Machining program correction assistance device, machining program correction assistance method, and machining system

Abstract

Provided is a machining program correction assistance device (1) comprising: a numerical control simulation execution unit (11) that simulates a numerical control processing operation of a numerical control machine tool on the basis of a machining program and a numerical control parameter set in the numerical control machine tool which executes the machining program, and that generates a tool path and a position command representing the tool path; a machining simulation execution unit (12) that performs a machining simulation in accordance with a material shape which is the shape of a workpiece to be machined by the numerical control machine tool, a tool shape which is the shape of a tool to be used in machining, a machine model of the numerical control machine tool, and the position command; and a shortening path detection unit (13) that detects, from the tool path, a shortening path, which is a path by which a machining time can be shortened, on the basis of the position command, a result of the machining simulation, and an established shortening path detection condition.

Description

Machining program correction support device, machining program correction support method, and machining system

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a machining program correction support device, a machining program correction support method, and a machining system that support the correction of a machining program that controls a machine tool.

[0002] Generally, numerically controlled (NC) machine tools perform machining using machining programs that are generated by a computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system and contain movement commands for moving the workpiece or tool. CAM systems often generate tool paths with excessive margins to avoid mechanical interference, do not consider the in-process shape, and do not consider the characteristics of the numerical control of the machine tool, resulting in machining programs with excessively long machining times.

[0003] In response to such problems, Patent Document 1 discloses a machining program optimization device that detects redundant commands included in a machining program and deletes or reduces the redundant commands to optimize the machining program. The machining program optimization device described in Patent Document 1 detects, as redundant commands, at least one of commands that generate unnecessary waiting time, commands that generate unnecessary motion, and commands that generate excessive margin.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-47702

[0005] However, in the optimization by the machining program optimization device described in Patent Document 1, redundant commands contained in the machining program are detected, and therefore actual numerical control processing, specifically, interpolation processing, acceleration / deceleration processing, etc., is not taken into consideration. As a result, the actual speed during machining and the actual tool movement path cannot be taken into consideration, and there is a risk of overlooking detection of areas where the machining time can actually be shortened even though they do not correspond to redundant commands, or overdetecting areas that should not be corrected.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a machining program correction support device that can accurately detect correction locations that can shorten machining time.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the machining program correction support device according to the present disclosure is characterized by comprising: a numerical control simulation execution unit that simulates the numerical control processing operation of the numerically controlled machine tool based on the machining program and numerical control parameters set in the numerically controlled machine tool that executes the machining program, and generates a tool path and a position command that represents the tool path; a machining simulation execution unit that performs a machining simulation in accordance with the material shape, which is the shape of the workpiece to be machined by the numerically controlled machine tool, the tool shape, which is the shape of the tool used in machining, a machine model of the numerically controlled machine tool, and the position command; and a reducible path detection unit that detects a reducible path, which is a path that can reduce the machining time, from the tool path based on the position command, the results of the machining simulation, and defined reducible path detection conditions.

[0008] The machining program correction support device according to the present disclosure has the effect of being able to accurately detect correction locations that can shorten machining time.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device. Flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device according to the second embodiment. Flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example of a method in which the machining program correction support device according to the second embodiment corrects a tool path. Flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device according to the third embodiment. Flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device according to the fourth embodiment. Flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device according to the sixth embodiment.

[0010] Hereinafter, a machining program correction support device, a machining program correction support method, and a machining system according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that in the description of each embodiment, numerical control may be abbreviated as NC.

[0011] First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device 1 according to a first embodiment.

[0012] The machining program correction support device 1 includes a numerical control (NC) simulation execution unit 11, a machining simulation execution unit 12, a shortenable path detection unit 13, an interface unit 14, a machining program storage unit 21, a numerical control (NC) parameter storage unit 22, a material shape storage unit 23, a tool shape storage unit 24, a machine model storage unit 25, and a shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26.

[0013] The machining program modification support device 1 may be realized by a plurality of devices operating in cooperation with each other. For example, the machining program modification support device 1 may be realized by a first device including an NC simulation execution unit 11, a machining simulation execution unit 12, a shortenable path detection unit 13, and an interface unit 14, and executing various processes to support the machining program modification work, and a second device including a machining program storage unit 21, an NC parameter storage unit 22, a material shape storage unit 23, a tool shape storage unit 24, a machine model storage unit 25, and a shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26 operating in cooperation with each other.

[0014] The machining program storage unit 21 stores the machining program to be corrected, that is, the machining program to be corrected in the correction work supported by the machining program correction support device 1.

[0015] The NC parameter storage unit 22 stores numerical control parameters (NC parameters), which are parameters set in an NC machine tool (not shown) that executes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21. The NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22 are used when the NC simulation execution unit 11, which will be described later, simulates NC processing operations based on the machining program.

[0016] The workpiece shape storage unit 23 stores the workpiece shape, which is the shape of the workpiece to be machined by the NC machine tool that executes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21. The workpiece is also referred to as a material. In the following description, the workpiece may also be referred to as a material.

