JP5327082B2 - Tool arrangement calculation device, control program for tool arrangement calculation device, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tool arrangement computing device capable of surely computing an arrangement of tools with the minimum number of times of changing over tool magazines, a control program of the tool arrangement computing device, and a storage medium. <P>SOLUTION: The number R of times of changing over tool pots is calculated for all of tool arrangements of a plurality of tools to be used in an NC program of a numerically controlled device (S13-S19). The tool arrangement with the minimum number of changeover calculated for all of the tool arrangements is specified as the optimum tool arrangement (S21). Since the number of times of changeover of all of the tool arrangements is calculated, the tool arrangement with the minimum number of changeover can be surely calculated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tool arrangement calculation device capable of calculating the arrangement of tools in a turret type tool magazine, a control program for the tool arrangement calculation device, and a storage medium.

  Conventionally, a tool changer provided with a turret type tool magazine is known. In this tool changer, when there is a tool change command in the NC program, the tool magazine turns to the pot number of the commanded tool number. For example, in the case of a tool magazine of 14 tools, if the current tool currently mounted on the spindle is pot 1 and the next tool is pot 8, the tool magazine rotates seven times and switches positions. Tool replacement time can be shortened by arranging the tools in the tool magazine so that the number of times of switching (hereinafter referred to as the number of times of switching) is minimized. For example, a method has been proposed in which a tool change command that is commanded in the NC program is read, the most frequently used tool change combinations are preferentially arranged in the adjacent pot, and the remaining tools are arranged in the order of the commands in the NC program. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP-A-5-269635

  However, since the method described in Patent Document 1 does not consider all combinations of all patterns of tool arrangement, it may not be possible to calculate the tool arrangement that minimizes the number of times of switching depending on the tool usage order in the program. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a tool placement calculation device, a tool placement calculation device control program, and a storage medium that can reliably calculate a tool placement that minimizes the number of times of switching between tool magazines. The purpose is to do.

  A tool arrangement calculation device according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided in a tool changer of a machine tool so as to be able to perform rotation indexing, and each of a plurality of pots provided on an outer periphery of a substantially disk-shaped tool magazine that rotates forward or reverse. A tool arrangement calculation device for calculating an arrangement of a plurality of tools to be arranged, the tool exchange command reading means for reading a tool exchange command from a machining program of the machine tool, and the tool read by the tool exchange command reading means From an exchange command, a used tool specifying means for specifying a used tool used in the machining program, an arrangement combination calculating means for calculating all combinations of the used tools specified by the used tool specifying means, When the tools used are used in the order instructed by the machining program in the arrangement of each combination calculated by the arrangement combination calculating means. The switching number counting means for counting the number of switching necessary for the pot switching for each combination, and the smallest number of switching times among the plurality of switching times counted for each combination by the switching number counting means. There is provided a minimum number specifying means for specifying a certain minimum number of times, and an arrangement information output means for outputting arrangement information that is information on the arrangement of the combination corresponding to the minimum number of times specified by the minimum number of times specifying means.

  In the first aspect, first, the tool change command reading means reads a tool change command from the machining program of the machine tool. Next, the used tool specifying means specifies the used tool used in the machining program from the tool change command read by the tool change command reading means. Further, the arrangement combination calculating means calculates all combinations of the used tool arrangements specified by the used tool specifying means. Next, when the switching number counting means uses the tools used in the order instructed by the machining program in the arrangement of each combination calculated by the arrangement combination calculating means, the number of times required for switching the pot is combined. Count every time. Further, the minimum number specifying means specifies the minimum number that is the smallest number of switching times from among the plurality of switching times counted for each combination by the switching number counting means. Then, the arrangement information output means outputs arrangement information which is arrangement information of a combination corresponding to the minimum number specified by the minimum number specifying means. In this way, with respect to the arrangement of all combinations of the tools used, the number of pot switching is counted for each combination, and the minimum number is specified from among them. Can be calculated reliably. Furthermore, since the arrangement information regarding the arrangement can be output, the operator can arrange the tools based on the outputted arrangement information.

  In the first aspect, the number of times of switching may include the number of times of switching necessary for switching from the pot of the last tool used to be commanded by the machining program to the pot of the first tool used. In the case of cutting a plurality of the same workpiece, the same cutting process is repeated. In this case, the machining program is repeatedly executed. That is, it is necessary to switch from the pot of the last used tool commanded by the machining program to the pot of the first used tool. Therefore, by considering the number of times of switching at this time, even when a case where the same cutting process is repeatedly performed is assumed, it is possible to reliably calculate the arrangement of the tools that minimizes the number of times the tool magazine turns.

  Further, in the first aspect, there is provided spare tool registration means for registering a spare tool used as a spare for the used tool and arranged in a pot different from the used tool, and the spare tool is registered by the spare tool registration means. When registered, the arrangement combination calculating means calculates all combinations of the use tool and the spare tool arrangement specified by the use tool specifying means, and the switching number counting means calculates the spare tool. A first switching number that is the number of times of switching when not used and a second switching number that is the number of times of switching when the spare tool is used instead of the tool used are counted for each combination, The minimum number specifying means includes first total switching number calculating means for calculating a first total switching number that is the sum of the first switching number and the second switching number for each combination. One of the first total number of switching actions calculated for each of said combinations by a first total number of switching actions calculating means, may be specified a minimum number of. Accordingly, even when a case in which a spare tool is used on the way instead of the tool used is assumed, it is possible to reliably calculate the arrangement of the tools that minimizes the number of times the tool magazine is turned.

  Further, in the first aspect, when the tool change command is read from a plurality of machining programs by the tool change command reading unit, the switching number counting unit calculates the switching number for each machining program for each combination. And the minimum number specifying means comprises second total switching number calculating means for calculating, for each combination, a second total switching number that is the sum of the switching times counted for each machining program, You may make it specify the minimum frequency among the said 2nd total switching frequency calculated for every said combination by the 2nd total switching frequency calculation means. When there are a plurality of machining programs, the order in which the tools are used is often different for each program. Therefore, with the above configuration, even when a case in which a plurality of programs are executed is assumed, the arrangement of tools that minimizes the number of times of turning of the tool magazine can be reliably calculated.

  Further, in the first aspect, when the number of tools used, which is the number of tools used, is N, the arrangement combination calculating means is N! The number of combinations may be derived by calculating. N! Since the number of the combinations can be easily derived, the combination calculation process can be executed quickly.

