Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
  • B23Q15/00—Automatic control or regulation of feed movement, cutting velocity or position of tool or work
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05B—CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS
  • G05B19/00—Program-control systems
  • G05B19/02—Program-control systems electric
  • G05B19/18—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of program data in numerical form
  • G05B19/4093—Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of program data in numerical form characterised by part programming, e.g. entry of geometrical information as taken from a technical drawing, combining this with machining and material information to obtain control information, named part program, for the NC machine

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to a machining program correction support device, a machining program correction support method, and a machining system that support the correction of machining programs that control machine tools.
• NC numerically controlled
• CAM Computer Aided Manufacturing
• CAM systems often generate tool paths with excessive margins to avoid machine interference, do not consider the shape during machining, or do not consider the characteristics of the numerical control of the machine tool, resulting in machining programs with excessive machining time.
• Patent Document 1 discloses a machining program optimization device that detects redundant commands contained in a machining program and deletes or reduces the redundant commands to optimize the program.
• the machining program optimization device described in Patent Document 1 detects at least one of the following redundant commands: commands that create unnecessary waiting time, commands that create unnecessary movements, and commands that create excessive margins.
• the present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a machining program correction support device that can accurately detect correction areas that can shorten machining time.
• the machining program correction support device disclosed herein is characterized by comprising: a numerical control simulation execution unit that generates a tool path and position commands representing the tool path by simulating the numerical control processing operation of the numerically controlled machine tool based on the machining program and numerical control parameters set in the numerically controlled machine tool that executes the machining program; a machining simulation execution unit that performs a machining simulation in accordance with the material shape, which is the shape of the workpiece to be machined by the numerically controlled machine tool, the tool shape, which is the shape of the tool used in machining, a machine model of the numerically controlled machine tool, and the position commands; and a reducible path detection unit that detects a reducible path, a path that can reduce machining time, from the tool path based on the position commands, the results of the machining simulation, and defined reducible path detection conditions.
• the machining program correction support device disclosed herein has the advantage of being able to accurately detect correction areas that can shorten machining time.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device; 1 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the machining program correction support device according to the first embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a machining program correction support device according to a second embodiment; 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the machining program correction support device according to the second embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a method for correcting a tool path by a machining program correction support device according to a second embodiment; 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the machining program correction support device according to the third embodiment.
• FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the machining program correction support device according to the fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation of the machining program correction support device according to the fifth embodiment.
• FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a machining program correction support device according to a sixth embodiment;
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of hardware for realizing a machining program correction support device.
• NC machining program correction support device
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device 1 according to a first embodiment.
• the machining program correction support device 1 includes a numerical control (NC) simulation execution unit 11, a machining simulation execution unit 12, a shortenable path detection unit 13, an interface unit 14, a machining program storage unit 21, a numerical control (NC) parameter storage unit 22, a material shape storage unit 23, a tool shape storage unit 24, a machine model storage unit 25, and a shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26.
• NC numerical control
• the machining program modification support device 1 may be realized by multiple devices working in conjunction with one another.
• the machining program modification support device 1 may be realized by a first device that includes an NC simulation execution unit 11, a machining simulation execution unit 12, a shortenable path detection unit 13, and an interface unit 14, and executes various processes to support the machining program modification work, and a second device that includes a machining program storage unit 21, an NC parameter storage unit 22, a material shape storage unit 23, a tool shape storage unit 24, a machine model storage unit 25, and a shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26, all working in conjunction with one another.
• the machining program storage unit 21 stores the machining program to be modified, i.e., the machining program to be modified in the modification work supported by the machining program modification support device 1.
• the NC parameter storage unit 22 stores numerical control parameters (NC parameters), which are parameters set in an NC machine tool (not shown) that executes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21.
• NC parameters are parameters set in an NC machine tool (not shown) that executes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21.
• the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22 are used by the NC simulation execution unit 11, described below, when simulating NC processing operations based on the machining program.
