Automatic tool setting method for tool setting gauge of numerical control machine tool

Abstract

An automatic tool setting method for a tool setting gauge of a numerical control machine tool comprises the steps of obtaining machining data; a numerical control language is generated according to the machining data and the optimized post-processing program, and a machine tool action instruction and tool setting programs of different tools are obtained; and tool setting operation is carried out according to the obtained machine tool action instruction and the tool setting program of any tool, and a measurement result of the corresponding tool is obtained and stored. The tool setting program corresponding to the tool is automatically generated through the optimized post-processing program, so that the operation difficulty is greatly reduced, the time waste caused by writing the tool setting program in the actual operation process is saved, and the production efficiency is improved; besides, the tool setting program is automatically generated through the same post-processing program, so that the consistency and repeatability of each measurement can be ensured, the measurement is not influenced by individual factors any more, and the accuracy of the measurement result is further ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of numerical control machining, and in particular to an automatic tool setting method of a tool setting instrument for a numerical control machine tool. Background Art

[0002] Tool setting probe, as an indispensable precision measuring tool in the field of modern machining, can realize the accurate measurement and data recording of tool length. In the complex machining process, the length of each tool and the accuracy of its relative position are directly related to the machining accuracy, workpiece quality and production efficiency. Therefore, before formal machining, it is necessary to use a tool setting probe to accurately measure the actual length of the tool;

[0003] However, when using a tool setting instrument, each time a tool is measured, the operator needs to manually input the tool setting program into the machine tool system. This operation is cumbersome and prone to errors, increasing manual workload and debugging time, thus affecting machine tool debugging and processing efficiency.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to design a method that can automatically generate tool setting programs corresponding to different tools, so as to reduce the tedious steps of manual input, optimize the workflow, and improve the efficiency of machine tool debugging. Summary of the invention

[0005] The main technical problem solved by the present invention is how to automatically generate tool setting programs corresponding to different tools to optimize the workflow and improve the debugging efficiency of machine tools.

[0006] In one embodiment, a method for automatic tool setting of a tool setting instrument for a numerical control machine tool is provided, comprising:

[0007] Obtain processing data;

[0008] Obtaining an optimized post-processing program, and generating a numerical control language according to the processing data and the optimized post-processing program, wherein the numerical control language includes machine tool motion instructions and tool setting programs for different tools;

[0009] Performing a tool setting operation on any tool according to the obtained machine tool motion instruction and the tool setting program of any tool, obtaining a measurement result of the any tool, and storing the obtained measurement result in a preset storage location;

[0010] When the measurement results of all tools are stored, the tool setting process is completed.

[0011] In some embodiments, the tool setting programs for different tools further include a skip symbol at the front.

[0012] In some embodiments, after the tool setting process is completed, a skip operation instruction needs to be obtained.

[0013] In some embodiments, the skip operation instruction includes a key operation.

[0014] In some embodiments, the key operation is used to skip the tool setting programs corresponding to all tools according to the skip symbol.

[0015] In some embodiments, the measurement result of any one of the cutting tools includes an actual length of the any one of the cutting tools.

[0016] In some embodiments, the processing data includes: type, diameter, and tool path of one or more tools.

[0017] In some embodiments, the preset storage location includes a default location and a specified location.

[0018] According to the method for automatic tool setting of a tool setting instrument for a CNC machine tool in the above-mentioned embodiment, a tool setting program corresponding to the tool is automatically generated through an optimized post-processing program, and the operator is no longer required to manually input the tool setting program code corresponding to each tool, and the tool setting operation can be automatically completed, which greatly reduces the difficulty of operation, saves the time wasted in writing the tool setting program during the actual operation, and improves production efficiency; in addition, since the tool setting program is automatically generated by the post-processing program, the consistency and repeatability of each measurement can also be guaranteed, and it is no longer affected by individual factors, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the measurement results. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 A method flow chart of an automatic tool setting method for a tool setting instrument of a CNC machine tool;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a code example of a method for automatic tool setting of a CNC machine tool tool setter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present invention is further described in detail below by specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Wherein similar elements in different embodiments adopt associated similar element numbers. In the following embodiments, many detailed descriptions are for making the present application better understood. However, those skilled in the art can easily recognize that some features can be omitted in different situations, or can be replaced by other elements, materials, methods. In some cases, some operations related to the present application are not shown or described in the specification, this is to avoid the core part of the present application being overwhelmed by too much description, and for those skilled in the art, it is not necessary to describe these related operations in detail, and they can fully understand the related operations according to the description in the specification and the general technical knowledge in the art.