  In the first aspect, when the number of the pots in the tool magazine is the same as the number of used tools, the arrangement combination calculating means is (N-1)! The number of combinations may be derived by calculating / 2. As a result, the number of the combinations can be more easily derived, and the combination calculation process can be executed more quickly. “!” Means factorial.

  Further, in the first aspect, the apparatus further comprises a rotation direction determining means for determining whether the tool magazine is rotated normally or reversed, and the tool used is arranged in a normal rotation direction along an outer periphery of the tool magazine. When the number of pots in the magazine is P and the number of times of switching required to switch from the pot of the tool being used to the pot of the next tool to be used is K, K ≧ (P / 2) +1 The rotation direction determination means may determine to invert the tool magazine. As a result, the tool magazine can be switched from the current pot to the next pot with the minimum number of times of switching by rotating or reversing the tool magazine.

  Moreover, in the first aspect, the rotary table is determined by the rotary table installation determining means for determining whether or not a rotary table on which a table for supporting a workpiece rotates is installed on the machine tool. When it is determined that the tool is installed, the switching number counting means switches the number of switching necessary for switching from the pot of the last used tool to the pot of the first used tool instructed by the machining program. The number of times may not be included. When the rotary table is used, for example, a work to be processed next can be attached to the other end side while the work fixed to the one end side is being processed. In such a rotary table, since the tool to be used first can be replaced while the rotary table is rotating after the machining of one workpiece is completed, the last command commanded by the machining program is possible. It is possible not to include the number of times of switching necessary to switch from the pot of the used tool to the pot of the first used tool. Thereby, since the processing amount of the switching frequency counting means can be reduced, the switching frequency can be counted quickly.

  The control program of the tool arrangement calculating device according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided in a tool changer of a machine tool, and is arranged in each of a plurality of pots provided on the outer periphery of a substantially disk-shaped tool magazine that rotates forward or reverse. A tool placement calculation device control program for causing a tool placement calculation device to calculate the placement of a plurality of tools to be executed, the tool change command reading step for reading a tool change command from the machining program of the machine tool, and the tool change Based on the tool change command read in the command reading step, all combinations of the used tool specifying step for specifying the used tool used in the machining program and the arrangement of the used tool specified in the used tool specifying step are included. An arrangement combination calculation step to calculate, and an arrangement of each combination calculated in the arrangement combination calculation step. When the tools used are used in the order commanded by the machining program, the number of times of switching required for the pot switching is counted for each combination. A minimum number specifying step for specifying a minimum number of times that is the smallest number of switching times from among the plurality of times of switching counted in the above, and an arrangement of the combination corresponding to the minimum number specified in the minimum number specifying step An arrangement information output step for outputting arrangement information as information.

  In the second mode, first, in the tool change command reading step, a tool change command is read from the machining program of the machine tool. Next, in the used tool specifying step, the used tool used in the machining program is specified from the tool change command read in the tool change command reading step. Further, in the arrangement combination calculating step, all combinations of the used tool arrangement specified in the used tool specifying step are calculated. Next, in the switching count counting step, when using the tools in the order instructed by the machining program in the arrangement of each combination calculated in the arrangement combination calculating step, the number of switching required for pot switching is Count for each combination. Further, in the minimum number specifying step, the minimum number that is the smallest number of switching times is specified from the plurality of switching times counted for each combination in the switching number counting step. Then, in the arrangement information output step, arrangement information which is arrangement information of a combination corresponding to the minimum number specified in the minimum number specifying step is output. In this way, with respect to the arrangement of all combinations of the tools used, the number of pot switching is counted for each combination, and the minimum number is specified from among them. Can be calculated reliably. Furthermore, since the arrangement information regarding the arrangement can be output, the operator can arrange the tools based on the outputted arrangement information.

  A storage medium according to a third aspect of the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing the control program according to claim 9.

  Since the third aspect stores the control program according to the ninth aspect, the effect according to the ninth aspect can be obtained.

1 is a front view of a machine tool 1. It is a perspective view of the machine tool 1 which removed the splash cover. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of tool arrangement of a tool magazine 31. It is a figure which shows the state by which the NC program was displayed on the display. It is a figure which shows the state by which the tool arrangement | sequence table 120 was displayed on the display 11. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a numerical control device 20. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing each storage area of a RAM 23. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing each storage area of a flash memory 24. FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram of a pot switching table 2421. FIG. It is a flowchart of the main process by CPU21. It is a flowchart of the tool arrangement | positioning calculation process by CPU21. It is the figure which showed all the combinations of the tool arrangement | positioning Q. FIG. It is the figure which showed an example of the tool arrangement | positioning of the tool magazine 31 (2nd Embodiment). It is a figure which shows the state by which the NC program was displayed on the display 11 (2nd Embodiment). 3 is a conceptual diagram showing each storage area of a flash memory 124. FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram of a pot switching table 2521. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a spare tool table 2431. FIG. It is the figure which showed NC program 1 and 2. 1 is a perspective view of a machine tool 90. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing each storage area of a flash memory 224. FIG. It is a flowchart (4th Embodiment) of the tool arrangement | positioning calculation process by CPU.

  Hereinafter, a numerical controller 20 (see FIG. 6) according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The numerical control device 20 controls the operation of the machine tool 1 shown in FIGS. The machine tool 1 is a machine for performing a desired cutting process on a workpiece by moving the workpiece and the tool T relative to each other. The numerical control device 20 corresponds to the “tool arrangement calculating device” of the present invention.