[0017] The tool shape storage unit 24 stores the tool shape, which is the shape of a tool used in machining a material by an NC machine tool that executes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 .

[0018] The machine model storage unit 25 stores a machine model of an NC machine tool that executes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21. The machine model of the NC machine tool simulates the operation of the NC machine tool executing the machining program to machine a material.

[0019] The shrunk path detection condition storage unit 26 stores shrunk path detection conditions used by the shrunk path detection unit 13 (described later) when detecting a path included in a tool path that can reduce the machining time. In the following description, a path that can reduce the machining time will be referred to as a shrunk path. The tool path for which the shrunk path detection unit 13 detects a shrunk path is a path described in a machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21, and is a path along which a tool moves during machining performed by an NC machine tool in accordance with the machining program. When the tool position is fixed and the workpiece moves during machining performed by an NC machine tool in accordance with the machining program, the path along which the workpiece moves is the tool path. When both the tool and the workpiece move during machining performed by an NC machine tool, the relative path of movement between the tool and the workpiece is the tool path. Examples of shrunk paths include a path along which a tool can be moved faster than the speed commanded by the machining program, and a path along which the tool travels by changing the path itself to reduce the distance the tool travels.

[0020] The NC simulation execution unit 11 simulates the numerical control processing operation of the NC machine tool based on the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 and the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22. The NC simulation execution unit 11 outputs the numerical control processing result obtained by simulating the numerical control processing to the machining simulation execution unit 12 and the shortenable path detection unit 13. In detail, the NC simulation execution unit 11 outputs a position command included in the numerical control processing result to the machining simulation execution unit 12, and outputs a tool path and a position command included in the numerical control processing result to the shortenable path detection unit 13.

[0021] The machining simulation executing unit 12 executes a machining simulation based on the position command input from the NC simulation executing unit 11, the workpiece shape stored in the workpiece shape storing unit 23, the tool shape stored in the tool shape storing unit 24, and the machine model stored in the machine model storing unit 25. The machining simulation executing unit 12 outputs the machining simulation result obtained by executing the machining simulation to the shortenable path detecting unit 13. The machining simulation result includes information indicating when and how the tool processed the workpiece until the machining of the workpiece is completed, specifically, information indicating in which section of the tool path the workpiece was cut.

[0022] The shortenable path detection unit 13 detects a shortenable path included in the tool path input from the NC simulation execution unit 11. In detail, the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects a path that satisfies the shortenable path detection conditions stored in the shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26 from the tool path.

[0023] The interface unit 14 outputs to the outside the detection result of the shortenable route by the shortenable route detection unit 13. The interface unit 14 may notify the outside by displaying the detection result, or may output the detection result to the outside as data. The interface unit 14 may output the detection result to the outside by printing it on paper, for example.

[0024] Next, the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 to support the machining program correction work will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0025] First, the NC simulation execution unit 11 analyzes the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 to acquire a tool path (step S1). The NC simulation execution unit 11 acquires, as the tool path, a path along which a tool or workpiece moves in machining according to the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21. The NC simulation execution unit 11 outputs the acquired tool path to the shortenable path detection unit 13.

[0026] Next, the NC simulation executing unit 11 simulates the NC processing operation to generate a position command (step S2). In detail, the NC simulation executing unit 11 simulates the NC processing operation based on the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22 and the tool path acquired in step S1 to generate a position command. The position command indicates the tool position per unit time calculated by the NC processing operation. The unit time here is the NC control period. The NC simulation executing unit 11 generates a series of position commands indicating the tool position per unit time. The NC simulation executing unit 11 outputs the generated position commands to the shortenable path detecting unit 13 and the machining simulation executing unit 12.

[0027] Next, the machining simulation executing unit 12 executes the machining simulation (step S3). Specifically, the machining simulation executing unit 12 executes the machining simulation based on the workpiece shape stored in the workpiece shape memory unit 23, the tool shape stored in the tool shape memory unit 24, the machine model stored in the machine model memory unit 25, and the position command generated by the NC simulation executing unit 11 in step S2. The machining simulation is a simulation in which the tool removes the workpiece shape from the workpiece shape when the tool passes the position indicated by the position command, and the machining simulation executing unit 12 obtains the machining simulation result at this time. The machining simulation result may include a tool cutting volume, which is the volume of workpiece removed by the tool for each tool position indicated by the position command. Furthermore, the machining simulation result may also include the shortest distance and direction between the tool and the workpiece and the machine model for each tool position indicated by the position command. The machining simulation executing unit 12 outputs the machining simulation result obtained by executing the machining simulation to the shortenable path detecting unit 13.

[0028] Next, the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects a shortenable path included in the tool path (step S4). Specifically, the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects a shortenable path based on the tool path acquired by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S1, the position commands generated by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S2, the results of the machining simulation executed by the machining simulation execution unit 12 in step S3, and the shortenable path detection conditions stored in the shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26. To detect a shortenable path, the shortenable path detection unit 13 first determines which tool path each tool position indicated by the position commands is associated with. As a method for determining the association, for example, when the NC simulation execution unit 11 generates a position command based on the tool path in step S2, the NC simulation execution unit 11 may store which tool path generated the position command, or, for example, the NC simulation execution unit 11 may determine the tool path that is spatially closest to each tool position indicated by the position command as the associated tool path.

