Machining result management system for NC machine tool, server device, and machining status monitoring program

Abstract

To manage machining results for each NC machine tool without using a process management terminal.SOLUTION: An NC device attached to an NC machine tool includes display means for displaying a character information input screen on which character information can be input, and character information storage means for storing at least one piece of machining management data including a command number represented by a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command input using the character information input screen and a control flag set and updated according to a machining status of a workpiece by the machining command. The server device includes a scanning unit that periodically scans machining management data that is character information held in the character information storage unit of the NC device and determines a machining start and a machining end of a workpiece by a machining command according to a value of a control flag, and an analysis unit that analyzes a machining result by the machining command by collating with operation history data corresponding to a command number in response to the determination of the machining end by the scanning unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a machining performance management system for an NC machine tool, a server device, and a machining status monitoring program. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-295920 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology that enables management of any machine tool connected to the server by connecting the NC (Numerical Control) devices of multiple machine tools to be managed to one server device (hereinafter simply referred to as "server"), having the server manage the management data and history data for all the connected NC devices collectively, making the display or update screen of the data for each machine tool managed by the server publicly available on a network including the Internet, and accessing the public screen from a client computer connected to the network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-295920 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the system of Patent Document 1, the processing schedule of the NC device is managed on the server side, and each NC machine tool processes the workpiece under pre-defined processing conditions (machine name, time, planned number of processes, etc.), so the progress of the processed product process can be easily managed on the server.

[0005] On the other hand, it is also common for NC machine tools to be operated according to the on-site flow, without the server managing the machining schedule. In this case, the NC unit numerically controls the machine tool (main body) according to the NC program selected by the operator in response to any machining command. In this way, each NC machine tool performs workpiece machining (turning, milling, etc.) at any timing in accordance with any machining command. The server typically constantly receives "operation history data" from the NC unit, which indicates the execution status of the NC program, but this operation history data alone does not provide information on machining results. For this reason, a process control terminal separate from the server was previously required.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a machining performance management system that makes it possible to manage the machining performance of each NC machine tool without using a process control terminal, and to easily manage the process of the machined product.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a server device used in the machining performance management system and a machining status monitoring program executed by the server device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A machining performance management system for NC machine tools according to one aspect of the present invention manages the machining performance of each NC machine tool. The system includes an NC unit attached to the NC machine tool and a server device connected to the NC unit via a network and receiving operation history data indicating the execution status of an NC program from the NC unit. The NC unit includes a display means for displaying a character information input screen on which character information can be input, and a character information storage means for storing at least one machining control data item entered using the character information input screen. The "machining control data" includes a command number represented by a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command, and a control flag that is set or updated according to the machining status of a workpiece according to the machining command. The server device includes a scanning means for periodically scanning the machining control data, which is character information stored in the character information storage means of the NC unit, and determining the start and end of machining of the workpiece according to the machining command based on the value of the control flag. When the scanning means determines that machining has ended, the server device compares the command number with the corresponding operation history data to analyze the machining performance according to the machining command.

[0009] Preferably, the variables that the control flag can take include a first value indicating the start of processing and a second value indicating the end of processing, and the scanning means records the time when the control flag is set to the first value as the processing start time, and records the time when the control flag is updated from the first value to the second value as the processing end time.

[0010] More preferably, the analysis means calculates the number of executions of the machining main program executed during the period between the machining start time and the machining end time recorded by the scanning means as the number of workpieces actually machined according to the machining command.

[0011] It is desirable that the server device further includes a machining performance storage means for storing machining performance data including a facility name for identifying each NC machine tool, a command number, a machining start time, a machining end time, and an actual machining number.

[0012] In one embodiment, the processing management data includes, in addition to the command number and the control flag, at least one of a code number of the processed product identified by the command number and the planned number of processes.

[0013] If the NC device is, for example, an NC device manufactured by FANUC Corporation, the text information input screen may be configured as a "maintenance information screen" that describes maintenance information for the NC machine tool.