• the material shape memory unit 23 stores the material shape, which is the shape of the workpiece to be machined by the NC machine tool executing the machining program stored in the machining program memory unit 21.
• the workpiece is also referred to as the material.
• the workpiece may also be referred to as the material.
• the tool shape memory unit 24 stores the tool shapes used to machine materials by the NC machine tool that executes the machining program stored in the machining program memory unit 21.
• the machine model storage unit 25 stores a machine model of an NC machine tool that executes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21.
• the machine model of the NC machine tool simulates the operation of the NC machine tool executing the machining program to machine a material.
• the shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26 stores shortenable path detection conditions used by the shortenable path detection unit 13, described below, when detecting paths included in a tool path that can reduce machining time. In the following description, paths that can reduce machining time are referred to as shortenable paths.
• the tool paths for which the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects shortenable paths are paths described in the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21, and are paths along which the tool moves during machining performed by an NC machine tool in accordance with the machining program. Note that when the tool position is fixed and the workpiece moves during machining performed by an NC machine tool in accordance with the machining program, the path along which the workpiece moves is the tool path.
• the relative path of movement between the tool and workpiece is the tool path.
• shortenable paths include paths along which the tool can move faster than the speed commanded by the machining program, and paths along which the tool travels can be reduced by changing the path itself.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 simulates the numerical control processing operation of the NC machine tool based on the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 and the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 outputs the numerical control processing results obtained by simulating the numerical control processing to the machining simulation execution unit 12 and the shortenable path detection unit 13.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 outputs the position command included in the numerical control processing results to the machining simulation execution unit 12, and outputs the tool path and position command included in the numerical control processing results to the shortenable path detection unit 13.
• the machining simulation execution unit 12 executes a machining simulation based on the position command input from the NC simulation execution unit 11, the material shape stored in the material shape memory unit 23, the tool shape stored in the tool shape memory unit 24, and the machine model stored in the machine model memory unit 25.
• the machining simulation execution unit 12 executes the machining simulation and outputs the machining simulation results obtained to the shortenable path detection unit 13.
• the machining simulation results include information indicating when and how the tool processed the material until machining of the material is completed, specifically, information indicating which section of the tool path the material was cut.
• the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects shortenable paths included in the tool path input from the NC simulation execution unit 11. In detail, the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects paths from the tool path that meet the shortenable path detection conditions stored in the shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26.
• the interface unit 14 outputs the results of the detection of shortenable routes by the shortenable route detection unit 13 to the outside.
• the interface unit 14 may display the detection results to notify the outside, or may output the detection results to the outside as data.
• the interface unit 14 may also output the detection results to the outside by printing them on paper, for example.
• Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 analyzes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 to obtain a tool path (step S1).
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 obtains, as the tool path, the path along which a tool or workpiece moves during machining in accordance with the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 outputs the obtained tool path to the shortenable path detection unit 13.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 simulates NC processing operations and generates position commands (step S2).
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 simulates NC processing operations and generates position commands based on the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22 and the tool path acquired in step S1.
• the position commands indicate the tool position per unit time calculated by the NC processing operations.
• the unit time here is the NC control period.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 generates a series of position commands that indicate the tool position per unit time.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 outputs the generated position commands to the shortenable path detection unit 13 and the machining simulation execution unit 12.
• the machining simulation execution unit 12 executes the machining simulation (step S3).
• the machining simulation execution unit 12 executes the machining simulation based on the workpiece shape stored in the workpiece shape memory unit 23, the tool shape stored in the tool shape memory unit 24, the machine model stored in the machine model memory unit 25, and the position command generated by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S2.
• the machining simulation is a simulation in which the tool removes workpiece material from the workpiece shape when the tool passes the position indicated by the position command, and the machining simulation execution unit 12 obtains the machining simulation results at this time.
• the machining simulation results may include a tool cutting volume, which is the volume of workpiece material removed by the tool for each tool position indicated by the position command.
