when confirming the progress of machining on the graphic display 2 is that the output of the above-mentioned pulse distribution is not output to the NC machine tool side, but the tool display on the graphic display 2 is simply displayed by the distribution pulse. Only the position is moved, or only the distribution pulse is actually output to the NC machine tool side and the NC machine tool is drive-controlled together with the simulation display.

Further, when a simulation is performed while automatically creating a machining program to draw a tool path and a tool position, the machining shape created by the shape input function, the specified tool and cutting condition, and further the specified The CPU 1 creates a machining program for one block based on the machining sequence and the like, and pulse distribution processing is performed in the same manner as described above according to the movement command, the feed speed, etc. in the machining program for one block, and the graphic is executed. When the tool display position on the display 2 is fed, the tool path is drawn in the trace of the tool display position, and when the pulse distribution processing for one block is completed, the next 1 A machining program for blocks has been newly created.
The same operation is repeated. In this case, on the graphic display 2, the tool looks like moving along the tool path. Alternatively, when the machining program for one block is created, the tool path for one block may be drawn first, and the same processing as described above may be performed to move only the tool display position. In this case, each time a machining program is created for one block, the tool path for the one block is drawn, and the operation of moving the tool from the start point to the end point is repeated.

Further, in the case of performing a simulation while automatically creating a machining program to draw a tool path and a tool position, the machining shape created by the shape input function, the specified tool and cutting condition, and the specified The CPU 1 may create all the machining programs based on the machining sequence and the like, and then display the tool path and the tool position. However, in that case, the processing operation is a simulation while running the already prepared machining program. Is exactly the same as when performing.

Although the above-described functions and processing operations are exactly the same as those of the conventional one, in the NC device of this embodiment, the display screen of the graphic display 2 is enlarged and displayed at the center of the display screen of the graphic display 2 when drawing a simulation. It is divided into a screen B (see FIG. 2 or FIG. 3), and a tool path related to machining of the entire work is drawn on the side of the whole display screen A, while a preset partial machining of the work is performed on the side of the enlarged display screen B. Only the area and the tool path related to the area are drawn, and in this respect, the configuration is different from the conventional one.

In the following, the processing of this embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case of simulating a tool path while automatically creating a machining program by an automatic programming function when the machining shape input operation using the shape input function is completed. The operation will be described.

First, when the shape input operation is completed,
The entire display screen A as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the full screen of the graphic display 2, and the plate shape of the work f and the machining shapes a, b, c, d, e of pocket machining created by the shape input function are displayed. Is drawn. In addition,
It is assumed that the processing order has already been set in the order of a, b, c, d, e, and the selection of tools to be used and the setting of cutting conditions have been completed.

At this stage, the operator sets a partial processing area to be enlarged and displayed in the simulation.
This operation is performed by moving the cursor using the mouse 4 and designating a diagonal line by designating a diagonal line. This is a so-called rubber band operation, and an area within a rectangle whose two points designated by the cursor are diagonal is defined as a partial processing area. The partial machining area can be set at a plurality of locations, and whenever the setting operation of the partial machining area is performed by the mouse 4, the CPU 1 automatically sets the coordinate data indicating the range of the partial machining area every time the setting operation is executed. RA corresponding to the area number (initial value zero) updated to
The value of the final value N of the area number is stored in the RAM 7 by being stored in M7 and by operating the setting operation end key.

In the overall display screen A shown in FIG. 2, a case is illustrated in which partial machining areas are set in this order for each of the machining shapes a, b, c, d, and e. That is, the coordinate data of the area number 1 is data of the partial processing area for enlarging and displaying the processed shape a, and similarly, the coordinate data of the area numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 are respectively processed shape b. , C, d, and e are data of a partial processing area for enlarged display. The final value N of the area number is naturally 5
(Matches the number of areas).

Next, when the operator operates the mouse 4 to input a machining program creation command to activate the automatic programming function and the drawing function for simulation, the CPU 1 first moves the display screen of the graphic display 2 in the center. It is divided into two display areas, and the plate shape of the work f and the processing shapes a, b,
Draw c, d, e to automatically create a machining program,
Processing for displaying the current position of the tool and displaying the tool path on the graphic display 2 is started.

Although the processing operation is as described above, in this embodiment, it is necessary to display the tool path on the enlarged display screen B in addition to the tool path display on the entire display screen A. In addition to the processing for automatically creating a machining program and the conventional tool path display on the overall display screen A, the switching display processing shown in FIG. 4 is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals by task processing.
Since the tool path display on the entire display screen A is completely the same as the conventional simulation display, only the switching display processing of FIG. 4 will be described here.