[0014] A server device according to one aspect of the present invention is a server device connected via a network to an NC device attached to an NC machine tool. The NC device is equipped with character information storage means for storing at least one piece of machining control data, including a command number represented by a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command input using a character information input screen, and a control flag that is set and updated depending on the machining status of a workpiece according to the machining command. The server device is equipped with scanning means for periodically scanning the machining control data, which is character information stored in the character information storage means of the NC device, and determining the start and end of machining of the workpiece according to the machining command based on the value of the control flag, and analysis means for, when the scanning means determines that machining has ended, comparing the command number received from the NC device with corresponding operation history data to analyze the machining performance according to the machining command.

[0015] A machining status monitoring program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program executed by a server device connected to an NC device attached to an NC machine tool via a network, and includes the steps of: periodically scanning at least one machining management data set, the step including a command number represented by a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command, which is stored as character information in the NC device, and a control flag which is set and updated according to the machining status of the workpiece according to the machining command; determining, if the value of the control flag is a first value, whether machining of the workpiece according to the machining command has started; determining, if the value of the control flag is a second value, whether machining of the workpiece according to the machining command has ended; and, in response to the determination that machining has ended, comparing the command number received from the NC device with corresponding operation history data to analyze the machining performance according to the machining command. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the processing results of each NC machine tool can be managed on the server side without using a process control terminal, and as a result, the process control of the workpiece can be easily performed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a machining performance management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overview of a machining performance management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an NC device and a server according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a table showing an example of the contents of processing management data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a specific example of a text information input screen. [Figure 6] 4 is a table showing an example of the contents of machining performance data stored in a machining performance storage unit in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a time chart showing the overall flow of a machining performance management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a machining status monitoring process executed by a server according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart showing a process (first process) at the start of processing and a process (second process) at the end of processing executed by a server in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a known machining performance management system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like or corresponding parts are designated by like reference numerals and will not be described repeatedly.

[0019] First, with reference to FIG. 1, the basic configuration of an NC machine tool 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described. The NC machine tool 1 includes a machine tool main body 10 having a drive system, such as a servomotor-driven feed axis, and an NC unit 2 that numerically controls the machine tool main body 10 when machining a workpiece. The NC unit 2 is connected to a server 4 via a network NW, and various data and programs are transmitted and received between the NC unit 2 and the server 4. Generally, multiple NC machine tools 1 (NC units 2) are connected to one server 4 via wired or wireless connections. The multiple NC machine tools 1 may include NC lathes, machining centers, NC grinders, etc. (including at least a machining center). A display device (not shown) installed at the site (factory) is connected to the network NW, and the operating status of the multiple NC machine tools 1 can be confirmed on the display device.

[0020] The NC device 2 controls the machine tool body 10 in accordance with the NC program and numerical control parameters downloaded from the server 4. The NC program typically includes a main program (hereinafter referred to as the "machining main program") and subprograms called from the main program.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows an overview of the machining performance management system including the NC unit 2 and the server 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the NC unit 2 has an operation panel 22 equipped with a display unit. Generally, the display screen of the operation panel 22 displays information about the program being executed, workpiece position information, maintenance information, etc. The operation panel 22 also makes it possible to select the main machining program to be used for machining the workpiece, and to input macro variables and program comments to be used for controlling the machine tool main body 10.

[0022] In the machining performance management system of this embodiment, the machining schedule is not managed on the server 4 side, and each NC machine tool 1 machines a workpiece in accordance with any machining command given by an on-site worker. A known machining performance management system intended for such a case where the NC machine tool 1 is operated under on-site control is shown in Fig. 10.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 10, in a known machining performance management system, an on-site worker receives a machining command on a paper instruction sheet (or an on-site process control terminal 9), selects a machining main program corresponding to the machining command via an operation panel 22, and starts operation of an NC machine tool 1. An NC device 2 executes the selected machining main program (and subprograms called from the machining main program) to perform a machining cycle for a workpiece according to the machining command.

