Line CAD data processing system

Abstract

This system provides a line CAD data processing system that can extract only the line CAD data containing the modified CAD data that requires verification, when changes have been made to the CAD data. [Solution] The line information created for each line CAD data stored in the OLD folder 31 and the NEW folder 32 is compared, and based on the results of the comparison, line CAD data that requires verification due to differences in the information including line information and line CAD data that does not require verification are identified and output. This allows the operator to perform verification work only on line CAD data that requires verification, thereby improving work efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a line CAD data processing system.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as drawings used in the manufacture of vehicle bodies and the like, drawings in which welding positions between members are drawn by line CAD data are used. In order to ensure welding quality, manufacturing requirements are checked from the line CAD data on the CAD drawing and the CAD data of peripheral parts around the welding position (such as the material and plate thickness of the peripheral parts).

[0003] Patent Document 1 has been proposed as an apparatus for generating line CAD data. This Patent Document 1 discloses that a shared region is automatically calculated from the contact surfaces of the materials to be welded, which are represented as numerical models by a CAD processing apparatus, and the ridgelines of the shared surface are automatically calculated to display welding line candidates on a display device. An operator selects a welding line on the display device via an instruction device, and adds a welding symbol to the selected welding line, thereby instructing a welding operation for the location (the location where the welding symbol is added).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, when there is a change in CAD data including a change in the line CAD data indicating the welding position, the operator is required to visually find the changed part of the line CAD data and check the welding requirements for the changed part, which is extremely cumbersome.

[0006] Furthermore, this issue arises not only when the line CAD data indicates a welding position, but also when the line CAD data indicates a different position.

[0007] The inventors of this invention focused on the fact that in manufacturing processes that heavily utilize welding, if there are changes from the CAD data in the previous stage, it would be possible to automatically extract the changed line CAD data (line CAD data indicating welding positions) and only perform welding requirement verification work on that line CAD data, thereby eliminating the need for redundant work and leading to increased work efficiency.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and its objective is to provide a line CAD data processing system that can extract only the line CAD data that has undergone changes requiring confirmation from the line CAD data included in the CAD data when the CAD data has been modified. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention provides a solution for achieving the above objectives, comprising: a line CAD data processing system; a first storage unit storing first line CAD data; a second storage unit storing second line CAD data; a line information creation unit that creates line information including comparison points assigned to predetermined positions for each line CAD data stored in each storage unit; a line information comparison unit that compares the line information created for the first line CAD data with the line information created for the second line CAD data; and an information output unit that identifies and outputs line CAD data that requires verification due to differences in the information including the line information, and line CAD data that does not require such verification, based on the results of the comparison by the line information comparison unit.

[0010] This specific information ensures that if the first line CAD data and the second line CAD data are different (for example, if the first line CAD data is modified and the second line CAD data is created), the information output unit will output information identifying whether the line CAD data requires verification or not. This allows the operator to perform verification only on the line CAD data that requires verification. For example, if the verification is for confirming manufacturing requirements, the operator only needs to perform the manufacturing requirement verification on the line CAD data that requires it. This eliminates unnecessary verification work, thus improving work efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In this invention, the line information created for each line CAD data stored in each storage unit is compared, and based on the results of the comparison, line CAD data that requires verification due to differences in the information including line information and line CAD data that does not require verification are identified and output. As a result, the operator only needs to perform verification work on line CAD data that requires verification, and does not need to perform verification work on line CAD data that does not require verification. Consequently, unnecessary verification work is eliminated, and the work efficiency can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of a line CAD data processing system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2(a) is a schematic diagram showing line CAD data of the welding position of the vehicle body according to the embodiment, Figure 2(b) is a diagram showing the state in which comparison points have been assigned to one line CAD data input to the information processing unit, and Figure 2(c) is a diagram for explaining the shape information created in one line CAD data. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for processing line CAD data according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment will be described using the example of line CAD data indicating welding positions on a vehicle body. The present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to cases where data other than welding positions on a vehicle body is handled, or where data indicating welding positions on devices or components other than a vehicle body is handled, or where data other than welding positions on devices or components other than a vehicle body is handled.

