Design and manufacturing support apparatus, design and manufacturing support method, and program

Abstract

To reduce oversights in a design check process.SOLUTION: A design and manufacturing support apparatus comprises: a design information recognition unit that recognizes design information and part names included in design data of a product; a malfunction and error information database that stores information on past malfunctions and errors; a required check part extraction unit that compares the design information and part names recognized from the design data with the malfunction and error information database to extract check-required parts that need to be checked by a user; and a UI control unit that displays an image of the product based on the design data on a UI screen and displays the extracted check-required parts superimposed on the image of the product.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a design and manufacturing support device, a design and manufacturing support method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] In product design, it is common to use CAD (Computer Aided Design) (including 3D (dimensions)-CAD) to consider and design the shape of the product and evaluate the quality of the product. Then, before actual manufacturing begins, a design check is carried out by the designer to confirm whether the shape designed using CAD can actually be manufactured.

[0003] Regarding design checks, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a "design support method that acquires first gap information related to a first inter-component gap at a specified location of a first product, associates the acquired first gap information with specified location information related to the specified location, acquires second gap information related to a second inter-component gap in a second product, searches for first gap information similar to the acquired second gap information, and outputs the specified location information corresponding to the searched first gap information." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-180578 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The technology described in Patent Document 1 makes it possible to output information on identified areas in past products in association with similar areas in a new product. However, there is no function to assist designers in checking manufacturing information for locations that are difficult for them to see in a three-dimensional image of the product, or the details of locations with many components that are prone to being overlooked. This leads to designers overlooking checks, which causes them to go back and forth from the manufacturing process to the design process.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to reduce check omissions in design checks. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present application includes a number of means for solving at least part of the above problems, examples of which are as follows.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a design and manufacturing support device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a design information recognition unit that recognizes design information and component names contained in product design data; a defect / error information database that accumulates information on past defects and errors; a check-required area extraction unit that compares the design information and component names recognized from the design data with the defect / error information database to extract areas that require user check; and a UI control unit that displays an image of the product based on the design data on a UI (User Interface) screen and superimposes the extracted check-required areas on the image of the product. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce check omissions in design checks.

[0010] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a design and manufacturing support device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the defect / error information. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of design rules. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen display. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a design and manufacturing support process performed by the design and manufacturing support device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a collision determination method for checking visibility. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen display. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a UI screen display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are merely illustrative and are omitted or simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise specified, each component may be singular or plural. The position, size, shape, and scope of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, shape, and scope in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. In all drawings used to explain the embodiments, identical components are generally designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description of such components will be omitted. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, a component (including an element step, etc.) is not necessarily essential unless otherwise specified or considered to be clearly essential in principle. Furthermore, when the term "consisting of A," "composed of A," "having A," or "including A" is used, it does not exclude other elements unless otherwise specified, specifically referring to only that element. Similarly, in the following embodiments, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of a component, etc., it includes substantially similar or similar shapes, etc., unless otherwise specified or considered to be clearly essential in principle. Furthermore, "obtaining" includes, as specific examples, at least the subject generating, calculating, or receiving from outside.

[0013] <Configuration example of design and manufacturing support device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention> FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a design and manufacturing support device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The design and manufacturing support device 10 includes an input unit 11, a processing unit 12, a storage unit 13, an output unit 14, and a communication unit 15.

[0015] The design and manufacturing support device 10 is realized by a general computer such as a personal computer, a server computer, etc. The computer includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a storage such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a media drive, an output device such as a display, and a communication module such as an Ethernet (trademark) card or a Wi-Fi (trademark) adapter.

[0016] Furthermore, the design and manufacturing support device 10 may be realized by one physical or logical computer, or by two or more physical or logical computers, which may be distributed and arranged on a network.

[0017] The input unit 11 is realized by an input device of the computer. The input unit 11 receives design data 111 of a product designed using, for example, 3D-CAD from a user and inputs the data to the processing unit 12. Hereinafter, the design data 111 is also referred to as 3D-CAD data 111.

[0018] The processing unit 12 is realized by a processor of the computer. Each functional block of the processing unit 12, namely, a design information recognition unit 121, a check-required part extraction unit 122, a UI control unit 123, and a design evaluation unit 124, is realized by the processor executing a predetermined program stored in a memory.

[0019] The predetermined program executed by the processor may be stored in memory in advance, or may be downloaded from a predetermined server or the like via a removable medium (CD-ROM, flash memory, etc.) or a network such as the Internet, stored in storage, which is a non-transitory storage medium, and read from the storage when needed. For this reason, it is preferable that the computer has an interface for reading data from removable media.

