A visual editing method for production scheduling in a 3D virtual factory

Abstract

A visual editing method for 3D virtual factory production scheduling, belonging to the field of process simulation and digital twin virtual verification. This method uses the product BOM to generate a visual process route, associates the process steps with the equipment models of the corresponding equipment models in a 3D scene, and designs the equipment of the automated processing units through 3D modularization, storing them in a backend resource library. A 3D twin restoration design is performed based on the actual unit layout, and process parameters and equipment processing data are imported into the platform. Data-driven linkage is used to connect the entire unit, enabling the graphics engine to run multi-equipment, complex processing lines at a frame rate of over 60 frames per second.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of process simulation and digital twin virtual verification, and in particular relates to a visual editing method suitable for three-dimensional virtual factory production scheduling. Background Art

[0002] As research on production line digital twin modeling and methodologies continues to expand both domestically and internationally, companies and scholars have noted the numerous capabilities digital twin technology can achieve, but the key technologies are often overlooked. Currently, China lacks simulation and virtual validation optimization technologies for manufacturing processes from design to pre-production. Simulation software developed by Siemens also faces challenges connecting enterprise ERP, simulation platforms, MES, and machines when implementing real-time mapping, making it impossible to convert enterprise work orders into corresponding visual 3D graphics. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention aims to provide a method for virtual verification of the process flow of an intelligent machining unit.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the invention is: a visual editing method for three-dimensional virtual factory production scheduling, suitable for execution in the APS production scheduling system, the technical key points of which are as follows:

[0005] Step 1: Use a built-in library of common equipment models for various industries to freely drag and drop to build a virtual factory with the same functionality as a physical factory. Map the equipment models used to build the virtual factory to the enterprise ERP or equipment asset management system, so that the equipment models have the date and time attributes for equipment availability.

[0006] Step 2: Obtain the work orders that need to be scheduled from the enterprise ERP system through the interface, select the work orders that need to be processed and perform visual scheduling editing in combination with the virtual factory built in step 1. Specifically:

[0007] Step 2.1: Generate a visual component process route by sourcing the corresponding product BOM based on the work order;

[0008] Step 2.2: Select the highest-level product in the BOM list to create a new assembly process route and generate a product tree structure.

[0009] In the above solution, the construction of the virtual factory described in step 1 is first done by importing the two-dimensional CAD drawing of the factory building and mapping it on the ground in the scene editing area as a position reference; then, in the model library built into the software, the model is dragged to the position reference in the three-dimensional scene, and the equipment model is placed in the corresponding position by dragging, rotating the model or manually entering the three-coordinate position of the model to achieve consistency with the real workshop.

[0010] In the above solution, the equipment model is mapped to the enterprise ERP or equipment asset management system. After the virtual factory is built, it is connected to the enterprise ERP system or equipment management system to bind the equipment in the physical factory to the virtual model in the three-dimensional scene through the internal equipment number of the enterprise to obtain the available date and time of the equipment in real time.

[0011] In the above solution, step 2 requires preliminary editing and improvement of the work order tasks received by the system before visual scheduling:

[0012] ① Check whether the work order has a specific planned start date and planned delivery date. If not, manually complete the dates: select a specific date or start as soon as possible for the planned start date; select a specific date or deliver as soon as possible for the planned delivery date;

[0013] ② Check whether the work order carries the corresponding product BOM list. If not, create the product BOM list by importing the BOM list Excel spreadsheet;

[0014] ③ If the enterprise does not have an ERP system or the ERP system does not have the function of issuing work orders, the work order information can be manually entered or imported through Excel to add work order tasks, and the product BOM list corresponding to the work order can be entered through Excel import.

[0015] In the above solution, the process of generating a visual component process route as described in step 2.1 is as follows:

[0016] Select the work order to call up the corresponding product BOM, and obtain the product hierarchy and component consumption information for completing a product from the product BOM;

[0017] According to the process card provided by the process department, edit the visual process route of each component in the BOM list from bottom to top:

[0018] First, select a component in the BOM table to create a new component process route. Add a node in the component process route editing panel. A node represents a process or step. Modify the node name to be consistent with the content on the processing process card and process card. If a process contains multiple steps, you need to edit the steps first, then combine these steps into one process, and rename the combined process to the process name on the process route card.

[0019] Connect the defined nodes through one-way arrows to form a one-way visual process route.

[0020] In the above scheme, the nodes are divided into manufacturing, procurement, outsourcing and general. The visual process route node type bound to the equipment model must be manufacturing. Procurement, outsourcing and general are not bound to the equipment model. The procurement type node includes the procurement lead time attribute, the outsourcing type node structure includes the delivery date attribute, and the general type node includes the overall time attribute.