  The structure of the machine tool 1 will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 1, a machine tool 1 is fixed to an iron base 2, a machine body 3 (see FIG. 2) that is provided on an upper part of the base 2, and cuts a workpiece, and is fixed to an upper part of the base 2. A splash cover 4 surrounding the periphery of the machine body 3. A rectangular opening 5 is provided in front of the splash cover 4, and a sliding opening / closing door 6 is provided in the opening 5. An operation panel 10 for operating the machine tool 1 is provided on the right side of the opening 5. A display 11 on which various setting screens, operation screens, and the like are displayed is provided on the upper portion of the operation panel 10. A keyboard 12 having various operation keys is provided at the lower part of the operation panel 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the machine body 3 includes a column 15 erected on the upper rear side of the base 2, a spindle head 16 that can be moved up and down along the column 15, and a lower part of the spindle head 16. A main shaft 17 that can be supported, and a table 19 that is installed at the center of the upper portion of the base 2 and is supported so as to be movable in the XY-axis directions. The spindle head 16 is moved in the Z-axis direction by driving a Z-axis motor 53 (see FIG. 6). The main shaft 17 is rotated by driving a main shaft motor 54 (see FIG. 6). The table 19 is moved in the XY-axis direction by an X-axis motor 51 (see FIG. 6), a Y-axis motor 52 (see FIG. 6), and a guide mechanism (not shown). The X-axis direction is the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the Y-axis direction is the front-rear direction in FIG. 1, and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction in FIG.

  A turret type tool changer 30 that can automatically change the tool T attached to the spindle 17 is provided on the front side of the spindle head 16. A control box 18 is provided on the back side of the column 15. A numerical controller 20 (see FIG. 6) for controlling the operation of the machine tool 1 is stored inside the control box 18.

  The structure of the tool changer 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the tool changer 30 includes a disk-shaped tool magazine 31 and a magazine motor 55 (see FIG. 6) that drives the tool magazine 31 to rotate. Fourteen tool pots P <b> 1 to P <b> 14 (see FIG. 3) from which the tool T can be attached and detached are arranged in the circumferential direction (clockwise in front view) on the outer peripheral edge of the tool magazine 31. And the position of the tool pot P8 located in the lowest part of the tool magazine 31 is a tool exchange position where a tool exchange is performed between the main axis | shafts 17 (refer FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the tool magazine 31 is rotated around an axis by driving a magazine motor 55 (see FIG. 6), and can be rotated forward (clockwise in front view) or reversed (counterclockwise in front view). . The magazine motor 55 is controlled by the CPU 21 (see FIG. 6) of the numerical controller 20. For example, when there is a tool change command in the NC program, the CPU 21 determines the position of the tool pot P to which the tool T subject to the tool change command is mounted. Then, by turning the tool magazine 31, the tool T is transported to the tool changing position and replaced with the tool T mounted on the spindle 17.

  In this embodiment, the number of times that the position of the tool pot P of the tool magazine 31 is switched to the position of the adjacent tool pot P (hereinafter referred to as “number of times of switching”) will be described as “one time”. For example, in FIG. 3, the number of times of switching required to switch the tool T1 mounted on the tool pot P1 to the tool T9 mounted on the adjacent tool pot P4 across the tool pots P2 and P3 is “ 3 times ".

  In the tool magazine 31, the tool T may be mounted on all of the tool pots P1 to P14. However, when the number of tools is smaller than the total number of pots, an empty tool pot P may be provided. In order to reduce the number of times the tool pot P is switched, it is preferable to close the space between the tool T and the tool T. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the tool T1 is mounted on the tool pot P1, the tool T5 is mounted on the tool pot P2, the tool T8 is mounted on the tool pot P3, and the tool T9 is mounted on the tool pot P4. The tool T is not attached to the tool pots P5 to P14. In this embodiment, the tool T is arranged clockwise, but it may be arranged counterclockwise.

  Next, the tool arrangement of the tool magazine 31 will be described. The numerical controller 20 has a function that can reliably calculate an optimum tool arrangement that can minimize the number of times of switching the tool pot P when the NC program is executed for the tool arrangement in the tool magazine 31. The smaller the number of times the tool pot P is switched, the shorter the time required for the tool change of the tool changer 30 can be shortened.

  An operation method of the operation panel 10 when calculating the optimum tool arrangement will be described. For example, when the keyboard 12 of the operation panel 10 shown in FIG. 1 is operated, the NC program to be executed is displayed on the display 11 as shown in FIG. In the example of the NC program shown in FIG. 4, tool exchange is performed in the order of tool T1 → tool T5 → tool T8 → tool T1 → tool T5 → tool T8 → tool T9 during cutting of the workpiece. When the tool placement calculation button 110 displayed in the left corner of the display 11 is selected by the user, the numerical control device 20 calculates the optimum tool placement that can minimize the number of times the tool pot P is switched. As shown in FIG. 5, the display 11 displays a tool arrangement table 120 that shows the calculation result of the tool arrangement.

  The tool arrangement table 120 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the tool arrangement table 120 has a tool number column 122 for the pot number column 121. In the pot number column 121, the pot numbers of the tool pots P1 to P14 are displayed. The tool number column 122 displays the tool number of the tool T to be arranged based on the optimum tool arrangement calculated by the numerical controller 20. In the empty tool pot P, “−” is displayed. The user installs the tools T in the tool pots P1 to P14 of the tool magazine 31 according to the tool arrangement table 120 displayed on the display 11. Thereby, when the NC program is executed, the number of times of switching of the tool T is minimized, so that the time required for tool change can be effectively shortened.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the numerical controller 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The numerical controller 20 includes a microcomputer including a CPU 21, ROM 22, RAM 23, and flash memory 24, an input interface 25, and an input / output interface 26. The keyboard 12 of the operation panel 10 is electrically connected to the input interface 25. The keyboard 12 includes an axis movement key. The axis movement key is a key for moving the table 19 (see FIG. 2) in the + and − directions of the X axis, a key for moving the table 19 in the + and − directions of the Y axis, and the spindle head 16. This key is used to move the Z axis in the + and-directions.

  On the other hand, the input / output interface 26 includes a drive circuit 41 that drives the X-axis motor 51, a drive circuit 42 that drives the Y-axis motor 52, a drive circuit 43 that drives the Z-axis motor 53, and a spindle motor 54. A drive circuit 44 for driving, a drive circuit 45 for driving the magazine motor 55, a drive circuit 46 for driving the display 11 of the operation panel 10, and the like are electrically connected. The X axis motor 51 and the Y axis motor 52 move the table 19 in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction. The Z-axis motor 53 moves the spindle head 16 in the Z-axis direction.

  Each of the X-axis motor 51, the Y-axis motor 52, the Z-axis motor 53, the main shaft motor 54, and the magazine motor 55 is provided with an encoder (not shown) that detects the position of the motor. Each encoder is connected to each drive circuit 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

  Next, various storage areas of the RAM 23 will be described with reference to FIG. The RAM 23 is provided with at least a tool number storage area 231, a used tool number storage area 232, an optimum tool placement storage area 233, an optimum switching number storage area 234, a calculation number storage area 235, and the like.