[0020] The design information recognition unit 121 acquires, from the input 3D-CAD data 111, design information consisting of manufacturing information, names (part names) of parts (sites) that are the subject of the manufacturing information, part position coordinates, and viewpoint position coordinates and reference direction when a user such as a designer refers to a three-dimensional image of a product based on the 3D-CAD data 111. Here, the manufacturing information consists of information on part attachment methods and part materials, such as fillet welding, assembly holes, recycled materials, etc.

[0021] The check-required part extraction unit 122 detects combinations of manufacturing information and part names in the design information acquired by the design information recognition unit 121 that match defect / error information 200 (FIG. 2) stored in the defect / error information DB 131, and extracts the position coordinates of the corresponding part as a part that requires user confirmation (check-required part) because defects, etc., are likely to occur. In addition, the check-required part extraction unit 122 evaluates the visibility of each check-required part to determine whether it is visible from the user's viewpoint.

[0022] The UI control unit 123 causes the output unit 14 to display the UI screen 1000. The UI control unit 123 also displays a predetermined mark on the area requiring check, superimposed on the three-dimensional image of the product displayed on the UI screen 1000. This allows the user to easily check the area requiring check, where defects or the like are likely to occur. Furthermore, the UI control unit 123 highlights a mark indicating that the area requiring check is hidden on an obstacle between the area requiring check that is not visible to the user and the user's viewpoint, in a manner that distinguishes it from the area requiring check that is visible to the user. This allows the user to recognize the existence of an area requiring check that is hidden, for example, inside the product's casing, thereby reducing the number of times the user fails to check something. The UI control unit 123 also causes the terminal device 20 connected via the network N to display the UI screen 1000. This allows the area requiring check to be checked again, for example, by using the terminal device 20 brought into the manufacturing process.

[0023] The design evaluation unit 124 judges whether or not the part requiring confirmation satisfies the design rules by referring to the standard information of the manufacturing information recorded in the design rule DB 132. The UI control unit 123 displays the judgment result on the UI screen 1000.

[0024] The storage unit 13 is realized by the memory and storage of the computer. A defect / error information DB (database) 131 and a design rule DB 132 are stored in advance in the storage unit 13. Note that the storage unit 13 may store information and data other than the defect / error information DB 131 and the design rule DB 132.

[0025] The defect / error information DB 131 accumulates and stores defect / error information 200 (FIG. 2) that has been generated in advance based on past experiences of product defects / errors and check omissions.

[0026] 2 shows an example of the defect / error information 200. The defect / error information 200 records a combination of manufacturing information and part name, along with a caution and a reason for the caution. The manufacturing information and part name in the defect / error information 200 are the same as the part name and manufacturing information in the 3D-CAD data 111.

[0027] In the case of the same figure, for example, for the combination of the manufacturing information "fillet weld" and the part name "side panel," the caution content "welding of opening" and the caution reason "difficult to check at the welded part of the inner panel. Be careful of environmental CO2 emissions" are associated and recorded.

[0028] The reason for the warning in the defect / error information 200 can record information such as whether environmentally friendly recycled materials are used in the parts, the amount of CO2 emissions associated with manufacturing, and so on.

[0029] The design rule DB 132 stores design rules 300 (FIG. 3) that must be observed in the design and manufacture of products.

[0030] 3 shows an example of design rules 300. In the design rules 300, design and manufacturing standards and criteria for determining whether the design and manufacturing standards are met are recorded in association with the manufacturing information. In the case of the same figure, for example, the design and manufacturing standard "leg length is equal to or less than a specified value" and the judgment criterion "leg length < 5 mm" are recorded in association with the manufacturing information "fillet weld."

[0031] Returning to Fig. 1, the output unit 14 is realized by an output device of the computer. The output unit 14 displays a UI screen 1000 (Fig. 4, etc.).

[0032] The communication unit 15 is realized by a communication module of the computer. The communication unit 15 is connected to the terminal device 20 via a network N, such as the Internet. The terminal device 20 is used, for example, at a product manufacturing site, and displays a UI screen 1000.

[0033] 4 shows a display example of a UI screen 1000. The UI screen 1000 is provided with a display field 1001, a "Search" tab 1002, and a "Check Results" tab 1003.

[0034] A display field 1001 displays a three-dimensional image of a product based on 3D-CAD data 111. A "Search" tab 1002 is provided with an "Input" button 1004, a "Search" button 1005, and a "Check" button 1006. The "Input" button 1004 is an operation button that allows the user to input the 3D-CAD data 111. The "Search" button 1005 is an operation button that allows the user to instruct the display of areas that require checking in the three-dimensional image of the product displayed in the display field 1001. The "Check" button 1006 is an operation button that allows the user to instruct the display of areas that require checking to see if they satisfy the design rules. A "Check Results" tab 1003 displays the check results of whether the areas that require checking satisfy the design rules.

[0035] The UI screen 1000 allows the user to check the parts that need to be checked by the user and whether or not the parts that need to be checked satisfy the design rules.

