Work processing system

Abstract

Regardless of the locations of multiple NC machine tools, machining data can be easily input into the NC machine tools. 【Solution means】In the machining system 100, the upload server receives from the data generation device 10 the machining data and the machining instruction data in a state combined with the distribution destination information of the NC machine tool, creates data indexes for each of the data, separates the data into a form in which the data can be selectively downloaded, the download server stores the data in a state associated with each data index and notifies the upload server of the storage destination URL, the upload server notifies the NC machine tool of the data index associated with the storage destination URL, the NC machine tool acquires the storage destination URL using the data index indicating the storage destination URL, the NC machine tool downloads the data from the download server, inputs the machining data into the NC machine tool, and utilizes the machining instruction data as assistance means.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a workpiece processing system using a plurality of NC machine tools, and more particularly to a processing system for transmitting machining data and machining instruction data used in NC machine tools to the NC machine tools through the Internet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been no known workpiece processing system in which a plurality of NC machine tools are organically and efficiently coordinated and operated through the Internet. That is, for example, when inputting machining data into a plurality of NC machine tools, if the plurality of NC machine tools are in one factory, the machining data created by a steel frame primary processing information creation device (CAD / CAM) is stored in a storage medium such as a USB and manually input into each NC machine tool. Also, when a plurality of NC machine tools are connected by an intranet or LAN, the machining data is input into each NC machine tool through them.

[0003] However, when trying to input machining data into a plurality of NC machine tools distributed domestically and overseas, the conventional input methods cannot be used. Therefore, instead of an intranet or LAN, it is conceivable to input machining data into each NC machine tool through the Internet.

[0004] Thus, a system for transmitting and receiving machining data through the Internet is known, for example, like the product development system of Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-16315). In this product development system, in order to efficiently promote the development of new products, design data of product molds, etc. are transmitted and received among a plurality of cooperating companies through the Internet. However, also in the system of Patent Document 1, the uploading and downloading of design data are exclusively performed manually.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-16315 [Disclosure of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] On the other hand, the operation of inputting machining data into an NC machine tool is generally complex and requires attention. Therefore, when the input operation is difficult, machining instructions (such as precautions) may be handed to the operator of the NC machine tool in the form of a memo together with the machining data. In such a case, there has been a problem that the operator may be distracted by the machining instructions (memo) and the concentration on the input screen may decrease, resulting in operation errors.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a workpiece machining system that can easily input machining data into these NC machine tools regardless of the locations where a plurality of NC machine tools are arranged. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0008] The workpiece processing system according to the present invention is a workpiece processing system that uses a plurality of NC machine tools to solve the above problems, and includes an upload server and a download server connected to the plurality of NC machine tools through the Internet, processing data input to the plurality of NC machine tools, and a data generation device that generates processing instruction data for assisting the input of the processing data. The upload server receives the processing data and the processing instruction data from the data generation device through the Internet in a state where they are combined with the distribution destination information of the NC machine tools, creates data indexes for each of the processing data and the processing instruction data, separates the processing data and the processing instruction data into a selectively downloadable form through the Internet, and then transmits the processing data and the processing instruction data to the download server separately through the Internet. The download server stores the received processing data and processing instruction data in association with their respective data indexes, and notifies the upload server of a storage destination URL indicating each storage destination. The upload server that receives the notification notifies the NC machine tools of the data indexes associated with the storage destination URLs. The NC machine tools use the data indexes indicating the storage destination URLs notified by the upload server to obtain the storage destination URLs of the processing data and the processing instruction data from the upload server. The NC machine tools that have obtained the storage destination URLs download the processing data and the processing instruction data from the download server, input the processing data into the NC machine tools, and utilize the processing instruction data for the assisting means. This is the gist of the invention.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, the processing data can be easily input to these NC machine tools regardless of the locations where the plurality of NC machine tools are arranged.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a work processing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this processing system 100, the processing data used in the NC machine tools 71 and 72 is transmitted through the Internet.

[0012] In the center of FIG. 1, a cloud diagram indicating the Internet is drawn. On the right side of this cloud diagram, an upload server 30 is arranged, on the upper side, a download server 50 is arranged, and on the left side, a plurality of factories A, B, and C are arranged. NC machine tools 71 and 72 are arranged in factories A and C.

[0013] Also, below the cloud diagram, a steel frame primary processing information creation device (CAD / CAM) 10 as a data generation device is drawn. This creation device 10 is arranged in the office shown in FIG. 3. The reference numerals [1] to [7] in FIG. 1 indicate the movement order of the data transmitted within the system 100.