[0021] In the above solution, the process in step 5 corresponds to multiple equipment models that can complete the process, which is used to assign the same process to different equipment models as a prerequisite for scheduling to achieve subsequent production scheduling optimization.

[0022] In the above solution, the process of generating the product tree structure described in step 2.4 is as follows:

[0023] Select the finished product with the highest BOM level to create a new assembly process route and generate a default main node. The node name defaults to the name of the selected finished product.

[0024] The main node branches out into multiple sub-nodes, and the node construction of the product tree structure is completed according to the BOM table;

[0025] Edit the node, set the assembly step working hours in the node properties, and set the number of parts consumed by the step;

[0026] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: the present invention is applicable to a visual editing method for production scheduling of a three-dimensional virtual factory, uses a product BOM list to generate a visual process route, associates the process with the equipment model of the corresponding equipment model in a three-dimensional scene, and stores the equipment of the automated processing unit through three-dimensional modular design in the background resource library. The three-dimensional twin restoration design is performed according to the real unit layout, and the process parameters and equipment processing data are imported into the platform. The entire unit is linked through data driving, so that the graphics engine can run a production line with multiple devices and complex processing technology at a frame rate of more than 60 frames. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a method for virtual verification of a process flow of an intelligent machining unit in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the following Figure 1The present invention is further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0030] This embodiment adopts a three-dimensional scene-based visual scheduling method, which includes the following steps:

[0031] Step 1: Use the built-in library of common equipment models for various industries to freely drag and drop to build a virtual factory with the same functions as a physical factory. The process is as follows: First, you can import a 2D CAD drawing of the factory and map it on the ground in the scene editing area as a position reference. Then, drag the equipment model from the equipment model library built into the APS software into the 3D scene. By dragging and rotating the model or manually entering the model's three-dimensional position, the equipment model is placed in the corresponding position to achieve consistency with the real workshop. In this process, only the position of the equipment is edited; other minor information such as the factory walls and stairs are not 3D modeled.

[0032] Map the equipment model to the enterprise ERP or equipment asset management system. After completing the virtual factory, you need to connect to the enterprise ERP system or equipment management system to bind the equipment to the virtual model in the 3D scene using the internal equipment number. This allows real-time access to the equipment's availability date and time. For example, if there are no production tasks between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM from Monday to Wednesday this week, production scheduling can be performed.

[0033] Step 2: The APS production scheduling system obtains the work orders that need to be scheduled from the enterprise ERP system through the interface, selects the work orders that need to be processed, and performs visual scheduling editing in combination with the virtual factory built in step 1.

[0034] Step 2.1: Before editing the visual schedule, you need to make preliminary edits to the work order. See Table 1:

[0035] Table 1 is the work order list

[0036]

[0037] ① First, check whether the work order has a specific planned start and delivery time. If not (as shown in No. 2), you need to manually adjust the dates. For the planned start time, you can select a specific date or start as soon as possible (as shown in No. 4). For the planned delivery time, you can select a specific date or deliver as soon as possible (as shown in No. 3).

[0038] ② Check whether the work order carries the BOM list of the corresponding product, such as serial number 1, 3, and 4. If not, such as serial number 2, you need to import the BOM list Excel table.

[0039] If your company doesn't have an ERP system or your ERP system doesn't have the ability to issue work orders, you'll need to manually enter the work order tasks or import them through Excel. Select the work order you want to process in the work order list to create a new visual scheduling task and enter the visual scheduling editing interface.

[0040] In step 2.2, select the work order to call up the corresponding product BOM. From the product BOM, you can obtain the product hierarchy and the component consumption information required to complete a product.

[0041] Table 2 is the BOM list

[0042]

[0043] As shown in the table above, the BOM list of the electric washer product shows the hierarchy of the product or component. The components are divided into levels 0, 1, and 2. The water tank, nozzle, water pipe, water pump, and electronic control circuit board are all at level 1, while the water tank cover, water tank body, and water tank lower cover are all at level 2. The list shows the quantity consumption of each component in making up a finished product, and the final finished product is at level 0.

[0044] According to the process card provided by the process department, each item in the product BOM list is visually edited for the component process route: usually the process route is edited from bottom to top:

[0045] Step 2.2.1. First, edit the water tank lower cover corresponding to serial number 9, create a new component process route, automatically generate a node, change the node type to Manufacturing in the node attribute editing panel, and use the Bind Device function in the attribute panel to pick up the injection molding machine that processes the component in the 3D scene. The injection molding machine model is usually given by the process route card or other process guidance files. The process route editing of the water tank lower cover is now completed; the water tank upper cover and the water tank body are both injection molded parts in the same way.

