Tool information collection device and computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

This tool information collection device identifies information related to processing that is instructed by a block of a processing program, identifies a tool number of a tool to be used in the processing, identifies information related to the tool to be used in the processing, and outputs at least one of the information related to the processing and the information related to the tool in association with the tool number.

Description

Tool information collection device and computer-readable storage medium

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a tool information collection device and a computer-readable storage medium.

[0002] An automatic tool changer exchanges tools according to an instruction in a machining program. The tools are managed by tool management information. In the tool management information, information related to the tools such as tool number, tool image, tool type, tool diameter, tool length, rotational speed, feed rate, etc. is managed (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-324262

[0004] The tool management information of Patent Document 1 includes detailed information such as tool image, tool type, tool diameter, tool length, etc. The items of the tool management information may be fewer than those in the example of Patent Document 1. Often, the items are only the tool number and offset data. When the items of the tool management information are only the tool number and offset data, the operator may manage information such as the tool type separately.

[0005] In the field of tool management, it is desired to collect tool data.

[0006] The tool information collection device includes a machining identification unit that identifies information related to machining commanded in a block of a machining program, a tool number identification unit that identifies the tool number of the tool used in the machining, a tool information identification unit that identifies information related to the tool used in the machining, a tool information management unit that associates at least either the information related to the machining identified by the machining identification unit or the information related to the tool identified by the tool information identification unit with the tool number, and an output unit that outputs the information associated with the tool number.

[0007] It is a block diagram of a tool information collection device. It is a diagram showing an example of a multi-edge tool. It is a diagram showing an example of a tool number and a correction amount. It is a flowchart explaining the operation of the tool information collection device. It is a diagram showing an example of a machining program. It is a diagram showing the configuration of conventional tool management information. It is a hardware configuration diagram of the tool information collection device.

[0008] (First Embodiment) The tool information acquisition device according to the first embodiment will be described below. The tool information acquisition device is implemented using an information processing device such as a numerical control device and a PC (personal computer).

[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the tool information collection device 100. The tool information collection device 100 comprises a machining identification unit 1, a tool number identification unit 2, a tool information identification unit 3, a tool information management unit 4, and an output unit 5.

[0010] The machining identification unit 1 identifies information related to machining commanded in the machining program block. In identifying information related to machining, it refers to the internal information (hereinafter referred to as modal) of the machining program and the numerical control device. Information related to machining includes the type of command, the spindle speed, and the direction of rotation. The types of commands include cycle commands and tool compensation commands. Cycle commands include tapping, boring, and drilling. The type of machining can be determined from the cycle command. The amount of compensation and the direction (geometric direction) of compensation can be determined from the tool compensation command.

[0011] The machining identification unit 1 may identify machining-related information from the machining program comments. The machining program may contain comments such as "(ENDMILL T1 S2500 H1)". Analyzing the comments reveals that the tool is an "end mill", the tool number is "1", the rotational speed is "2500", and the correction number is "1". Note that the above comment is just an example. The information contained in the comments will differ from comment to comment. For example, when only some information is changed in the machining program, only the changed information may be commented on, and the information that is not changed may not be commented on. Information not contained in the comments is often commanded before the comments are made and is held modally.

[0012] Information related to machining is associated with blocks in the machining program. In other words, the output of the machining identification unit 1 is information related to the machining performed by each block. This machining-related information includes the type of command, the spindle speed (rotational speed), and the direction of rotation.

[0013] The tool number identification unit 2 identifies the tool number. In identifying the tool number, it refers to the machining program and the modal of the numerical control device. The modal stores the tool number. The tool number is usually uniquely named for each type of tool. The tool number may also indicate the position of the tool in the automatic tool changer. The automatic tool changer attaches the tool with the specified tool number to the machine tool.

[0014] The tool number identification unit 2 also identifies the tool number of a multi-edge tool. A multi-edge tool is a tool with multiple edges, as shown in Figure 2. When specifying a multi-edge tool, the edge is specified by writing the number (or name) after the normal tool number "T○○". For example, in "T1,3", the edge is specified by the "3" after the ",".

[0015] The tool number identification unit 2 also refers to the comments in the machining program. As mentioned above, the machining program may contain comments such as "(ENDMILL T1 S2500 H1)". By analyzing the comments, it can be determined that the tool number is "1".

[0016] The tool information identification unit 3 identifies information related to the tool. This tool-related information includes the tool's geometric information. This geometric information includes the tool compensation amount, thread direction, tap tool pitch, and turning insert mounting angle. Tool-related information can also be identified from comments in the machining program. The tool compensation amount can be obtained from the machining program or modal, the thread direction can be obtained from the spindle rotation direction, and the tap tool pitch can be calculated from the spindle feed rate and rotational speed. The spindle feed rate and rotational speed can be obtained from the machining program or modal. The turning insert mounting angle can be obtained from the machining program.