The CPU 1, which has started the switching display process,
First, whether the final value N of the area number is zero,
That is, it is determined whether or not a partial processing area to be enlarged and displayed in the simulation is set (step S1).

When the final value N of the area number is zero, that is, when the partial processing area to be enlarged and displayed is not set at all, the processing after step S2 is not executed. As described above, this switching display processing is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals while the automatic creation of the machining program and the conventional tool path display on the entire display screen A of the graphic display 2 are being performed. Since the final value N of the area number does not change during this time, in the end, in the switching display processing,
During this period, only the determination process of step S1 is repeatedly executed, and nothing is displayed in the enlarged display area B until the end.

On the other hand, when the final value N of the area number is a value other than zero and some partial processing area to be enlarged and displayed in the simulation is set, CP
U1 sets the initial value 1 to the index i (step S
2) The coordinate data indicating the range of the partial machining area corresponding to the area number i is read from the RAM 7 on the basis of the value of the index i, and is calculated by the conventional tool path display processing performed in another task. The current position of the tool display is read and it is determined whether or not the current position of the tool display is included in the partial machining area indicated by the coordinate data of the area number i (step S3).

If the current position of the tool display is not included in the partial machining area indicated by the coordinate data of the area number i, the CPU 1 increments the value of the index i by 1 (step S4), and the value of the index i is changed. It is determined whether or not the final value N of the area number is exceeded (step S5). If the value of the index i does not exceed the value of the final value N of the area number, it means that another partial processing area is set in addition to the partial processing area that is the determination target in the process of step S3. To do.

Therefore, in this case, the CPU 1 detects the partial machining area including the current position of the tool display in the discrimination processing in step S3, or the value of the index i exceeds the final value N of the area number. Until it is confirmed by the determination processing in step S5 that the same as above is performed in step S3.
~ The process of step 5 is repeatedly executed.

If the determination result of step S3 is true, it means that the partial machining area including the current position of the tool display has been detected. Therefore, the CPU 1 determines the area number corresponding to the current value of the index i. Shape data in the partial machining area indicated by the coordinate data (machining shape, workpiece shape, etc.)
Then, the display data of the tool path calculated by the conventional tool path display processing performed in another task is read, and the enlarged display screen B of the graphic display 2 is displayed.
The shape data, the current tool position, and the tool path in the partial machining area of the area number i are drawn (step S6), and the switching display processing in this processing cycle ends.

As an example of the display on the enlarged display screen B, the display state when a machining program for the machining shape a belonging to the partial machining area 1 (area number 1) is created is shown in FIG.

In the example of FIG. 2, the partial machining area 1 is the machining shape a.
Since only the outline of the machining shape a, the tool path and the tool current position in the machining shape a are displayed on the enlarged display screen B, the area is slightly larger than the area. If it is set so as to straddle the lower portions of the processed shapes b and c, naturally, the enlarged display screen B also displays the lower shapes of the processed shapes b and c together.

In this embodiment, since the tool path and the current position of the tool are displayed in parallel on the whole display screen A and the enlarged display screen B, it is obvious which position the tool is on the work f. However, when the enlarged display screen B is displayed to fill the display screen without setting the entire display screen A, it may not be known where the tool is located on the work f. For example, the processed shapes b, c,
Since d and e have exactly the same shape, as in the example of FIG.
Even if one of them is enlarged and displayed according to the current position of the tool, it is difficult to actually determine where the tool is located in the machining shapes b, c, d, e.

When the enlarged display screen B is displayed to fill the display screen without setting the whole display screen A, when there are a plurality of identical machining shapes and the current position of the tool with respect to the work f is difficult to understand. The tool position can be easily determined by setting the partial machining area including the machining shape and the work shape in the periphery of the area where the enlarged display is actually required. For example, if a corner of the machining shape a is picked up when setting a partial machining area for enlarging and displaying the machining shapes b, c, d, and e, the machining shapes b, c, d, and e are exactly the same shape. However, it is easy to determine which of the machining shapes b, c, d, and e the tool is positioned from the positional relationship between the corner of the machining shape a on the enlarged display screen B and the enlarged machining shape. You can judge.

Therefore, it is not always necessary to provide the whole display screen A, and it is possible to grasp the processing flow related to the whole work f only with the enlarged display screen B.

As described above, this switching display process is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals while the automatic creation of the machining program and the conventional tool path display on the entire display screen A are being performed. The same partial machining area i continues to be displayed on the enlarged display screen B until the current position of the tool exits the partial machining area i once detected in step S3, and only the tool position and the tool path are displayed for tool movement. Along with that, it will be sequentially updated and displayed.

