NC program editing device

Abstract

The objective is to provide an interactive editing device that allows users to edit a machining program by inputting the spindle, tool post, tools, and other components necessary for machining a workpiece, as well as the machining conditions. This device facilitates the confirmation and modification of the NC program and also allows for editing of inter-process elements such as the machining sequence of the workpiece. [Solution] The NC program is edited when machining conditions are input, and the system has a machining condition input screen and a screen that displays the edited NC program once the machining conditions are input, and is characterized by having a means for switching between the machining condition input screen and the NC program display screen or a parallel display screen for the machining condition input screen and the NC program display screen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an NC program editing device for machining a workpiece with an NC-controlled machine tool.

Background Art

[0002] In the field of machine tools, machining of workpieces is automatically performed according to a machining program. Therefore, an operator needs to program in advance the machining process of the workpiece and the like. In this case, an advanced user can directly edit the NC program. However, in recent years, a so-called interactive function type support system has been proposed, in which a spindle, a tool post, etc. required for machining are selected along with the display of an editing screen, and when machining conditions and the like are input on the screen, the NC program is edited. However, in the conventional interactive function type, after inputting items required for machining and completing the machining program, it is necessary to output and check the final NC program, and the checking work is very troublesome.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an editing support device in which when an arbitrary point of a machining process displayed on a screen is specified, the process name data and the like of that part in the process list display area are displayed, facilitating confirmation and editing of the content, but it does not support the editing of the NC program itself. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which in a program editing screen for displaying machining program codes, when an insertion location for newly inserting a code is specified and a control method of a tool on an auxiliary screen is selected, the machining program is edited based on this information. However, it does not directly support the creation of an NC program.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an interactive editing device that allows users to edit a machining program by inputting the spindle, tool post, tools, etc., necessary for machining a workpiece, as well as the machining conditions. This device facilitates the confirmation and modification of the NC program and also allows for editing of inter-process elements such as the machining sequence of the workpiece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In the field of machine tools such as multi-tasking machines, the creation of machining programs for machining a workpiece is generally done by creating a program for each unit of a series of processes, which is called a unit, until the machining program for all processes of the workpiece is complete. Therefore, in conventional interactive machining program editing devices, the items that need to be entered for each of the above units are displayed. Required items include, for example, in the case of a multi-tasking machine, the spindle that holds the workpiece, the tool post that holds the tool, the tool to be used, and the conditions for outer diameter machining, inner diameter machining, end face machining, and the resulting machined shapes of the workpiece. By entering the necessary conditions for each item displayed on the editing screen, an NC program will be automatically created. In this case, the operator needs to output the automatically generated final NC program and check its contents. However, in the case of a multi-tasking machine where there are workpiece transfers and collaborative machining processes between multiple spindles and tool posts, checking the NC program becomes a difficult task. Furthermore, in machining programs consisting of numerous processes, editing between processes, such as rearranging them, is also a cumbersome process.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention is characterized in that, firstly, in order to facilitate mutual confirmation between the processing conditions entered for each unit and the NC program, the NC program is edited when processing conditions are entered, and it has a processing condition input screen and an NC program display screen that displays the edited NC program when processing conditions are entered, and has a means for switching between the processing condition input screen and the NC program display screen or a parallel display screen for the processing condition input screen and the NC program display screen. In this context, it is preferable that the NC program display screen allows for direct modification or editing of the NC program. This allows beginners in creating machining programs to immediately see how their entered machining conditions are reflected in the NC program, and even advanced users can instantly view the NC program for each unit with a single touch. Based on this display, they can also directly edit and modify the NC program, thereby improving the efficiency of machining program creation.

[0008] Furthermore, for the purpose of assisting in the editing of NC programs, the input screen for machining conditions may also include a guidance screen for input items and / or a screen displaying the machining shape of the workpiece.

[0009] Furthermore, the system has a display screen for the workpiece machining process, and when a machining process to be edited is selected from the workpiece machining process display screen, the input screen for machining conditions is displayed, and when machining conditions are entered, the system has means for displaying the machining time for each process and the machining time for all processes within a specified range, and the workpiece machining process display screen may be made click-and-hold and drag-and-drop operable. This approach allows for rearranging the processing sequence and shortening processing time, for example, with a feel similar to operating a smartphone screen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In the NC program editing device according to the present invention, since editing can be performed while checking how the machining conditions input on the interactive editing screen are reflected in the NC program, the editing of the NC program is easy and efficient.