• the machining simulation results may also include the shortest distance and direction between the tool and the workpiece and machine model for each tool position indicated by the position command.
• the machining simulation execution unit 12 outputs the machining simulation results obtained by executing the machining simulation to the shortenable path detection unit 13.
• the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects shortenable paths included in the tool path (step S4).
• the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects a shortenable path based on the tool path acquired by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S1, the position commands generated by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S2, the results of the machining simulation executed by the machining simulation execution unit 12 in step S3, and the shortenable path detection conditions stored in the shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26.
• the shortenable path detection unit 13 first determines which tool path each tool position indicated by the position commands is associated with.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 may store which tool path generated the position command, or, for example, it may determine the tool path that is spatially closest to each tool position indicated by the position command as the associated tool path.
• the shortenable path detection conditions used by the shortenable path detection unit 13 to detect a shortenable path are, for example, the following (A) to (D).
• the shortenable path detection unit 13 checks whether the ranges described in (A) to (D) below are included in the tool path, and if so, detects the tool path included in those ranges as a shortenable path.
• (A) Range of Tool Paths Where the Tool Does Not Contribute to Material Removal This range is detected, for example, by extracting tool positions with a zero tool cutting volume included in the machining simulation results from the position commands specified as cutting commands, which are G01 commands in the machining program, and then defining the tool paths associated with the extracted tool positions as tool paths where the tool does not contribute to material removal.
• the movement path may be divided into two or more sections to detect only the sections of tool positions with a zero tool cutting volume.
• a tool position with a zero tool cutting volume is a tool position where cutting is not performed, i.e., a tool position where the tool does not come into contact with the material. Therefore, the tool path where the tool does not contribute to material removal is a section of the path indicated by the position commands generated by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S2 where the tool does not come into contact with the material.
• (B) Range of tool path where unintended deceleration occurs due to NC processing operation This range is detected, for example, by calculating the actual speed at which the tool moves from a position command, comparing the actual speed with the command speed commanded in the machining program, and determining the tool path associated with the range of position commands where the actual speed is slower than the command speed as the tool path where unintended deceleration occurs due to NC processing operation.
• the command speed may be multiplied by a deceleration rate coefficient according to a predetermined deceleration rate coefficient, and the command speed may be compared with the value obtained by multiplying the command speed by a deceleration rate coefficient.
• (C) Range of tool path where redundant retraction movement of tool is performed The method of detecting this range, for example, determines that the tool path associated with the range of position commands where the shortest distance between the tool included in the machining simulation result and the material and machine model is greater than a predetermined distance is the tool path where redundant retraction movement of the tool is performed.
• (D) Range of tool paths for which insufficient machining conditions are set The method for detecting this range is, for example, to determine that a tool path associated with a range of position commands in which the tool cutting volume included in the machining simulation result is smaller than a specified volume and not zero is a tool path for which insufficient machining conditions are set.
• the conditions for detecting a shortenable path are not limited to (A) to (D) above.
• the machining program modification support device 1 may be configured to allow the user to add or change the conditions for detecting a shortenable path used in detecting a shortenable path.
• the interface unit 14 presents the shortenable paths and the reason for their detection (step S5).
• the interface unit 14 acquires from the shortenable path detection unit 13 the tool paths acquired by the NC simulation execution unit 11 and the shortenable paths detected by the shortenable path detection unit 13, and presents the shortenable paths included in the tool paths together with the reason for their detection, distinguishing them from other tool paths that do not qualify as shortenable paths.
• the interface unit 14 may display the shortenable paths on a display device by color-coding them from other sections of the tool path so that it is possible to visually identify which sections of the tool path are shortenable paths.
• the interface unit 14 also displays the reason for the detection of the presented shortenable paths, for example, which of the above-mentioned conditions (A) to (D) the shortenable path matches.
