Product data generating device and product data generating method

Abstract

In a product data generating device (1) and a product data generating method, when a second part is joined to a first part by spot welding, the content of processing relating to the removal of a coating adhering to the first part and the second part, which is executed as pre-treatment for the spot welding, is set on the basis of the type of coating and the spot welding method, and product data indicating the set content of the pre-treatment are generated.

Description

Product data generation apparatus and product data generation method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a product data generation apparatus and a product data generation method.

[0002] Sheet metal used for product processing has its surface protected by being covered with a coating such as mill scale (oxide film) or zinc plating. When spot welding is performed using sheet metal to which such a coating adheres, welding accuracy may decrease. For example, when spot welding is performed using sheet metal covered with mill scale, the mill scale may melt into the welded portion and reduce welding strength. When spot welding is performed using sheet metal covered with zinc plating, zinc vapor flows into the molten portion between the plates, which may reduce welding strength or cause variation. In addition, enormous volume expansion occurs when zinc vaporizes, which may generate a large amount of spatter that adheres to products.

[0003] In order to prevent such a decrease in welding accuracy, when performing spot welding, coating countermeasure processing is performed in a preceding step. The coating countermeasure processing includes processing of removing the coating at a spot welding position on a sheet metal (coating removal processing), and processing of performing forming processing on one of two sheet metals to be welded to form a gap for releasing vapor and spatter generated during spot welding (gap forming processing). By performing at least one of these coating countermeasure processings, high-precision spot welding can be implemented.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-181527

[0005] Among the above-described coating countermeasure processings, whether to perform coating removal processing, perform gap forming processing, or perform both differs depending on the type of coating and the spot welding method. Therefore, if an operator determines the content of coating countermeasure processing each time processing is performed, the work becomes complicated and places a heavy burden on the operator.

[0006] A product data generation device according to one or more embodiments includes a control unit. The control unit sets the content of a process for removing coatings attached to the first part and the second part, which is performed as a pre-treatment for spot welding when joining the second part to the first part by spot welding, based on the type of coating and the spot welding method, and generates product data indicating the content of the set pre-treatment.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments of the product data generation apparatus and product data generation method, product data indicating the contents of pre-treatment for welding can be generated accurately with simple operation.

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the process by which the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments generates product data. Figure 3 is a diagram showing a 3D model of a product displayed on the display unit of the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the setting process related to coating countermeasures performed by the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 5 is a diagram showing the situation in which a coating removal process is applied to both sides of each part to be welded and spot welding is performed. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the situation in which a coating removal process is applied to the welding side surface of each part to be welded and spot welding is performed. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the situation in which a convex gap form is formed on the welding side surface of one of the parts to be welded and spot welding is performed. Figure 8 is a diagram for explaining constraints (1) and (3) regarding the position of laser spot welding and gap form setting in the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining constraint (2) regarding the position of laser spot welding and gap form setting in the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating constraints (4) regarding the position of laser spot welding and gap molding set in the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating constraints (4) regarding the position of laser spot welding and gap molding set in the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating constraints (5) regarding the position of laser spot welding and gap molding set in the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the positioning process for laser spot welding and gap molding performed by the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 14 is a diagram showing the state in which the position of spot welding is inserted into the 3D model of the product displayed on the display unit of the product data generation device according to one or more embodiments.Figure 15 shows a 3D model of a product displayed on the display unit of a product data generation device according to one or more embodiments, with the positions of spot welding and gap molding inserted. Figure 16 is a top view of the product after the positions of spot welding and gap molding have been determined on the 3D model of the product displayed on the display unit of a product data generation device according to one or more embodiments. Figure 17 is a side view of the bottom of the product after the positions of spot welding and gap molding have been determined on the 3D model of the product displayed on the display unit of a product data generation device according to one or more embodiments.

