METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED MACHINE TOOL BASED ON CONTROL DATA CONTAINING AN NC PROGRAM

DE102019215497B4Active Publication Date: 2025-02-06DECKEL MAHO PFRONTEN GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
DE102019215497
Authority / Receiving Office
DE · DE
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2019-10-09
Publication Date
2025-02-06
Estimated Expiration
2039-10-09

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Abstract

A method for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool based on control data comprising an NC program, comprising: - providing the control data at a control device of the machine tool, - analyzing the control data at the control device to identify a subdivision of the NC program into several program sections specified in the control data, and - generating a graphical user interface operable by an operator of the machine tool at the control device based on the several program sections according to the identification of the subdivision of the NC program specified in the control data, characterized in that each program section of the NC program can be executed independently and / or selected by the operator.
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Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool on the basis of control data comprising an NC program. The present invention further relates to a control device for use on a numerically controlled machine tool and to a computer program product.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFor controlling the operations of a machine tool controlled by a numerical control (NC), NC programs constituted by standardized commands having respective parameters, which the numerical control for controlling the machine tool sequentially executes, have been used ever.Since today there is mostly a computer that is connected to the numerical controller (also referred to as computerized numerical control, CNC), the creation and / or the correction of the NC programs can take place directly at the numerical controller, wherein the operator can monitor and track the changes to the NC program on the screen / on the user interface.In addition, it is already known today to create NC programs partially automatically. For example, DE 10 2017 121249A1 discloses a method and a system in which the required movements and measures of the machine tool for machining a workpiece are independently derived on the basis of the workpiece geometry to be produced, technological parameters and the known machine geometry.This method initially facilitates the creation of an NC program, but other problems also arise quickly as a result. If, for example, a component is now to be machined on the machine tool and the corresponding geometry data of the component are processed, then the independent derivation can very quickly result in very comprehensive NC programs which can only be reviewed with difficulty by the operator.However, an NC program manually programmed by the operator of the machine tool, which is to be used for generating a complex component geometry on the machine tool, can also become very rapidly ambiguous and even become too complex at some point for the programmer to still know exactly which machining steps / operations have already been programmed and which are still missing.In addition, there is the problem that, due to the NC program, a typical combination of a letter with a number in the standardized commands (as in the G code of DIN / ISO programming, for example G94=feed in mm / min or G95=feed in mm / revolution) can very quickly undergo a confusion with another standardized command.Here, the risk is great that either the workpiece or even the machine tool will be damaged or simply the operator takes too long a time until the NC program is correctly programmed (by multiple checking).DE 10 2015 009 437 A1 shows that a program dividing unit of a machining time estimation device divides an NC program into blocks corresponding to the respective "segment start conditions" and records the divided NC program texts in the current data area together with further information. The machining time estimating device further includes a display unit controlled by a display controller.In WAKE-UP, M.; TRUNZER, C.: Machine tools 4. Automation of machines and installations. 6th edition: Springer Vieweg, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2006, pages 198, 212-214, ISBN 978-3-540-45366-6 (eBook), it is shown that NC controllers contain NC memories for a plurality of NC subprograms, correction memories for the program optimization and workpiece correction memories for receiving the current geometry of a plurality of tools. Furthermore, it is shown therein that frequently recurring machining sequences with the aid of the subroutine technique are described once as a subroutine and called up by a symbolic name with transfer of the current parameters.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method of controlling a numerically controlled machine tool based on control data including an NC program to avoid the above-mentioned problems.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a control device for use on a numerically controlled machine tool and a computer program product, with which the above problems are avoided.To achieve these objects, there is provided a method according to claim 1, a control device according to claim 18 and a computer program product according to claim 19. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention.The method according to the invention for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool on the basis of control data having an NC program, comprises: providing the control data at a control device of the machine tool, analyzing the control data at the control device for identifying a subdivision of the NC program indicated in the control data into a plurality of program sections, and generating a graphical user interface, operable by an operator of the machine tool, at the control device on the basis of the plurality of program sections in accordance with the identification of the subdivision of the NC program indicated in the control data.The method according to the invention could convert the NC program for the operator into a clear structure, so that the operator can be found considerably better in the user interface / user interface, since the NC program was now structured by separate program sections. In this case, each program section can be characterized by jump marks not only, but the operator can also jump back and forth between the individual program sections through the jump marks in order to quickly arrive at the respective work operations.Furthermore, the method according to the invention could keep the user interface so simple that no NC knowledge is required for operating the user interface. In addition, machine availability could be increased since the entry of the sentence into the NC program via the user interface does not have to take place by sentence search, but rather this can take place automatically at the last entry point.A further advantage of the method according to the invention is that the user interface is uniform with respect to different controls (multimachine operation) and, in addition, functions in the user interface can be controlled via an RFID key (such as e.g. DMG Mori Smartkey), by means of which the control allows specific access rights / functions to the respective operator or else refuses them.Furthermore, the method according to the invention now makes it possible to adapt the zero point and the tool offset more easily via the generated user interface. Further advantages are that all required tools in the magazine and the zero point and the tool corrections in the user interface / user interface are more easily apparent. Furthermore, a uniform NC program structure is possible by the method according to the invention and a clear representation of the program progress is possible.A further, clear advantage of the method according to the invention is that, owing to the simple user interface / user interface, only a low training outlay is required in order to make the operator familiar with the control of the machine tool.The mentioned advantages are made possible in particular by the jump marks present in the NC program, on the basis of which the user interface / user interface is generated at the numerical controller (NC controller).In addition, the use of the method according to the invention reduces the effort required to adapt the postprocessor, and the use of the method is also possible for each CAM system. It should be mentioned here that a CAM workstation does not necessarily have to be present in order to use the method according to the invention.Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed by the following step: the operator of the machine tool can control the machine tool on the basis of the control data and user settings of the generated graphical user interface.This always allows the operator to change the machining of the workpiece through the user interface / user interface and to intervene in it if this should be necessary.In addition, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that the graphical user interface comprises a plurality of control elements, each control element being assigned to one of the program sections of the NC program.Moreover, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that at least one of the control elements of the graphical user interface is set up in such a way that the corresponding assigned program section can be activated or deactivated by the operator.This advantageously allows a program section (for example a working step or machining step) to be selectively added or deactivated and thus allows the NC program to be individually adapted to the respective workpiece or component.Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that the corresponding assigned program section can only be activated by the operator if it is determined that a tool required for a machining operation corresponding to the program section is provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool.This ensures that only those program sections can be activated and used for machining the component / workpiece for which a corresponding tool of the machine tool is available (for example in a tool magazine or the like).In addition, the method according to the invention can also be advantageously developed in that, during the control of the machine tool, the NC program is executed in such a way that the program sections of the NC program are executed one after the other in such a way that activated program sections are executed and / or deactivated program sections of the NC program are skipped.Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that at least one of the control elements of the graphical user interface is set up in such a way that parameters specified in the correspondingly assigned program section can be set by the operator on the control element.In a particularly advantageous manner, it is thereby possible to directly adapt the parameters, on the basis of which the machine tool would machine the component, directly via the user interface / user interface, in order to enable an optimized machining process of the workpiece / component and, for example, to enter into special features (e.g. material of the workpiece, required surface qualities, etc.) of the workpiece machining.Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that each program section of the NC program corresponds to a corresponding operation on the machine tool.Moreover, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that at least one program section is assigned to a corresponding machining process of workpiece machining on the machine tool.In particular, the structuring of the NC program is recommended from the standpoint of the work operations to be carried out, so that the operator always has a view, via the user interface, of which work operations are to be performed and, if appropriate, which have already been performed.However, it should already be pointed out at this point that the operator can also carry out a different structuring of the NC program (for example by virtue of the operator laying the jump marks differently and, for example, combining a plurality of (smaller) working steps under a program section which corresponds, for example, to a (larger) working step of the workpiece).Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed by the following step: Ascertaining, for each program section assigned to a corresponding machining operation, whether a tool required for the corresponding machining operation is provided in a tool magazine of the machine tool.Here, too, it is expedient to first check whether the corresponding tool is available for the respective machining operation of the machine tool (for example in a tool magazine or the like).Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that corresponding program sections for which it is determined that the required tool is not provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool are deactivated.Moreover, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that corresponding program sections for which it is determined that the required tool is not provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool cannot be activated for the operator until it is determined that the required tool has been loaded in the tool magazine.In these cases, too, it is advantageous if a type of securing mechanism is provided which assists the operator with regard to the selection / selection of specific program sections / working steps, so that the machining of the workpiece / component can take place successfully. This can likewise also be used for checking the presence of a workpiece (stored, for example, in a workpiece magazine), which is changed into the machine tool automatically (for example, by a workpiece changer).The method according to the invention can also be advantageously developed in that the subdivision of the NC program into a plurality of program sections is specified by means of one or more jump marks inserted in the NC program.As a result, even when converting the geometry data of the workpiece into the corresponding control data, a distribution of jump marks can take place in the NC program. They help the operator from the beginning to survey which structure / distribution of the program sections may be appropriate for the NC program.Furthermore, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that the subdivision of the NC program into a plurality of program sections can be adapted by the operator by inserting additional jump marks and / or repositioning the jump marks already inserted in the NC program.It is very advantageous that the operator can always and at any time intervene in the NC program and adapt it according to his wishes / requirements (for example via the user interface / user interface). This also includes inserting new jump marks or repositioning or deleting jump marks already present therein. In addition, it is of course also possible for the operator of the machine tool to change over / reposition entire working steps / machining operations of the NC program and thus adjust the machining of the workpiece / component.A particularly advantageous development of the method according to the invention consists in the fact that the respective jump marks specify an operation or machining operation assigned to the respective following program section.As already described, this allows the NC program to be given a structure in a particularly advantageous manner, on the basis of which structure the operator can control the machining of the workpiece / component on the machine tool in the generated user interface / user interface.In addition, the method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that the graphical user interface is set up, when executing the NC program, to graphically emphasize a control element associated with the currently executed program section.In order to direct the clarity and in particular the attention of the operator specifically to the currently executed program section (or operation or processing operation), it is advantageous to graphically emphasize the corresponding control element in the user interface / user interface. This can be done, for example, by using a different color for the corresponding control element than for the other control elements and / or by drawing a frame / modified frame around the control element.In addition, it can also be advantageous if control elements of already executed program sections already have a different color than the control element of the currently active program section, and these control elements in turn have a different color than the control elements of the program sections which are still to be executed.However, the combination of colors, frames and other distinguishing features and highlighting features of a control element compared to other control elements present on the user interface / user interface is not limited to the possibilities already mentioned and is likewise possible in various other combinations / embodiments.In addition, the method according to the invention is advantageously further developed in that each program section of the NC program can be executed independently and / or can be selected by the operator.This allows an even more flexible adaptation and execution of the respective NC program by the operator.The method according to the invention can be advantageously further developed in that the graphical user interface is configured to provide the operator, after termination of the execution of the NC program, with a selection function for the