[0014] FIGS. 2A and 2B show the data structures in the creation device 10, the upload server 30, and the download server 50. FIG. 3 shows the movement of the data within the system 100 in sequence diagrams S1 to S12. Hereinafter, it will be described according to the data movement order [1] to [7].

[0015] [1]: The creation device 10 creates the processing data to be input to the specific NC machine tools 71 and 72 in factories A and C (S1 in FIG. 3). As necessary, the voice guidance uttered by the operator of the creation device 10 is captured by the creation device 10 through the microphone M (S2 in FIG. 3).

[0016] This voice guidance specifically gives voice instructions on how to input, etc. when the operators of the NC machine tools 71 and 72 in each of factories A and C input the processing data into the NC machine tools 71 and 72. The voice guidance is emitted by a speaker with an amplifier or the like arranged beside the NC machine tools 71 and 72 in each of factories A and C. The operators of the NC machine tools 71 and 72 can easily input the processing data into the NC machine tools 71 and 72 with the assistance of the voice guidance.

[0017] The operator of the creation device 10 inputs into the creation device 10, as "destination information", which NC machine tools 71 and 72 the processing data will be used for. The "destination information" is composed of "processing plant type", "line type", and "processing machine type" as in the "data structure" of (d) in FIG. 2B, and by enabling the destination bit, the NC machine tools 71 and 72 are determined as the destinations.

[0018] Enabling the destination bit, as in the "relationship between destination information and mask bits" of (d) in FIG. 2B, by adding mask information (mask bits), it becomes possible to provide flexible group distribution (selective simultaneous distribution) such as "the entire factory" or "the entire line".

[0019] FIG. 2B illustrates the case of distributing to the processing machines i installed in factory A and factory C surrounded by circles, and lines 1 and 3. The selective distribution setting is performed by turning on (distributing) the bits of the mask information in FIG. 2B. When the bit is turned off, it is set to "do not distribute". In this way, by selecting the ON and OFF of the bits of the mask information, it is possible to select communication methods such as broadcast, multicast, and unicast.

[0020] Here, broadcast, multicast, and unicast are the methods when computers communicate with each other. Broadcast is a method of simultaneously sending data to an unspecified number of recipients. Multicast is to simultaneously send data to a determined number of recipients. Unicast is to specify a single transmission recipient and send data.

[0021] [2]: The processed data, processing instruction data (voice guidance), and destination information created by the creation device 10 are combined into a form that can be transmitted to the upload server 30, such as the "data structure inside the steel primary processing information generation device" in (a) of FIG. 2A. The combined processed data, processing instruction data (voice guidance), and destination information are transmitted from the creation device 10 to the upload server 30 through the Internet by the operator of the creation device 10 as shown in FIG. 1 (S3 in FIG. 3).

[0022] The processed data and processing instruction data (voice guidance) transmitted to the upload server 30 are separated by the upload server 30 into processed data and processing instruction data (voice guidance). Then, respective data indexes are assigned to the separated processed data and processing instruction data (voice guidance).

[0023] [3][4]: By this data index, the processed data and the processing instruction data (voice guidance) are associated. The data index is generated by the upload server 30 requesting the data storage destinations (processed data server 51 and voice server 52) and is returned to the upload server 30 ([3][4] of S3 in FIG. 3).

[0024] The separated processed data and processing instruction data (voice guidance) with data indexes are transmitted from the upload server 30 to the download server 50 as shown in [3] of FIG. 1. Then, the two separated data are separately stored in the processed data server 51 and the voice server 52 in the download server 50 (S3 in FIG. 3).

[0025] By separately storing the processing data and the processing instruction data (voice guidance), the operator on the factory side can select the download data. That is, when the processing instruction data (voice guidance) is not required, only the processing data can be downloaded, or when it is desired to listen to the voice guidance in advance, only the processing instruction data (voice guidance) can be downloaded. As a result, the effect of traffic control (reduction of communication data volume) can also be obtained.

[0026] [5]: Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a data index associated with the storage destination URLs of the processing data and the processing instruction data (voice guidance) in the processing data server 51 and the voice server 52 is notified to the NC machine tools in factories A and C, which are the distribution destinations (S4, S5 in FIG. 3). Here, the specific notification destination information for factories A and C (already registered in the upload server in advance) is information that can identify the specific addresses of factories A and C, such as MQTT topic information. The MQTT topic information is a character string used to identify and route messages in the MQTT protocol.

[0027] By separating the upload server 30 and the download server 50, the following advantages can be obtained. For example, even if the storage destination names of the processing data server 51 and the voice server 52 change due to the relocation of the download server 50, the upload server 30 converts the URL of the download server 50 (processing data server 51, voice server 52), which is the storage destination associated with the data index (S7, S8 in FIG. 3), so that the operator on the factory side can continue working without being aware of the configuration change of the download server 50 (processing data server 51, voice server 52) (no change is required for the factory-side equipment).