[0014] -System Configuration Description- Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of the line CAD data processing system 1 according to this embodiment. The line CAD data processing system 1 is constructed using, for example, a personal computer (including a CAD terminal).

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the line CAD data processing system 1 comprises an operation unit 2, a data storage unit 3, an information processing unit 4, and a display unit 5.

[0016] The control unit 2 is a keyboard or pointing device operated by the operator. Operation of this control unit 2 enables the output of information to the data storage unit 3 and the information processing unit 4. For example, when the operator operates the control unit 2, CAD data including line CAD data indicating the welding positions of the components constituting the vehicle body is output to the data storage unit 3. Furthermore, when executing the line CAD data processing described later, the operator operates the control unit 2, which outputs a request signal for line CAD data processing to the information processing unit 4.

[0017] The data storage unit 3 is equipped with an OLD folder (first storage area) 31 and a NEW folder (second storage area) 32 as storage areas for line CAD data. The usage of the OLD folder 31 and the NEW folder 32 is as follows.

[0018] Let's consider a scenario where line CAD data, which indicates the welding positions between components, is changed in CAD drawings used for manufacturing a vehicle body. In this case, the line CAD data before the change will be stored in the OLD folder 31, and the line CAD data after the change will be stored in the NEW folder 32. However, since it is unknown whether the initially created CAD drawing will be changed afterward, it will first be stored in the NEW folder 32. If the line CAD data is subsequently changed, the line CAD data stored in the NEW folder 32 will be moved to the OLD folder 31, and then the changed line CAD data will be stored in the NEW folder 32. The use of the OLD folder 31 and the NEW folder 32 is not limited to this; both the line CAD data before and after the change could be stored in folders 31 and 32 respectively, and the file names of the line CAD data could be automatically changed to allow identification of whether each line CAD data is the original or the changed version. Furthermore, although the above description referred to the data stored in the OLD folder 31 and the NEW folder 32 as line CAD data, it may also refer to CAD data including line CAD data (CAD data including line CAD data and data other than weld lines).

[0019] The information processing unit 4, when processing line CAD data, creates line information for the line CAD data stored in folders 31 and 32 (line CAD data before modification and line CAD data after modification), uses this line information to compare the line CAD data before modification and the line CAD data after modification, and based on the results of this comparison, identifies and outputs line CAD data that requires confirmation of manufacturing requirements and line CAD data that does not require confirmation of manufacturing requirements.

[0020] Specifically, this information processing unit 4 includes, for example, a processor such as a CPU, a ROM that stores control programs, a RAM that temporarily stores data, and an input / output port and the like. The information processing unit 2 includes, as functional units realized by the stored computer programs, a line CAD data input unit 41, a comparison point assigning unit 42, a shape information creating unit 43, a line information comparing unit 44, and an information output unit 45.

[0021] The line CAD data input unit 41 reads line CAD data specified by the operator operating the operation unit 2 from the data storage unit 3. That is, when the line CAD data is modified, the line CAD data before modification is read from the OLD folder 31, and the line CAD data after modification is read from the NEW folder 32. Specifically, the line CAD data of the welding positions on the vehicle body as shown in Fig. 2(a) is read out.

[0022] The comparison point assigning unit 42 assigns comparison points, which will be described later, to each of the line CAD data (the line CAD data before modification and the line CAD data after modification) read by the line CAD data input unit 41. The comparison points are, for example, both end positions of a straight line or a curve on the line CAD data, and at least one point that divides the straight line or curve between the two end positions into equally spaced line segments. Fig. 2(b) shows a state in which comparison points P1, P2, P3, P4 are assigned to both end positions of the curve on the line CAD data and the positions that trisect the curve between the two end positions. Such assignment processing of the comparison points P1 to P4 is performed for each straight line or curve of the line CAD data before modification and the line CAD data after modification. In Fig. 2(b), four comparison points P1 to P4 are assigned, but the present invention is not limited to this, and three or less comparison points or five or more comparison points may be assigned. Further, the comparison points are not limited to points that divide a straight line or a curve into equally spaced line segments, and may be points provided at a pitch of a predetermined length (for example, 10 mm). The interval between adjacent comparison points in this case can be set arbitrarily.