re-execution of the NC program starting from the first program section and / or with a selection function for the re-execution of the NC program starting from the program section executed upon termination.If the NC program aborts the machining correctly or also incorrectly (for example by a fault warning), the operator of the machine tool can either start the program again from the front and thus cause the NC program to pass through again or start it from the program section at which the NC program (incorrectly) was aborted.This additionally allows a flexible configuration of the machining process of the workpiece / component and leaves open any option for the operator as he would like to move further with the present workpiece / component or with the respective machine tool.The control device according to the invention for use on a numerically controlled machine tool, wherein the control device is configured to control the machine tool on the basis of control data comprising an NC program, comprises: a storage device configured to provide control data to the control device of the machine tool, and a data processing device configured to analyze the control data at the control device for identifying a subdivision of the NC program into a plurality of program sections indicated in the control data, and a man-machine interface configured to generate and / or provide a graphical user interface, operable by an operator of the machine tool, at the control device on the basis of the plurality of program sections in accordance with the identification of the subdivision of the NC program indicated in the control data, wherein each program section of the NC program can be executed independently and / or can be selected by the operator.The computer program product according to the invention comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer connected to a numerically controlled machine tool or the control device according to the invention of a numerically controlled machine tool, cause the computer or the control device according to the invention of a numerically controlled machine tool to execute the method according to the invention.The method according to the invention, the control device according to the invention and the computer program product according to the invention have made it possible to convert the NC program for the operator into a clear structure, so that the operator can be found to be significantly better right in the user interface. Furthermore, the user interface could be kept so simple that no large NC knowledge is required for the operation of the user interface. Further advantages are that all required tools in the magazine and the zero point and the tool corrections in the user interface / user interface are easily visible. Furthermore, a uniform NC program structure is possible and a clear representation of the program progress is possible. A further, distinct advantage is that only a small training effort is required in order to make the operator familiar with the control of the machine tool.Further aspects and advantages thereof, as well as advantages and more specific possible embodiments of the above-described aspects and features, are described from the following descriptions and explanations relating to the appended figures, which descriptions and explanations should be understood in no way as limiting.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool on the basis of control data comprising an NC program; FIG. 2 ashows schematically an exemplary embodiment of the graphic user interface, in which the individual work steps for the machining of a workpiece are clearly shown; FIG. 2 bschematically illustrates an example embodiment of the graphical user interface of FIG. 2 a, in which an operation is inactive; FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the graphical user interface in which additional information and parameters are shown; FIG. 4 schematically shows another exemplary embodiment of the graphical user interface that additionally displays the status of the (overall) machining of the workpiece; FIG. 5 schematically shows an NC program in detail with the entry of the entry of the jump marks; FIG. 6 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a machine tool with corresponding NC control.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONHereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Identical or similar elements in the figures can be denoted here by identical reference numerals.It should already be emphasized at this point that the features described below and their reference numerals are not shown in full in each individual figure, but the appended figures are to be considered in their overall view for the following description of the invention.Here, for easy understanding, it is pointed out that the features of the machine tool (including. The workpiece) and that of the NC controller in FIG. 6, the features of the NC program in FIG. 5, and the features of the user interface / graphical user interface in FIGS. 2 a / b to 4.FIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary flow diagram of the method according to the invention for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool 1000 on the basis of control data comprising an NC program 200.In this case, first in step S 102, the control data are provided to a control device 1100 of the machine tool 1000 (not shown here, see FIG. 6 in this respect).The control data can be based on geometry data (2D data or 3D model) of the component / workpiece WS to be produced, which have been converted into an NC program 200 usable for the NC controller 1100, for example, by means of pre- and postprocessors 1110, 1120 (for example, within the NC controller 1100, see FIG. 6 ). In addition, however, the operator can also program the NC program 200 on the machine tool 1000 manually via a corresponding human-machine interface 1150 (see FIG. 6 for this