[0029] The shortenable path detection conditions used by the shortenable path detection unit 13 to detect a shortenable path are, for example, the following (A) to (D): The shortenable path detection unit 13 checks whether the tool path includes any of the ranges described in the following (A) to (D), and if so, detects the tool path included in that range as a shortenable path.

[0030] (A) Range of Tool Paths Where the Tool Does Not Contribute to Material Removal This range is detected, for example, by extracting tool positions with a zero tool cutting volume included in the machining simulation results from the position commands specified as cutting commands, which are G01 commands in the machining program, and then defining the tool paths associated with the extracted tool positions as tool paths where the tool does not contribute to material removal. In this case, if a section of tool positions with a zero tool cutting volume and a section of tool positions with a non-zero tool cutting volume are associated with a single movement path, the movement path may be divided into two or more sections to detect only the sections of tool positions with a zero tool cutting volume. A tool position with a zero tool cutting volume is a tool position where cutting is not performed, i.e., a tool position where the tool does not come into contact with the material. Therefore, the tool path where the tool does not contribute to material removal is a section of the path indicated by the position commands generated by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S2 where the tool does not come into contact with the material.

[0031] (B) Range of tool path where unintended deceleration occurs due to NC processing operation This range is detected, for example, by calculating the actual speed at which the tool moves from a position command, comparing the actual speed with the command speed commanded in the machining program, and determining the tool path associated with the range of position commands where the actual speed is slower than the command speed as the tool path where unintended deceleration occurs due to NC processing operation. At this time, the command speed may be multiplied by a deceleration rate coefficient according to a predetermined deceleration rate coefficient, and the command speed may be compared with the value obtained by multiplying the command speed by a deceleration rate coefficient.

[0032] (C) Range of tool path where redundant retraction movement of tool is performed The method of detecting this range, for example, determines that the tool path associated with the range of position commands where the shortest distance between the tool included in the machining simulation result and the material and machine model is greater than a predetermined distance is the tool path where redundant retraction movement of the tool is performed.

[0033] (D) Range of tool paths for which insufficient machining conditions are set The method for detecting this range is, for example, to determine that a tool path associated with a range of position commands in which the tool cutting volume included in the machining simulation result is smaller than a specified volume and not zero is a tool path for which insufficient machining conditions are set.

[0034] The conditions for detecting a shortenable path are not limited to the above (A) to (D). The machining program modification support device 1 may be configured so that the user can add or change the conditions for detecting a shortenable path used in detecting a shortenable path.

[0035] Next, the interface unit 14 presents the shortenable path and the detection reason (step S5). Specifically, the interface unit 14 acquires the tool path acquired by the NC simulation execution unit 11 and the shortenable path detected by the shortenable path detection unit 13 from the shortenable path detection unit 13, and presents the shortenable path included in the tool path along with the detection reason, distinguishing it from other tool paths that do not fall under the shortenable path. For example, the interface unit 14 may display the shortenable path on a display device by color-coding it from other sections of the tool path so that it is visually recognizable which sections of the tool path are shortenable paths. The interface unit 14 also displays the detection reason for the presented shortenable path, for example, which of the above-mentioned conditions (A) to (D) the shortenable path matches. The interface unit 14 may distinguish between the shortenable path and the other sections of the tool path by using different types of lines. When there are multiple shortenable paths, the interface unit 14 presents the multiple shortenable paths in a manner that allows the user to easily recognize the correspondence between each of the multiple shortenable paths and the detection reason. The interface unit 14 may, for example, display the corresponding shortenable path and the detection reason in the same color so that the correspondence can be seen. The interface unit 14 may present the detection reason of the shortenable path by a method other than text display. In addition to the shortenable path and the detection reason, the interface unit 14 may also present information related to the shortenable path, such as the machining simulation result and the shape of the material before machining.

[0036] The interface unit 14 may also present lines corresponding to shortenable paths in the machining program. In this case, for example, the lines corresponding to shortenable paths can be distinguished from other lines by changing the character color of the lines. The lines corresponding to shortenable paths in the machining program are identified by, for example, the shortenable path detection unit 13.

[0037] By receiving the shortenable path from the interface unit 14, the user can correct the portion of the machining program that corresponds to the shortenable path, thereby shortening the machining time.