[0022] In addition, the features, operations or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any appropriate manner to form various implementations. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can also be interchanged or adjusted in a manner that is obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various sequences in the specification and the drawings are only for the purpose of clearly describing a certain embodiment and are not meant to be a required sequence, unless otherwise specified that a certain sequence must be followed.

[0023] The serial numbers of the components in this document, such as "first", "second", etc., are only used to distinguish the objects described and do not have any order or technical meaning. The "connection" and "coupling" mentioned in this application, unless otherwise specified, include direct and indirect connections (couplings).

[0024] In the embodiment of the present invention, the tool setting program corresponding to the tool is automatically generated by the optimized post-processing program, and the operator no longer needs to manually input the tool setting program code corresponding to each tool to automatically complete the tool setting operation, which greatly reduces the difficulty of operation, saves the time wasted by writing the tool setting program during the actual operation, and improves the production efficiency; in addition, since the tool setting program is automatically generated by the post-processing program, the consistency and repeatability of each measurement can also be guaranteed, and it is no longer affected by individual factors, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the measurement result.

[0025] Please refer to Figure 1 Some embodiments provide a method for automatic tool setting of a CNC machine tool tool setting instrument, which comprises the following steps:

[0026] Step S100: Acquire processing data.

[0027] Engineers usually first compile machining programs based on the three-dimensional or two-dimensional design drawings of parts based on the powerful graphical interface of CNC programming software. During the programming process, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the shape, size and material properties of the parts to ensure that the generated program can meet the actual machining needs; in addition, engineers also need to select suitable tools in the CNC programming software and set the tool parameters according to the machining requirements, such as tool type, tool diameter, cutting depth, cutting speed, etc.; and CNC programming software, such as Mastercam, provides a variety of tool path strategies, such as milling, turning, drilling, etc. Different strategies are suitable for different machining methods, and finally the data output by the CNC programming software is used as machining data.

[0028] Step S110: Generate numerical control language according to the processing data and the optimized post-processing program to obtain machine tool motion instructions and tool setting programs for different tools.

[0029] After the design is completed, the processing data output by the CNC programming software is a series of graphic information, which cannot be directly used as machine language instructions to control the operation of the machine tool. Therefore, it needs to be converted into G code (or CNC language) that the machine tool can understand. G code contains the action instructions of the machine tool, such as feed speed, tool movement path, cutting depth, etc. However, different models of machine tools have different requirements for G code. For example, milling machines usually need to support tool length and radius compensation, while lathes need to support tool wear compensation; and different control systems have different requirements for G code. For example, different control systems use different instruction sets, programming syntax and data formats; therefore, in the process of converting graphic information into G code, the required post-processing program must be customized and adjusted according to the specific machine tool model or control system;

[0030] This application optimizes the post-processing program, and can automatically generate the corresponding tool setting program in the process of converting the graphic information output by the CNC programming software into G code. In actual use, the operator is no longer required to manually input the tool setting program, thereby improving the processing efficiency and ensuring the accuracy of tool measurement;

[0031] For example, for an OUKUMA machine tool, the code example after the machine tool uses the post-processing program optimized by the present application to process the processing data is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, " / " represents a skip symbol, that is, the post-processing file optimized in this application will also insert a skip symbol in front of the tool setting program corresponding to each tool, so that all tool setting programs can be skipped after all tool processing is completed;

