Automatic Cutting Tool Selection Using Storage ID Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machining systems require users to manually attach and designate the most appropriate cutting tool, which is inefficient and prone to human error, especially when using automatic tool changers.
Innovation Solution
A machining system and program that utilize a correlation table to automatically pick up the appropriate cutting tool from storage spaces based on pre-designated identifiers, eliminating the need for manual storage and selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the automatic tool determination device is used to select the most appropriate tool, then the tool selection accuracy is improved, but the operation complexity increases because the user must manually attach the selected tool to the machine tool or changer
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows the cutting tool to be placed in any storage space without requiring the user to manually designate which tool should be selected. The control device automatically determines the most appropriate tool by reading the storage space identifier and comparing it with the correlation table, thereby making the system self-organizing and eliminating manual attachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The correlation table is created in advance, storing the relationships between cutting tool identifiers and storage space identifiers. This preliminary preparation enables the automatic tool determination during machining operations without requiring real-time manual intervention for tool attachment or designation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the user designates the most appropriate tool from among tools already attached to the changer, then the tool selection flexibility is improved, but the time consumption increases due to the additional designation step
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the manual mechanical process of attaching and designating tools with an automated information processing system. The control device reads the storage space identifier, queries the correlation table, and automatically determines the most appropriate tool, substituting human operations with automated electronic identification and data processing.
3Productivity
If the manual tool attachment process is eliminated, then the productivity is improved, but the system complexity increases due to the need for correlation table and storage space identifier management
Solution Approach 1:
The storage space identifier serves multiple functions: it uniquely identifies the storage space location, enables automatic tool determination through correlation with the tool identifier, and facilitates the automated selection process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate identification systems, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
To eliminate, after a most appropriate cutting tool has been selected, the necessity of mounting that cutting tool. A machining system includes a machining device 1 for picking up one of cutting tools 53, each of cutting tools stored in respective one of a plurality of storage spaces 81 and machining a workpiece 2 with the picked-up cutting tool 53, a computer 110 for operating the machining device 1, and a computer 120 for generating tool path data for causing the machining device to perform a machining operation. The computer 110 receives, from a user, tool IDs with tool IDs of the cutting tools 53 stored in the storage spaces 81 being correlated with storage space IDs of the storage spaces 81 and creates a correlation table in which tool IDs and the storage space IDs are correlated with each other. The computer selects a most appropriate tool ID from among the tool IDs in the correlation table and designates the storage space ID correlated with the most appropriate tool ID is designated as a designated identifier.