[0017] The type of tool can be identified from the type of command. For example, the command "G84" is a "tapping" cycle command, so it is clear that a "tapping tool" is used in the "G84" block. If the tool number of the tool used in the block that commands "G84" is "1", then it is clear that a "tapping tool" is attached to tool "1". Similarly, the tool used in the block that commands "G74" is a "reverse tapping tool", the tool used in the block that commands "G85" is a "boring tool", and so on. The type of tool can be identified from the type of command.

[0018] The tool information management unit 4 links the machining-related information identified by the machining identification unit 1 and the tool-related information identified by the tool information identification unit 3 to the tool number. As shown in Figure 3, some tool management information consists only of the tool number and tool compensation amount. In such tool management information, tool-related information such as the tool type and geometric information of the tool may be prepared separately. According to the tool information collection device 100 of this embodiment, tool information can be collected, reducing the burden on the operator.

[0019] The tool information management unit 4 may link machining-related information and / or tool-related information to existing tool management information. Tool identification information, such as tool numbers and tool names, is often standardized across organizations such as factories and companies. Tool numbers are often specified in machining programs. Therefore, by linking tool-related information using tool numbers and tool names as keys, it is possible to create tool management information that can be handled uniformly across the organization.

[0020] [Correction based on Rule 91 10.03.2026] Output unit 5 outputs the tool number and information about the tool associated with the tool number. Output means include display, printing, storage medium, and file output. The operator can confirm the tool number and the type of tool attached to the spindle by the output. The information to be output includes at least one of the following: command type, tool type, spindle rotation speed, rotation direction, tool compensation amount, tapping rotation direction, tap tool pitch, and turning tip mounting angle.

[0021] The output unit 5 may also have a function to determine the inconsistency between the tool and the machining conditions. For example, if a tool compensation amount is set for a tool number, but the command "G43 (Tool Length Compensation)" is set to "Tool Compensation Amount: None", the output unit 5 will detect and output the inconsistency between the tool-related information and the actual machining conditions.

[0022] Following the flowchart in Figure 4, the operation of the tool information acquisition device 100 will be explained using the machining program in Figure 5 as an example. In the following explanation, the five blocks of sequence numbers "N1" to "N5" in the machining program in Figure 5 will be used as an example.

[0023] The tool information acquisition device 100 identifies a block that commands machining (step S1). In Figure 4, the block that commands machining is sequence number "N3" and code "G84 X100.Y200.R50.Z-150.;".

[0024] The machining specification unit 1 acquires information related to machining. This information includes the type of command, the spindle rotation speed, and the direction of rotation. This information is obtained from the machining program and modal (step S2).

[0025] The tool number identification unit 2 identifies the tool number. The tool number can be identified from the machining program and modal (step S3).

[0026] The tool information identification unit 3 identifies information related to the tool. This tool-related information includes the tool type, tool compensation amount, tapping rotation direction, tap tool pitch, and turning insert mounting angle. This tool-related information can be identified from the machining program, modal, and machining program comments (step S4).

[0027] The tool information management unit 4 links the information related to machining identified by the machining identification unit 1 and the information related to the tool identified by the tool information identification unit 3 to the tool number (step S5).

[0028] The output unit 5 acquires tool numbers and information about the tools associated with those tool numbers. Output means include display, printing, storage media, and file output (step S6). Figure 6 shows an example of displaying tool-related information. In the example in Figure 6, the tool number "1" and the tool type "tapping tool" are displayed. The tool type may also be displayed as an image. Displaying an image makes it easier to identify the tool.

[0029] As described above, the tool information collection device 100 of this embodiment reads the tool number, information related to the machining process using the tool with the tool number, and information related to the tool with the tool number from the machining program and modal, and associates them with the tool number.

[0030] The information collected by the tool information collection device 100 assists the operator. Specifically, it can display the type of tool to the operator and determine inconsistencies between the tool and the machining process. Furthermore, if an inconsistency between the tool and the machining process is detected, the device can alert the operator. It can also restrict the use of the tool.

[0031] The hardware configuration of the tool information acquisition device 100 to which this disclosure applies will be described below. Figure 7 is a hardware configuration diagram of the tool information acquisition device 100. As shown in Figure 7, the tool information acquisition device 100 includes a CPU 111 that controls the tool information acquisition device 100 as a whole, a ROM 112 that records programs and data, and a RAM 113 for temporarily expanding data. The CPU 111 reads the system program recorded in the ROM 112 via the bus and determines the consistency between the block and the tool.