  The tool number storage area 231 stores the tool number of the tool to be used that is the target of the tool change command read from the NC program. In the used tool number storage area 232, the number of tools T used in the NC program (hereinafter, used tool number N) is stored. The optimum tool placement storage area 233 stores the optimum tool placement of the tool T in the tool magazine 31 (hereinafter referred to as the optimum tool placement Qopt). The optimum switching count storage area 234 stores the smallest switching count (hereinafter referred to as the optimal switching count Ropt). The number-of-calculations storage area 235 stores the number of times the number of times of switching is calculated for each combination related to the arrangement of the tool T (hereinafter referred to as the number of times of calculation S).

  Next, various storage areas of the flash memory 24 will be described with reference to FIG. The flash memory 24 is provided with at least an NC program storage area 241 and a pot switching table storage area 242. The NC program storage area 241 stores an NC program as a machining program. The pot switching table storage area 242 stores a pot switching table 2421 (see FIG. 9).

  Next, the pot switching table 2421 will be described with reference to FIG. The pot switching table 2421 calculates the number of times of switching R required when the NC program is executed for all tool arrangements composed of combinations of tools used when the CPU 21 executes “tool arrangement calculation processing” to be described later. Used for. In the pot switching table 2421, a tool switching field 71, a pot switching field 72, and a switching frequency field 73 are provided corresponding to each other. Furthermore, a total column 74 for storing the total number of switching times stored in the switching number column 73 is provided.

  In the tool switching field 71, each step of switching the tool T in the order of use of the tool T in the NC program is stored. In the pot switching column 72, each switching step of the tool T stored in the tool switching column 71 is associated with the number of the tool pot P. The switching frequency column 73 stores the switching frequency necessary for switching the tool pot P. A usage example will be described later.

  Next, the main processing of the CPU 21 based on the NC program will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the NC program stored in the NC program storage area 241 of the flash memory 24 is read and interpreted as one block (S1). Then, it is determined whether or not the interpreted one block is a tool change command (S2). If it is not a tool change command (S2: NO), a specified operation is executed based on the operation command interpreted in one block (S6).

  On the other hand, if the interpreted one block is a tool change command (S2: YES), the number of times of switching r required to move the next tool T that is the target of the tool change command to the tool change position is a predetermined value. It is determined whether or not it is greater than or equal to K (S3). The predetermined value K is a value represented by (number of tool pots / 2) +1. The switching frequency r is the switching frequency when the tool magazine 31 is turned in the forward rotation direction. In this embodiment, since the number of tool pots is 14, the predetermined value K = 8. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the switching count r is 8 or more.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the tool T attached to the tool pot P12 is moved to the tool change position (the current position of the tool pot P8), the number of times of switching r is 10 and is larger than 8. . In this case (S3: YES), since the number of times of switching is smaller when the tool magazine 31 is reversed than when it is rotated forward, the tool magazine 31 is turned in the reversing direction (S5), and the tool T is moved to the tool change position. Moved quickly. In addition, when the switching frequency r is less than 8 (S3: NO), since the number of switching times is smaller than when the tool magazine 31 is reversed, the tool magazine 31 is turned in the normal rotation direction. (S4) The tool T is quickly moved to the tool change position.

  Next, the process proceeds to the next block, and it is determined whether or not it is a program end (M30) (S7). If it is a program end (S7: YES), the process is terminated. If it is not the program end (S7: NO), the process returns to S1, the next one block is continuously interpreted, and the process is repeated.

Next, the tool placement calculation process by the CPU 21 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, as an example, a case where the optimum tool placement Qopt is calculated using an NC program having the following conditions will be described. In this process, when the tool placement calculation button 110 displayed in the left corner of the display 11 shown in FIG. 6 is selected, the tool placement calculation program (corresponding to the “control program” of the present invention) stored in the ROM 22 is read. Executed.
-Number of tools used N = 4-Tool numbers used = T1, T5, T8, T9
・ Use order of tool T in NC program = “T1 → T5 → T8 → T1 → T5 → T8 → T9”

  A tool change command in the NC program stored in the NC program storage area 241 (see FIG. 8) of the flash memory 24 is read (S10). Then, by reading the tool change command, the tool number of the tool used in the NC program is stored in the tool number storage area 231 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23 (S11). Further, the number N of tools used is stored based on the read tool change command (S12). In this embodiment, since the number N of used tools is 4, “4” is stored in the used tool number storage area 232 of the RAM 23 (see FIG. 7).

  For the tool numbers stored in the tool number storage area 231, tool arrangement Q is generated in the order of use of the NC program (S13). In the present embodiment, the tool arrangement Q = “T1, T5, T8, T9” is first generated based on the order of use described above.

  Next, based on the generated tool arrangement Q, the number of times R of switching the tool pot P when the NC program is executed is calculated (S14). When the tool arrangement Q = “T1, T5, T8, T9”, as shown in FIG. 3, the tool T1 is in the tool pot P1, the tool T5 is in the tool pot P2, the tool T8 is in the tool pot P3, and the tool T9 is It will be attached to the tool pot P4.

  In this tool arrangement Q, when changing the tool in the order of use of the NC program, there are six "T1 → T5", "T5 → T8", "T8 → T1", "T1 → T5", "T5 → T8", and "T8 → T9". A switching process is required. Further, when the same cutting process is performed on a plurality of workpieces, the same NC program is repeatedly executed. Therefore, the number of times of switching necessary for switching from the last tool T9 to the first tool T1 (hereinafter referred to as auxiliary switching number). Call). Accordingly, it is necessary to calculate the number of times of switching for seven switching steps in which the step “T9 → T1” is added to the six steps described above.

  Each of these switching steps is stored in the tool switching column 71 of the pot switching table 2421 (see FIG. 9) stored in the flash memory 24. Further, the tool number of each switching step is converted into a pot number and stored in the pot switching column 72 as a tool pot P switching step. Then, the number of times of switching is calculated for each switching step of the tool pot P. The number of switching times calculated for each switching step is stored in the switching number column 73 of the pot switching table 2421 (see FIG. 9). Further, the total number of switching times R is calculated and stored in the total column 74. In this embodiment, it is 10 times. In this way, the switching frequency R of the tool arrangement Q is calculated.