Naturally, the display of the tool position and the tool path on the enlarged display screen B is exactly the same as that on the entire display screen A (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and in the enlarged display screen B, the portion where the tool is currently located is displayed. The machining shape of the machining area, the tool path, and the size of the tool are only enlarged and displayed.

As described above, the tool path drawing method is such that the tool draws the tool path,
The tool path for one block is drawn first, and the tool is displayed to move along this tool path.
There are things such as drawing the entire tool path first and displaying the tool as it moves along this tool path, but any of them may be adopted, and if necessary,
It is also possible to form a program for display control so that all of them can be executed, and selectively execute any one of the methods.

On the other hand, if the result of the discrimination processing in step S5 is true, it means that the partial machining area including the current position of the tool has not been set, so the CPU 1 does not execute the display processing in step S6. As execution, the switching display processing in this processing cycle is ended.

Therefore, while the tool is moving between the partial machining areas, and the display regarding all the partial machining areas is completed, the partial machining areas are not set on the subsequent tool paths. In such a case, although the tool current position is not actually within the partial machining area, the information of the partial machining area displayed in the process of step S6 executed immediately before is actually displayed on the enlarged display screen B as it is. As will be left above, in this embodiment, since the tool path and the current position of the tool are displayed in parallel on the entire display screen A, there is a problem that the actual current position of the tool is lost. Absent.

While the tool is moving between the partial machining areas, and when all the partial machining areas have been displayed and no subsequent machining areas have been set on the tool path. If there is an inconvenience that old display information remains on the enlarged display screen B, the enlarged display screen B will be displayed when the determination result of step S5 becomes true (however, before the merge from step S6). A command to clear all the displays may be output.

As one example, the processing in which the simulation is performed while the machining program is automatically created to draw the tool path and the tool position has been described. However, the machining program already created without operating the NC machine tool has been described. This is the same when checking only the machining program while simulating the tool movement by running it, or when checking the progress of machining on the graphic display 2 while actually driving the NC machine tool with the machining program. Can be dealt with by the processing operation of.

As a matter of course, the applicable range is not limited to the NC device, but can be similarly applied to a general CAD / CAM system or an automatic programming device.

Further, the display regarding the machining shape, the tool position and the tool path is performed on the whole display screen A and the enlarged display screen B by using the plan view in the trigonometric method, as well as the isometric projection and the two-dimensional projection. It is possible to adopt a stereoscopic display method such as isometric projection and non-isometric projection.
This point is also known in the conventional simulation display.

[0046]

According to the present invention, even when there are a plurality of partial machining areas for which the tool path is desired to be enlarged, the partial machining areas to be enlarged are automatically selected and enlarged according to the movement position of the tool. be able to.

Further, since the enlarged and displayed partial machining areas appear in the order in which the tools move, it is possible to easily grasp the entire machining flow.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an NC device of an embodiment to which a method of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display example of an entire display screen and an enlarged display screen on a graphic display of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of an entire display screen and an enlarged display screen on a graphic display of the same device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically showing a switching display process in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Microprocessor 2 Graphic display (display screen) 3 Keyboard (input device) 4 Mouse (input device) 5 Bus 6 ROM 7 RAM 8 Hard disk 9 Disk drive unit 10 Floppy disk A Overall display screen B Enlarged display screen a to e Processing shape f work

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a tool path drawing method for checking a tool path by drawing a tool path on a display screen, a plurality of partial machining areas of a work to be enlarged and displayed are set and stored in advance, and a tool is moved. According to a position, a partial machining area to which the tool position belongs is automatically switched to be enlarged and displayed, and a movement path of the tool is drawn on the enlarged display screen. 2. In a tool path drawing method for confirming a tool path by drawing a tool path on a display screen, a plurality of partial machining areas of a workpiece to be enlarged and displayed are set and stored in advance, and the display screen is displayed. The display is divided into two screens of arbitrary size, and an overall display screen for displaying the whole work and an enlarged display screen for displaying the partial machining area are provided, and the movement path of the tool is drawn on the overall display screen. According to the movement position of the tool, the partial machining area to which the tool position belongs is automatically switched to be enlarged and displayed on the enlarged display screen, and the movement path of the tool is drawn on the enlarged display screen. Tool path drawing method. 3. The entire work is displayed on the display screen,
3. The tool path drawing method according to claim 1, wherein the partial machining area to be enlarged and displayed is input and stored by a manual input operation from an input device.