Control method for superimposed machining of NC machine tools

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a method for controlling superimposed machining in an NC machine tool in which an ON / OFF operation for inserting a superimposition control mode is easy and an automatic setting of geometry is possible. [Solution] The present invention is characterized by comprising: at least one or more tool posts which perform mechanical machining on a plurality of main spindles having respective workpieces; and respective machining programs for performing mechanical machining on the workpieces held in the respective main spindles by means of the tool posts, wherein superimposition control means for at least partially performing superimposed machining can be inserted between the respective machining programs.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control method for simultaneously performing the same or different machining operations on a plurality of workpieces. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the field of machine tools such as NC-controlled lathes, a machine capable of overlapping machining of a workpiece held by a first spindle and a workpiece held by a second spindle using a tool post having two tools is known, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

[0003] However, when performing overlapping machining of multiple workpieces using one tool post with multiple tools, the following technical issues arise.

[0004] First, the operator must program each time to set up a coordinate system that indicates the positional relationship between the multiple tools on the tool post and each workpiece, and to optimize the start and end positions of overlapping machining, which makes the system less user-friendly.

[0005] Second, it is necessary to obtain the geometry values ​​of each of the cutting edges of multiple tools (the amount of correction due to the shape of the cutting edge and the amount of correction due to wear of the cutting edge), but since multiple patterns are expected, the values ​​must be set accordingly. This is explained in FIG. In this example, an L-spindle 10 is arranged opposite an R-spindle 20. For example, when there is a tool post 30 having a first tool 31 and a second tool 32, there are several patterns for obtaining the geometry value between the cutting edge of the second tool and the R-spindle 20, such as the pattern shown in (a) where the geometry value of the cutting edge is obtained between the R-spindle 20 and the tool post 30 in the retracted position as the reference, as well as the pattern shown in (b) and (c) where the geometry value of the cutting edge is obtained when the second tool 32 is positioned on the R-spindle side at the start of superimposition machining, and the pattern where the geometry value of the cutting edge is obtained when the first tool 31 is positioned on the L-spindle side. The insertion position of the ON / OFF program for the superimposition control mode must also be taken into consideration when programming, which makes the operator's work very difficult. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. WO01 / 066289 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling superimposed machining in an NC machine tool that allows easy ON / OFF operation of inserting the superimposed control mode and automatic setting of geometry. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The method for controlling overlap machining of an NC machine tool according to the present invention is characterized in that it has at least one tool post that performs machining on a plurality of spindles each holding a workpiece, has respective machining programs for performing machining on the workpiece held by each of the spindles using the tool post, and is capable of inserting an overlap control means for performing at least partial overlap machining between each of the machining programs.

[0009] Here, overlapping machining refers to having multiple tools on one tool post, and overlapping the machining operation of one workpiece with one of the tools with the machining operation of another workpiece with another tool.

[0010] The present invention is characterized in that it utilizes a process editing function for programming an NC control program for machining a workpiece held on each spindle of each of the above-mentioned multiple tools, to select two processes to be subjected to superimposed control, and to enable insertion or cancellation of a superimposed control mode between the two processes.

[0011] Therefore, the method for controlling overlap machining according to the present invention can be applied to NC machine tools such as various multi-tasking machines, as long as they have multiple spindles and at least one tool post. For example, the multiple spindles may be an L-spindle and an R-spindle arranged opposite each other, with a first workpiece held by the L-spindle and a second workpiece held by the R-spindle, the tool post having a first tool and a second tool, a first machining program for machining the first workpiece with the first tool, and a second machining program for machining the second workpiece with the second tool, and an overlap control means for overlap machining can be inserted and released between the first and second machining programs.

[0012] Furthermore, in the present invention, by utilizing the geometry setting function of each existing machining program, when the superposition control mode for performing superposition machining is turned ON, a geometry value setting means can be provided which automatically calculates and automatically sets the geometry value of the cutting edge position of the slave-side tool based on the cutting edge position of the master-side tool. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The method for controlling superimposed machining of an NC machine tool according to the present invention involves selecting one machining program to be subjected to superimposed control and a process in the other machining program, and inserting the superimposed control program, which then performs internal conversion of the coordinate system for superimposed control, and sets G-code (preparatory function), M-code (auxiliary function), and T-code (tool code), thereby reducing the workload on the operator. In addition, by utilizing the existing geometry calculation and setting functions of each machining program, the geometry of the cutting edge position on the slave side can be automatically calculated and set based on the cutting edge position on the master side in the superposition control mode. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] An example of superimposition processing using the control means for superimposition processing according to the present invention will be shown. [Figure 2] (a) shows an example of individual processing mode, and (b) shows an example of overlapping or cooperative processing. [Figure 3] An example of automatic calculation of the coordinate system in the superposition control mode is shown. [Figure 4] An example of inserting superimposed G-code is shown below. [Figure 5] (a), (b), and (c) show examples of conventional geometry calculation. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] As an example of an NC machine tool according to the present invention, an example will be described below in which the machine has an R spindle 20 arranged opposite an L spindle 10, a tool post 30 consisting of a turret, and a first tool 31 and a second tool 32 on this tool post. The present invention is applicable to a machine having two or more spindles and at least one tool rest, as long as the machine has more than two spindles and tool rests.