[0038] As described above, the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment includes an NC simulation execution unit 11 that analyzes a machining program to acquire a tool path and generates a position command by simulating an NC processing operation; a machining simulation execution unit 12 that executes a machining simulation based on the position command, the material shape, the shape of a tool used in machining, and a machine model that simulates the machining of the material; a shortenable path detection unit 13 that detects a shortenable path included in the tool path based on the tool path, the position command, the machining simulation results, and a shortenable path detection condition; and an interface unit 14 that presents the detected shortenable path. Because the machining program modification support device 1 includes the NC simulation execution unit 11, it can detect a path from the tool path that can shorten the machining time while taking into account actual numerical control processing such as interpolation processing and acceleration / deceleration processing, thereby preventing missed or overdetected shortenable paths. Furthermore, the machining program modification support device 1 presents the detected shortenable path separately from other paths, allowing the user to easily identify which paths in the tool path are shortenable paths. In addition, the machining program correction support device 1 presents the detected shortenable path and the detection conditions, so that the user can understand the factors that led to the detection of the shortenable path, thereby reducing the effort required to consider how to correct the shortenable path.

[0039] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device 1a according to the second embodiment.

[0041] The machining program correction support device 1a has a configuration in which a path correction unit 15, a machining program correction unit 16, and a path correction method storage unit 27 are added to the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1. The operations of the components other than the path correction unit 15, the machining program correction unit 16, and the path correction method storage unit 27 of the machining program correction support device 1a are similar to the components denoted by the same reference numerals in the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, a description of the components other than the path correction unit 15, the machining program correction unit 16, and the path correction method storage unit 27 will be omitted.

[0042] The path correction unit 15 receives the tool path obtained by the NC simulation execution unit 11 from the machining program and the shortenable path detected by the shortenable path detection unit 13, corrects the shortenable path included in the tool path, and generates a corrected tool path, which is the tool path after the correction.

[0043] The machining program correcting unit 16 corrects the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 based on the corrected tool path generated by the path correcting unit 15 .

[0044] The path correction method storage unit 27 stores a path correction method that the path correction unit 15 uses when correcting a shortenable path within a tool path.

[0045] Next, the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a to support the machining program correction work will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the second embodiment. In Fig. 4, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment. Description of steps S1 to S4, which are the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2, will be omitted.

[0046] In the machining program modification support device 1a according to the second embodiment, after the shrunk path detection unit 13 detects a shrunk path in step S4, the path modification unit 15 modifies the shrunk path included in the tool path to generate a modified tool path (step S6). In detail, the path modification unit 15 modifies the shrunk path included in the tool path detected by the shrunk path detection unit 13 using the path modification method stored in the path modification method storage unit 27. The path modification unit 15 outputs a modified tool path, which is the tool path after the modification of the shrunk path is completed, to the interface unit 14 and the machining program modification unit 16.

[0047] The method by which the route correction unit 15 corrects the shortenable route, i.e., the route correction methods stored in the route correction method storage unit 27, are, for example, the following (a) to (d). The route correction unit 15 corrects the shortenable route using the route correction method corresponding to the reason for detecting the shortenable route.

[0048] (a) Methods for correcting a shortenable path that corresponds to a range of the tool path where the tool does not contribute to material removal: (a-1) Change the command for the shortenable path from a cutting command to a rapid traverse command. (a-2) Increase the command feed rate for the shortenable path. (a-3) Change the shortenable path to a path with a shorter path length.

[0049] A specific example of changing a shortenable path to a path with a shorter path length is shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a method for modifying a tool path by the machining program modification support device 1a according to the second embodiment.

[0050] 5, when the movement path of the tool 201 from P1 to P2 is the shortenable path indicated by the solid line, there is a section in which the distance between the workpiece, which is the material to be machined, and the tool 201 is greater than necessary. In such a case, the path correction unit 15, for example, deletes a portion of the shortenable path and changes the movement path of the tool 201 to a corrected tool path #1 for linear axis movement indicated by the dashed line. The path correction unit 15 may also change the movement path of the tool 201 to a corrected tool path #2 for rotational axis movement.

[0051] (b) Methods for correcting a shortenable path that corresponds to the range of the tool path where unintended deceleration occurs due to NC processing operations: (b-1) Regarding the tool movement speed on the shortenable path, increase the command speed so that the actual speed after the change is the same as the original command speed. (b-2) Insert an arc path into the corner of the shortenable path.

[0052] (c) A method for modifying a shortenable path that corresponds to a range of a tool path in which redundant tool retraction movements are performed. (c-1) The shortenable path is modified so that the shortest distance between the tool and the material and machine model approaches a predetermined distance.

[0053] (d) Method of correcting a shortenable path that falls within the range of a tool path for which excessively low machining conditions are set: (d-1) Increase the command feed rate so that the tool cutting volume of the position command on the shortenable path approaches the specified volume. (d-2) Increase the cutting depth so that the tool cutting volume of the position command on the shortenable path approaches the specified volume.

[0054] In the correction method (d-2), excluding the correction method of intentionally increasing the tool cutting volume of the position command, the range of the position command in which the material is machined by the tool may be specified, and the shortenable path may be corrected so that the specified range of the position command does not change before and after the correction of the machining program. The range of the position command in which the material is machined by the tool can be found as a range in which the tool cutting volume of the original command in the machining simulation results is not zero.