purpose). The geometry or model data can in this case comprise points in a coordinate system, length or distance parameters, curve radii etc., which describe the workpiece WS to be produced.Now, in the subsequent step S 103, the provided control data can be analyzed and a subdivision of the NC program 200 indicated therein can be identified, such as in program sections 210. A subdivision of the NC program 200 can be identified, for example, in such a way that the controller 1100 searches for typical commands (for example the changing in of another tool WS, the moving back of the changed tool WS to a starting position or the like) for starting a new working step / machining operation (such as, for example, roughing end face, smoothing end face, etc.) and accordingly carries out a first subdivision of the NC program 200 in an automated manner.Again, the operator himself can also search the NC program 200 for corresponding commands and on the basis of which manually subdivide the NC program 200 into program sections 210. Of course, the operator can also carry out a subdivision of the NC program 200 into program sections 210 purely as desired.For identifying a new program section 210, a corresponding jump mark 220 can be inserted into the NC program 200 (see FIG. 5 for this). The jump marks 220 can be displayed in the NC program 200 in a manner recognizable to the operator of the machine tool 1000, so that the operator can quickly record the beginning of a new operation in the NC program 200.In step S 104, a graphical user interface 100 which can be operated by the operator of the machine tool 1000 is now automatically generated on the control device 1100 (see FIGS. 2 a / b to 4 for this purpose). This is carried out on the basis of the jump marks 220, which identify the plurality of program sections 210 of the subdivision of the NC program 200 and control elements 110 can be generated therefrom in the graphical user interface 100.The control elements 110 can now be selected or even deselected by the operator if the machine tool 1000 is intended to perform or not to perform a corresponding operation (which is described by a program section 210 of the NC program 200) on the currently present workpiece WS.Furthermore, the graphical user interface 100 allows the operator to change the structuring / subdivision of the NC program 200 carried out automatically or manually as desired, for example by adding or changing the jump marks 220, by displacing the jump marks 220 to another position within the NC program 200 or even by displacing entire working steps / machining operations in the NC program 200.If the subdivision has been changed, the now existing program sections 210 are recognized by the NC controller 1100 in a re-automated manner on the basis of the changed jump marks 220 and the graphical user interface 100 and / or the control elements 110 are adapted on the basis thereof.FIG. 2 ashows schematically an exemplary embodiment of the graphic user interface 100, in which the individual work steps for the machining of a workpiece WS are clearly shown.For this purpose, a table representation of the individual information has been chosen, for example, in order to provide the operator in a simple and clearly structured manner with all necessary information relating to the respective machining of the workpiece WS (on the basis of the NC program 200) generated in the controller 1100.The top line first specifies the designation of the processing / project, so that the operator can immediately grasp what work order is involved.Among them, the following operations have been recognized from the control data in identifying the program sections 210 by the controller 1100: 1. roughing; 2. smoothing; 3. drilling d=6.8 mm (4 pieces); 4. deburring drilling d=6.8 mm (4 pieces); 5. tapping M8 (4 pieces).In the first column "No." the numbering of the operations is given. However, the sequence can be changed as desired by the operator via the user interface 100, if this is desired or the operator deemed appropriate.In the second column "operation" the designation of the respective operation is now displayed. From this, the operator can again in a clear manner remove all necessary information regarding the respective operation. For example, what type of machining is involved, what diameters / dimensions the respective tools or geometries to be produced must have, and the number or repetitions of the respective operation. Here too, the operator can already make changes to the values / parameters via the user interface 100, if he wants this.In the third column "Active", all working steps which are active are now identified. Here, in the example shown, X means that the respective working step is active, i.e. is processed by the machine tool 1000 in accordance with the sequence of the working steps indicated by the user interface 100.The working steps can be selected or deselected in the graphic user interface 100 accordingly by control elements 110 for the operator of the machine tool 1000. In this case, the control element 110 can be stored in the column "No.", the column "Operation" and / or in the column "Active", so that the operator can now make a selection or selection of the respective operation by selecting the respective control element 110 in the respective column and row. Its decision is immediately graphically indicated to him in the column "Active" by an X or an empty box.FIG. 2 bschematically illustrates an example embodiment of the graphical user interface 100 of FIG. 2 a, in which an operation is inactive.As previously described, the operator can select or deselect the operations displayed in the graphical user interface 100 by appropriate controls 110. Here, by way of example, the operation No. 4 "deburring bore d=6.8 mm (4 pieces)" was now deselected.As a result, the machine tool 1000 would now carry out the working steps No. 1 to No. 3 and would then jump directly, after completion of