JPS58109255A - Automatic working system for numeric control lathe - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable unattended operation for long term by providing a work conveyor and a tool conveyor and replacing a work and a tool reached to the service life through a carry robot. CONSTITUTION:A work on a work conveyor 3 is fed to a chuck 104 of a lathe while a worked product 103a is returned to a work conveyor 3 through a carry robot 2. A tool monitor 8 will detect the service life of a tool and a tool 109a reached to the life is removed from an edge table 107 by a robot 2, and inserted into a discard shooter provided on a tool conveyor while an alternative tool is selected from a tool conveyor 4 thus to replace the tool.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic machining system in a numerically controlled lathe (hereinafter also referred to as NO lathe).

In recent years, in MO lathes, a transfer robot that transfers the workpiece is attached to the lathe body, and this transfer port (K)
Therefore, the transported workpiece is gripped and rotated by a power chuck, and a plurality of cutting tools are installed in advance on the other tool rest, and this tool rest is rotated (turret tool rest).
By moving the tool or moving it horizontally (〈C-type tool post), a technology has been realized in which each tool rtI is positioned and processed in the 11th index.

Recently, there has been an increasing demand for an unmanned NO lathe that can automatically perform processing over a long period of time without the need for manual labor, due to cost savings such as labor savings. In order to meet these demands, workpieces have conventionally been automatically replaced by transfer robots, so there is no problem, but cutting tools that have reached the end of their service life (hereinafter referred to as "life tools") should be automatically replaced. It becomes a problem.

Therefore, a method has been proposed in which various life judgment devices are installed on the NC lathe, and when an alternative tool prepared in advance in the tool post is to be used, the tool post is indexed and the tool is replaced based on the judgment of the judgment device. has been done. However, in the above-mentioned NC lathes, the number of tools that can be mounted on the tool post is small, and therefore the number of replacement tools for a tool with a limited lifespan is limited to a small number, which is not necessarily practical. There is a drawback. On the other hand, in order to eliminate such drawbacks, it has already been realized, for example, in a machining center, that a tool magazine capable of storing a large number of cutting tools and a dedicated tool changing device are attached to the lathe body. However, when a dedicated tool changer is attached to the lathe body, the work space of the lathe body is narrowed, and the amount of work required to install it increases.Furthermore, there is a problem that a tool changer is required each time the tool is changed depending on the content of machining. In the case of NC lathes, where tools must be exchanged between the tool post and the tool post, and the machining time with one cutting tool is not as long as on a machining center, there is a problem that the actual operating time is reduced and it is not efficient.
Its spread is being hindered.

This invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and is a numerical control system that enables unmanned operation for long periods of time while minimizing the installation of special equipment, and also improves machining efficiency. The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic machining system in a lathe.

The features of this invention are that the loading robot conventionally used for transporting workpieces can also be used for exchanging cutting tools, that a tool conveyor is installed for this purpose, and that the tool monitoring and control system is equipped with a tool life determination function. The main feature is that an alternative tool table and a tool change command function have been added to the system.

An embodiment of the present invention having such characteristics will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

First, the overall configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a lathe main body, and a transfer robot 2 is disposed in the lathe main body 1. This transfer robot 2 exchanges workpieces 103& and workpieces 103b between the lathe body 1 and the workpiece conveyor 3, and exchanges workpieces 103& and workpieces 103b between the lathe body 1 and the tool conveyor 4'.
Between tool life 109m (110a) and replacement tool 10
9 m) (110b). Note that the lathe main body l is a numerical control device (hereinafter referred to as N'a
The transfer p-bot 2, workpiece conveyor 3, and tool conveyor 4 are controlled by the MO device 5 directly or indirectly via the machine control panel 6. has been done.

Reference numeral 8 in the figure indicates various detection means (not shown) installed in the lathe body 1, such as the machining dimensions of the workpiece, the cutting force acting on the cutting tool, the cutting power, the machining time, or the number of pieces to be machined. The life of the cutting tool 109a (110a) is determined based on the data sent from the detection device, and when the cutting tool 109a (110a) reaches the end of its life, the
This is a tool monitoring/control device that issues tool change commands to Jci&5.

Next, each constituent lIL element will be explained in detail. A headstock 102 on which a main shaft 101 is rotatably supported is provided on the lower left side of the lathe main body 1 in FIG.