[0055] The route correcting unit 15 may simultaneously use two or more of the above-described multiple correction methods that can be used in combination to correct one shortenable route. For example, the correction method (a-2) and the correction method (c-1) may be used in combination.

[0056] In addition, when the path correction unit 15 applies a method other than correcting the tool movement path itself, i.e., a path correction method that shortens the machining time by changing the command to be executed, the command feed rate, the tool movement rate, etc., it generates information indicating the correspondence between the shortenable path and the path correction method to be applied, and includes this information in the corrected tool path.

[0057] Next, the interface unit 14 presents the modified tool path generated by the path modification unit 15 (step S7). The interface unit 14 may present the modified tool path in any manner as long as the user can confirm the details of the modified tool path. For example, the interface unit 14 displays the modified tool path, and at this time, the portions that have changed from the original tool path are displayed in a distinguishable manner. At this time, the modified tool path and the original tool path may be displayed in a contrastive manner on two screens or the like.

[0058] Furthermore, the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 (step S8). In detail, the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program so that the tool path represented by the machining program becomes the corrected tool path generated by the path correction unit 15.

[0059] The order of steps S7 and S8 does not matter, and steps S7 and S8 may be executed in parallel, or step S8 may be executed first and then step S7.

[0060] As described above, the machining program modification support device 1a according to the second embodiment includes a path modification unit 15 that generates a modified tool path by modifying a shortenable path detected in the same manner as in the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and a machining program modification unit 16 that modifies the machining program based on the modified tool path. This makes it possible to automatically perform processes from detecting a shortenable path in the tool path to modifying the machining program, and in addition to the effects obtained by the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain effects such as preventing omission of modifications and reducing the workload of the user.

[0061] In addition, the machining program modification support device 1a presents the modified tool path in a manner that distinguishes it from the original tool path, allowing the user to easily recognize the modified path and reducing the effort and time required to check whether the modified machining program operates as intended.

[0062] Furthermore, the machining program correction support device 1a specifies the range of position commands in which the material is machined by the tool, and corrects the tool path so that the position commands in the specified range do not change before and after the correction of the machining program, so that the machining program can be corrected within a range that does not change the actual cutting work. In other words, the machining program can be corrected so that there is no effect on the cutting work, and the effort and time required to check whether the corrected machining program will machine the material as intended can be reduced.

[0063] Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the description will be centered on the differences from the first and second embodiments. The configuration of the machining program correction support device according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, but some of the operations are different from those of the second embodiment. For this reason, the description will be given using the configuration example shown in FIG. 3.

[0064] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the third embodiment. In Fig. 6, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2 showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment and the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 4 showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the second embodiment. Description of the processes of steps S1 to S4 and S6, which are the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2 or Fig. 4, will be omitted.

[0065] In the machining program modification support device 1a according to the third embodiment, after the path modification unit 15 generates the modified tool path in step S6, the NC simulation execution unit 11 simulates the NC processing operation to generate a modified position command (step S9). In detail, the NC simulation execution unit 11 generates a position command by simulating the NC processing operation based on the modified tool path generated by the path modification unit 15 and the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22. This step S9 is the same process as step S2. Step S9 differs from step S2 in that the modified tool path generated by the path modification unit 15 is used instead of the tool path (the tool path before modification).

[0066] Next, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining times of the pre-modification tool path and the modified tool path based on the pre-modification position commands and the modified position commands (step S10). Specifically, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time of the pre-modification tool path based on the pre-modification position commands, and calculates the machining time of the modified tool path based on the modified position commands. At this time, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each tool path. Specifically, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each section in which the pre-modification tool path and the modified tool path are different. That is, for the pre-modification tool path, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each of the scalable paths detected by the scalable path detection unit 13 in step S4. For the modified tool path, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining time for each section in the modified tool path corresponding to each of the scalable paths detected by the scalable path detection unit 13 in step S4.

[0067] Next, the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program based on the machining time calculated in step S10 (step S11). Specifically, the machining program correction unit 16 first compares the machining time of each sharable path included in the tool path before correction (referred to as a first machining time) with the machining time of each section in the corrected tool path corresponding to the sharable path (referred to as a second machining time). The machining program correction unit 16 then re-corrects the corrected machining path based on the comparison result. Specifically, the machining program correction unit 16 re-corrects the corrected machining path so that the machining time of the entire path is shorter by restoring the path of the section in which the second machining time is longer than the first machining time to the path before correction. For example, the tool path before correction includes three sharable paths, which are referred to as sharable paths #1 to #3. Furthermore, when paths in the modified tool path corresponding to these shrunk paths #1 to #3 are designated as modified paths #1 to #3, the following relationships are assumed to hold: "machining time of shrunk path #1 > machining time of modified path #1," "machining time of shrunk path #2 > machining time of modified path #2," and "machining time of shrunk path #3 < machining time of modified path #3." In this case, the machining program correction unit 16 selects modified paths #1 and #2 and shrunk path #3, and combines the selected three paths with other paths of the tool path before correction that do not correspond to the shrunk paths to obtain a modified tool path after re-correction, which is the final tool path. After re-correcting the modified tool path, the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 based on the modified tool path after re-correction. In detail, the machining program correction unit 16 corrects the machining program so that the tool path represented in the machining program becomes the modified tool path after re-correction.