[0028] In the development system of Patent Document 1, since the upload and download of design data are exclusively performed manually, every time the name of the download server changes, the access destination name must be changed accordingly. Furthermore, as shown in "(d) Relationship between distribution destination information and mask bits" in FIG. 2B, since the operator of the creation device 10 can arbitrarily select a plurality of NC machine tools installed on the factory side where the data is distributed, it is also possible to perform group distribution (selective simultaneous distribution) of data to the NC machine tools of a specific factory, specific line, or specific model.

[0029] [6][7]: Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the NC machine tools 71 and 72 in factories A and C obtain the storage destination URL by requesting the upload server to convert the notified data index. Using the obtained storage destination URL, they access the download server 50 (processing data server 51, voice server 52) and issue a transmission request for the processing data and processing instruction data (voice guidance).

[0030] The download server 50 (processing data server 51, voice server 52) completes the distribution by transmitting the processing data and processing instruction data (voice guidance) indicated by the storage destination URL to the NC machine tools 71 and 72 in factories A and C (S4 to S9, S11 in FIG. 3). The NC machine tools in factories A and C start processing based on the input processing data (S10, S12 in FIG. 3).

[0031] As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiments. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be variously modified within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. For example, it is also possible to change the type of data distributed through the Internet to firmware update data instead of processing data. In that case, by combining with the group distribution (selective simultaneous distribution) which is the system of the present invention, it is also possible to provide different firmware for each user of the NC machine tool. Similarly, it is also possible to provide various types of information such as notifications and advertisements through the system of the present invention.

[0032] Also, in the above-described embodiment, a speaker with an amplifier was used as the assistance means, but the assistance means is not limited to this. As the assistance means, an animated video with voice inserted into the input screen of the NC machine tool may be used. The animated video with voice can be inserted into the input screen by superposition by synthesizing characters and graphics with the voice-added video. With such assistance means, since the input method is directly displayed on the screen, the processing data can be input more easily.

[0033] Also, when the input of the processing data is relatively easy, the processing instruction data for assisting the input of the processing data is not necessarily required. In this case, the data generation device will only generate the processing data.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 10: Creation device (data generation device) 30: Upload server 50: Download server 51: Processing data server 52: Voice server 71, 72: NC machine tool 100: Work processing system

Claims

1. A workpiece machining system using a plurality of NC machine tools, an upload server and a download server connected to the plurality of NC machine tools via the Internet; a data generating device for generating machining data to be input to the plurality of NC machine tools; the upload server receives the machining data from the data generating device via the Internet in a state in which the machining data is combined with distribution destination information of the NC machine tool, creates a data index for the machining data, and transmits the machining data to the download server via the Internet; The download server stores the received processed data in a state linked to the data index, and notifies the upload server of a destination URL indicating a destination to store the processed data. The upload server that has received the notification notifies the NC machine tool of the data index linked to the destination URL, the NC machine tool acquires the destination URL of the machining data from the upload server using the data index indicating the destination URL notified from the upload server, and the NC machine tool, having acquired the destination URL, downloads the machining data from the download server and inputs the machining data into the NC machine tool. A workpiece machining system comprising:

2. 2. The machining system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of NC machine tools are distributed across a plurality of factories.

3. 2. The machining system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of NC machine tools are distributed among a plurality of lines in a factory.

4. 2. The machining system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of NC machine tools are configured for a plurality of machining models.

5. The processing system of claim 1, characterized in that the distribution destination information is separated into three categories: processing plant, processing line, and processing machine, thereby enabling group distribution, which is selective simultaneous distribution to the processing plant, the processing line, and the processing machine.

6. The processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the distribution destination information of the processing factory is structured as a bit, and a factory with a different processing base is assigned to each bit, thereby making it possible to make group distribution to multiple factories that are distributed in different locations.

7. The processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the distribution destination information for the processing line is structured as a bit, and a processing line installed within a factory is assigned to each bit, thereby making it possible to make group distribution to processing lines within a factory that are distributed in multiple locations.

8. The processing system according to claim 5, characterized in that the distribution destination information of the processing machine is structured as a bit, and a processing machine installed in the processing line is assigned to each bit, thereby making it possible to make group distribution to multiple distributed processing machines.

9. The processing system of claim 1, characterized in that by combining the group distribution in the processing systems of claims 6 to 8, distribution by broadcast, multicast or unicast to the processing plant, the processing line and the processing machine is made possible.

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