[0009] Hereinafter, product data generation apparatus 1 and product data generation method according to one or more embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the product data generation apparatus 1 and product data generation method according to this embodiment, product data is generated that is used to create a product by joining multiple parts by spot welding.

[0010] The product created in this embodiment is made by combining at least a first part and a second part. These first and second parts have a three-dimensional shape formed by processing sheet metal, and the product created from them also has a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, these first and second parts are joined to each other using spot welding to form the product.

[0011] The sheet metal surfaces forming the first part and the sheet metal surfaces forming the second part are covered and protected with a mill scale (oxide film) or zinc plating film.

[0012] (Configuration of Product Data Generation Device 1) Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a product data generation device 1 according to one or more embodiments. The product data generation device 1 comprises an input unit 10, a display unit 20, a storage unit 30, and a control unit 40, and is equipped with CAD (Computer Aided Design).

[0013] The input unit 10 receives operation information from the operator. The display unit 20 displays information output from the control unit 40, as will be described later.

[0014] The storage unit 30 is composed of, for example, non-volatile storage devices such as hard disks and flash memory, and volatile storage devices such as RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 30 includes a sheet metal information storage unit 31, a product model storage unit 32, a mold information storage unit 33, and a product data storage unit 34.

[0015] The sheet metal information storage unit 31 stores attribute information regarding the shape of the sheet metal that forms the parts of the product. This attribute information includes information on the type of coating attached to the sheet metal. The product model storage unit 32 stores information on the 3D model of the product to be created. The mold information storage unit 33 stores information on the mold used in the forming process prior to spot welding. The product data storage unit 34 stores product data generated by the control unit 40, as will be described later.

[0016] The control unit 40 is, for example, a general-purpose microcomputer and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input / output (I / O) interface. The control unit 40 realizes the functions described below by having the CPU read a predetermined product data generation program from the ROM, etc., expand it into RAM, and execute the various expanded programs. Functionally, the control unit 40 has a setting unit 41, an allocation unit 42, and a product data generation unit 43.

[0017] The setting unit 41 sets the content of the pretreatment (coating countermeasure treatment) related to the removal of coatings adhering to the first and second parts when joining the second part to the first part by spot welding, based on the type of coating and the spot welding method. Specifically, the setting unit 41 sets that a coating removal treatment should be performed as a coating countermeasure treatment when spot welding is performed with an electric spot, or when the coating is an oxide film and spot welding is performed with a laser spot. The setting unit 41 sets that either a coating removal treatment or a gap forming treatment should be performed as a coating countermeasure treatment when the coating is zinc plating and spot welding is performed with a laser spot. Details of the gap forming treatment will be described later.

[0018] The allocation unit 42 retrieves a 3D model of the product instructed by the operator from the product model storage unit 32 and displays the information of this 3D model on the display unit 20. The allocation unit 42 then allocates the positions on the displayed 3D model where the coating treatment, which is performed as a pre-processing step when creating the product, will be applied, according to the operator's instructions.

[0019] The product data generation unit 43 uses the information of the displayed 3D model to generate unfolded diagrams for each part, marked with positions where the coating protection treatment assigned by the allocation unit 42 will be applied, as product data for this product, and stores them in the product data storage unit 34.

[0020] (Operation of Product Data Generation Device 1) The operation of the Product Data Generation Device 1 will be described as the process of generating product data for applying coating protection treatment to the parts used to create product X.

[0021] In this embodiment, the sheet metal information storage unit 31 stores attribute information relating to the form of the sheet metal that forms each part. Specifically, the sheet metal information storage unit 31 stores information on the type of coating attached to the sheet metal as attribute information for each sheet metal. The sheet metal information storage unit 31 also stores the following attribute information for each sheet metal: that the sheet metal is composed of at least one of a flat portion and a curved portion; that the sheet metal has a thickness, and that the flat portion and curved portion within a single sheet metal all have the same thickness; that the flat portion has three surfaces: a front surface, a back surface, and a thickness surface; that the curved portion has three surfaces: a front surface, a back surface, and a thickness surface; that there are two types of curved portions: mountain bends and valley bends; and that the curved portion has attribute information indicating the magnitude of the bend.