[0068] As described above, the machining program modification support device 1a according to the third embodiment compares the machining time of the shortenable path before modification with the machining time of the shortenable path after modification for the shortenable path detected in the same manner as the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment, selects the path with the shorter machining time, and creates a final modified tool path. This makes it possible to modify the machining program so that machining is performed using a path with a shorter machining time.

[0069] Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first to third embodiments. The configuration of the machining program correction support device according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the second and third embodiments, but some of the operations are different from those of the second and third embodiments. For this reason, the description will be given using the configuration example shown in FIG. 3.

[0070] Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the fourth embodiment. In Fig. 7, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2, which shows an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment. Explanation of steps S1 to S4, which are the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2, will be omitted.

[0071] In the machining program modification support device 1a according to the fourth embodiment, after the shrunk path detection unit 13 detects a shrunk path in step S4, the path modification unit 15 modifies the shrunk path in multiple patterns based on multiple path modification methods to generate multiple modified tool paths (step S12). For example, when modifying the shrunk path shown in FIG. 5, the path modification unit 15 modifies the shrunk path to modified tool path #1 and modified tool path #2 shown in the figure to generate two modified tool paths. In this case, if the tool movement speed can be changed, the modified tool path may be generated by combining a change in the movement path of the tool 201 and a change in the movement speed. If the type of command can be changed, the type of command may be changed. Furthermore, for example, if there are two shrunk paths in the tool path and two modification methods applicable to each shrunk path exist, there are four combinations of modification methods, and therefore the path modification unit 15 generates a total of four modified tool paths corresponding to the respective combinations.

[0072] Next, the NC simulation executing unit 11 simulates the NC processing operation and generates a plurality of corrected position commands for each of the plurality of corrected tool paths (step S13). In detail, the NC simulation executing unit 11 executes the process of simulating the NC processing operation and generating position commands for all of the plurality of corrected tool paths based on one of the plurality of corrected tool paths generated by the path correcting unit 15 and the NC parameters stored in the NC parameter storage unit 22.

[0073] Next, the machining program correction unit 16 calculates the machining times for the multiple corrected tool paths and corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path with the shortest machining time (step S14). In detail, the machining program correction unit 16 first calculates the machining time for each of the multiple corrected tool paths based on the corrected position commands for each of the multiple corrected tool paths generated by the NC simulation execution unit 11 in step S13. The machining program correction unit 16 then corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path with the shortest machining time.

[0074] As described above, the machining program modification support device 1a according to the fourth embodiment creates a plurality of modified tool paths by combining one or more applicable modification methods for each of the shortenable paths detected by the same method as the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment, and modifies the machining program based on the modified tool path that minimizes the machining time. This makes it possible to modify the machining program so as to further shorten the machining time.

[0075] Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the description will focus on the differences from the first to fourth embodiments described above. The configuration of the machining program correction support device according to the fifth embodiment is the same as that of the second to fourth embodiments, but some of the operations are different from those of the second to fourth embodiments. For this reason, the description will be given using the configuration example shown in FIG. 3.

[0076] Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the fifth embodiment. In Fig. 8, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2 showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment and the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 7 showing an example of the operation of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the fourth embodiment. Description of the processes of steps S1 to S4 and S12, which are the same processes as in the flowchart of Fig. 2 or Fig. 7, will be omitted.

[0077] In the machining program modification support device 1a according to the fifth embodiment, after the path modification unit 15 generates a plurality of modified tool paths in step S12, the interface unit 14 calculates an index for each of the plurality of modified tool paths (step S15). The indexes calculated by the interface unit 14 include, for example, machining time, energy consumption of the machine tool, cost, machined surface accuracy, machined surface quality, tool wear, and maximum acceleration of the machine tool. These indexes may be calculated by appropriately applying a known calculation method. The interface unit 14 may calculate two or more types of indexes.

[0078] Next, the interface unit 14 presents a plurality of modified tool paths and indices of each modified tool path, and accepts a selection by the user (step S16). The interface unit 14 presents the modified tool paths in the same manner as step S7 in FIG. 4 described in the second embodiment. The interface unit 14 presents the indices of each modified tool path in a format that allows the user to grasp the correspondence between the indices and the modified tool paths. The interface unit 14 accepts an operation to select one of the presented modified tool paths.

[0079] Next, the machining program correcting unit 16 corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path selected by the user (step S17).

[0080] As described above, the machining program modification support device 1a according to the fifth embodiment performs modification in a plurality of patterns by combining one or more applicable modification methods for each of the shortenable paths detected by the same method as the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment, to generate a plurality of modified tool paths. Furthermore, the machining program modification support device 1a calculates indices for the generated plurality of modified tool paths and presents them to the user together with the modified tool paths. When the user selects one of the modified tool paths, the machining program is modified based on the selected modified tool path. This allows the user to select a modified tool path based on the indices presented for each modified tool path, making it possible to generate a modified machining program that meets the user's preferences.