[0016] The L-spindle 10 is fixed, and the R-spindle 20 is controlled to move at least in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, turning tools are attached to the turret as the first and second tools, but there is no limitation on the tools. The tool rest 30 is also controlled to move at least in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction. If necessary, a means for controlling movement in the Y-axis direction may be provided. In addition, the example shown in FIG. 1 is an example in which a process of cutting a first workpiece W1 held in a chuck on the L-spindle 10 and controlled to rotate using a first tool 31 is superimposed on a process of turning a second workpiece W2 held in a chuck on the R-spindle 20 and controlled to rotate, but there is no limit to the combination of superimposed processes. In this case, the first tool 31 controls the cutting depth in the X-axis direction and the feed amount in the Z-axis direction for the first workpiece W1, and the second tool 32 also moves in accordance with this, so that the cutting depth and feed amount of the second workpiece W2, which is turned by the second tool 32, are superimposed on the R spindle 20 while following this movement amount.

[0017] Next, an example of inserting a G-code for superimposition control to perform the above superimposition machining will be described. FIG. 2(a) shows an example of each individual machining movement, and (b) shows a schematic example of overlapping or cooperative machining. As an existing process editing function, program A for a process in which a first workpiece held on the L spindle 10 is machined using a first tool 31 attached to a tool post 30, and program B for a process in which a second workpiece held on the R spindle 20 is machined using a second tool 32 are stored.

[0018] In contrast to this, the present invention makes it possible to compile a program C in which the process of the R spindle 20 is superimposed on part of the machining process in the program A, as shown in FIG. 2(b). It is also possible to edit a program D in which a third tool 41 attached to the second tool rest 40 is used to cooperatively machine a second workpiece on the R spindle 20 side.

[0019] To execute the program, select the process to be superimposed on the L spindle side in the process chart for program A, select the process to be superimposed on the R spindle side in the process chart for program B, and press execute superimposition process.The coordinate system will be automatically calculated as shown in Figure 3, and the cycle G code for executing weight control will be inserted as shown in Figure 4. At this time, the internal parameters required for execution are automatically converted. Specifically, an example of automatic calculation of the coordinate system in the superposition control mode is shown in Fig. 3. Figure 3 shows an example of setting the coordinate system G55. The origin is X0.0, Z200.0, and the superposition mode start point ON is automatically calculated as X-150.0, Z-180.0, and the internal coordinates are converted.

[0020] As an example, Figure 4 shows an example of inserting G-code for superimposed control mode. UPPER / L-SP on the left side shows an example of a process between the tool rest 30 and the L-spindle 10, and HEAD-2 / R-SP on the right side shows an example of a process between the tool rest 30 and the R-spindle 20. When the superposition process is executed, G458 is inserted as a G code directly below (APPROACH) on both the L-SP and R-SP sides, the approach coordinates are automatically obtained, and the arguments X / Z are determined. "SP-CTRL" shown in FIG. 4 stands for superimposed control. In addition, this is an example in which G459 is inserted in both L-SP and R-SP directly below (ESCAPE) as an OFF command to end the superimposed control mode.

[0021] To cancel the weight process, position the cursor on the L-spindle or R-spindle process, press [Weight Setting], and then execute [Cancel superimposed process?]. [Industrial Applicability]

[0022] The method for controlling superimposed machining according to the present invention is realized by selecting the processes in both machining programs to be superimposed and inserting the superimposed control program, thereby reducing the workload on the operator and making it applicable to many machine tools. [Explanation of symbols]

[0023] 10 L spindle 20 R spindle 30 Tool rest 31 First Tool 32 Second Tool W1 First Work W2 Second Work

Claims

1. The machine has at least one tool rest that performs machining on a plurality of spindles each holding a workpiece, a machining program for machining a workpiece held by each of the spindles by the tool rest; A superimposition control mode for performing at least partial superimposition processing can be inserted between the respective processing programs, the superimposed control mode is a control program for superimposing an operation of machining a workpiece held by one spindle of the plurality of spindles with one tool, with the single tool, and an operation of machining a workpiece held by another spindle with another tool, a geometry setting means for automatically calculating and automatically setting a geometry value of the cutting edge position of the slave side tool based on the cutting edge position of the master side tool when the superposition control mode for performing the superposition machining is turned ON;

2. the plurality of spindles are an L spindle and an R spindle arranged opposite to each other, A first workpiece is held by the L spindle and a second workpiece is held by the R spindle, the tool rest has a first tool and a second tool; a first machining program for machining the first workpiece with the first tool; a second machining program for machining the second workpiece with the second tool; 2. A method for controlling superimposed machining of an NC machine tool according to claim 1, wherein the superimposed control mode can be inserted and released between the first and second machining programs.

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