• the interface unit 14 may distinguish between the shortenable paths and the other sections of the tool path by using different types of lines. If there are multiple shortenable paths, the interface unit 14 presents the correspondence between each of the multiple shortenable paths and the detection reason so that it is clear. The interface unit 14 makes the correspondence clear by, for example, displaying corresponding shortenable paths and detection reasons in the same color.
• the interface unit 14 may present the detection reason for a shortenable path using a method other than text display.
• the interface unit 14 may also present information related to the shortenable paths, such as processing simulation results and the shape of the material before processing.
• the interface unit 14 may present lines in the machining program that correspond to paths that can be shortened.
• the text color of the lines that correspond to paths that can be shortened can be changed to make them distinguishable from other lines.
• Lines that correspond to paths that can be shortened in the machining program are identified, for example, by the path detection unit 13.
• the user can modify the parts of the machining program that correspond to the shortenable path, thereby shortening the machining time.
• the machining program modification support device 1 includes an NC simulation execution unit 11 that analyzes the machining program to acquire a tool path and generates a position command by simulating NC processing operations; a machining simulation execution unit 12 that executes a machining simulation based on the position command, the material shape, the shape of the tool used in machining, and a machine model that simulates the machining of the material; a shortenable path detection unit 13 that detects shortenable paths included in the tool path based on the tool path, the position command, the machining simulation results, and shortenable path detection conditions; and an interface unit 14 that presents the detected shortenable paths.
• an NC simulation execution unit 11 that analyzes the machining program to acquire a tool path and generates a position command by simulating NC processing operations
• a machining simulation execution unit 12 that executes a machining simulation based on the position command, the material shape, the shape of the tool used in machining, and a machine model that simulates the machining of the material
• a shortenable path detection unit 13
• the machining program modification support device 1 includes the NC simulation execution unit 11, it can detect paths from the tool path that can shorten the machining time while taking into account actual numerical control processing such as interpolation and acceleration/deceleration, thereby preventing missed or overdetected shortenable paths. Furthermore, the machining program modification support device 1 presents the detected shortenable paths separately from other paths, allowing the user to easily identify which paths in the tool path are shortenable paths. In addition, the machining program modification support device 1 presents the detected shortenable paths and detection conditions, allowing the user to understand the factors that led to the detection of the shortenable path, reducing the effort required to consider how to modify the shortenable path.
• Embodiment 2 Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the present invention, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above.
• Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a machining program correction support device 1a according to the second embodiment.
• the machining program correction support device 1a has a configuration in which a path correction unit 15, a machining program correction unit 16, and a path correction method storage unit 27 are added to the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
• the operation of the components other than the path correction unit 15, the machining program correction unit 16, and the path correction method storage unit 27 of the machining program correction support device 1a is the same as the components assigned the same reference numerals in the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment. For this reason, in this embodiment, explanations of the components other than the path correction unit 15, the machining program correction unit 16, and the path correction method storage unit 27 will be omitted.
• the path correction unit 15 receives the tool path obtained from the machining program by the NC simulation execution unit 11 and the shortenable path detected by the shortenable path detection unit 13, corrects the shortenable path included in the tool path, and generates a corrected tool path, which is the tool path after the correction.
• the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 based on the corrected tool path generated by the path correction unit 15.
• the path correction method memory unit 27 stores the path correction method used by the path correction unit 15 when correcting a shortenable path within a tool path.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the second embodiment.
• the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in the flowchart of FIG. 2, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment.
• a description of steps S1 to S4, which are the same processes as in the flowchart of FIG. 2, will be omitted.
• the path modification unit 15 modifies the shortenable path included in the tool path to generate a modified tool path (step S6).
• the path modification unit 15 modifies the shortenable path included in the tool path detected by the shortenable path detection unit 13 using the path modification method stored in the path modification method storage unit 27.
• the path modification unit 15 outputs the modified tool path, which is the tool path after the modification of the shortenable path is complete, to the interface unit 14 and the machining program modification unit 16.
• the method by which the route correction unit 15 corrects the shortenable route i.e., the route correction methods stored in the route correction method storage unit 27, are, for example, (a) to (d) below.