  Next, the tool placement Q generated here is stored in the optimum tool placement storage area 233 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23 as the optimum tool placement Qopt at the present time, and the calculated switching number R is the optimum switching number at the present time. Ropt is stored in the optimum switching count storage area 234 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23, and the calculation count S = 1 is stored in the calculation count storage area 235 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23 (S15).

  Next, the value of the calculation count S stored in the calculation count storage area 235 of the RAM 23 is N! It is determined whether or not (N factorial) (S16). N! Corresponds to the number of all combinations in the number N of tools used. Since the number N of tools used in this embodiment is 4, there are 24 combinations of tool arrangements as shown in FIG. That is, for “T1, T5, T8, T9”, there are 24 tool arrangements Q. In FIG. 12, the letter “T” is omitted. Since all possible combinations are considered in this process, as will be described later, the calculation of the number of switching times R is repeated for the tool arrangement Q of each combination until the number of calculations reaches 24.

  The number of calculations S is N! (S16: YES), 1 is added to the calculation count S and stored in the calculation count storage area 235 of the RAM 23 (S17), and the next tool arrangement Q is generated (S18). In the present embodiment, since the previous calculation was made for “T1, T5, T8, T9”, the tool arrangement Q of “T1, T5, T9, T8” is newly generated next.

  For the newly generated tool arrangement Q, the switching frequency R is calculated in the same manner as in the previous method described above (S19). Next, it is determined whether or not the calculated switching frequency R is smaller than the optimal switching frequency Ropt stored in the optimal switching frequency storage area 234 of the RAM 23 (S20). When the number of times of switching is larger than the optimal number of times Ropt (S20: NO), it takes time to change the tool at the number of times of switching R calculated this time. In this case, the optimum tool placement Qopt and the optimum switching number Ropt stored in the RAM 23 are not changed, and the process returns to S16 and the calculation number S is N! It is determined whether or not (24 in this embodiment). When it has not reached 24 ways (S16: YES), the processes of S17 to S20 described above are repeated.

  In S20, when the calculated switching number R is smaller than the optimum switching number Ropt stored in the optimum switching number storage area 234 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23 (S20: YES), a newly generated tool arrangement is generated. Q is stored in the optimum tool placement storage area 233 of the RAM 23 as the optimum tool placement Qopt, and the calculated switching number R is stored in the optimum switching number storage area 234 of the RAM 23 as a new optimum switching number Ropt (S21). . Thereafter, the process returns to S16, and the number of calculations S is N! Is different (S16: YES), the above-described processes of S17 to S21 are repeated.

  Number of calculations S is N! (S16: NO), on the basis of the optimum tool placement Qopt stored in the optimum tool placement storage area 233 of the RAM 23 and the optimum switching frequency Ropt, as shown in FIG. A table 120 is displayed (S22). For example, when the optimum tool placement Qopt stored in the optimum tool placement storage area 233 of the RAM 23 is “T1, T5, T8, T9”, the tool number column 122 is associated with P1 to P4 of the pot number column 121. “T1”, “T5”, “T8”, and “T9” are displayed.

  Below the tool arrangement table 120, “10 times” that is the optimal switching frequency Ropt is displayed. Thus, the tool placement calculation process by the CPU 21 is completed. The user attaches the tool T to the tool magazine 31 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 according to the optimum tool arrangement Qopt of the tool arrangement table 120. Thereby, when the NC program is executed, the time required for tool change can be effectively shortened.

  In the above description, the CPU 21 that executes the process of S10 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11 corresponds to the “tool change command reading means” of the present invention, and the CPU 21 that executes the process of S11 corresponds to the “used tool specifying means” of the present invention. The CPU 21 that executes the processes of S13 and S18 corresponds to the “placement combination calculating means” of the present invention, and the CPU 21 that executes the processes of S14 and S19 corresponds to the “switching number counting means” of the present invention. The CPU 21 that executes the processes of S20 and S21 corresponds to the “minimum number specifying means” of the present invention, and the CPU 21 that executes the process of S22 corresponds to the “placement information output means” of the present invention. Further, the CPU 21 that executes the processes of S3, S4, and S5 in the flowchart of FIG. 10 corresponds to the “rotation direction determining means” of the present invention. 6 corresponds to the “storage medium” of the present invention. The control program of the present invention may be stored in another storage medium such as the flash memory 24.

  As described above, in the numerical control device 20 according to the first embodiment, when the NC program is executed with respect to the tool arrangement in the tool magazine 31 of the tool changer 30, the optimum tool having the smallest number of times of switching the tool pot P is used. The arrangement Qopt can be calculated. Specifically, the CPU 21 calculates the number of times of switching the tool pot P for all tool arrangements composed of combinations of a plurality of tools T used in the NC program.

  The tool arrangement that is the smallest switching frequency Ropt among the switching times calculated for all the tool arrangements is set as the optimum tool arrangement Qopt. The optimum tool placement Qopt is displayed as a tool placement table 120 on the display 11. The user installs the tools T in the tool pots P1 to P14 of the tool magazine 31 according to the tool arrangement table 120 displayed on the display 11. Thereby, when the NC program is executed, the number of times of switching of the tool T is minimized, so that the time required for tool change can be effectively shortened.

  Next, a numerical control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, it is possible to calculate the optimum tool arrangement Qopt considering a spare tool used instead when the tool T has no tool life. The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and is the same as the configuration and control method of the numerical control device 20 described in the first embodiment. The same components will be described with the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the spare tool is mounted in the tool pot P of the tool magazine 31 in the same manner as other used tools. In this embodiment, a spare tool T10 that is a spare for the tool T1 is attached to the tool pot P5.

  Next, the NC program when a spare tool is registered will be described. The NC program shown in FIG. 14 corresponds to the NC program shown in FIG. “T901” indicates that a spare tool described later is used.

  Next, the flash memory 124 will be described with reference to FIG. The flash memory 124 is provided with at least an NC program storage area 241, a pot switching table storage area 242, a spare tool table storage area 243, and the like. The pot switching table storage area 242 stores a pot switching table 2521 (see FIG. 16) considering a spare tool. The spare tool table storage area 243 stores a spare tool table 2431 (see FIG. 17).