[0022] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the process by which the product data generation device 1 generates product data. Using Figure 2, we will explain the process of generating data for performing coating protection treatment on the parts used to generate product X.

[0023] When the operator specifies product X as the product to be processed in the input unit 10 (step S1: YES), the allocation unit 42 obtains information on the 3D model M of product X from the product model storage unit 32 and displays it on the display unit 20 (step S2).

[0024] Figure 3 shows a 3D model M of product X displayed on the display unit 20. Product X is created by welding part PA2 to part PA1. Part PA1 has one flat section B. Part PA2 has a bent section C, and has two flat sections D1 and D2 formed by bending the bent section C at a right angle. A circular hole E is formed within flat section D1. Product X is created by overlapping and joining the flat section D2 of part PA2 onto the flat section B of part PA1.

[0025] When the operator activates a command to set up spot welding (Step S3: YES) and selects the flat surface B of part PA1 and the flat surface D2 of part PA2 as the welding target members on the information displayed on the display unit 20 (Step S4: YES), the setting unit 41 acquires this operation information. The setting unit 41 refers to the information stored in the sheet metal information storage unit 31 and determines the coating state of the selected parts PA1 and PA2 (Step S5). The coating state is one of the following states: no coating, a mill scale coating attached, or a zinc plating coating attached.

[0026] Next, when the operator specifies whether the spot welding method is an electric spot welding method or a laser spot welding method (step S6), the setting unit 41 executes a setting process related to coating countermeasures based on the determination result in step S5 and the content specified in step S6 (step S7). The setting process related to coating countermeasures executed by the setting unit 41 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 4.

[0027] First, the setting unit 41 determines whether the selected welding target part has a coating (step S21). If there is a coating (step S21: YES), it determines, based on the operator's instructions, whether the spot welding method to be performed is an electric spot welding method or a laser spot welding method (step S22). If the setting unit 41 determines in step S22 that the spot welding method is an electric spot welding method, it decides to perform a coating removal process on parts PA1 and PA2. Once the setting unit 41 decides to perform the coating removal process, it generates execution information for the laser irradiation coating removal process on both sides of parts PA1 and PA2 (the welding side and the welding side back) (step S23). The generated execution information is used by the assignment unit 42. Based on this execution information, the coating removal process is performed, and as shown in Figure 5, a coating removal area R is formed on both sides of parts PA1 and PA2 in the area corresponding to the welded area Q. This prevents zinc plating or mill scale from dissolving into the weld area Q during spot welding, which would reduce the weld strength. It also prevents wear on the electrode T due to plating adhering to the electrode T through contact between the back surface of the weld and the electrode T.

[0028] In step S22, if the setting unit 41 determines that the spot welding method is the laser spot welding method, it refers to the information stored in the sheet metal information storage unit 31 to determine whether the type of coating is mill scale or galvanized (step S24).

[0029] When the setting unit 41 determines that the type of coating is mill scale, it decides to perform a coating removal process on parts PA1 and PA2. In this case, the setting unit 41 appropriately changes the orientation of each part PA1 and PA2 so that the back surface on the welding side becomes the coating removal process side (step S25), and generates execution information for the laser irradiation coating removal process (step S26). The generated execution information is used by the assignment unit 42. As shown in Figure 6, when the coating removal process is performed based on this execution information, a coating removal area R is formed on the welding side surface of parts PA1 and PA2 in the area corresponding to the weld area Q. This prevents iron oxide from being incorporated during spot welding and prevents mill scale from melting into the weld area Q, which reduces the welding strength. In addition, the mill scale on the laser irradiation surface of each part PA1 and PA2 is naturally removed by laser irradiation, so it is not necessary to remove it in pretreatment.