[0024] The NC device 2 has the function of loading and unloading NC programs such as the machining main program stored in the server 4, and also automatically uploading (transmitting) "operation history data" that indicates the execution status of the NC program to the server 4. However, since it is not possible to grasp the machining results for each NC machine tool 1 from the operation history data alone, conventionally, each time each NC machine tool 1 completes machining of a workpiece (when machining according to an arbitrary machining command ends), the end of machining of the workpiece on the corresponding NC machine tool 1 is input into the process control terminal 9, enabling process control of the machined product.

[0025] The machining results can be identified by the content of the machining command, the date and time when the machining command was executed (the start time and end time of machining), and the actual number of machining operations. The machining command is identified by a "command number" that uniquely represents the machined product and the type of machining. The machined product can be identified by a "code number."

[0026] If an operator could operate the operation panel 22 and use macro variables and program comments used as control data for the NC unit 2, it would be possible to automatically send the data necessary for managing machining results, including command numbers, to the server 4. However, because command numbers are usually expressed as character strings (including letters), this method cannot be adopted. Specifically, while only numerical values ​​can be input into macro variables and character strings can be input into program comments, it is necessary to change the program comment every time the command number (machined product) changes, which is not realistic.

[0027] 2, the machining performance management system according to this embodiment is characterized in that a character information input screen into which character information can be input is provided on the display means of the operation panel 22, and this "character information input screen" can be used to input the start and end timings of machining commands along with the command number (character information), thereby making it possible to manage the machining performance for each NC machine tool 1 on the server 4 side without using the process control terminal 9. The machining performance management system for the NC machine tool 1 will be specifically described below.

[0028] The NC device 2 in this embodiment is, as an example, an NC device manufactured by FANUC Corporation, and in this embodiment, an example will be described in which the "text information input screen" is configured from a "maintenance information screen" displayed on the operation panel of the NC device manufactured by FANUC Corporation.

[0029] <Outline of the machining performance management system> The schematic configuration of the machining performance management system will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the machining performance management system and the functional configuration of the NC device 2 and the server 4.

[0030] The machining performance management system according to this embodiment includes an NC device 2 attached to an NC machine tool 1, and a server 4 connected to the NC device 2 via a network NW.

[0031] The NC device 2 includes a processor 21 that performs various arithmetic processing, an operation panel 22 operated by a user (operator), a memory 23 that stores various data and programs, a character information storage unit 24 that stores character information, and a communication interface 26 connected to the network NW. The processor 21 of the NC device 2 controls the drive system 3 of the machine tool main body 10, and transmits predetermined information (including operation history data) to the server 4 via the communication interface 26.

[0032] The operation panel 22 has a display means for displaying various information and an input means for receiving input from the user. The display screen of the operation panel 22 displays information about the program being executed, workpiece position information, maintenance information, etc. The "maintenance information screen" on which maintenance information is displayed usually only displays the specifications of each component device, and on-site workers generally do not use the maintenance information screen.

[0033] In this embodiment, an operator inputs "machining management data" (described later) into a maintenance information screen (character information input screen) that allows input of character strings, thereby enabling the server 4 to automatically analyze the machining performance of each NC machine tool 1. The machining management data input using the maintenance information screen is stored in the character information storage unit 24.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of machining management data. The machining management data includes at least a command number expressed as a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command, and a control flag that is set and updated depending on the machining status (machining start / end) of the workpiece according to the machining command. In this embodiment, the machining management data further includes a code number of the machined product identified by the command number, and a planned machining count (number of commands). In the following explanation, data of the machining management data other than the control flag (command number, code number, planned machining count) will be referred to as "machining command data."

[0035] The command number is typically expressed by a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols (character string). The code number is also typically expressed by a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols (character string). The planned number of processes (command number) is expressed by a number.

[0036] For example, while checking a paper instruction sheet, the worker inputs the machining instruction data (instruction number, code number, number of instructions) written on the instruction sheet into the maintenance information screen. The control flag is a variable (single-digit number), and as an example, it is set and updated to "1" (first value) when machining starts and "2" (second value) when machining ends. The control flag indicates the machining status of the workpiece, and is set to "1" only during the machining period of the workpiece. When inputting multiple pieces of machining management data in advance, all control flags can be set to "2", and the control flag can be updated to "1" when machining starts.