the working step No. 3, to working step No. 5 in order to carry out the corresponding working (here "tapping M8 (4 pieces)").The operator can also recognize whether and which work steps have been carried out in the prior art of tapping in work step no. 5. If, for example, drilling of the bores with d=6.8 mm (operation no. 3) had not yet taken place, it would be problematic for both the workpiece WS and the thread cutting tool used to carry out operation no. 5 (thread drilling / thread cutting). Here, however, the operator can clearly be convincingly provided that corresponding bores for the tapping / tapping would be present, so that neither damage to the workpiece WS nor damage to the tapping tool would be expected when carrying out the operation no. 5.FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the graphical user interface 100 that depicts additional information and parameters.In this case, for each working step (as shown here by way of example working step No. 1 to No. 5), further information can be provided for the operator of the machine tool 1000, on the basis of which information he can better monitor the respective working step.For example, it may be helpful, in certain working steps (such as, for example, in roughing and / or smoothing surfaces; see working step No. 1 and No. 2) to additionally know specifically which tool is used with which dimensions. On the basis of this, the operator can make a more qualified decision as to which parameters (such as feed, rotational speed of the tool, etc.) the respective operation is being carried out.In addition, further information such as the tool offset, data on the swivel cycle (static plane transformation with which an oblique plane in space can be defined, in which, for example, a 2D or 3D machining can then be programmed). Or information regarding the tool / workpiece zero point and the correction of the respective zero point.Information very important to the operator can also be to know whether the respective tool, which is required for the operation, is available for the machine tool 1000 (for example in a tool magazine or the like). For this purpose, it may be expedient, as shown in FIG. 3, to provide a further column "tool in magazine" in the graphic user interface 100, from which column the information regarding the presence of the tool emerges. This can be confirmed again, for example, by a marking by an X (tool is present) or can be negated by an empty box (tool is not present).FIG. 4 schematically shows another exemplary embodiment of the graphical user interface 100 additionally indicating the status of the (overall) machining of the workpiece WS.In addition, it can be helpful for the operator to know how far the respective working step and / or the entire machining of the workpiece WS has proceeded.For this purpose, an additional column "status" can again be provided in the graphical user interface 100, which displays this information in a clearly edited manner (for example by percentages or the like) to the operator. This may also be associated with indicating to the operator how the level of processing of the individual operations is (e.g., the percentage indicates the status of the entire operation while the moving end of the percentage is within the range of the operation being performed by machine tool 1000).FIG. 5 schematically shows an NC program 200 in detail with the entry of the jump marks 220.In this case, FIG. 5 illustrates, by way of example, the two operating steps No. 1 and No. 2 from FIGS. 2 a / bto 4 as an NC program 200, as can be used by the NC controller 1100.Initially, an end face of the workpiece WS is to be buffed. This operation is indicated by the entry mark 220 "DM_ ENTRY MARK_1", inter alia with a designation of the operation which can be freely selected by the operator and which is in brackets behind the designation "DM_ ENTRY MARK_1" of the entry mark 220. In the subsequent program section 210, all commands and parameters required by the NC controller 1100 to machine the workpiece WS in a roughing operation by the machine tool 1000 are now called.Next, the buffed end face of the workpiece WS will be sized. This operation is indicated by the entry mark 220 "DM_ ENTRY MARK_2" and also has a designation of the operation which can be freely selected by the operator and which is located in brackets behind the designation "DM_ ENTRY MARK_2" of the entry mark 220. In the subsequent program section 210, all commands and parameters required by the NC controller 1100 to machine the workpiece WS in a finishing operation by the machine tool 1000 are now called.The two working steps are constructed in the NC program 200 in such a way that they can run independently between the jump marks 220, that is to say they are not dependent on commands and / or parameters from a previous program section 210 / from a previous jump mark 220.If one of the working steps should now be aborted, for whatever reason, the operator can advantageously either continue the machining of the workpiece WS at the next skip mark 220 or return to the skip mark 220, under whose program section 210 the machining of the workpiece WS was aborted, by means of the skip marks 220 and the graphical user interface 100. To do this, the graphical user interface 100 queries the operator which of the options he wishes to choose. Independently of this, the operator can also jump to any other jump mark 220 located in the NC program 200 via the graphical user interface 100, if he wants this.FIG. 6 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a machine tool 1000 with a corresponding NC controller 1100.In this case, the NC controller 1100 (also referred to as a control device) has a storage device 1130 which is configured to provide control data to the NC controller 1100 of the machine tool 1000. The control data may have been transmitted to the storage device 1130, for example, from an external computer or via a network (for