[0032] The non-volatile memory 114 is backed up, for example, by a battery (not shown), so that its stored state is maintained even when the power to the tool information acquisition device 100 is turned off. The non-volatile memory 114 stores various data, such as programs read from the external device 120 via interfaces 115, 118, and 119, and operation inputs entered via the input device 20. The non-volatile memory 114 may also store programs and data for running the tool information acquisition device 100 of this embodiment.

[0033] Interface 115 is an interface for connecting the tool information acquisition device 100 to an external device 120 such as an adapter. Programs and various parameters are read from the external device 120. Interface 118 is an interface for connecting the tool information acquisition device 100 to a display device 30 such as a liquid crystal display. The display device 30 displays data read into memory, data obtained as a result of executing programs, etc. Interface 119 is an interface for connecting the tool information acquisition device 100 to an input device 20 such as a keyboard or pointing device. The input device 20 passes commands, data, etc. based on operator operations to the CPU 111 via interface 119.

[0034] While this disclosure has been described in detail, it is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. These embodiments can be added, replaced, modified, partially deleted, etc., in any way that does not depart from the gist of this disclosure or from the spirit of this disclosure derived from the claims and their equivalents. These embodiments can also be implemented in combination. For example, the order of operations and processes in the embodiments described above are given as examples only and are not limited thereto.

[0035] The following additional notes are disclosed regarding the above embodiments and modifications. (Note 1) The tool information collection device (100) includes a machining identification unit (1) that identifies information related to machining commanded in a machining program block, a tool number identification unit (2) that identifies the tool number of a tool used in the machining, a tool information identification unit (3) that identifies information related to the tool used in the machining, a tool information management unit (4) that associates at least one of the machining-related information identified by the machining identification unit (1) or the tool-related information identified by the tool information identification unit (3) with the tool number, and an output unit (5) that outputs the information associated with the tool number. (Note 2) The machining identification unit (1) identifies machining-related information from at least one of the machining program and the internal information of the numerical control device. (Note 3) The tool number identification unit (2) identifies at least one of the tool number or tool name from at least one of the machining program and the internal information of the numerical control device. (Note 4) The tool information identification unit (3) identifies tool-related information from at least one of the machining program and the internal information of the numerical control device. (Note 5) The machining identification unit (1) identifies machining-related information from the comments of the machining program. (Note 6) The tool-related information includes at least the type of tool. (Note 7) The tool-related information includes geometric information of the tool. (Note 8) The tool-related information includes an image showing the type of tool. (Note 9) The output unit (5) determines the inconsistency between the tool and the machining. (Note 10) The tool information management unit (4) updates the existing tool management information using the tool number as the key. (Note 11) A computer-readable storage medium (112, 113, 114) stores instructions for one or more processors (111) to perform processing that identifies information related to machining instructed in a block of machining program, identifies the tool number of a tool used in the machining, identifies information related to the tool used in the machining, associates at least one of the information related to machining or the information related to the tool with the tool number, and outputs the information associated with the tool number.

[0036] 100 Tool Information Acquisition Device 1 Machining Identification Unit 2 Tool Number Identification Unit 3 Tool Information Identification Unit 4 Tool Information Management Unit 5 Output Unit 111 CPU 112 ROM 113 RAM 114 Non-volatile Memory

Claims

1. A tool information collection device comprising: a machining identification unit that identifies information related to machining commanded in a machining program block; a tool number identification unit that identifies the tool number of a tool used in the machining; a tool information identification unit that identifies information related to the tool used in the machining; a tool information management unit that associates at least one of the machining-related information identified by the machining identification unit or the tool-related information identified by the tool information identification unit with the tool number; and an output unit that outputs the information associated with the tool number.

2. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the processing identification unit identifies information related to processing from at least one of the processing program and the internal information of the numerical control device.

3. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the tool number identification unit identifies at least one of a tool number or a tool name from at least one of a machining program or internal information of a numerical control device.

4. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the tool information identification unit identifies tool-related information from at least one of a machining program and internal information of a numerical control device.

5. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the processing identification unit identifies information related to processing from comments in the processing program.

6. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the tool includes at least the type of tool.

7. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the tool includes geometric information of the tool.

8. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the information related to the tool includes an image indicating the type of tool.

9. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit determines the mismatch between the tool and the machining process.

10. The tool information collection device according to claim 1, wherein the tool information management unit updates existing tool management information using the tool number as a key.

11. A computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for one or more processors to execute a process that involves: identifying information related to machining instructed in a block of machining program; identifying the tool number of a tool used in the machining; identifying information related to the tool used in the machining; associating at least one of the information related to the machining or the information related to the tool with the tool number; and outputting the information associated with the tool number.

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