[0032] For example, the tool number corresponding to the tool to be used in the actual tool setting process is T20, and the tool setting program generated by the post-processing program for this tool is:

[0033] G120 PT=20PD=50.PH=20

[0034] Among them, PT=20 corresponds to the tool number of the current tool, which is T20. This data is manually entered when writing the machining program;

[0035] PD=50. Indicates that the current tool diameter is 50mm. This data is also manually entered during the programming process. It should be noted that if the current tool diameter is ≥20mm, tool radius compensation is required, that is, the tool radius needs to be offset. When PD is not entered, the tool is set in diameter ≤20mm by default, that is, no tool radius compensation is performed, that is, no tool radius offset is required.

[0036] PH=20 indicates the storage location of the length measurement result. If there is no input data at the parameter location corresponding to PH, the obtained length measurement result is stored in the measurement result storage location corresponding to the tool number of the current tool by default. If there is input data at the parameter location corresponding to PH, the obtained measurement result is stored in the measurement result storage location corresponding to the input data. For example, when the tool number is T20 and the corresponding PT is 20, if there is no input data at the parameter location corresponding to PH, the machine tool will save the length measurement result in the measurement result storage location corresponding to 20 by default. If there is input data at the parameter location corresponding to PH, such as the corresponding input data is 18, the length measurement result will be saved in the measurement result storage location corresponding to 18, that is, during the actual tool setting process, the operator can change the storage location of the measurement result according to his needs.

[0037] Step S120: obtaining the measurement result of any tool according to the obtained machine tool motion instruction and the tool setting program of any tool and storing the obtained measurement result to complete the tool setting process.

[0038] In the existing tool setting process, the tool setting process of any tool is as follows: first, the operator loads the tool to be measured into the spindle or tool magazine, and then creates a tool setting program in the control system of the machine tool. By running the tool setting program, the machine tool is controlled to move to the working position of the tool setting instrument; then the machine tool controls the tool to slowly approach the detection part of the tool setting instrument. When the tool contacts the tool setting instrument, the tool setting instrument will send a signal to the control system; the control system records the machine tool coordinates at this time, and the coordinates represent the reference point of the current tool, which is generally the tool tip or a specific part of the tool; finally, the control system calculates the actual length of the current tool based on the detected coordinates and the known tool setting instrument position and saves the calculation result, thereby completing the tool setting operation of the current tool;

[0039] In the existing tool setting process, operators are required to manually create tool setting programs. Due to factors such as the operator's skill level, attention and fatigue, it is easy to cause errors in the input of tool setting programs or omission of key steps. It is also difficult to ensure the consistency and repeatability of each measurement. For example, different operators may use different methods or steps, resulting in differences in measurement results, which in turn leads to inaccurate tool measurement and affects machining accuracy. Each time a tool is measured, a tool setting program needs to be recreated, which will take a lot of time and reduce machining efficiency when dealing with complex tools or a large number of tools. In addition, with the upgrading of machine tools and control systems, manually written tool setting programs may need to be frequently modified and updated, making it difficult to maintain and update tool setting programs.

[0040] The G code obtained by the post-processing program optimized according to the present application is input into the control system of the tool setting instrument to perform the tool setting operation; the processing process for any tool is as follows: the operator installs the corresponding tool into the tool magazine of the machine tool in sequence according to the tool number specified in the program. Usually, a machine tool is equipped with multiple tool positions, and the operator needs to confirm the correct installation position of each tool according to the tool path table;