example, having a plurality of connected computers) to which the NC controller 1100 is connected (not shown here). However, this is intended to be exemplary only.There are naturally also other possibilities for transmitting the control data to the storage device 1130, for example by connecting a transportable data memory to the storage device 1130 (or generally to the NC controller 1100) and thus transmitting the data to the storage device 1130.In addition, the NC controller 1100 has a data processing device 1140 which is configured to analyze the control data at the NC controller 1100 in order to identify a subdivision of the NC program 200 indicated in the control data into a plurality of program sections 210.The NC program 200 can be subdivided by the data processing device 1140, for example according to operations located therein which the machine tool 1000 would perform on the component / workpiece WS to be produced.For this purpose, for example, corresponding commands can be identified as an indicator of a new operation and thus the NC program 200 can be divided accordingly.Furthermore, however, the operator can also manually carry out a subdivision of the NC program 200 and thus individually adapt the structuring of the NC program 200.Moreover, the NC controller 1100 has a human-machine interface 1150 which is configured to generate and / or provide a graphical user interface 100 at the NC controller 1100, which graphical user interface can be operated by the operator of the machine tool 1000, on the basis of the plurality of program sections 210 in accordance with the identification of the subdivision of the NC program 200 specified in the control data.In this case, the human-machine interface 1150 can be configured such that an image / information reproduction (for example by means of a screen) of the graphical user interface 100 takes place separately from the control / command input (for example by means of a keyboard with mouse or the like) at the NC controller 1100, or else the control / command input takes place integrated in the image / information reproduction of the graphical user interface 100 (for example as virtual keyboard and mouse which are / are controllably generated in the graphical user interface 100 by touching by the operator).In particular, the graphical user interface 100 can comprise a plurality of control elements 110 (not shown in greater detail here, see FIGS. 2 a / b to 4 for this purpose), wherein each control element 110 is assigned to one of the program sections 210 of the NC program 200. The control elements 110 can be displayed solely on the image / information reproduction of the graphical user interface 100, or else be controllably integrated in the graphical user interface 100 by the user touching it.As a result, the operator can adapt the NC program 200, for example by at least one of the control elements 110 of the graphic user interface 100 being set up in such a way that the corresponding assigned program section 210 can be activated or deactivated by the operator.In addition to the NC controller 1100, the machine tool 1000, which is illustrated here in FIG. 6 by way of example in a stand construction, has a machine bed 1400, a machine table 1200 with workpiece clamping 1210 for clamping the workpiece WS, a work spindle 1300 for driving the tool WZ for machining the workpiece WS, and a stand structure 1500.In addition, the machine tool 1000 can have a tool changer and / or a workpiece changer and correspondingly a tool magazine and / or workpiece magazine (in each case not shown in FIG. 6 ), so that corresponding commands and / or parameters for the machining could be provided in the NC program 200 for the control of these additional devices, in order to be able to carry out the machining in an automated manner, for example.This can furthermore result in the corresponding assigned program section 210 being activatable by the operator only if it is determined that a tool WZ required for a machining operation corresponding to the program section 210 is provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool 1000. If this is not the case (if the tool WZ is not provided), the NC controller 1100 will deactivate the corresponding program section 210 in the graphical user interface 100.Or, the NC controller 1100 will not activate the corresponding program portions 210 for which it is determined that the required tool WZ is not provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool 1000 to the operator until it is determined that the required tool WZ has been loaded in the tool magazine.As already mentioned, the method according to the invention and the control device according to the invention (NC controller 200) are also suitable for other machine types (gantry machines, multiaxial milling centers, etc.) and / or machine types (for example lathes, multi-spindle lathes, erosion machines, laser deposition welding machines, etc.). The enumeration of the examples mentioned is not to be understood as exhaustive, but rather can be extended, for example, by various combinations of machine types / machine types and is also intended to encompass additional machine types / machine types of machine tools.Examples and exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the advantages thereof have been described above in detail with reference to the appended figures.LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS100 Graphical user interface 110 Control elements 200 NC program 210 Program section 220 Jump mark 1000 Machine tool 1100 NC controller (control device) 1110 Preprocessor 1120 Postprocessor 1130 Storage device 1140 Data processing device 1150 Human-machine interface 1200 Machine table 1210 Workpiece chuck 1300 Work spindle 1400 Machine bed 1500 Stand assembly WS Workpiece WZ Tool

Claims