[0046] Step 2.2.2. Compare the electronic control circuit board corresponding to serial number 6. The process type of the electronic control circuit board is outsourced. After creating a new component process route, change the node type to outsourced. Enter the outsourced part arrival date in the node attribute editing panel. You can fill in batches, such as 500 pieces arriving on 2022.08.17 and 600 pieces arriving on 2022.09.01.

[0047] Step 2.2.3. Edit the water pump corresponding to serial number 5 and the water pipe corresponding to serial number 4 in sequence. As shown in Table 1, both are purchased parts. After creating a new component process route, change their respective node types to purchase. Enter the purchase lead time in the node attribute editing panel. Subsequent scheduling will include the lead time in the scheduling date table.

[0048] Step 2.2.4. Edit the nozzle corresponding to sequence number 3. The nozzle is a manufacturing type component. After creating a new component process route, change the node type to manufacturing. The nozzle is a metal part completed by machining, which involves multiple processes. Each process may consist of one or more steps, as shown in Table 3:

[0049] Table 3 is the process card of the nozzle

[0050]

[0051] Table 3 shows that the nozzle consists of three processes. In the node attribute editing panel, change the default node type to Manufacturing and the node name to Process 1. Use the device binding function to bind the C620-1 device to the virtual factory. This completes the editing of the process name corresponding to Process 1, which is Car. Continue editing the processes corresponding to Processes 2 and 3. In this example, Process 2 also includes the steps shown in Table 4:

[0052] Table 4 is the process card for process number 2

[0053]

[0054] As shown in Table 4, process number 2 has two steps, each corresponding to a piece of equipment. Create a new node, change the node name to Step 1, change the node type to Manufacturing, use the device binding function to bind the Z535 model vertical drilling machine equipment in the virtual factory, and complete the editing of Step 1. Create a new node, change the node name to Step 2, change the node type to Manufacturing, use the device binding function to bind the Z635 model vertical drilling machine equipment in the virtual factory, and complete the editing of Step 2. Connect the two nodes with arrows to form a sequential process step. Use the combination tool to combine the two nodes, name the newly generated combined node Process 2, and complete the editing of Process 2.

[0055] Create a new node, change the default node type to Manufacturing in the node property editing panel, change the node name to Process 3, use the device binding function to bind the Z735 model vertical drilling machine equipment in the virtual factory, and complete the editing of Process 3.

[0056] Connect processes 1, 2, and 3 with arrows to form sequential processing steps, thus completing the process route editing of the nozzle.

[0057] The nodes in this embodiment include four types: manufacturing, procurement, outsourcing and routine. Among them, the manufacturing type refers to the type of components that need to be processed by equipment within the enterprise. This type of node needs to be bound to a specific equipment model during the editing process; the procurement type refers to the components that need to be purchased directly from other manufacturers. The visual process route of this type of product usually has only one node, and the procurement lead time needs to be defined for the node. The procurement lead time refers to the waiting time from the placement of the purchase order to the receipt of the goods, and the unit is day. The outsourcing type refers to a type of components that are processed and produced by other manufacturers in accordance with the technical solutions and requirements provided by the user. The delivery date of this type of components is usually agreed upon in the contract or provided by Party B. The time node of this type of node can be filled in according to the actual situation. The routine type refers to some more complex production processes or phased results that are difficult to describe with a process route. This type of node only needs to define the overall time consumption, and the unit is minutes.

[0058] For purchased or outsourced parts, visual process route editing means assigning time attributes to the node.

[0059] Step 2.2.5. Select the finished product, "Washing Machine," and create a new assembly process route. Based on the BOM, generate a default main node (level 0) named "Washing Machine." This main node splits into four branch nodes at level 1: Water Tank, Nozzle, Water Pipe, and Water Pump. The water tank further splits into three branch nodes at level 2: Water Tank Cover, Water Tank Body, and Water Tank Cover, forming a product tree. Set the assembly step duration and consumable component quantity within the node properties of each node in the product tree.

[0060] The above five steps complete the visual editing of the assembly process from the lowest level of component production to the final finished product.

[0061] In step 2.3, select a node within a process route and use the equipment binding function to select the equipment model corresponding to the process (step) in the 3D scene. Multiple selections are allowed. After binding is complete, click the node again to highlight the equipment model in the 3D scene, indicating that the binding has been completed. The visual process route node type to which the equipment model is bound must be manufacturing type.

[0062] Parameters are set for the virtual machine that completes each process. The virtual machine properties have differentiated designs for some parameters based on the characteristics of the equipment and industry. The essence of this is the control of time. For example, the machine tool parameters in the machining industry include loading time, unloading time, processing time, tool change time and tool resources; the machine parameters of the injection molding machine in the injection molding industry include mold loading time, mold unloading time, single processing time and mold resources. From the injection molding machine property panel, open the mold management list to customize and add molds, and enter the mold name and quantity according to the actual situation; other general equipment machine parameters are mainly processing time.