• the route correction unit 15 corrects the shortenable route using the route correction method corresponding to the reason for detecting the shortenable route.
• a method for correcting a shortenable path that corresponds to a range of the tool path in which the tool does not contribute to the removal of material (a-1) The command in the shortenable path is changed from a cutting command to a rapid-forward command. (a-2) Increase the command feed speed in the shortenable path. (a-3) Change the shortenable route to a route with a shorter route length.
• Figure 5 shows a specific example of changing a shortenable path to a path with a shorter path length. Note that Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of how the machining program modification support device 1a according to the second embodiment modifies the tool path.
• the path correction unit 15 deletes part of the shortenable path and changes the movement path of the tool 201 to modified tool path #1 for linear axis movement indicated by the dashed line.
• the path correction unit 15 may also change the movement path of the tool 201 to modified tool path #2 for rotational axis movement.
• (b) A method for correcting a shortenable path that corresponds to a range of the tool path where unintended deceleration occurs due to NC processing operations.
• (b-1) For the tool movement speed in the shortenable path, the command speed is increased so that the actual speed after the change is the same as the original command speed.
• (b-2) Insert a circular arc path into the corner of the shortenable path.
• a method for correcting a shortenable path that falls within the range of a tool path for which excessively small machining conditions are set (d-1) Increase the command feed rate so that the tool cutting volume of the position command in the shortenable path approaches the specified volume. (d-2) The cutting depth is increased so that the tool cutting volume of the position command on the shortenable path approaches the predetermined volume.
• correction method (d-2) excluding correction methods that intentionally increase the tool cutting volume of the position command, the range of position commands within the position commands in which the material is machined by the tool can be identified, and the shortenable path can be corrected so that the position commands within the identified range do not change before and after the machining program is corrected.
• the range of position commands within the position commands in which the material is machined by the tool can be determined as the range in which the tool cutting volume of the original command in the machining simulation results is not zero.
• the route correction unit 15 may simultaneously use two or more of the above-mentioned correction methods that can be used in combination to correct one shortenable route.
• the correction method (a-2) and the correction method (c-1) may be used in combination.
• the path correction unit 15 when applying a path correction method that shortens machining time by changing the command to be executed, the command feed rate, or the tool movement speed, which is different from the method of correcting the tool movement path itself, the path correction unit 15 generates information indicating the correspondence between the shortenable path and the path correction method to be applied, and includes this information in the corrected tool path.
• the interface unit 14 presents the modified tool path generated by the path modification unit 15 (step S7).
• the interface unit 14 may present the modified tool path in any manner as long as the user can confirm the details of the modified tool path. For example, the interface unit 14 displays the modified tool path, distinguishing and displaying the parts that have changed from the original tool path. At this time, the modified tool path and the original tool path may be displayed in comparison on two screens, etc.
• the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 (step S8). In detail, the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program so that the tool path represented by the machining program becomes the corrected tool path generated by the path correction unit 15.
• steps S7 and S8 does not matter. Steps S7 and S8 may be executed in parallel, or step S8 may be executed first before step S7.
• the machining program correction support device 1a includes a path correction unit 15 that generates a corrected tool path by correcting a shortenable path detected in the same manner as the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and a machining program correction unit 16 that corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path.
• the machining program modification support device 1a presents the modified tool path in a way that distinguishes it from the original tool path, allowing the user to easily recognize the modified path and reducing the effort and time required to check whether the modified machining program operates as intended.
• the machining program correction support device 1a identifies the range of position commands in which the material is machined by the tool, and corrects the tool path so that the position commands in the identified range do not change before and after the machining program is corrected, so the machining program can be corrected within a range that does not change the actual cutting process.In other words, the machining program can be corrected so that it does not affect the cutting process, reducing the effort and time required to check whether the corrected machining program processes the material as intended.
• Embodiment 3 Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the description will be centered on the differences from the first and second embodiments.