  The pot switching table 2521 will be described with reference to FIG. The pot switching table 2521 is provided with a spare tool unused table portion 81 and a spare tool used table portion 82. The spare tool unused table unit 81 is the same as the pot switching table 2421 of the first embodiment, and stores the total number of switchings in the total (A) column 741. The spare tool use time table unit 82 is the same as the pot switching table 2421 of the first embodiment when a spare tool is used. The total number of times of switching is stored in the total (B) column 742. The grand total column 75 stores a total value obtained by adding the total stored in the total (A) column 741 and the total stored in the total (B) column 742.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the number of times of switching when the spare tool is not used is 10 and the number of times of switching when the spare tool is used is 12. Therefore, the total is 22 times, and “22” is stored in the total column 75. Is done. When the spare tool is not registered in the spare tool table storage area 243, only the spare tool unused table section 81 is used.

  Next, the spare tool table 2431 will be described with reference to FIG. The spare tool table 2431 stores the tool T to be used and the spare tool T used instead. In the present embodiment, the tool T1 to be used and the spare tool T10 that is used when the tool life of the tool T1 used is lost are stored. If no spare tool is registered, nothing is stored in the spare tool table 2431. The tool life of the tool T is stored in the flash memory 24 for each tool T. When the tool life is lost due to the use of each tool T, the tool is automatically switched from the used tool to the spare tool. The spare tool table 2431 corresponds to the “spare tool registration unit” of the present invention.

  Next, a tool arrangement calculation process executed by the CPU of the second embodiment will be described. The tool placement calculation process executed in the second embodiment is almost the same as the flowchart of FIG. 11 described in the first embodiment. However, when a spare tool is registered, S11, S12, S13, 14, 18 are used. , 19 are different. With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10, the process of S11, S12, S13, 14 when a spare tool is used is demonstrated. In addition, since S18 and 19 are the same processes as S13 and S14, description is abbreviate | omitted. This process starts when the tool placement calculation button 110 displayed in the left corner of the display 11 shown in FIG. 14 is selected.

Here, as an example, a case where the optimum tool placement Qopt is calculated using an NC program having the following conditions will be described.
・ Number of tools used N = 5 ・ Tool numbers used (when spare tool is not used) = T1, T5, T8, T9
-Tool number used (when using spare tools) = T10, T5, T8, T9
・ Use order of tool T in NC program (when spare tool is not used) = “T1 → T5 → T8 → T1 → T5 → T8 → T9”
・ Use order of tool T in NC program (when using spare tool) = “T10 → T5 → T8 → T10 → T5 → T8 → T9”

  As shown in FIG. 11, the NC program stored in the NC program storage area 241 (see FIG. 8) of the flash memory 24 is read, and the tool change command in the NC program is read (S10). By reading the tool change command, the tool number of the tool used in the NC program is stored in the tool number storage area 231 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23 (S11). Here, when there is “M06 T901” in the tool change command, the tool number of the spare tool stored in the spare tool table 2431 stored in the flash memory 124 is read out, and similarly in the tool number storage area 231. Remembered.

  Based on the read tool change command, the number N of used tools is stored (S12). In this embodiment, since the spare tool T is registered, the number N of used tools is five, which is four used tools plus one spare tool. “5” is stored in the used tool number storage area 232 of the RAM 23 (see FIG. 7).

  Next, for the tool numbers stored in the tool number storage area 231, tool arrangement Q is generated in the order of use of the NC program (S13). Here, since the spare tool T10 is registered in the spare tool table 2431, the tool arrangement Q = “T1, T5, T8, T9, T10” is first generated based on the order of use described above.

  Next, based on the generated tool arrangement Q, the number of times R of switching the tool pot P when the NC program is executed is calculated (S14). When the tool arrangement Q = “T1, T5, T8, T9, T10”, as shown in FIG. 13, the tool T1 is in the tool pot P1, the tool T5 is in the tool pot P2, the tool T8 is in the tool pot P3, the tool T9 is attached to the tool pot P4, and the tool T10 is attached to the tool pot P5.

  For this tool arrangement Q, the number of times of switching R is calculated as in the first embodiment. However, in this example, since the spare tool T10 is registered, the spare tool is not used and the spare tool is used. The total number of times is calculated to calculate the number of times of switching R. When calculating the switching frequency R, the CPU 21 uses the pot switching table 2521 stored in the flash memory 124. The switching process when the tool T1 is used without using the spare tool T10 is stored in the table 81 when the spare tool is not used. The number of switching times when the spare tool is not used (corresponding to the first switching number of the present invention) is calculated and stored in the total (A) column 741. In this embodiment, it is 10 times.

  On the other hand, the switching process when the tool T10 is used instead of the tool T1 is stored in the spare tool use table 82. The number of times of switching when using the spare tool (corresponding to the second number of times of switching according to the present invention) is calculated and stored in the total (B) column 742. In this embodiment, the number of times is twelve, which is larger than when the spare tool is not used. These totals (corresponding to the first total number of switching times of the present invention) are calculated. In this embodiment, since 22 times, “22” is stored in the grand total column 75. The total number of times of switching is the number of times R of switching the tool arrangement Q. In S14 and S19 shown in FIG. 11, the CPU that calculates the total sum of the number of times of switching when the spare tool is not used and the number of times of switching when the spare tool is used is the “first total switching number calculating means” of the present invention. Equivalent to.

  Next, the tool placement Q generated here is stored in the optimum tool placement storage area 233 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23 as the optimum tool placement Qopt at the present time, and the calculated switching number R is the optimum switching number at the present time. The Ropt is stored in the optimal switching count storage area 234 of the RAM 23, and the calculation count S = 1 is stored in the calculation count storage area 235 of the RAM 23 (S15). Thereafter, the same processing as in the first embodiment is executed. That is, for all combinations of the tool arrangement Q, the total of the number of times of switching when the spare tool is not used and the number of times of switching when the spare tool is used is calculated, and the tool with the smallest number of times of switching R among the total is calculated. Placement is required. The tool placement Q that minimizes the total number of times of switching is the optimum tool placement Qopt. If the spare tool is not registered in the spare tool table 2431 of the flash memory 124, the same process as in the first embodiment is executed.