[0037] Figure 5 shows a specific example of a maintenance information screen, which is a text information input screen. (A) shows an example of the display screen when inputting processing management data, and (B) shows an example of the display screen when rewriting a control flag. As shown in Figure 5(A), processing management data is displayed above the normal maintenance information, and is displayed at the top when the maintenance information screen is opened. Processing management data is input line by line.

[0038] A predetermined keyword (hereinafter referred to as "command end keyword") is displayed on the line following the final line of the processing management data. As will be described later, the scanning unit 51 of the server 4 can determine the description range of the processing management data by the command end keyword. The command end keyword may be a string of alphabets such as "END" or may be a predetermined number or symbol.

[0039] The order in which the multiple items making up the machining management data are written is fixed, and in this embodiment, from left to right, the following are written: control flag (numeric value 1 or 2), command number (character string), code number (character string), and command count (numeric value). As an example, items are separated by semicolons (;). Note that, in order to reduce input errors by the operator, comment information indicating the order in which the items are written may be displayed below the command end keyword. As shown in FIG. 5, the comment information includes multiple item names (character strings) written in the order in which they are entered, and definitions (character strings) for each possible value of the control flag.

[0040] Referring again to Figure 3, the server 4 includes a processor 41 that performs various arithmetic processing, a memory 42 that stores various data and programs, an operation history storage unit 43 that stores operation history data, and a processing performance storage unit 44 that stores processing performance data.

[0041] The server 4 has a functional configuration including a scanning unit 51 that periodically scans the machining management data held (stored) in the character information storage unit 24 of each NC device 2 and determines the start and end of machining of a workpiece (according to the corresponding command number) based on the value of the control flag, and an analyzing unit 52 that analyzes the machining performance of the NC machine tool 1 in response to the determination by the scanning unit 51 that machining has ended. Specific processing by the scanning unit 51 and the analyzing unit 52 will be described later.

[0042] The scanning unit 51 and the analyzing unit 52 are realized by the processor 41 executing a machining status monitoring program (including a scanning program and an analyzing program), which is an application program stored in the memory 42. The machining status monitoring program may be stored on the cloud.

[0043] The operation history storage unit 43 stores operation history data received from each NC device 2 connected via the network NW. The operation history data includes a program number (Oxxxx) that identifies a machining main program (NC program) and chronological code information commanded by the machining main program. It also includes a program number (Oxxxx) that identifies a subprogram called from the machining main program and chronological code information commanded by the subprogram.

[0044] The machining performance memory unit 44 stores machining performance data based on the analysis results of the analysis unit 52. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the machining performance data stored in the machining performance memory unit 44. As shown in Fig. 6, the machining performance data includes a facility name for identifying each NC machine tool 1, character information (machining command data), machining start time (date and time), machining end time (date and time), and actual machining number (achieved number). Note that the character information stored in the machining performance memory unit 44 only needs to include at least a command number. The machining performance memory unit 44 stores a plurality of machining performance data.

[0045] <Operation of the processing performance management system> The operation of the machining performance management system will be described with reference to Fig. 2, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. Fig. 7 is a time chart showing the overall flow of the machining performance management system according to this embodiment. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the machining status monitoring process executed by the server 4. It is assumed here that a plurality of machining management data with the control flag set to "2" have been input (stored in the character information storage unit 24) before the machining status monitoring process starts.

[0046] 2 and 8, the scanning unit 51 of the server 4 periodically (for example, every 5 seconds) scans the machining management data (character information) stored in the character information storage unit 24 of the NC device 2 (step S1). Then, it detects whether or not the control flag for each machining management data has changed (step S3).

[0047] For example, assuming that machining is to be started according to the command number on the second line displayed on the maintenance information screen in Fig. 7, the operator changes the control flag on the second line from "2" to "1" via the operation panel 22. It is desirable to change the control flag before machining actually starts (before selecting the main machining program and setting the workpiece).