[0030] In step S24, the setting unit 41 determines that the type of coating is zinc plating, and decides to perform either a coating removal process or a gap-filling process on parts PA1 and PA2. Here, the setting unit 41 determines whether to perform a coating removal process or a gap-filling process based on the operator's instructions (step S27). For example, the operator may instruct the operator to perform a coating removal process if the coating treatment is performed by laser processing, or to perform a gap-filling process if the coating treatment is performed by turret punch press processing.

[0031] When the setting unit 41 determines that a coating removal process should be performed, it appropriately changes the orientation of each part PA1 and PA2 so that the back surface on the welding side becomes the coating removal process side, similar to steps S25 and S26, and generates execution information for the coating removal process by laser irradiation (steps S25 and S26). The generated execution information is used by the assignment unit 42. By performing the coating removal process based on this execution information, zinc plating does not penetrate into the weld Q, and a decrease in welding strength during spot welding can be prevented. At this time, the zinc coating attached to the laser irradiation side surface of part PA2 is evaporated and removed by the laser light.

[0032] When the setting unit 41 determines in step S27 that a gap molding process should be performed, it generates execution information for an upward or downward gap molding process for one of the parts PA1 and PA2 selected by the operator (S28). The generated execution information is used by the allocation unit 42.

[0033] Specifically, the setting unit 41 generates execution information for a downward gap forming process if the back surface on the weld side of the selected part PA1 or PA2 is facing upward, and generates execution information for an upward gap forming process if the surface on the weld side is facing upward. As a result, for example as shown in Figure 7, a convex gap forming V is formed on the weld side surface of part PA2, creating a gap between parts PA1 and PA2. When a gap is created between parts PA1 and PA2, zinc vapor can escape through this gap during spot welding, preventing the generation of voids and spatter. A recess is formed on the surface of part PA2 (the back surface of the weld side) to which the gap forming process is applied, but by irradiating the surface of part PA2 with a laser, the surface of part PA1 (the back surface of the weld side), which is the surface of product X, can be maintained in an aesthetically pleasing state without welding marks or recesses.

[0034] If the setting unit 41 determines in step S21 that there is no coating (step S21: NO), it terminates the process. This concludes the setting process related to coating countermeasures.

[0035] Returning to the flowchart in Figure 2, when a command for positioning related to spot welding is activated by the operator (step S8: YES), the allocation unit 42 performs positioning processing for at least one of either spot welding or gap forming (step S9).

[0036] The positioning process for laser spot welding and gap forming performed by the allocation unit 42 will now be described. The allocation unit 42 determines the positions for laser spot welding and gap forming, taking into consideration the unique attributes of the sheet metal to be welded and the joint configuration.

[0037] The layout section 42 has pre-set attributes specific to sheet metal that will be laser spot welded, such as that non-sheet metal materials are excluded, that the front and back surfaces can be processed but the thickness surface cannot, that instance parts (described later) are excluded, and that there are no restrictions on sheet metal thickness.

[0038] This section explains instance parts. In 3D CAD, there is an "instance part model" designed to reduce the workload of the operator and the amount of data to be managed. In this model, multiple instances generated by copying as information representing a component with the same configuration are defined as belonging to a single instance group. If the shape information of one instance in the instance group is changed, the shape information of other instances belonging to the same instance group will also be changed accordingly. Instances with different shape information are not included in the same instance group. By separating some instances from a given instance group, the shape information of only those instances can be changed. In this embodiment, an instance part is a sheet metal part defined in 3D CAD as a single instance belonging to a given instance group.

[0039] The layout section 42 is pre-set to have a "lap joint" as the joint configuration of the sheet metal to be laser spot welded. A "lap joint" is a configuration in which two sheets of sheet metal overlap on a wide area of ​​either the front or back surface.

