Numerical control device

Abstract

The numerical control apparatus according to the present disclosure is capable of easily modifying processing conditions, and controls a processing device on the basis of a processing program including at least one condition command designating processing conditions and a plurality of movement commands designating processing points, the numerical control apparatus comprising: a program storage unit for storing the processing program; a route-deriving unit for deriving from the processing program a plurality of processing routes that connect the processing points; a condition-specifying unit for specifying from the processing program the condition commands designating the processing conditions to be applied to each of the processing routes; a route selection unit for providing a user interface to make the processing routes selectable; and a condition modification unit for providing a user interface to make the processing conditions applied to the processing route selected by the route selection unit modifiable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a numerical control device.

Background Art

[0002] For example, processing apparatuses that relatively move a processing head, such as a laser head that emits laser light or a rotary tool head that has a rotary tool, relative to a workpiece to process the workpiece are widely used. The operation of such a processing apparatus is generally controlled by a numerical control device based on a processing program that includes a plurality of movement commands specifying the processing points through which the processing head should pass. The processing program may also include condition commands that specify processing conditions such as, for example, the output of a laser, the rotational speed of a rotary tool, and the distance between the processing head and the workpiece.

[0003] In a processing program, a condition command may be described as an instruction sentence that refers to information in a reference table or database that stores a plurality of processing conditions (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Thereby, it becomes easy to describe a plurality of types of processing steps, such as cutting the outer periphery and applying a decorative shape to the inner surface, in one processing program and apply appropriate processing conditions for each processing step.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In machining processes using a machining program that includes condition commands and movement commands, there are times when it is necessary to modify the machining conditions of certain machining steps. For example, one might check the machined workpiece and change the machining conditions of the machining step that processed a portion where the machining quality is deemed insufficient. In such cases, conventional numerical control programs require analyzing the machining program to identify the movement command of the machining step whose machining conditions should be changed, searching for the condition command immediately preceding that movement command, and rewriting this condition command. Therefore, a technology that allows for easy modification of machining conditions is desired. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A numerical control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure controls a machining device based on a machining program which includes at least one condition command specifying machining conditions and a plurality of movement commands specifying machining points, comprising: a program storage unit which stores the machining program; a path derivation unit which derives a plurality of machining paths connecting the machining points from the machining program; a condition identification unit which identifies the condition command which specifies the machining conditions to be applied to each of the machining paths from the machining program; a path selection unit which provides a user interface which allows the user to select the machining paths; and a condition modification unit which provides a user interface which allows the user to modify the machining conditions applied to the machining paths selected in the path selection unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, a numerical control device can be provided that allows for easy modification of processing conditions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a numerical control device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of the route selection unit of the numerical control device. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display screen of the condition correction unit of the numerical control device. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a numerical control device according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the numerical control device 1 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure.

[0010] The numerical control device 1 controls a machining device (not shown) based on a machining program that includes at least one condition command specifying machining conditions and a plurality of movement commands specifying machining points. Examples of machining devices controlled by the numerical control device 1 include a laser machining device that moves a laser head that irradiates a workpiece with a laser relative to the workpiece, and a machine tool that moves a rotary tool head having a rotary tool relative to the workpiece.

[0011] The numerical control device 1 can be realized, for example, by having a computer device having a processor, memory, input / output interface, etc., execute an appropriate control program. The numerical control device 1 may include a display device that provides image information to the user and an input device that allows the user to input information, and input / output may be performed via external input and output devices. In this embodiment, an external input / output device 2 having a display screen will be used for the explanation.

[0012] The numerical control device 1 comprises a program storage unit 10, a database unit 20, a path derivation unit 30, a condition identification unit 40, a path selection unit 50, and a condition modification unit 60. These components categorize the functions of the numerical control device 1 and do not necessarily need to be clearly distinguishable in terms of physical configuration and program configuration.

[0013] The program storage unit 10 stores the machining program. The program storage unit 10 may be configured to include a storage area of ​​the memory constituting the numerical control device 1, and program elements that control the writing and reading of the machining program.

[0014] The processing program stored in the program storage unit 10 is composed of a plurality of blocks (lines) to be processed in order. Each block may describe a word formed by combining an address that specifies the type of instruction and data that specifies variables and the like for that instruction. For the sake of explanation, a sample program will be exemplified next.