A power chuck 104 that grips the workpiece tosa and rotates together with the main shaft 101 is attached to the tip of the main shaft 101. Also, on the upper right side of the figure, there is a bed 1.
05 is provided. A saddle 106 is provided on the bed 105 so as to be slidable in the axial direction (biaxial direction) of the main shaft 10. Further, on the saddle 106, a cross slide 108 having a turret blade price 107 is provided.
is provided to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the main shaft 101 (X-axis direction). On the outer periphery of the turret tool post 107, as shown in FIG.
A clamp pace (tightening hand) with a recessed part that serves as a guide for positioning is provided. These shoe/pull bases 107a are numbered from Al to A8, respectively, for the purpose of creating a tool data table to be described later. Cutting tools 109a and 110m of different types are detachably attached to the clamp bases 107m and 107m of A3 and A4, respectively. Cutting tool 109 m, 1
10 m is installed by moving all or a part of the recessed portion of the clamp base 107 m inward and outward directions of the turret tool post 107.

In addition, forward rotation, reverse -1 stop and rotation speed specification of the main spindle 101, opening and closing of the power chuck 104, and turret tool rest 107
The zero indexing and the movement of the dovetail portion of the two pump base 107& are controlled by the No. device 5 via the machine control panel 6, and the amount of movement of the saddle 106 and the cross slide 108 is directly controlled by the No. device 5. .

Further, the workpiece conveyor 3 is provided with a conveyor tray 31, and a workpiece 103b is sent to one location from a chute or other conveyance device (not shown). This processed material 103b and processed product 103
The exchange with m is performed by the NC device jIt5 and the robot control panel 7. That is, the processed product 103& is reloaded onto the empty conveyor tray 31GC by the transfer robot 2 at the exchange position flIP. Next, the workpiece conveyor 3
Pitch, Me4 is the next processed material 103b is exchanged @p
, move until it is located at . After that, this exchange position @p,
The workpiece 103b to be machined is transported by the transport robot 2 and gripped by the power chuck 104, and processing is started again. It is easily possible to perform the exchange operation by moving the axis of the transfer robot 2 instead of moving the workpiece conveyor using the exchange position tItP1 and the two conveyor trays in the cage.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the tool conveyor 4, which is a feature of the present invention, is provided with conveyor trays 41 spaced apart from each other at regular pitches.

The conveyor trays 4.11 are each numbered for the purpose of creating a tool data table to be described later, and in this embodiment are numbered from Al to Mu12. In addition, one alternative tool 109b, 110b is placed on each conveyor tray 41, and the number and type of alternative tools 109b as a whole are necessary for unmanned operation.
, 110b are prepared. In this example,
The A3 clamp base 10 of the turret tool rest 107 shown in FIG. 2 above is attached to the Al and A2 conveyor tray 41.
An alternative tool 109b corresponding to the cutting tool 1091 attached to 71 is prepared, and an alternative tool 11 (l is prepared) corresponding to the cutting tool 110 & attached to the A4 clamp pace 107aK of the turret tool post 107. has been done.

Note that a chute 42 is disposed on the tool conveyor 4 near a preset tool take-out position @p, and a tool with a life-limited life is discarded from this chute 42. For example, when the A cutting tool 109 & of the turret tool post 107 reaches the end of its life, the tool monitoring/control device 11t8 issues a tool replacement command to the No. device 15 based on the data sent from the detection means. It's too much.

Then, the indexing of the turret tool post 107 is controlled by the C device 5 via the machine control panel 6, and the tool life tool 1994 is moved to the preset tool takeout device P1 (for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the cutting index position It is located at a position that coincides with the center line of the spindle (same as .). Similarly, the tool conveyor 4 is controlled by the N'0 equipment [5] and the robot control panel 7;
The first alternative tool 109b is positioned at the take-out position P8. Thereafter, the long-life tool 109a is replaced with the substitute tool 109b by the transfer robot 2, and machining is started again. As described above, one tool conversion operation is performed by moving the axis of the robot, moving the conveyor, and moving the indexing tool post. Discarding tools that have reached the end of their service life in a chute is very advantageous in terms of tool management because it is easy to identify used tools.

Next, the tool monitoring/control device 8 that issues such a tool exchange command will be explained.