  As described above, in the numerical control apparatus of the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when a spare tool is registered, the optimum tool arrangement Qopt including the spare tool can be calculated. The CPU calculates the total of the number of times of switching when the spare tool is not used and the number of times of switching when the spare tool is used for all the combinations of the tool arrangements Q. Therefore, the smallest number of times of switching R among the total is calculated. Can be obtained. Since the tool placement Q that minimizes the total number of times of switching is the optimum tool placement Qopt, the time required for tool replacement can be effectively shortened regardless of whether or not a spare tool is used.

In the second embodiment, the number of times of switching when the spare tool is not used and the number of times of switching when the spare tool is used are only totaled. Accordingly, the ratio may be reflected in the switching frequency R. In the above embodiment, when the tool life ratio between the tool T1 and the tool T10 is 2: 3, the ratio may be reflected in the switching number R as in the following equation.
・ Number of times of switching R = (Number of times of switching when the tool is not used) × 2 + (Number of times of switching when the spare tool is used) × 3

  Next, the numerical control apparatus which is 3rd Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, the optimum tool placement Qopt can be calculated even when a plurality of NC programs are executed. The third embodiment is a modification of the first and second embodiments, and is similar to the configuration and control method of the numerical control device 20 described in the first and second embodiments. Explained. The same components will be described with the same reference numerals as those in the first and second embodiments.

For example, it is assumed that two NC programs (NC program 1 and NC program 2) shown in FIG. 18 are stored in the NC program storage area 241 (see FIG. 8) of the flash memory 24.
・ Tool number used: T1, T5, T8, T9 (NC program 1)
・ Tool number used: T10, T5, T8, T9 (NC program 2)
-Number of tools used N = 4-Order of use of tools T in NC program 1 = "T1->T5->T8->T1->T5->T8->T9"
・ Use order of tool T in NC program 2 = “T10 → T5 → T8 → T10 → T5 → T8 → T9”

  When calculating the optimum tool placement Qopt under such conditions, the CPU 21 of the numerical control device of the third embodiment executes the same processing as in the second embodiment. In other words, the CPU 21 performs the same processing as that in the flowchart of FIG. 11 so that the optimum tool placement Qopt considering the case of executing a plurality of NC programs can be obtained. In the second embodiment, the number of times of switching the tool arrangement Q is calculated when the spare tool is not used and when the spare tool is used, the total is obtained, and the smallest optimum tool arrangement Qopt is obtained. In the third embodiment, when the NC program 1 is executed and when the NC program 2 is executed, the number of times of switching the tool placement Q is calculated, and the total is obtained to obtain the optimum tool placement that is the smallest number of times of switching Ropt. What is necessary is just to obtain | require Qopt.

  Specifically, a table similar to the pot switching table 2521 (see FIG. 16) of the second embodiment may be stored in the flash memory 24. That is, the spare tool unused table section 81 is the NC program 1 execution table section (not shown), and the spare tool use table section 82 is the NC program 2 execution table section (not shown).

  Then, the following processing is executed in S14 and S19 of the flowchart of FIG. First, the switching process when the NC program 1 is executed is stored in the NC program 1 execution time table section. The number of times of switching R when the NC program 1 is executed is calculated and stored in the total (A) column 741. The NC program 1 execution time table portion stores the same value as the stored content of the spare tool unused time table portion 81 of FIG. The switching frequency R of the NC program 1 is 10 times.

  On the other hand, the switching process when the NC program 2 is executed is stored in the NC program 2 execution time table section. Then, the number of times of switching R when the NC program 1 is executed is calculated and stored in the total (B) column 742. The NC program 2 execution time table portion stores the same value as the stored contents of the spare tool use time table portion 82 of FIG. The switching frequency R of the NC program 2 is 12 times. These totals are then calculated. In this embodiment, since 22 times, “22” is stored in the grand total column 75. The total number of times of switching is the number of times of switching R of the tool arrangement Q considering the NC programs 1 and 2. In S14 and S19 shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 21 for calculating the total sum of the number of times of switching when the NC program 1 is executed and the number of times of switching when the NC program 2 is executed is the “second total switching” of the present invention. This corresponds to “number of times calculation means”.

  Next, the tool placement Q generated here is stored in the optimum tool placement storage area 233 (see FIG. 7) of the RAM 23 as the optimum tool placement Qopt at the present time, and the calculated switching number R is the optimum switching number at the present time. The Ropt is stored in the optimal switching count storage area 234 of the RAM 23, and the calculation count S = 1 is stored in the calculation count storage area 235 of the RAM 23 (S15). Thereafter, the same processing as in the first embodiment is executed. That is, the total number of times of switching when the NC program 1 is executed and the number of times of switching when the NC program 2 is executed are calculated for all combinations of the tool arrangements Q, and the smallest number of times of switching R among the total is calculated. Tool arrangement is required. The tool placement Q that minimizes the total number of times of switching is the optimum tool placement Qopt. When there is one NC program, the same processing as in the first embodiment is executed.

  As described above, in the numerical control apparatus of the third embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, when executing a plurality of NC programs, it is possible to calculate the optimum tool arrangement Qopt considering the plurality of NC programs. . When the NC programs 1 and 2 are executed, the CPU 21 calculates the total of the number of times of switching when the NC program 1 is executed and the number of times of switching when the NC program 2 is executed for all combinations of the tool arrangement Q. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the tool arrangement with the smallest number of switching times R in the total. Since the tool placement Q that minimizes the total number of times of switching is the optimum tool placement Qopt, the time required for tool change can be effectively shortened even when a plurality of NC programs are executed.

In the third embodiment, the number of times of switching when the NC program 1 is executed and the number of times of switching when the NC program 2 is executed are only totaled. Thus, the ratio may be reflected in the switching frequency R. In the above embodiment, when the operation frequency ratio of the NC program 1 and the NC program 2 is 2: 3, the ratio may be reflected in the switching frequency R as in the following equation.
・ Number of switching times R = (number of times of switching when NC program 1 is executed) × 2 + (number of times of switching when NC program 2 is executed) × 3

  Next, a numerical control apparatus according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The numerical control device of the fourth embodiment is mounted on a machine tool 90 shown in FIG. The machine tool 90 includes a rotary table 190. As shown in FIG. 19, the rotary table 190 is provided below the partition wall 130 that partitions the machining area on the main shaft (not shown) side and the front chamber. The rotary table 190 is supported so as to be movable in the XY axis directions and can turn 180 degrees.

