Tool Magazine Space Assignment for Fewer Relocations and Delays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Machine tools face inefficiencies due to waiting times caused by the unavailability of successor tools, leading to reduced machine efficiency and increased production time. Additionally, the complex task of finding permissible space assignments for tools in large, full tool magazines exacerbates these issues.
Innovation Solution
A computer-aided method for optimizing the occupancy of magazine spaces in machine tool magazines, which involves acquiring sets of tools and magazine spaces, determining permissible space assignments based on tool and magazine space properties, and optimizing the placement of new tools to minimize relocations and compactly occupy magazine spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If tools are continuously removed and added to large tool magazines to maintain continuous production, then productivity is improved, but the complexity of finding permissible space assignments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future tool requirements based on the workpiece sequence and proactively relocating tools to optimal magazine positions before they are needed. This advance preparation ensures that when tools are required for machining, they are already in accessible positions, maintaining continuous production while systematically managing space assignments.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamic tool magazine management where tool positions are not fixed but continuously optimized based on changing requirements. The system dynamically adjusts tool assignments and magazine configurations in response to varying workpiece types and tool sequences, transforming the static magazine into an adaptive system that resolves space assignment complexity through flexible reconfiguration.
2Productivity
If successor tools are not readily available in the magazine, then machine efficiency is reduced, but the waiting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system predicts which tools will be needed next based on the scheduled workpiece sequence and proactively relocates these successor tools to optimal positions in the magazine before they are required. This preliminary positioning eliminates waiting time by ensuring tools are immediately accessible when the machining operation requires them, thereby maintaining high machine efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a look-ahead mechanism that skips ahead in the workpiece sequence to identify future tool requirements. By rushing through the prediction of tool needs and pre-positioning tools in advance, the system eliminates the time loss that would otherwise occur during tool changes, effectively jumping over the waiting period through proactive preparation.
3Manufacturing precision
If tools are placed in magazine spaces according to space requirements, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the number of relocations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary optimization of tool placements by calculating optimal magazine positions that satisfy space requirements while minimizing future relocations. By anticipating tool usage patterns and pre-optimizing positions, the system achieves precise tool placement according to space constraints while reducing the total number of relocations needed during production.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of tool placement by considering not only immediate space requirements but also future usage patterns, tool sequences, and magazine configuration parameters. This multi-parameter optimization approach finds placement solutions that simultaneously satisfy precision requirements and minimize relocations, transforming the single-constraint problem into a multi-objective optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method for optimizing the occupancy of magazine spaces by tools within at least one tool magazine for a machine tool in a computer-supported manner, including: detecting a quantity of magazine spaces in at least one tool magazine, detecting a first quantity of tools which occupy at least one magazine space and the magazine spaces occupied by the tools, detecting a second quantity of tools which are to be additionally received in the at least one tool magazine, detecting the required space and optionally at least one other property for each tool, detecting a quantity of allowed magazines spaces for each tool, detecting a quantity of allowed magazine space pairs, wherein a first tool can be placed on a first magazine space of the magazine space pair, and optimizing the occupancy of the magazine spaces.