[0036] <Design and manufacturing support processing by the design and manufacturing support device 10> FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the design and manufacturing support process performed by the design and manufacturing support device 10.

[0037] The design and manufacturing support process is started, for example, in response to an operation of the "input" button 1004 on the UI screen 1000 displayed on the output unit 14 in response to a predetermined operation by the user.

[0038] First, the input unit 11 receives design data (3D-CAD data) 111 input by a user and inputs it to the processing unit 12 (step S1). Then, the UI control unit 123 displays a three-dimensional image of a product based on the 3D-CAD data 111 in the display field 1001 of the UI screen 1000.

[0039] Next, in response to a user's operation on the "Search" button 1005 on the UI screen 1000, the design information recognition unit 121 acquires design information consisting of manufacturing information, part names, part position coordinates, viewpoint position coordinates and reference direction, etc. from the input 3D-CAD data 111 (step S2).

[0040] Next, the check-requiring area extraction unit 122 detects combinations of manufacturing information and part names in the design information acquired by the design information recognition unit 121 that match the defect / error information 200 stored in the defect / error information DB 131, and extracts the position coordinates of the corresponding part as a check-requiring area (step S3).

[0041] Next, the check-required portion extraction unit 122 evaluates whether the check-required portion can be visually recognized by the user (step S4).

[0042] 6 is a diagram illustrating a method for evaluating the visibility of check-required areas in step S4. The check-required area extraction unit 122 sets a virtual line (indicated by a dashed arrow in the figure) 52 connecting the user's viewpoint 50 and check-required areas 511-514 based on the position coordinates and reference direction of the user's viewpoint included in the design information acquired by the design information recognition unit 121 and the position coordinates of components extracted from the design information, and evaluates whether the check-required areas 511-514 are visible from the user's viewpoint 50 based on whether the line 52 intersects with other parts of the product (for example, the housing, etc.). In the example shown in the figure, the check-required areas 511, 513, and 514 are visible from the user's viewpoint 50, while the check-required area 512 is evaluated as not visible from the user's viewpoint 50.

[0043] Returning to Fig. 5, next, the UI control unit 123 determines whether or not there is a part requiring confirmation (whether or not a part requiring confirmation was extracted in step S3) (step S5). If the UI control unit 123 determines that there is no part requiring confirmation (NO in step S5), it displays, for example, in the display field 1001 of the UI screen 1000, a message to the effect that there is no part requiring confirmation, and ends the design and manufacturing support process.

[0044] Conversely, if the UI control unit 123 determines that there is an area requiring confirmation (YES in step S5), it displays a mark 1011 (Figure 7) indicating the area requiring confirmation superimposed on the three-dimensional image of the product displayed in the display field 1001 of the UI screen 1000, and also highlights a mark 1021 (Figure 7) indicating the area requiring confirmation that is not visible from the user's viewpoint 50 by changing, for example, the shape, color, brightness, transparency, etc. of the mark so that it can be distinguished from the mark 1011 (step S6).

[0045] 7 shows an example of a UI screen 1000 in which a mark 1011 indicating a location requiring check and a mark 1021 indicating a location requiring check that is not visible to the user are displayed in a distinguishable manner. As shown in the figure, the mark 1021 indicating a location requiring check that is not visible to the user is displayed in the UI screen 1000 in a highlighted manner compared to the mark 1011 indicating a location requiring check that is visible to the user. In addition, the "Search" tab 1002 displays manufacturing information, part names, cautions, etc. as confirmation details for the location requiring check.

[0046] Next, in response to a user's operation on the "Check" button 1006 on the UI screen 1000, the design evaluation unit 124 reads the design rule DB 132 (step S7). Next, the design evaluation unit 124 evaluates whether the manufacturing information of each check-required portion satisfies the standard information of the manufacturing information recorded in the design rule DB 132 (step S8). Next, the design evaluation unit 124 determines whether there is a check-required portion that violates the design rules (step S9). Here, if the design evaluation unit 124 determines that there is no check-required portion that violates the design rules (NO in step S9), the UI control unit 123 displays a message in the "Check result" tab 1003 on the UI screen 1000 that there is no check-required portion that violates the design rules, and ends the design and manufacturing support process.

[0047] On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a part that needs to be checked because it violates the design rules (YES in step S9), the UI control unit 123 displays in the "Check Results" tab 1003 of the UI screen 1000 the fact that the part that needs to be checked violates the design rules (step S10).

[0048] 8 shows an example of a display of the "Check Results" tab 1003 on the UI screen 1000, which shows the details of the design rule violations in the areas requiring check, specifically the checked areas, the check results, and the details of caution. This allows the user to understand the details of the design rule violations in the areas requiring check, and enables the user to quickly review the product design.