• the configuration of the machining program correction support device according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, but some of the operations are different from those of the second embodiment. For this reason, the description will be given using the configuration example shown in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the third embodiment.
• the same step numbers are assigned to processes that are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 2, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and processes that are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 4, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the second embodiment.
• steps S1 to S4 and S6 which are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 2 or FIG. 4, will be omitted.
• step S9 the NC simulation execution unit 11 simulates NC processing operations to generate a modified position command.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 generates a position command by simulating NC processing operations based on the modified tool path generated by the path modification unit 15 and the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22.
• This step S9 is the same process as step S2.
• Step S9 differs from step S2 in that the modified tool path generated by the path modification unit 15 is used instead of the tool path (the tool path before modification).
• the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each of the pre-correction tool path and the corrected tool path based on the pre-correction position commands and the corrected position commands (step S10).
• the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for the pre-correction tool path based on the pre-correction position commands, and calculates the machining time for the corrected tool path based on the corrected position commands.
• the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each tool path. Specifically, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each section in which the pre-correction tool path and the corrected tool path differ.
• the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each of the curtailable paths detected by the curtailable path detection unit 13 in step S4. For the corrected tool path, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each section in the corrected tool path corresponding to each of the curtailable paths detected by the curtailable path detection unit 13 in step S4.
• the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program based on the machining time calculated in step S10 (step S11).
• the machining program correction unit 16 first compares the machining time of each of the sharable paths included in the tool path before correction (referred to as the first machining time) with the machining time of each section in the corrected tool path corresponding to the sharable path (referred to as the second machining time).
• the machining program correction unit 16 then re-corrects the corrected machining path based on the comparison results. Specifically, the machining program correction unit 16 re-corrects the corrected machining path so that the machining time of the entire path is shorter by returning the path of the section where the second machining time is longer than the first machining time to the path before correction.
• the tool path before correction includes three sharable paths, which are referred to as sharable paths #1 to #3.
• sharable paths #1 to #3 paths within the modified tool path corresponding to these shortenable paths #1 to #3.
• modified paths #1 to #3 the following relationships are assumed to hold: "machining time of shortenable path #1 > machining time of modified path #1,” "machining time of shortenable path #2 > machining time of modified path #2,” and "machining time of shortenable path #3 ⁇ machining time of modified path #3.”
• the machining program correction unit 16 selects modified paths #1 and #2 and shortenable path #3, and combines the three selected paths with other paths of the pre-correction tool path that do not correspond to the shortenable paths to obtain a final tool path, a re-corrected modified tool path.
• the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 based on the re-corrected modified tool path. In particular, the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program so that the tool path represented in the machining program becomes the re-corrected modified tool path.
• the machining program correction support device 1a compares the machining time of the shortenable path before correction with the machining time of the shortenable path after correction for the shortenable path detected in the same manner as the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment, selects the path with the shorter machining time, and creates the final corrected tool path. This makes it possible to correct the machining program so that machining is performed using a path that takes the shorter machining time.
• Embodiment 4 Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first to third embodiments.
• the configuration of the machining program correction support device according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the second and third embodiments, but some of the operations are different from those of the second and third embodiments. For this reason, the description will be given using the configuration example shown in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the fourth embodiment.
• the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in the flowchart of FIG. 2, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment. Explanation of steps S1 to S4, which are the same processes as in the flowchart of FIG. 2, will be omitted.
• the path modification unit 15 modifies the shortenable path in multiple patterns based on multiple path modification methods to generate multiple modified tool paths (step S12). For example, when modifying the shortenable path shown in FIG. 5, the path modification unit 15 modifies the shortenable path to modified tool path #1 and modified tool path #2 shown in the figure, generating two modified tool paths. In this case, if the tool movement speed can be changed, the modified tool path may be generated by combining a change in the movement path and a change in the movement speed of the tool 201. If the type of command can be changed, the type of command may also be changed.