[0048] When the value of the control flag changes from "2" to "1," the scanning unit 51 determines that machining of the workpiece has started on the NC machine tool 1 (step S5), and executes the first process (step S7). The first process is shown in FIG. 9(A). The control flag may be set to "1" when the machining management data is input, and in this case, it is determined that machining has started when the control flag is set to "1."

[0049] As shown in FIG. 9(A), the scanning unit 51 temporarily records the machining command data (data including the command number) associated with the control flag "1" as retained data in an internal memory or the like together with an "equipment name" that can identify the target NC machine tool 1 (step S21). The equipment name is expressed, for example, as a character string. In addition, the current time is added (recorded) to the retained data as the machining start time (step S23). The processing order of steps S21 and S23 may be reversed, or these processes may be performed simultaneously.

[0050] At this point, the retained data includes the equipment name, machining command data, and machining start time. That is, the command number and machining start time are recorded in association with the equipment name that started machining the workpiece. The scanning unit 51 scans multiple NC units 2 connected via a network, so it can simultaneously retain multiple retained data.

[0051] The corresponding NC machine tool 1 continuously processes the processed product identified by the command number (code number) for the number of commands. When the continuous operation of the NC machine tool 1 stops and the processing is completed, the operator removes the workpiece and then changes the control flag on the second line from "1" to "2" via the operation panel 22.

[0052] When the value of the control flag changes from "1" to "2," the scanning unit 51 determines that the machining of the workpiece by the NC machine tool 1 has finished (step S9), and executes the second process (step S9). The second process is shown in Figure 9(B).

[0053] 9(B), the scanning unit 51 searches for retained data that matches the machining command data whose control flag is set to "2" from among several retained data (step S31). Then, the current time is added (recorded) as the machining end time to the corresponding retained data (step S33). After recording the machining end time, the scanning unit 51 outputs the retained data, including the name of the equipment that machined the workpiece, the command number, the machining start time, and the machining end time, to the analyzing unit 52.

[0054] The analysis unit 52 calculates the actual machining number based on the retained data obtained from the scan unit 51 (step S35). That is, the analysis unit 52 calculates the actual machining number by collating the command number with the operation history data corresponding to the command number stored in the operation history storage unit 43. The operation history data indicates the command time of the M code (M02 or M30) indicating the end of the machining main program (completion of machining of the workpiece), so the analysis unit 52 can calculate the number of times the machining main program was executed during the period between the machining start time and machining end time recorded in the retained data as the actual machining number according to the machining command.

[0055] When the calculation of the actual processed number is completed, the analysis unit 52 outputs the retained data including the actual processed number in CSV format to the processing performance storage unit 44 (step S37). As a result, the retained data is stored as processing performance data in the processing performance storage unit 44. As shown in Fig. 6, the processing performance data includes the name of the equipment that performed the processing, processing command data including a command number, processing start time, processing end time, and the actual processed number.

[0056] In this way, a plurality of pieces of machining performance data are accumulated in the machining performance memory unit 44. This enables the server 4 to manage when, which NC machine tool 1, which machining command, and how many pieces of machining have been executed.

[0057] As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the operation panel 22 of the NC device 2 with a "character information input screen" on which the start timing and end timing of a machining command can be entered along with the command number, the server 4 can automatically collect and analyze information required for managing the machining record from the NC device 2 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, according to the machining record management system of this embodiment, the machining record of each NC machine tool 1 can be collectively managed on the server 4 side without using the process control terminal 9 (FIG. 10).

[0058] Furthermore, the multiple NC machine tools 1 installed in the factory include an NC lathe used in the turning process of the workpiece, a machining center used in the milling process of the workpiece, and an NC grinding machine used in the grinding process of the workpiece, so it is possible to manage the progress of the process until one workpiece is completed based on the multiple processing performance data stored in the processing performance memory unit 44.

[0059] The machining status monitoring method executed by the server 4 can also be provided as an application program. Such a program can be provided by being recorded on an optical medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-ROM) or a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card. The program can also be provided by downloading it via a network.