[0011] Also, the editing of the machining order is easy, and the machining time of the workpiece can be made more efficient.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] [Figure 1] An example of an editing screen for a machining program is shown. [Figure 2] An example of an input screen for machining conditions is shown. [Figure 3] An example of an NC program display screen is shown. [Figure 4] An example of a simulation screen for the machining trajectory of a workpiece is shown. [Figure 5] An example of a machining process screen for a workpiece is shown. [Figure 6] An example of an editing screen between processes is shown. [Figure 7] An example of inserting a process along a guidance screen is shown. [Figure 8] An example of an input screen for inputting machining conditions along a guidance screen is shown. [Figure 9] An example of an NC program display screen created based on the input items for machining conditions is shown.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] A configuration example of the NC program editing device according to the present invention will be described below based on the drawings. In this embodiment, as shown with an example of an editing screen for a machining program in FIG. 1 and an example of a machining process screen for a workpiece in FIG. 5, an example of a multi-tasking machine is shown in which two main spindles, an L main spindle and an R main spindle, are arranged opposite to each other, and a tool rest such as a turret is provided on the upper side (Upper) and the lower side (Lower) of each main spindle. The present invention can be used for NC programming of various machine tools and is not limited to this embodiment.

[0014] In FIG. 1, N10, N20,... indicate the processing step N numbers, and M41, M91,... indicate the spindle selection M codes. Therefore, for example, N10M41 (O.D. ROUGH - MGI -) in unit units indicates (N number + spindle M code + comment), and the same applies to other units. The example of the editing screen shown in FIG. 1 shows the workpiece processing shape display screen 11 indicating the final shape of the workpiece and an example of the display screen 12 of the workpiece processing steps below it. When N10M41 is clicked (touched) on the editing screen of FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the guidance display screen 13 indicating the processing content and the input screen 14 for processing conditions are displayed. On this screen, the processing conditions are input using the interactive function referring to the guidance display screen 13. When the input of the processing conditions is completed, an NC program is automatically created. When the display switching button (icon) 1 is clicked, as shown in FIG. 3, it switches to the NC program display screen 15 and the NC program is displayed. Here, it is possible to mutually switch between the input screen 14 for processing conditions and the NC program display screen 15 by operating the display switching button 1. On the NC program display screen 15 shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to directly modify and add the NC program in terms of G / M codes, etc. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, when the switching button 2 is clicked (touched) to display the machining trajectory simulation display screen, the machining time of each process and the total machining time can be simulated and the results can be displayed.

[0015] Next, an example of editing between each processing step is shown. FIG. 5 shows an example of the process screen of a compound machine tool composed of two main spindles of L and R and four tool posts of Upper and Lower. Here, taking into account the waiting time for each tool post, for example, if you want to move the machining process N10 of the L main spindle to the R main spindle in Figure 5, you can edit the machining process sequence by simply clicking and holding N10 on the screen in Figure 5 and dragging and dropping it to the desired position of the R main spindle, as shown in Figure 6.

[0016] Next, we will explain specific examples of inserting processing steps. Using the interactive function on the editing screen shown in Figure 7, select and input the L spindle and tool post upper, then select end face machining, and click (touch) the process insertion button. As shown in Figure 8, the input screen for the end face turning (A) machining conditions will appear, and you will enter the necessary items. Once the machining conditions are entered, an NC program is automatically created. Clicking the display toggle button 1 on the editing screen in Figure 7 displays the contents of the NC program as shown in Figure 9. This allows users to interactively input necessary items such as machining conditions for each process, and edit the entire NC program while checking how these conditions are reflected in the NC program each time. Furthermore, the input screen for machining conditions and the NC program display screen can be displayed side-by-side. [Explanation of symbols]

[0017] 11 Machining shape display screen 12. Display screen for the processing steps 13 Guidance display screen 14. Input screen for processing conditions 15 NC program display screen 16. Machining trajectory simulation display screen

Claims

1. The NC program is edited when machining conditions are entered. It has a screen for inputting machining conditions and a screen for displaying the edited NC program once the machining conditions have been entered. An NC program editing device characterized by having a means for switching between the input screen for machining conditions and the NC program display screen, or a parallel display screen for the input screen for machining conditions and the NC program display screen.

2. The NC program editing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the NC program display screen allows for direct modification or editing of the NC program.

3. The NC program editing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the input screen for the processing conditions has a guidance screen for input items and / or a screen for displaying the processed shape of the workpiece.

4. The NC program editing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a display screen for the workpiece machining process, and when the machining process to be edited in the program is selected from the workpiece machining process display screen, the input screen for the machining conditions is displayed, and when the machining conditions are entered, the device has means for displaying the machining time for each process and the machining time for all processes within a specified range.

5. The NC program editing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the display screen for the workpiece machining process can be operated by click-and-hold and drag-and-drop.

Images