This tool monitoring/control device 8 is constructed as shown in FIG.
It includes a tool life determination program 811L and a tool life determination data storage area 81b. The tool life determination data storage area 81bK stores data for determining the tool life, corresponding to the data detected by the above-mentioned detection means. The tool life determination program 8'l'a compares this data with the data sent from the detection means.
It is done according to the following. However, in the case of only this function,
He can only monitor the machining process or stop the entire MO lathe. Therefore, the tool monitoring and control system aS of the present invention includes an alternative tool calling program 82a1, an alternative tool calling data storage area 82t), an alternative tool automatic exchange command program 831, and an alternative tool automatic exchange command data storage area 83b. . The alternative tool call data storage area 82b stores the turret number and alternative tool arrangement number in the tool data table shown in FIG. Tool data table is turret tool rest 107
It has the same number of rows as the number of clamp bases 1071 of the Al
They are numbered from A8 to A8.

In the turret number column, the number of the clamp base 107 of the turret tool rest 107 & clamp base 1071 of the tool that actually requires replacement is recorded. In this example, they are A) and A4. Turret tool rest 107
If the number of clamp bases 107a of a tool increases, the number of rows will be increased, and if the number of clamp bases 107a of a tool that actually requires replacement is increased or changed, the number recorded in the turret number will be increased. , Rurui can be changed.

The alternative tool arrangement number has columns for the number of tools necessary and sufficient to perform unmanned operation, and each square divided by rows and columns includes a conveyor tray/4 of tool conveyor 4.
1, the number of the conveyor tray 41 on which the substitute tool 109b% 110b is actually am is recorded. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the cutting tools 109 &
The number A3 of the clamp base 1071 to which the tool is mounted is recorded, but in the first row, first column, and second column, A2 and A1, on which the alternative tool 109b is placed, of the conveyor tray 41 are recorded, respectively. recorded. Similarly,
Conveyor trays 4 are placed in the first column □ and second column of the second row.
A5 and A4 of 1 are recorded. Further, the robot operation number in the last column of the tool data table is stored in the alternative tool automatic exchange command storage area 831). In the robot operation number, a command number for calling a program for controlling the turret tool post 107, the tool conveyor 4, and the transfer robot 2 is recorded, corresponding to the cutting tools 109m and 110m to be replaced. In this case, it is unevenness 1 and A5Z. As described above, the designation of the specified tool exchange operation for alternative tools can be set flexibly, and there are no conditions that restrict the tooling layout that changes in response to the machining of various workpieces or the setting of the number of alternative tools. It is very practical.

Therefore, for example, when the cutting tool 109 & of the turret tool rest 1070A) reaches the end of its life, it becomes clear from the alternative tool arrangement number in the tool data table that the alternative tool 109b is located in the conveyor tray 41 of A1 of the tool conveyor 4.

Then, the robot operation number 51 is issued to the MO device 5, and the A3 life tool 109& of the turret tool post 10 is positioned at the extraction position ill P via the machine control panel 6, and the Then, the conveyor tray 41 of A1 of the tool conveyor 4 is positioned at the take-out position tIIP□. Thereafter, the life tool 109& is discarded from the chute 42 by the conveyance port (bot) 2, and the replacement tool 1
Replaced with 09b. Then, the first alternative tool arrangement number
A1 recorded in the second column of the row is automatically rewritten to 0. In addition, since the chute 42 is arranged near the tool conveyor 4, there is no waste in the movement of the transfer robot 2.
As mentioned above, machining efficiency is improved, and at the same time, used tools and unused tools can be easily distinguished, which is advantageous in terms of tool management.

To simply express the changing function of the cutting system of the present invention as described above, as shown in FIG. It can be said to be a thing. That is, only the tool monitoring/control device 8 and the tool conveyor 4 are sufficient as additional equipment/devices specifically for tool life determination and automatic tool replacement.

Next, according to the 70-chart shown in Figure 9,
The present invention will be made more clear by explaining the flow of information and commands of the control device 18 and MO device 5.

In the figure, thin flow lines indicate the flow of information and work, and thick flow lines indicate the exchange of commands and signals.

First, process material 1 according to NO loading [5]
03b processing is performed. When processing is completed, NO mounting [
A tool life judgment command is issued from i15 to the tool monitoring/control device 8, and the data sent from the detection means and the data set in the tool life judgment storage area 81b are compared according to the tool life judgment program gla. . If the tool life judgment is "NO", that is, the cutting tool is 109m (110m)
m) has not reached the end of its service life, the NO device 5 issues a nib d-gram and workpiece exchange command to start processing.
The processed product 1031 and the processed material 103b are exchanged,
Thereafter, processing of the next material is resumed.