[0023] The shape information creation unit 43 creates (assigns) shape information, described below, to each line CAD data (line CAD data before modification and line CAD data after modification) read by the line CAD data input unit 41. This shape information is used to represent the characteristics of the shape of a straight line or curve on the line CAD data. Figure 2(c) shows the state in which this shape information has been created. Specifically, in the case of the curve shown in Figure 2(c), the length of the curve (weld line length) is measured, the centroid position G (coordinate position of the centroid position G) on the curve is defined, the length of the straight line L1 connecting the centroid position G to the comparison point P1 attached to the tip of one end of the curve, and the length of the straight line L2 connecting the centroid position G to the comparison point P4 attached to the tip of the other end of the curve. Then, the angle θ (angle on the obtuse side) between the straight line L1 and the straight line L2 is defined. In this embodiment, the length of the weld line, the length of straight line L1, the length of straight line L2, and the angle θ were created as shape information, but the present invention is not limited to these, and may include one or more of these, or other information.

[0024] Therefore, the comparison point assignment unit 42 and the shape information creation unit 43 constitute the line information creation unit as defined in this invention.

[0025] The line information comparison unit 44 compares the comparison points P1 to P4 and the shape information that have been assigned to and created for the line CAD data before the change and the line CAD data after the change, and determines whether or not this line information matches between the line CAD data before the change and the line CAD data after the change.

[0026] Furthermore, the line information includes not only the comparison points P1 to P4 and shape information mentioned above, but also information about the welding line part number and the folder where the line CAD data was stored (for example, if the line CAD data before the change was stored in the OLD folder 31 and the line CAD data after the change was stored in the NEW folder 32). The line information comparison unit 44 also compares this welding line part number information and folder information.

[0027] The information output unit 45 outputs information to the display unit 5 that identifies whether the welding line related to the target line CAD data (the welding line related to the modified line CAD data) requires confirmation of manufacturing requirements or does not, based on the comparison results from the line information comparison unit 44. Examples of line CAD data changes that require confirmation of manufacturing requirements include changes to the part number, newly added line CAD data, and changes to the shape of the welding line. On the other hand, examples of line CAD data changes that do not require confirmation of manufacturing requirements include reused data, reused data with a changed position, and data that has been discontinued. The specific process for identifying whether or not confirmation of manufacturing requirements is necessary based on the comparison results from the line information comparison unit 44 will be described later.

[0028] Furthermore, the processing of information in each functional unit of the information processing unit 4 can be carried out using software such as CATIA (registered trademark).

[0029] The display unit 5 is, for example, composed of a liquid crystal display and is capable of displaying information output from the information output unit 45.

[0030] -Line CAD Data Processing Procedure- Next, the procedure for line CAD data processing performed by the line CAD data processing system 1 configured as described above will be explained. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the line CAD data processing procedure according to this embodiment. This flowchart is executed in the information processing unit 4.

[0031] First, in step ST1, the operator requests line CAD data processing and specifies the target line CAD data. Then, in step ST2, the line CAD data (the line CAD data before modification and the line CAD data after modification) is read from folders 31 and 32. In step ST3, the aforementioned comparison points P1 to P4 are assigned to each line CAD data, and in step ST4, the aforementioned shape information is created.

[0032] Subsequently, in step ST5, the line information including these comparison points P1 to P4 and shape information is compared. If the line information matches and a YES judgment is made in step ST6, the process moves to step ST7 to determine whether the welding part numbers of each line CAD data match. If the welding part numbers match and a YES judgment is made in step ST7, step ST8 determines whether the point centroid position G of each line CAD data matches. If the point centroid position G matches and a YES judgment is made in step ST8, step ST9 determines that the line CAD data is reused, and as a result of this determination, information indicating that the line CAD data does not require confirmation of manufacturing requirements is output to the display unit 5.

[0033] On the other hand, if the point centroid position G does not match and a NO determination is made in step ST8, then in step ST10 it is determined that the line CAD data is being reused with a positional shift, and as a result of that determination, information indicating that the line CAD data does not require confirmation of manufacturing requirements is output to the display unit 5.