[0049] The above is a description of the design and manufacturing support process by the design and manufacturing support device 10. As described above, according to this embodiment, not only can the user be informed of the parts requiring check that are visible from the user's viewpoint, but also of the existence of parts requiring check that are not visible from the user's viewpoint. Furthermore, if the parts requiring check violate design rules, the details of the violation can be pointed out. This reduces the need to go back from the manufacturing process to the design process.

[0050] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to clearly explain the present invention, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those including all of the described configurations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with or add to the configuration of another embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10...Design and manufacturing support device, 11...Input unit, 111...Design data (3D-CAD data), 12...Processing unit, 121...Design information recognition unit, 122...Check point extraction unit, 123...UI control unit, 124...Design evaluation unit, 13...Memory unit, 131...Defect and error information DB, 132...Design rule DB, 14...Output unit, 15...Communication unit, 20...Terminal device, 50...Viewpoint, 52...Line, 200...Defect and error information, 300...Design rules, 1000...UI screen

Claims

1. a design information recognition unit that recognizes design information and part names included in the product design data; A database of fault and error information that stores information on past faults and errors, and a check-required part extraction unit that compares design information and part names recognized from the design data with the defect / error information database to extract parts that require user check; a UI (User Interface) control unit that displays an image of the product based on design data on a UI screen and superimposes the extracted check-requiring portion on the image of the product; A design and manufacturing support device equipped with:

2. 2. The design and manufacturing support device according to claim 1, the check-required portion extraction unit evaluates visibility of the extracted check-required portion to determine whether it is visible from a user's viewpoint; The UI control unit displays, among the extracted check-requiring portions, the check-requiring portions that are evaluated as not being visible from the user's viewpoint in a manner that makes them distinguishable from the check-requiring portions that are evaluated as being visible from the user's viewpoint. Design and manufacturing support equipment.

3. 2. The design and manufacturing support device according to claim 1, The UI control unit displays information indicating confirmation details regarding the check-required portion on the UI screen. Design and manufacturing support equipment.

4. 2. The design and manufacturing support device according to claim 1, a design rule database for storing design rules; a design evaluation unit that refers to the design rule database and determines whether the part requiring confirmation satisfies the design rule, The UI control unit displays the determination result by the design evaluation unit on the UI screen. Design and manufacturing support equipment.

5. 2. The design and manufacturing support device according to claim 1, The UI control unit displays the UI screen on a terminal device connected via a network. Design and manufacturing support equipment.

6. A design and manufacturing support method using a design and manufacturing support device, a design information recognition step for recognizing design information and part names included in the product design data; A database of fault and error information that stores information on past faults and errors, and a check-required part extraction step of extracting parts that require user check by comparing the design information and part names recognized from the design data with a fault / error information database that stores information on past faults and errors; a UI control step of displaying an image of the product based on design data on a UI screen and displaying the extracted check-requiring portion superimposed on the image of the product; A design and manufacturing support method including:

7. 7. The design and manufacturing support method according to claim 6, a visibility evaluation step of evaluating whether the extracted check-required portion is visible from a user's viewpoint; The UI control step displays the extracted check-requiring portions that are evaluated as not being visible from the user's viewpoint in a manner that makes them distinguishable from the check-requiring portions that are evaluated as being visible from the user's viewpoint. Design manufacturing support method.

8. 7. The design and manufacturing support method according to claim 6, The UI control step displays information indicating confirmation details regarding the check-required portion on the UI screen. Design manufacturing support method.

9. 7. The design and manufacturing support method according to claim 6, a design evaluation step of referring to a design rule database that stores design rules and determining whether the part requiring check satisfies the design rules; The UI control step displays a result of the evaluation by the design evaluation unit on the UI screen. Design manufacturing support method.

10. Computer, a design information recognition unit that recognizes design information and part names included in the product design data; A database of fault and error information that stores information on past faults and errors, and a check-required part extraction unit that compares design information and part names recognized from the design data with the defect / error information database to extract parts that require user check; a UI control unit that displays an image of the product based on design data on a UI screen and displays the extracted check-requiring portion superimposed on the image of the product; A program that makes it work.

11. The program according to claim 10, the check-required portion extraction unit evaluates visibility of the extracted check-required portion to determine whether it is visible from a user's viewpoint; The UI control unit displays, among the extracted check-requiring portions, the check-requiring portions that are evaluated as not being visible from the user's viewpoint in a manner that makes them distinguishable from the check-requiring portions that are evaluated as being visible from the user's viewpoint. program.

12. The program according to claim 10, The UI control unit displays information indicating confirmation details regarding the check-required portion on the UI screen. program.

13. The program according to claim 10, The computer a design rule database for storing design rules; a design evaluation unit that refers to the design rule database and determines whether the part requiring confirmation satisfies the design rule; The UI control unit displays the determination result by the design evaluation unit on the UI screen. program.

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