[0015] <Sample Program> O001 E001 G01G90X100. G01G90Y100. E002 G01G90X200. G01G90Y200. E001 G01G90X100.

[0016] In the sample program, "O" is an address indicating that it is a word specifying the program number, "E" is an address indicating that it is a word (condition instruction) specifying the processing conditions, and "G" is an address indicating that it is a word (movement instruction) specifying the movement. In the sample program, the processing conditions are specified by the record numbers in the database unit 20. That is, "E001" means that the processing conditions according to the data with the record number 001 in the database unit 20 should be applied.

[0017] The database unit 20 stores a plurality of records respectively specifying the processing conditions. The database unit 20 may be configured to include a storage area of the memory constituting the numerical control device 1 and a program element that controls the writing and reading of the processing conditions.

[0018] The data items in the database unit 20 are appropriately set according to the type of the processing head and the like. As an example, the data items when the processing head is a laser head include feed rate, output, pulse bottom voltage, frequency, duty, pressure of assist gas, type of assist gas, supply time of assist gas, gap amount between the work and the head, and the like. Note that the data such as the type of assist gas can be configured to define the conditions using the number of a separately provided reference table.

[0019] The path derivation unit 30 derives a plurality of processing paths connecting the processing points from the processing program, that is, the locus of the processing head moving with respect to the work. Typically, a processing path can be one section where processing is continuously performed. Note that each block may be regarded as one processing path, or a section where processing is continuously performed may be divided into a plurality based on, for example, the number of processing points and the like, and each divided section may be regarded as a processing path.

[0020] The condition specifying unit 40 specifies a condition command that specifies the processing conditions applied to each processing path from the processing program. That is, for each processing path derived by the path derivation unit 30, the position (block number) of the immediately preceding processing command in the processing program is specified. For this reason, the condition specifying unit 40 can be configured to store a table showing the correspondence between the processing path and the position of the processing command.

[0021] The path selection unit 50 provides a user interface that allows the user to select a machining path. Specifically, methods for selecting a machining path in the path selection unit 50 include specifying the program line number or sequence number (generally instructed as "N"), but it is particularly preferable to display an image of the machining path, i.e., a preview of the machining path, on the screen of the input / output device 2, and to allow the user to select the machining path to display, as illustrated in Figure 2. The example shown in Figure 2 includes a machining path for cutting the rectangular outer perimeter, a machining path for forming the internal circular decorative groove, and a machining path for forming the internal star-shaped decorative groove. The path selection unit 50 may directly control the input / output device, or it may provide machining path information to an independently controlled input / output terminal and acquire information entered by the user from the input / output terminal.

[0022] The route selection unit 50 may be configured to accept input of a number assigned to a processing route, for example, in order to enable the selection of a processing route, but it is preferable that it be configured to allow direct selection of the processing route to be displayed. Specifically, the route selection unit 50 may be configured to allow selection of a processing route on a screen by operating a cursor displayed on the screen that displays the processing route, or it may be configured to allow selection of a processing route by displaying the processing route on a touch panel and touching the area on the touch panel where the processing route is displayed.

[0023] The condition modification unit 60 provides a user interface that allows modification of the machining conditions applied to the machining path selected in the path selection unit 50. The condition modification unit 60 in this embodiment includes an information output unit 61 that outputs information regarding the machining conditions applied to the selected machining path, and a program modification unit 62 that modifies the condition commands of the machining program.

[0024] The information output unit 61 may be configured to output information regarding processing conditions by voice or the like, but preferably it is configured to display text information on the display screen of the input / output device 2 that displays the processing route when the route selection unit 50 is displaying the processing route. More preferably, as shown in Figure 3, the information output unit 61 is configured to display information regarding processing conditions as a pop-up, that is, to overlay information regarding processing conditions on the display screen of the input / output device 2 that displays the processing route, when the route selection unit 50 is displaying the processing route on the input / output device 2. This allows the user to smoothly modify the processing conditions of the intended processing route.