• the path modification unit 15 generates a total of four modified tool paths corresponding to the respective patterns.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 simulates NC processing operations and generates multiple modified position commands for each of the multiple modified tool paths (step S13).
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 executes a process for all of the multiple modified tool paths, simulating NC processing operations and generating position commands based on one of the multiple modified tool paths generated by the path modification unit 15 and the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22.
• the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for the multiple modified tool paths and corrects the machining program based on the modified tool path with the shortest machining time (step S14).
• the machining program correction unit 16 first calculates the machining time for each of the multiple modified tool paths based on the modified position commands for each of the multiple modified tool paths generated by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S13.
• the machining program correction unit 16 then corrects the machining program based on the modified tool path with the shortest machining time.
• the machining program correction support device 1a performs corrections in multiple patterns by combining one or more applicable correction methods for each of the shortenable paths detected using the same method as the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment, creates multiple corrected tool paths, and corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path that minimizes the machining time. This makes it possible to correct the machining program so that the machining time is further shortened.
• Embodiment 5 Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first to fourth embodiments.
• the configuration of the machining program correction support device according to the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the second to fourth embodiments, but some of the operations are different from those of the second to fourth embodiments. For this reason, the description will be given using the configuration example shown in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the fifth embodiment.
• the same step numbers are assigned to processes that are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 2, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and to processes that are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 7, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the fourth embodiment.
• steps S1 to S4 and S12 which are the same as those in the flowchart of FIG. 2 or FIG. 7, will be omitted.
• the interface unit 14 calculates an index for each of the plurality of modified tool paths (step S15).
• the indexes calculated by the interface unit 14 include, for example, machining time, energy consumption of the machine tool, cost, machined surface accuracy, machined surface quality, tool wear, and maximum acceleration of the machine tool. These indexes may be calculated by appropriately applying known calculation methods.
• the interface unit 14 may calculate two or more types of indexes.
• the interface unit 14 presents a plurality of modified tool paths and an index for each modified tool path, and accepts a selection by the user (step S16).
• the interface unit 14 presents the modified tool paths in a manner similar to step S7 in FIG. 4 described in embodiment 2.
• the interface unit 14 presents the index for each modified tool path in a format that allows the user to grasp the correspondence between the modified tool path and the index.
• the interface unit 14 accepts an operation to select one of the presented modified tool paths.
• the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path selected by the user (step S17).
• the machining program modification support device 1a performs modification in multiple patterns by combining one or more applicable modification methods for each of the shortenable paths detected in the same manner as the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment, thereby creating multiple modified tool paths.
• the machining program modification support device 1a also calculates indices for the multiple modified tool paths created and presents them to the user along with the modified tool paths.
• the machining program is modified based on the selected modified tool path. This allows the user to select a modified tool path based on the indices presented for each modified tool path, making it possible to create a modified machining program that meets the user's preferences.
• Embodiment 6 Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the differences from the first to fifth embodiments will be mainly described.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example configuration of a machining program correction support device 1b according to the sixth embodiment.
• the machining program correction support device 1b has a configuration in which the NC simulation execution unit 11 and NC parameter storage unit 22 of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are omitted, and a numerically controlled machine tool 31 is connected.
• the operation of the components of the machining program correction support device 1b is the same as that of the components assigned the same reference numerals in the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 analyzes the machining program to be corrected to acquire a tool path, and generates a position command by simulating NC processing operations based on the tool path and NC parameters.
• the machining program correction support device 1b acquires the tool path and position command from an external numerically controlled machine tool 31 and performs machining program correction support operations. Specifically, the machining program correction support device 1b outputs the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 to the numerically controlled machine tool 31, and acquires from the numerically controlled machine tool 31 the tool path and position command that are generated when the numerically controlled machine tool 31 executes this machining program to machine a material.
• the machining simulation execution unit 12 then executes a machining simulation based on the position command acquired from the numerically controlled machine tool 31. Furthermore, the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects a shortenable path based on the tool path and position command acquired from the numerically controlled machine tool 31 and the results of the machining simulation executed by the machining simulation execution unit 12.