[0081] Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the differences from the first to fifth embodiments will be mainly described.

[0082] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a machining program correction support device 1b according to the sixth embodiment.

[0083] The machining program correction support device 1b has a configuration in which the NC simulation execution unit 11 and the NC parameter storage unit 22 of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 are omitted, and a numerically controlled machine tool 31 is connected. The operations of the components of the machining program correction support device 1b are similar to those of the components of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment that are assigned the same reference numerals.

[0084] In the machining program modification support device 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the NC simulation execution unit 11 analyzes the machining program to be modified to acquire a tool path, and generates a position command by simulating an NC processing operation based on the tool path and NC parameters. In contrast, the machining program modification support device 1b according to the present embodiment acquires the tool path and position command from an external numerically controlled machine tool 31 to support the modification of the machining program. Specifically, the machining program modification support device 1b outputs the machining program stored in the machining program storage unit 21 to the numerically controlled machine tool 31, and acquires from the numerically controlled machine tool 31 the tool path and position command generated when the numerically controlled machine tool 31 executes the machining program to machine a material. The machining simulation execution unit 12 then executes a machining simulation based on the position command acquired from the numerically controlled machine tool 31. Furthermore, the shortenable path detection unit 13 detects a shortenable path based on the tool path and position command acquired from the numerically controlled machine tool 31 and the result of the machining simulation executed by the machining simulation execution unit 12.

[0085] In this way, the machining program correction support device 1b according to the sixth embodiment acquires the tool path and position command used in the machining program correction support operation from the external numerically controlled machine tool 31. This eliminates the need to provide an NC simulation execution unit required for generating the tool path and position command, making it possible to simplify the device configuration and reduce the processing load.

[0086] Although the configuration example in which the NC simulation execution unit 11 and the NC parameter storage unit 22 of the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment are omitted and the numerically controlled machine tool 31 is connected has been described, the NC simulation execution unit 11 and the NC parameter storage unit 22 of the machining program correction support device 1a according to the second to fifth embodiments may be omitted and the numerically controlled machine tool 31 may be connected. Also, the machining program storage unit 21 that stores the machining program to be corrected may be omitted and the machining program to be corrected may be acquired from the numerically controlled machine tool 31.

[0087] Next, the hardware configuration of the machining program correction support device 1, 1a, 1b according to each of the above-mentioned embodiments will be described. The machining program correction support device 1, 1a, 1b is realized by hardware having a configuration shown in FIG. 10, for example.

[0088] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of hardware for realizing the machining program correction support devices 1, 1a, and 1b.

[0089] The processor 101 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit, also called a central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)), a system LSI (Large Scale Integration), etc. The memory 102 is a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), a hard disk drive, etc. The output device 103 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, a display, etc. The input device 104 is, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, etc.

[0090] 10 , the machining program correction support device 1, 1a, 1b is realized by the processor 101 executing a program for realizing each function of the machining program correction support device 1, 1a, 1b described in each embodiment. For example, when realizing the machining program correction support device 1 according to the first embodiment, a program for operating as the NC simulation execution unit 11, machining simulation execution unit 12, shortenable path detection unit 13, and interface unit 14 of the machining program correction support device 1 is stored in advance in the memory 102. The processor 101 reads and executes this program from the memory 102, thereby realizing the NC simulation execution unit 11, machining simulation execution unit 12, shortenable path detection unit 13, and interface unit 14 of the machining program correction support device 1.

[0091] The machining program storage unit 21, NC parameter storage unit 22, material shape storage unit 23, tool shape storage unit 24, machine model storage unit 25 and shortenable path detection condition storage unit 26 of the machining program correction support device 1 are realized by the memory 102.

[0092] The programs stored in the memory 102 for operating as the NC simulation execution unit 11, the machining simulation execution unit 12, the shortenable path detection unit 13, and the interface unit 14 may be provided to users, etc. in a form written on a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or may be provided to users, etc. via a network.

[0093] Although the NC simulation executing unit 11, machining simulation executing unit 12, shortenable path detecting unit 13, and interface unit 14 are implemented by the processor 101 and memory 102, which are general-purpose processing circuits, these units may also be implemented by dedicated hardware processing circuits. This processing circuit may be implemented by a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a circuit combining these. Alternatively, some of the NC simulation executing unit 11, machining simulation executing unit 12, shortenable path detecting unit 13, and interface unit 14 may be implemented by dedicated hardware, with the rest implemented by the processor 101 and memory 102.

[0094] 10 may be hardware constituting an electronic computer. That is, the machining program modification support devices 1, 1a, and 1b may be realized by an electronic computer and a program executed by the electronic computer. Each function of the machining program modification support device 1 may be realized by a plurality of electronic computers operating in cooperation with each other.

[0095] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies, or different embodiments may be combined with each other. It is also possible to omit or modify parts of the configurations as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention.