Method for controlling a numerically controlled machine tool on the basis of control data having an NC program, comprising: - providing the control data at a control device of the machine tool, - analysing the control data at the control device for identifying a subdivision of the NC program indicated in the control data into a plurality of program sections, and - generating a graphical user interface at the control device, which can be operated by an operator of the machine tool, on the basis of the plurality of program sections in accordance with the identification of the subdivision of the NC program indicated in the control data, characterized in that each program section of the NC program can be executed independently and / or can be selected by the operator.Method according to claim 1, characterized by - controlling the machine tool on the basis of the control data and user settings of the generated graphical user interface by the operator of the machine tool.Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the graphical user interface comprises a plurality of control elements, each control element being associated with one of the program sections of the NC program.Method according to claim 3, characterised in that at least one of the control elements of the graphic user interface is set up in such a way that the corresponding assigned program section can be activated or deactivated by the operator.Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the corresponding associated program section can only be activated by the operator if it is determined that a tool required for a machining operation corresponding to the program section is provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool.Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that, during the control of the machine tool, the NC program is executed in such a way that the program sections of the NC program are executed one after the other in such a way that activated program sections are executed and / or deactivated program sections of the NC program are skipped.Method according to at least one of Claims 3 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the control elements of the graphical user interface is set up in such a way that parameters specified in the correspondingly assigned program section can be set by the operator on the control element.Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each program section of the NC program corresponds to a corresponding operation on the machine tool.Method according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one program section is associated with a corresponding machining process of workpiece machining on the machine tool.Method according to claim 9, characterised bycomprising, for each program section assigned to a corresponding machining operation, whether a tool required for the corresponding machining operation is provided in a tool magazine of the machine tool.Method according to claim 10, characterised in that corresponding program sections for which it is determined that the required tool is not provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool are deactivated.Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that corresponding program sections for which it is determined that the required tool is not provided in the tool magazine of the machine tool are not activatable by the operator until it is determined that the required tool has been loaded in the tool magazine.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the subdivision of the NC program into a plurality of program sections is specified by means of one or more jump marks inserted in the NC program.Method according to claim 13, characterised in that the subdivision of the NC program into a plurality of program sections can be adapted by the operator inserting additional jump marks and / or repositioning the jump marks already inserted in the NC program.Method according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the respective jump marks specify an operation or machining operation assigned to the respective following program section.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the graphical user interface is set up, when the NC program is executed, to graphically emphasize a control element associated with the currently executed program section.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the graphical user interface is configured to provide the operator, after termination of the execution of the NC program, with a selection function for the re-execution of the NC program starting from the first program section and / or with a selection function for the re-execution of the NC program starting from the program section executed upon termination.A control device for use on a numerically controlled machine tool, wherein the control device is configured to control the machine tool on the basis of control data comprising an NC program, comprising: - a storage device configured to provide control data to the control device of the machine tool, and - a data processing device configured to analyze the control data at the control device for identifying a subdivision of the NC program into a plurality of program sections indicated in the control data, and - a man-machine interface configured to generate and / or provide a graphical user interface, operable by an operator of the machine tool, at the control device on the basis of the plurality of program sections in accordance with the identification of the subdivision of the NC program indicated in the control data, characterized in that, each program section of the NC program can be executed independently and / or can be selected by the operator.Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer or a control device of a numerically controlled machine tool connected to a numerically controlled machine tool, in particular according to Claim 18, cause the computer or the control device to carry out the method according to at least one of Claims 1 to 17.

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