• the machining program correction support device 1b acquires the tool path and position commands used in the machining program correction support operation from the external numerically controlled machine tool 31. This eliminates the need to provide an NC simulation execution unit required for generating the tool path and position commands, simplifying the device configuration and reducing the processing load.
• NC simulation execution unit 11 and NC parameter storage unit 22 of the machining program correction support device 1 according to embodiment 1 are omitted and a numerically controlled machine tool 31 is connected
• the NC simulation execution unit 11 and NC parameter storage unit 22 of the machining program correction support device 1a according to embodiments 2 to 5 may also be omitted and a numerically controlled machine tool 31 may be connected.
• the machining program storage unit 21 that stores the machining program to be corrected may be omitted, and the machining program to be corrected may be acquired from the numerically controlled machine tool 31.
• the machining program correction support devices 1, 1a, and 1b are realized, for example, by hardware having the configuration shown in FIG. 10.
• Figure 10 shows an example of hardware that realizes the machining program correction support devices 1, 1a, and 1b.
• the processor 101 may be a CPU (Central Processing Unit, also known as a central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)), a system LSI (Large Scale Integration), etc.
• the memory 102 may be a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a hard disk drive, etc.
• the output device 103 may be, for example, an LCD monitor or display.
• the input device 104 may be a touch panel, keyboard, etc.
• the processor 101 executes programs for implementing the functions of the machining program correction support device 1, 1a, 1b described in each embodiment. For example, when realizing the machining program correction support device 1 according to embodiment 1, programs for operating as the NC simulation execution unit 11, machining simulation execution unit 12, shortenable path detection unit 13, and interface unit 14 of the machining program correction support device 1 are stored in advance in the memory 102. The processor 101 reads and executes this program from the memory 102, thereby realizing the NC simulation execution unit 11, machining simulation execution unit 12, shortenable path detection unit 13, and interface unit 14 of the machining program correction support device 1.
• the machining program memory unit 21, NC parameter memory unit 22, material shape memory unit 23, tool shape memory unit 24, machine model memory unit 25, and shortenable path detection condition memory unit 26 of the machining program correction support device 1 are realized by memory 102.
• the programs stored in memory 102 for operating as the NC simulation execution unit 11, machining simulation execution unit 12, shortenable path detection unit 13, and interface unit 14 may be provided to users, etc., in a form written to a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or may be provided to users, etc., via a network.
• a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or may be provided to users, etc., via a network.
• the NC simulation execution unit 11, machining simulation execution unit 12, shortenable path detection unit 13, and interface unit 14 are implemented using general-purpose processing circuits, namely, processor 101 and memory 102. However, each of these units may also be implemented using dedicated hardware processing circuits. This processing circuit may be implemented using a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a circuit that combines these. Furthermore, some of the NC simulation execution unit 11, machining simulation execution unit 12, shortenable path detection unit 13, and interface unit 14 may be implemented using dedicated hardware, with the remainder implemented using processor 101 and memory 102.
• the processor 101, memory 102, output device 103, and input device 104 shown in FIG. 10 may be hardware that constitutes an electronic computer.
• the machining program correction support devices 1, 1a, and 1b may be realized by an electronic computer and a program executed by the electronic computer.
• Each function of the machining program correction support device 1 may be realized by multiple electronic computers operating in conjunction with each other.
• 1, 1a, 1b Machining program correction support device 11 Numerical control simulation execution unit, 12 Machining simulation execution unit, 13 Shortenable path detection unit, 14 Interface unit, 15 Path correction unit, 16 Machining program correction unit, 21 Machining program storage unit, 22 Numerical control parameter storage unit, 23 Material shape storage unit, 24 Tool shape storage unit, 25 Machine model storage unit, 26 Shortenable path detection condition storage unit, 27 Path correction method storage unit, 31 Numerical control machine tool, 201 Tool.

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