[0060] The program according to the present invention may execute processing by calling necessary modules in a predetermined sequence at a predetermined timing among program modules provided as part of a computer's operating system (OS). In this case, the program itself does not include the modules, and executes processing in cooperation with the OS. Programs that do not include such modules may also be included in the program according to the present invention.

[0061] Furthermore, the program according to the present invention may be provided as a part of another program. In this case, the program itself does not include the modules included in the other program, and executes processing in cooperation with the other program. Such a program incorporated in another program may also be included in the program according to the present invention.

[0062] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 NC machine tool, 2 NC device, 4 server, 22 operation panel (display means), 24 character information storage unit, 43 operation history storage unit, 44 machining performance storage unit, 51 scanning unit, 52 analysis unit.

Claims

1. A machining performance management system for managing machining performance for each NC machine tool, The system comprises an NC device attached to the NC machine tool, and a server device connected to the NC device via a network and receiving operation history data indicating the execution status of an NC program from the NC device, The NC device is a display means for displaying a character information input screen on which character information can be input; character information storage means for storing at least one piece of machining management data, the character information storage means including a command number represented by a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command input using the character information input screen, and a control flag set and updated according to the machining status of the workpiece according to the machining command; The server device a scanning means for periodically scanning the machining management data, which is character information stored in the character information storage means of the NC device, and determining the start and end of machining of the workpiece in accordance with the machining command based on the value of the control flag; and analyzing means for, in response to the scanning means determining that machining has been completed, comparing the command number with the operation history data corresponding to the command number and analyzing the machining results according to the machining command.

2. The control flag may have a first value indicating a start of machining and a second value indicating an end of machining, 2. The machining performance management system for an NC machine tool according to claim 1, wherein said scanning means records the time when said control flag is set to said first value as a machining start time, and records the time when said control flag is updated from said first value to said second value as a machining end time.

3. 3. The machining performance management system for an NC machine tool according to claim 2, wherein said analysis means calculates the number of executions of the machining main program executed during the period between the machining start time and the machining end time recorded by said scanning means as the number of times that workpieces are actually machined according to said machining commands.

4. 2. The machining performance management system for NC machine tools according to claim 1, wherein said server device further includes machining performance storage means for storing machining performance data including a facility name for identifying each of said NC machine tools, said command number, a machining start time, a machining end time, and an actual machining number.

5. 2. The machining performance management system for an NC machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the machining management data includes, in addition to the command number and the control flag, at least one of a code number of a machined product specified by the command number and a planned number of machining operations.

6. 6. A machining performance management system for NC machine tools according to claim 1, wherein said character information input screen is configured as a maintenance information screen on which maintenance information for said NC machine tool is described.

7. A server device connected to an NC device attached to an NC machine tool via a network, the NC device includes a character information storage means for storing at least one piece of machining management data, the character information storage means including a command number represented by a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command input using a character information input screen, and a control flag that is set and updated depending on the machining status of the workpiece according to the machining command; a scanning means for periodically scanning the machining management data, which is character information stored in the character information storage means of the NC device, and determining the start and end of machining of the workpiece in accordance with the machining command based on the value of the control flag; and an analysis means for, in response to the scanning means determining that the machining has been completed, comparing the command number received from the NC device with corresponding operation history data and analyzing the machining results according to the machining command.

8. A machining status monitoring program executed by a server device connected to an NC device attached to an NC machine tool via a network, a step of periodically scanning at least one piece of machining management data, which is stored as character information in the NC device and includes a command number represented by a character string corresponding to an arbitrary machining command, and a control flag which is set and updated according to the machining status of the workpiece according to the machining command; a step of determining, when the value of the control flag is a first value, whether to start machining of the workpiece in accordance with the machining command; When the value of the control flag is a second value, determining whether machining of the workpiece according to the machining command has been completed; a step of, in response to a determination that the machining has ended, comparing the command number received from the NC device with corresponding operation history data and analyzing the machining results according to the machining command.

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