[0041] Since the G code generated by the present application already includes the tool setting program corresponding to the tool, the operator no longer needs to manually create / input it, and can directly run the corresponding tool setting program, and then control the machine tool to move to the working position of the tool setting instrument; the machine tool controls the tool to slowly approach the detection part of the tool setting instrument, and when the tool contacts the tool setting instrument, the tool setting instrument will send a signal to the control system; the control system records the machine tool coordinates at this time, and the coordinates represent the reference point of the current tool, which is generally the tool tip or a specific part of the tool; finally, the control system calculates the actual length of the current tool based on the detected coordinates and the known tool setting instrument position, and stores the measurement result in a preset storage position, wherein the preset storage position can be a default position, that is, the parameter position corresponding to the PH has no input data, or it can be a specified position, that is, the parameter position corresponding to the PH has input data, and at this time, the measurement result needs to be saved in the storage position corresponding to the input data, thereby completing the tool setting operation of the current tool;

[0042] After completing the tool setting operation of the current tool, continue to process the next tool until all tools are processed, that is, after the measurement results of all tools are stored, the entire tool setting process is completed;

[0043] It should be noted that after the entire tool setting process is completed, a skip operation instruction needs to be obtained. The skip operation instruction in this application refers to the operator's key operation of the "program skip segment" button on the machine tool. Specifically, when the machine tool is executing a series of preset program instructions, the operator can skip the current program segment or a series of continuous program segments by pressing the "program skip segment" button on the control panel; since there is a skip symbol at the front of the tool setting program corresponding to each tool in this application, the skip operation instruction can be used to not execute the code containing the skip symbol in the program, thereby skipping all tool setting programs so that the tool setting program will not be run when the machine tool performs other processing operations.

[0044] Compared with the existing methods, the present application automatically generates a tool setting program for the corresponding tool through an optimized post-processing program. The operator no longer needs to manually input the tool setting program code corresponding to each tool to automatically complete the tool setting operation, which greatly reduces the operating difficulty, saves the time wasted in writing the tool setting program during the actual operation, and improves production efficiency. In addition, since the tool setting program is automatically generated through the same post-processing program, the consistency and repeatability of each measurement can also be guaranteed, and it is no longer affected by individual factors, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the measurement results.

[0045] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that all or part of the functions of the various methods in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented by hardware or by computer programs. When all or part of the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments are implemented by computer programs, the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the storage medium can include: read-only memory, random access memory, disk, optical disk, hard disk, etc., and the program is executed by a computer to implement the above-mentioned functions. For example, the program is stored in the memory of the device, and when the program in the memory is executed by the processor, all or part of the above-mentioned functions can be implemented. In addition, when all or part of the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments are implemented by computer programs, the program can also be stored in a storage medium such as a server, another computer, disk, optical disk, flash disk or mobile hard disk, and can be downloaded or copied and saved in the memory of the local device, or the system of the local device is updated, and when the program in the memory is executed by the processor, all or part of the functions in the above-mentioned embodiments can be implemented.

[0046] The above specific examples are used to illustrate the present invention, which is only used to help understand the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, according to the concept of the present invention, some simple deductions, modifications or substitutions can be made.

Claims

1. A method for automatic tool setting of a tool setting instrument for a CNC machine tool, characterized in that: include: Obtain processing data; Obtaining an optimized post-processing program, and generating a numerical control language according to the processing data and the optimized post-processing program, wherein the numerical control language includes machine tool motion instructions and tool setting programs for different tools; Performing a tool setting operation on any tool according to the obtained machine tool motion instruction and the tool setting program of any tool, obtaining a measurement result of the any tool, and storing the obtained measurement result in a preset storage location; When the measurement results of all tools are stored, the tool setting process is completed.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The tool setting programs for the different tools also include a skip symbol at the front.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After the tool setting process is completed, a skip operation instruction needs to be obtained.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that The skip operation instruction includes a key operation.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that The key operation is used to skip the tool setting programs corresponding to all tools according to the skip symbol.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The measurement result of any one of the cutting tools includes the actual length of the any one of the cutting tools.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The processing data includes: the type, diameter, and tool path of one or more tools.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The preset storage location includes a default location and a specified location.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: A computer program is stored on the medium, and the computer program can be executed by a processor to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer program and / or instructions, characterized in that: When the computer program and / or the instructions are executed by a processor, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is implemented.

Images