[0040] The layout section 42 has pre-set constraints regarding the position of laser spot welding and gap forming based on the aforementioned attributes specific to the sheet metal to be welded. When a group of gap forming processes are performed on a group of spot welds at a predetermined location on product X, the pre-set constraints (1) to (5) regarding the position of laser spot welding and gap forming will be explained with reference to Figures 8 to 12.

[0041] Restriction (1): As shown in Fig. 8, when a group of gap forming positions f1, f2, f3, and f4 are arranged in a sheet metal PAa corresponding to a group of laser spot welding positions e1, e2, e3, and e4, each position is arranged such that all of the group of laser spot welding positions e1, e2, e3, and e4 fall within an area AR enclosed by a line connecting the group of gap forming positions f1, f2, f3, and f4. In this case, the centers of the group of gap forming positions f1, f2, f3, and f4 and the centers of the group of laser spot welding positions e1, e2, e3, and e4 coincide at the same point PO1.

[0042] Restriction (2): The gap forming has a convex shape protruding in a cylindrical shape with a height h and a diameter L as shown in Fig. 9, and a distance α between the centers of different gap forming members in the group of gap forming members is set based on the height h and the diameter L. For example, when the height h of the gap forming is 0.2 mm and the diameter L is 3.0 mm, the distance α is set based on these values to have a default value of 15 mm, a minimum value of 5 mm, and a maximum value of 50 mm.

[0043] Restriction (3): As shown in Fig. 8, a distance dm from a point PO1 to the nearest bent portion c of the sheet metal PAa from the point PO1 is equal to or greater than a threshold T set based on the distance α and the diameter L of the gap forming. For example, when the distance α is 15 mm and the diameter L is 3 mm, the threshold T is set to 20 mm based on these values.

[0044] Restriction (4): As shown in Fig. 10, when a first laser spot welding position group e5 to e8 and a corresponding first gap forming position group f5 to f8, and a second laser spot welding position group e9 to e12 and a corresponding second gap forming position group f9 to f12 are arranged adjacent to each other in the lateral direction in a sheet metal PAb, a distance β between a center point PO2 of the first laser spot welding position group e5 to e8 and a center point PO3 of the second laser spot welding position group e9 to e12 is set based on the distance α.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 11, even when the first laser spot welding position groups e13 to e16, the corresponding first gap forming position groups f13 to f16, the second laser spot welding position groups e17 to e20, and the corresponding second gap forming position groups f17 to f20 are arranged to be adjacent in an oblique direction, this is the same as when they are arranged to be adjacent in a lateral direction. That is, the distance β between the center point PO4 of the first laser spot welding position groups e13 to e16 and the center point PO5 of the second laser spot welding position groups e17 to e20 is set based on the distance α.

[0046] Constraint (5): As shown in FIG. 12, when arranging the laser spot welding position groups e21 to e24 and the corresponding gap forming position groups f21 to f24 in a sheet metal PAd, no formed product is allowed to be arranged within a circle g centered on the center point PO6 of the laser spot welding position groups e21 to e24 and having a radius r. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 12, formed products j1 and j2 fall within the circle g and thus cannot be arranged, while formed product j3 is outside the circle g and thus can be arranged.

[0047] A specific example of the positioning process for laser spot welding and gap forming executed by the allocation unit 42 in consideration of the above constraints (1) to (5) will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 13.

[0048] First, as shown in FIG. 14, the allocation unit 42 causes the display unit 20 to preview-display circular marks at temporary positions E1, E2, E3, and E4, which are default positions of four preset spot welding positions, within the part PA2 of the 3D model M displayed on the display unit 20 (step S41).

[0049] Here, when an operator performs an operation to designate a change destination of the temporary position of spot welding (step S42: YES), the allocation unit 42 changes the temporary position of spot welding by shifting the display position of the mark to the designated position (step S43).