[0096] 1, 1a, 1b Machining program correction support device, 11 Numerical control simulation execution unit, 12 Machining simulation execution unit, 13 Shortenable path detection unit, 14 Interface unit, 15 Path correction unit, 16 Machining program correction unit, 21 Machining program storage unit, 22 Numerical control parameter storage unit, 23 Material shape storage unit, 24 Tool shape storage unit, 25 Machine model storage unit, 26 Shortenable path detection condition storage unit, 27 Path correction method storage unit, 31 Numerical control machine tool, 201 Tool.

Claims

1. A machining program correction support device comprising: a numerical control simulation execution unit that simulates the numerical control processing operation of a numerically controlled machine tool based on a machining program and numerical control parameters set in the numerically controlled machine tool that executes the machining program, and generates a tool path and position commands that represent the tool path; a machining simulation execution unit that performs a machining simulation in accordance with a material shape that is the shape of a workpiece to be machined by the numerically controlled machine tool, a tool shape that is the shape of a tool used in the machining, a machine model of the numerically controlled machine tool, and the position commands; and a reducible path detection unit that detects a reducible path that is a path that can reduce machining time from the tool path based on the position commands, the results of the machining simulation, and defined reducible path detection conditions.

2. The machining program correction support device according to claim 1, further comprising: an interface unit that presents information about the shortenable path detected by the shortenable path detection unit.

3. The machining program correction support device according to claim 2, characterized in that the interface unit presents the shape of the tool path and the position and range of the shortenable path within the tool path.

4. The machining program correction support device described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the interface unit presents the shortenable path detection conditions corresponding to each of the shortenable paths detected by the shortenable path detection unit together with the shortenable paths.

5. A machining program correction support device as described in any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it comprises: a path correction unit that corrects the shortenable path included in the tool path based on the position command and the machining simulation result, which is the result of the machining simulation, to generate a corrected tool path; and a machining program correction unit that corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path.

6. The machining program correction support device according to claim 5, characterized in that the interface unit displays the tool path and the modified tool path, which are changed from the tool path, in comparison with each other.

7. The machining program correction support device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the machining program correction unit re-corrects the corrected tool path based on the machining time of the shortenable path included in the tool path and the machining time of a path included in the corrected tool path that corresponds to the shortenable path, and corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path after the re-correction.

8. The machining program correction support device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the path correction unit corrects the shortenable path using a plurality of correction patterns that combine a plurality of path correction methods to generate a plurality of corrected tool paths, and the machining program correction unit corrects the machining program based on the corrected tool path that has the shortest machining time among the plurality of corrected tool paths.

9. The machining program modification support device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: the path modification unit modifies the shortenable path using a plurality of modification patterns that combine a plurality of path modification methods to generate a plurality of modified tool paths; the interface unit presents the plurality of modified tool paths and indices of the plurality of modified tool paths to the user; and the machining program modification unit modifies the machining program based on the modified tool path selected by the user from the plurality of modified tool paths.

10. A machining program correction support device comprising: a machining simulation execution unit that performs a machining simulation in accordance with a position command generated when a numerically controlled machine tool executes a machining program to be corrected to perform machining, a material shape that is the shape of a workpiece to be machined by the numerically controlled machine tool, a tool shape that is the shape of a tool used in the machining, a machine model of the numerically controlled machine tool, and the position command; and a shortenable path detection unit that detects a shortenable path that is a path that can reduce machining time from a tool path generated when the numerically controlled machine tool executes the machining program to be corrected to perform machining, based on the position command, the result of the machining simulation, and predetermined shortenable path detection conditions.

11. A machining program correction support method for supporting the work of correcting a machining program that controls a numerically controlled machine tool, comprising: a first step in which a machining program correction support device simulates the numerical control processing operation of the numerically controlled machine tool based on the machining program and numerical control parameters set in the numerically controlled machine tool to generate a tool path and a position command representing the tool path; a second step in which the machining program correction support device performs a machining simulation in accordance with a material shape that is the shape of a workpiece to be machined by the numerically controlled machine tool, a tool shape that is the shape of a tool used in the machining, a machine model of the numerically controlled machine tool, and the position command; and a third step in which a shortenable path that is a path that can shorten the machining time is detected from the tool path based on the position command, the results of the machining simulation, and defined shortenable path detection conditions.

12. A machining system comprising: a numerically controlled machine tool that executes a machining program to generate a tool path and a position command representing the tool path, and moves the tool in accordance with the generated position command to machine a workpiece; and a machining program correction support device that supports the correction of the machining program executed by the numerically controlled machine tool, wherein the machining program correction support device comprises: a machining simulation execution unit that performs a machining simulation in accordance with a material shape that is the shape of the workpiece, a tool shape that is the shape of the tool, a machine model of the numerically controlled machine tool, and the position command; and a reducible path detection unit that detects a reducible path that is a path that can reduce machining time from the tool path based on the position command, the result of the machining simulation, and defined reducible path detection conditions.

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