[0025] The information output unit 61 can output information regarding processing conditions, such as a list of available processing commands or variables of processing commands, i.e., the record numbers or unique keys of the records in the database unit 20. Furthermore, it is preferable that the information output unit 61 outputs at least some of the data from the records in the database unit 20, particularly key data that has a significant impact on the processing results. This allows the user to easily select appropriate processing commands.

[0026] The information output unit 61 may display information to accept modifications to the machining command. For example, the information output unit 61 may be configured to display data on condition commands and the machining conditions specified therein in a selectable list format. Alternatively, the information output unit 61 may display the condition commands to be displayed in an editable text box.

[0027] The program modification unit 62 overwrites the condition commands that specify the machining conditions to be applied to the machining path selected by the path selection unit 50 of the machining program stored in the program storage unit 10 with the condition commands entered by the user. As a result, the machining conditions for all machining paths to which the overwritten condition commands are applied are modified.

[0028] As described above, the numerical control device 1 provides an interface that allows users to easily modify the machining conditions by selecting the machining path for which they wish to modify the machining conditions on the machining path preview screen, thus enabling easy and appropriate modification of the machining conditions.

[0029] Figure 4 shows the configuration of the numerical control device 1A according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as in the previous embodiment, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0030] The numerical control device 1A according to this embodiment includes a program storage unit 10, a database unit 20, a path derivation unit 30, a condition identification unit 40, a path selection unit 50, and a condition modification unit 60A.

[0031] The condition modification unit 60A provides a user interface that allows modification of the machining conditions applied to the machining route selected in the route selection unit 50. The condition modification unit 60A in this embodiment includes an information output unit 61A that outputs information regarding the machining conditions applied to the selected machining route, and a data modification unit 63 that modifies the data of the record applied to the selected machining route in the database unit 20.

[0032] The information output unit 61A outputs data of records that define the processing conditions applied to the selected processing path in the database unit 20, for example, by a method such as a pop-up display. The information output unit 61A may also be configured to provide a user interface that allows the user to select and modify any of the displayed data.

[0033] The data modification unit 63 replaces the data in the records of the database unit 20 that are identified by condition commands specifying the processing conditions to be applied to the processing route selected by the route selection unit 50 with data newly entered by the user. As a result, the processing conditions for all processing routes to which the same condition command as the selected processing route is applied are equally modified.

[0034] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Furthermore, the effects described in the embodiments described above are merely a list of the most preferred effects arising from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments described above.

[0035] The numerical control device according to the present invention may include both a program modification unit and a data modification unit. In this case, a function to enable only one of the program modification unit or the data modification unit may be provided, and the condition command and the database unit record may be displayed in an editable manner simultaneously, and the device may decide whether to modify the condition command using the program modification unit or modify the database unit record using the data modification unit in response to the user's editing operation. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1,1A Numerical Control Device 2 Input / Output Devices 10 Program memory 20 Database Department 30 Path Derivation Section 40 Condition specification part 50 Route Selection Section 60,60A Condition Modification Section 61, 61A Information Output Section 62 Program Modification Section 63 Data Correction Department

Claims

1. A numerical control device that controls a machining apparatus based on a machining program which includes at least one condition command specifying machining conditions and a plurality of movement commands specifying machining points, A program storage unit that stores the aforementioned processing program, A path derivation unit that derives a plurality of machining paths connecting the machining points from the machining program, A condition identification unit identifies the condition command that specifies the processing conditions to be applied to each of the processing paths from the processing program, A path selection unit that provides a user interface that allows the user to select the aforementioned processing path, A condition modification unit provides a user interface that allows modification of the machining conditions applied to the machining path selected in the path selection unit, A database unit that stores multiple records specifying the respective processing conditions, Equipped with, The condition command identifies the record in the database unit, The condition modification unit is a numerical control device configured to display a list of multiple records arranged in order, and for the user to select the record to be applied to the selected processing path in the list display.

2. The numerical control device according to claim 1, wherein the path selection unit displays an image of the processing path and is configured to allow direct selection of the image of the processing path to be displayed.

3. The numerical control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the condition modification unit has an information output unit that outputs information regarding the processing conditions applied to the selected processing path.

4. The numerical control device according to claim 3, wherein the information output unit displays information regarding the processing conditions in a pop-up window while the route selection unit is displaying the processing route.

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