[0050] During the processing related to the spot welding position, if the operator operates the automatic insertion button for gap forming positions (step S45: YES), the allocation unit 42 defaults to four temporary gap forming positions F1, F2, F3, and F4 based on the above constraints (1) to (5). Then, as shown in Figure 15, the allocation unit 42 previews circular marks on the display unit 20 at the four default temporary gap forming positions F1, F2, F3, and F4 within the part PA2 of the 3D model M displayed on the display unit 20 (step S45).

[0051] If the operator specifies a new location for the temporary position of the spot weld or gap molding (step S46: YES), the layout unit 42 determines whether the temporary position of the gap molding can be changed to the specified location based on the above constraints (1) to (5) (step S47). If the layout unit 42 determines that the temporary position of the gap molding can be changed to the specified location (step S47: YES), it changes the temporary position of the spot weld or gap molding by shifting the display position of the mark to the specified location (step S48).

[0052] In step S47, if the allocation unit 42 determines that it is not possible to change the temporary position of the gap molding to the specified position (step S47: NO), it outputs an alert and maintains the mark display position in the position before the change (step S49).

[0053] Subsequently, when the operator performs an operation to determine the temporary positions for spot welding and gap forming (step S50: YES), the layout unit 42 determines these temporary positions as the spot welding positions and gap forming processing positions (step S51). The layout unit 42 indicates that the positions of these marks have been determined as the spot welding positions and gap forming processing positions by changing the display color or display state of the marks corresponding to the spot welding positions and the marks corresponding to the gap forming processing positions from the preview display.

[0054] Figure 16 is a top view of product X after each position has been determined in the 3D model M. As shown in Figure 16, the four gap molding positions F1, F2, F3, and F4 are positioned such that the four laser spot welding positions E1, E2, E3, and E4 are located within the area AR enclosed by these positions. Furthermore, the centers of the four gap molding positions F1, F2, F3, and F4 and the centers of the four laser spot welding positions E1, E2, E3, and E4 are at the same position (point POx).

[0055] Furthermore, for example, the distance αx between the positions for distance gap molding is 15 mm, and the distance dmx from point POx to the bent portion C is greater than the threshold T = 20 mm.

[0056] Figure 17 is a side view of the bottom of product X after each position has been determined in the 3D model M. As shown in Figure 17, gaps are formed between the flat surface B of part PA1 and the flat surface D2 of part PA2 by gap molding provided at positions F1, F2, F3, and F4. This completes the positioning process.

[0057] Returning to the flowchart in Figure 2, when the operator instructs the generation of the unfolded diagram (step S10: YES), the product data generation unit 43 generates unfolded diagrams of parts PA1 and PA2, each displaying the appropriately set processing positions based on the 3D model M, as product data for product X. For example, the unfolded diagram of part PA2 does not display the laser spot welding positions E1, E2, E3, and E4, but clearly shows the gap forming positions F1, F2, F3, and the bent portion C.

[0058] The product data generation unit 43 displays the generated product data on the display unit 20 and stores it in the product data storage unit 34 (step S11). This completes the process of generating product data.

[0059] When creating product X, if gap molding is required, the operator instructs the processing machine to mount a predetermined mold based on the mold information for gap molding stored in the mold information storage unit 33, and further instructs the processing machine to perform gap molding on part PA1 or PA2 using the product data of product X stored in the product data storage unit 34. In addition, if coating removal is required, the operator instructs the processing machine to perform coating removal on parts PA1 and PA2 using the product data of product X stored in the product data storage unit 34. This ensures that coating removal processing is performed as a pretreatment for spot welding.

[0060] Subsequently, the operator uses the product data from the processing machine to instruct the machine to perform spot welding of part PA2 to part PA1. This creates product X.

[0061] In the embodiments described above, the case where there are four locations for a group of spot welds and four locations for a group of gap forming was explained, but the number is not limited to this.