On the other hand, the tool life judgment is "YliS", that is, cutting tool 1
When 09&(110&) reaches the end of its life, [yms
The presence or absence of the alternative tool 109b (110b) is confirmed based on the tool data table using the information of J. Alternative tool 1
If 09b (110b) is not present, tool monitoring/control device 8
An operation stop command is issued to the MO device 15, and the entire No. lathe stops.

On the other hand, if there is an emergency with the alternative tool 109b (110b), extraction of the allocation lf symbol of the alternative tool 109b (11(1) is performed. Depending on the type of the alternative tool 109b (110b), the robot operation number 51 ( 52) is selected, and the movement of the alternative tool 109b (110kl) to the removal position rjILP8, the movement of the cutting tool 109a (110a) to be replaced to the removal position P1, and the tool exchange by the transport robot 2) are automatically performed. The machining will be restarted. Next, processed product 1
03a and the workpiece 103b are exchanged, and processing of the next workpiece is restarted.

10 and 11 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which the tool conveyor 4 is raised one step higher than the workpiece conveyor 3 and relocated inside the workpiece conveyor 3, and the tool removal position is [P, workpiece exchange position [P] and the chute 42 are arranged on the rotor surface of the transfer robot 20. In this case, not only is a new occupied area for the tool conveyor 4 unnecessary, but also the movement of the transfer robot 2 is eliminated, and processing efficiency can be further improved.

Note that the other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above embodiment, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

As explained above, according to the zero control system of the numerically controlled lathe of the present invention, a tool change command function and an alternative tool table are added to the tool monitoring/control device to perform tool change at the transfer port. In addition, since a tool conveyor is installed, unmanned operation is possible for long periods of time, and there is no need to add a dedicated tool changer, so unmanned operation can be achieved at a relatively low cost. Since multiple cutting tools are installed on the tool rest, there is no need to replace the cutting tools every time the type of machining changes, thereby improving machining efficiency.Furthermore, tools with limited lifespans are discarded. Since the chute is located near the tool conveyor's pick-up position, there is no waste in the movement of the transfer robot, further improving machining efficiency and making it extremely easy to distinguish between unused tools and used tools. It has a powerful effect.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 9 show one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a front view showing the turret tool post, Figure 3 is a plan view showing the positional relationship of the lathe body, transfer robot, workpiece conveyor, and tool conveyor, Figure 4
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the tool conveyor, Figure 6 is a block diagram explaining the functions of the tool monitoring and control device, Figure 7 is a diagram showing the tool data table, and Figure 8 is a diagram showing the tool data table.
The figure is a block diagram explaining the workpiece exchange function and the tool exchange function. FIG. 10' is a plan view showing another embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 11 is a side view thereof. 1... Lathe body, 2... Transfer robot, 3
... Workpiece conveyor, 4 ... Tool conveyor, 5 ... Numerical control system @ (No @ Direct), 6 ...
・Machine control panel,...Robot control panel, 8...
...Tool monitoring/control device, 101...Spindle, 10
4... Power check, 107... Turret turret (turret), 107 &... Clamp base (tightening means), 109 m, 110 &... Cutting tool (life tool) ), 109bv110b...alternative tool. 3゜

Claims (1)

[Claims] A numerically controlled lathe equipped with a power chuck that grips and rotates the workpieces, a turret with multiple clamping means on which multiple cutting tools are removably attached, and a circular machine that holds and rotates multiple workpieces. A workpiece conveyor that sequentially transports the workpieces to the exchange station 11, a tool conveyor that carries a plurality of replacement cutting tools and transports the cutting tools to be replaced to a removal position, and a tool conveyor that is arranged near the removal position of the tool conveyor. a chute for discarding cutting tools that have reached the end of their service life; a chute disposed in the numerically controlled lathe and exchanging workpieces and workpieces between the power chuck and the workpiece conveyor; The tool consists of a transfer robot that exchanges tools that have reached the end of their service life with replacement tools between the tool conveyor and the tool conveyor, and a tool monitoring and control device that is equipped with a tool life determination function, an alternative tool table, and a tool exchange command function. , when the tool life determination function determines the tool life, the tool exchange command function instructs the tool conveyor and the transfer robot to perform a tool exchange operation based on the memory of the alternative tool table. Automatic machining system in controlled lathes.