[0034] Furthermore, if the welding part numbers do not match in the determination in step ST7 and a NO determination is made, the process moves to step ST11 to determine whether the point centroid position G of each line CAD data matches. If the point centroid position G matches and a YES determination is made in step ST11, the process determines in step ST12 that the part number has been changed, and as a result of this determination, information indicating that the line CAD data requires confirmation of manufacturing requirements is output to the display unit 5.

[0035] On the other hand, if the point centroid position G does not match and a NO determination is made in step ST11, the process proceeds to step ST15 (the processing from step ST15 onwards will be described later).

[0036] If the line information does not match in step ST6 and a NO result is obtained, the process moves to step ST13 to determine whether the welding part numbers of each line CAD data match. If the welding part numbers match and a YES result is obtained in step ST13, step ST14 determines that the line CAD data has had its welding line shape changed, and as a result of this determination, information indicating that the line CAD data requires confirmation of manufacturing requirements is output to the display unit 5.

[0037] On the other hand, if the point centroid position G does not match and a NO judgment is made in step ST13, the process moves to step ST15. If the line CAD data was read from the NEW folder 32, a YES judgment is made in step ST15 and the process moves to step ST16. The process determines that the line CAD data is newly added, and as a result of this determination, information indicating that the line CAD data requires confirmation of manufacturing requirements is output to the display unit 5.

[0038] Furthermore, in the determination in step ST15, if the line CAD data is not read from the NEW folder 32, the determination in step ST15 is NO, and the process moves to step ST17, where it is determined that the line CAD data should be discontinued. As a result of this determination, information indicating that the line CAD data does not require confirmation of manufacturing requirements (discontinued line CAD data) is output to the display unit 5.

[0039] -Effects of the embodiment- As explained above, in this embodiment, the line information created for each line CAD data stored in the OLD folder 31 and the NEW folder 32 is compared, and based on the results of the comparison, line CAD data that requires confirmation of manufacturing requirements due to differences in information including line information and line CAD data that does not require confirmation of manufacturing requirements are identified and output. Therefore, the operator only needs to perform the manufacturing requirement confirmation work for line CAD data that requires confirmation, and does not need to perform the manufacturing requirement confirmation work for line CAD data that does not require confirmation. As a result, unnecessary confirmation work is avoided, and the work efficiency can be increased.

[0040] Furthermore, in line CAD data processing, since only line CAD data extracted from CAD data is used, the data size is small, and processing time can be shortened.

[0041] -Other Embodiments- Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and all modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the claims and equivalents thereof.

[0042] For example, in the above embodiment, line CAD data requiring confirmation of manufacturing requirements and line CAD data not requiring confirmation of manufacturing requirements were output to the display unit 5. However, it is also possible to store only the line CAD data requiring confirmation of manufacturing requirements in the data folder. Furthermore, the comparison results mentioned above may be output as a CSV (registered trademark) file or the like to facilitate confirmation of manufacturing requirements. Note that the file in this case is not limited to a CSV file.

[0043] Furthermore, the CAD data handled by the line CAD data processing system 1 according to the present invention is not limited to 3D-CAD data, but may also be 2D-CAD data. [Industrial applicability]

[0044] The present invention is applicable to a line CAD data processing system that can identify whether changes to line CAD data included in CAD data require verification of welding requirements. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1…Line CAD data processing system 31…OLD folder (first storage unit) 32...NEW folder (second storage section) 42...Comparison point assignment section (line information creation section) 43...Shape information creation unit (line information creation unit) 44...Line information comparison unit 45...Information output unit

Claims

[Claim 1] A line CAD data processing system, A first storage unit in which the first line CAD data is stored, A second storage unit in which the second line CAD data is stored, A line information creation unit creates line information including comparison points assigned to predetermined positions for each line CAD data stored in each of the aforementioned storage units, A line information comparison unit compares the line information created for the first line CAD data with the line information created for the second line CAD data, A line CAD data processing system characterized by comprising: an information output unit that identifies and outputs line CAD data that requires verification due to differences in information including line information, and line CAD data that does not require such verification, based on the results of a comparison by the line information comparison unit.

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