[0063] This embodiment can achieve the association between the enterprise ERP-APS production scheduling system-MES / machine through the above steps. After completing the scheduling time constraints and equipment and resource constraints, it provides a basis for forming the optimal solution for subsequent production scheduling.

[0064] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A visual editing method for 3D virtual factory production scheduling, suitable for execution in the APS production scheduling system, characterized by: The following steps are involved: Step 1: Use the built-in library of common equipment models from various industries to build a virtual factory with the same functions as the physical factory by dragging and dropping. Map the equipment model used to build the virtual factory to the enterprise ERP or equipment asset management system, so that the equipment model can obtain the equipment availability date and time attributes; Step 2: Obtain the work orders that need to be scheduled from the enterprise ERP system through the interface, select the work orders that need to be processed and perform visual scheduling editing in combination with the virtual factory built in step 1. Specifically: Step 2.1: Create a visual component process route by sourcing the corresponding product BOM based on the work order. Specifically: Select the work order to call up the corresponding product BOM, and obtain the product hierarchy and component consumption information for completing a product from the product BOM; According to the process card provided by the process department, edit the visual process route of each component in the BOM list from bottom to top: First, select a component in the BOM table to create a new component process route. Add a node in the component process route editing panel. A node represents a process or step. Modify the node name to be consistent with the content on the processing process card and process card. If a process contains multiple steps, you need to edit the steps first, then combine these steps into one process, and rename the combined process to the process name on the process route card. Connect the defined nodes with one-way arrows to form a one-way visual process route; In step 2.2, select the highest-level product in the BOM list to create a new assembly process route and create a product tree structure. The process is as follows: Select the finished product with the highest BOM level to create a new assembly process route and generate a default main node. The node name defaults to the name of the selected finished product. Then multiple child nodes are branched out from the main node to form a tree-structured node; Edit the node, set the assembly step working hours in the node properties, and set the number of parts consumed by the step.

2. The visual editing method for three-dimensional virtual factory production scheduling according to claim 1, characterized in that: The virtual factory building described in step 1 is first constructed by importing a 2D CAD drawing of the factory building and mapping it on the ground in the scene editing area as a position reference; then, in the software's built-in model library, the model is dragged to the position reference in the 3D scene, and the equipment model is placed in the corresponding position by dragging, rotating the model, or manually entering the model's three-coordinate position to achieve consistency with the real workshop; If the model library does not contain the equipment models in the actual workshop, you can upload local 3D models or use general equipment with similar functions to adjust the size to achieve a virtual workshop with consistent position and function. If the equipment is self-developed or confidential, drag in a general virtual geometry to replace it, and achieve a virtual workshop with consistent position and function by adjusting the size of the virtual geometry. The general virtual geometry has the same resource calendar binding function and processing time setting function as the equipment in the model library.

3. The visual editing method for three-dimensional virtual factory production scheduling according to claim 1, characterized in that: The equipment model is mapped to the enterprise ERP or equipment asset management system. After the virtual factory is built, it is connected to the enterprise ERP system or equipment management system to bind the equipment in the physical factory to the virtual model in the three-dimensional scene through the internal equipment number of the enterprise to obtain the available date and time of the equipment in real time.

4. The visual editing method for three-dimensional virtual factory production scheduling according to claim 1, characterized in that: Step 2 Before visual scheduling, you need to perform preliminary editing and improvement on the work order tasks received by the system: ① Check whether the work order has a specific planned start date and planned delivery date. If not, manually complete the dates: select a specific date or start as soon as possible for the planned start date; select a specific date or deliver as soon as possible for the planned delivery date; ② Check whether the work order carries the corresponding product BOM list. If not, create the product BOM list by importing the BOM list Excel spreadsheet; ③ If the enterprise does not have an ERP system or the ERP system does not have the function of issuing work orders, the work order information can be manually entered or imported through Excel to add work order tasks, and the product BOM list corresponding to the work order can be entered through Excel import.

5. The visual editing method for three-dimensional virtual factory production scheduling according to claim 1, characterized in that: The component process route nodes are divided into manufacturing, procurement, outsourcing and general. The visual process route node type bound to the equipment model must be manufacturing. Procurement, outsourcing and general are not bound to the equipment model. The procurement type node includes the procurement lead time attribute, the outsourcing type node structure includes the delivery date attribute, and the general type node includes the overall time consumption attribute.

6. The visual editing method for production scheduling of a three-dimensional virtual factory according to claim 1, characterized in that: The process in step 5 corresponds to multiple equipment models that can complete the process, which is used to assign the same process to different equipment models as a prerequisite for scheduling to achieve subsequent production scheduling optimization.

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