[0062] A product data generation device 1 according to one or more embodiments includes a control unit 40. The control unit 40 sets the content of the process for removing coatings attached to the first and second parts, which is performed as a pre-treatment for spot welding when joining a second part to a first part by spot welding, based on the type of coating and the spot welding method, and generates product data indicating the set pre-treatment content. This makes it possible to generate product data indicating the content of pre-treatment for welding with accuracy through simple operation.

[0063] The pretreatment may consist of at least one of the following: a coating removal treatment for the first and second parts, and a gap-forming treatment applied to either the first or second part to create a gap between them. This allows for high-precision processing when spot welding is performed.

[0064] The control unit 40 may assign pre-processing positions on a 3D model M of the product manufactured by combining the first and second parts, and use the 3D model to generate product data of unfolded drawings of the first and second parts with marks placed at the assigned pre-processing positions. This allows the operator to easily specify the positions to be pre-processed while confirming the finished shape of the product and the positional relationship between the sheet metal to be processed and other parts on the 3D data of the product when generating this product data.

[0065] The control unit 40 can set a coating removal process as a pretreatment when spot welding is performed using the electric spot welding method, or when the coating is an oxide film and spot welding is performed using the laser spot welding method. When the coating is zinc plated and spot welding is performed using the laser spot welding method, it may set either a coating removal process or a gap forming process as a pretreatment. This allows the control unit 40 to perform appropriate pretreatment according to the type of coating and the spot welding method.

[0066] When performing gap forming processing to form a group of gap forms for a group of spot welds at a predetermined location on a product, the control unit 40 may arrange the group of gap forms so that all the positions of the spot welds are within an area enclosed by lines connecting the positions of the group of gap forms, arrange the group of gap forms so that the center of the group of gap forms and the center of the group of spot welds are at the same point, set the distance between the centers of different gap forms within the group of gap forms based on the height and diameter of the gap forms, set the distance from the same point to the bend in the sheet metal based on the distance between the centers of the gap forms and the diameter, and set the distance between the center of one group of gap forms and the center of another group of gap forms based on the distance between the centers of the gap forms. This allows for pre-processing to be performed to ensure accurate spot welding.

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the one or more embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0068] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-051094 (filing date: March 26, 2025), filed with the Japan Patent Office, are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A product data generation device comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit sets the content of a process for removing coatings attached to the first part and the second part, which is performed as a pre-treatment for spot welding when joining a second part to a first part by spot welding, based on the type of coating and the spot welding method, and generates product data indicating the content of the set pre-treatment.

2. The product data generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pretreatment comprises at least one of a coating removal treatment applied to the first part and the second part, and a gap-forming treatment applied to the first part or the second part to create a gap between the first part and the second part.

3. The product data generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit assigns pre-processing positions for performing the pre-processing on a 3D model of a product manufactured by combining the first part and the second part, and generates unfolded drawings of the first part and the second part with marks placed at the assigned pre-processing positions as product data using the 3D model.

4. When performing the gap forming process to form a group of gap forms for a group of spot welds at a predetermined location on a product, the control unit arranges the group of gap forms so that all the positions of the group of spot welds are within an area enclosed by lines connecting the positions of the group of gap forms, arranges the group of gap forms so that the center of the position of the group of gap forms and the center of the position of the group of spot welds are at the same point, sets the distance between the centers of different gap forms within the group of gap forms based on the height and diameter of the gap forms, sets the distance from the same point to the bend in the sheet metal based on the distance between the centers of the gap forms and the diameter, and sets the distance between the center of the position of the group of gap forms and the center of the position of another group of gap forms based on the distance between the centers of the gap forms to determine the position of the group of gap forms in the sheet metal of the first part or the second part, according to claim 2.

5. A product data generation method comprising: a product data generation device that generates product data to be used when joining a second part to a first part by spot welding, the device setting the content of a process for removing coatings attached to the first part and the second part, which is performed as a pretreatment for spot welding, based on the type of coating and the spot welding method; and generating product data indicating the content of the set pretreatment.

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