  In the first embodiment, as described above, assuming the case where one NC program is continuously executed, the auxiliary switching frequency is considered in calculating the switching frequency R of the tool pot P in the tool arrangement Q. In the machine tool 90 in which the rotary table 190 is installed, the tool T used at the beginning of the next machining is performed while the rotary table 190 is turning after the work fixed to one end on the machining area side is finished. Can be exchanged.

  The numerical control device of the fourth embodiment does not include the auxiliary switching number in the calculation of the switching number R when the rotary table 190 is installed in the machine tool 90. Since the numerical control device of the fourth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the numerical control device of the first embodiment, different parts will be mainly described. Also, the control method by the CPU of the numerical control device will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

  First, the flash memory 224 will be described with reference to FIG. The flash memory 224 is provided in the numerical controller. The flash memory 224 is provided with at least a rotation table flag storage area 245 and a shortened flag storage area 246 in addition to the NC program storage area 241 and the pot switching table storage area 242 that are the same as those in the first embodiment. The rotation table flag storage area 245 stores a rotation table flag indicating whether or not the rotation table 190 is installed. The shortening flag storage area 246 stores a shortening flag indicating whether or not to include the auxiliary switching number for the calculation of the switching number R.

  Next, rotation table flag setting processing by the CPU will be described. For example, when the tool placement calculation button 110 at the left corner of the screen displayed on the display 11 of FIG. 14 is selected by the user, this processing is executed. In this process, first, a message “Is a rotating table installed?” And buttons “YES” and “NO” are displayed on the display 11. When “YES” is selected by the user, “1” is stored in the rotation table storage area of the flash memory 224, and when “NO” is selected, “0” is stored. In this way, this process is complete | finished and the tool arrangement | positioning calculation process mentioned later is performed.

  Next, tool placement calculation processing by the CPU will be described with reference to FIG. In this processing, in the tool placement calculation processing (see FIG. 11) by the CPU 21 of the first embodiment, the auxiliary switching frequency is calculated regarding the calculation of the switching frequency R depending on whether or not the rotary table 190 is installed between S13 and S14. Processing (S30, S31, S32) for determining whether or not to include is provided.

  Specifically, when this process is started and the first tool arrangement Q is generated by reading the tool change command (S10 to S13), it is determined whether or not the rotary table 190 is installed (S30). ). Here, when “1” is stored in the rotation table flag storage area 245 of the flash memory 224, the rotation table 190 is installed (S30: YES), and therefore the shortening flag storage area 246 of the flash memory 224 is stored. “1” is stored (S31). On the other hand, when “1” is not stored in the rotary table flag storage area 245, the rotary table 190 is not installed (S 30: NO), and therefore “0” is stored in the shortened flag storage area 246 of the flash memory 224. Is done. The CPU that executes the process of S30 corresponds to the “rotary table installation determination unit” of the present invention.

  Next, as described above, the number of times of switching R is calculated as needed for all combinations of the tool arrangement Q (S15, S19), but when “1” is stored in the shortened flag storage area 246 of the flash memory 224. The number of times of switching R is calculated without considering the number of times of auxiliary switching. On the other hand, when “0” is stored in the shortening flag storage area 246 of the flash memory 224, it is a normal table 19 that does not rotate. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the switching is performed in consideration of the auxiliary switching frequency. The number of times R is calculated. Thereby, the optimal tool arrangement | positioning Qopt according to the operation | work when the rotary table 190 is installed can be calculated | required. Other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, a rotary table flag indicating whether or not the rotary table 190 is installed is stored in the rotary table flag storage area 245 of the flash memory 224 by a user's input operation from the operation panel 100. The method may be used. For example, it may be determined whether or not the rotary table 190 is connected to the input / output interface 26 of the numerical controller.

  As described above, in the numerical control apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, when the rotary table 190 is installed by a user input operation, “1” is stored in the rotary table flag storage area 245 of the flash memory 224. When the turntable 190 is not installed, “0” is stored. Whether or not to calculate the switching number R in consideration of the auxiliary switching number is determined depending on whether the rotation table flag is “1” or “0”. When the rotary table 190 is installed, the auxiliary switching count is not included in the calculation of the switching count R, so that the optimum tool placement Qopt corresponding to the work when the rotary table 190 is installed can be obtained.

  Needless to say, the tool arrangement calculating apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In each of the above embodiments, the numerical control device 20 has been described as a tool arrangement calculation device. However, for example, a general PC (personal computer) may be used. In this case, with respect to the optimum tool arrangement Qopt calculated by the CPU of the PC, the tool arrangement table can be printed by the printer, and the tool T can be mounted on the tool magazine 31 while checking the printed tool arrangement table.

  Further, in each of the embodiments described above, regarding the calculation of the switching number R, for example, the processing can be executed promptly by using a library stored in a flash memory or the like.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the number of times of switching R is calculated for all combinations of tool arrangements of the tools used. For example, the permutation is reversed as in the arrangement of “1589” and “9851”. The permutations that have been made have the same number of switchings. Therefore, the number of calculations S is set to N! Without calculating permutations that are the same by reversing the permutations. / 2. In this case, since the number of calculations S is reduced, the tool placement calculation process can be executed quickly. When the total number of pots in the tool pot P and the number N of used tools are the same, since the permutation of the tool T is a circular permutation, the number of calculations S is (N-1)! / 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Machine tool 10 Operation panel 11 Display 12 Keyboard 20 Numerical control apparatus 21 CPU
23 RAM
24 Flash memory 30 Tool changer 31 Tool magazine 90 Machine tool 100 Operation panel 124 Flash memory 190 Rotary table 224 Flash memory P Tool pot T Tool

Claims (10)

Tool arrangement calculation for calculating the arrangement of a plurality of tools respectively arranged in a plurality of pots provided on the outer periphery of a substantially disk-shaped tool magazine that is provided on a tool changer of a machine tool so that it can be rotated and indexed. A device,
Tool change command reading means for reading a tool change command from the machining program of the machine tool;
Use tool specifying means for specifying a tool used in the machining program from the tool change command read by the tool change command reading means;
An arrangement combination calculating means for calculating all combinations of the arrangement of the used tools specified by the used tool specifying means;
In the arrangement of each combination calculated by the arrangement combination calculating means, when the tools are used in the order instructed by the machining program, the number of times required for switching the pot is counted for each combination. Switching number counting means;
Among the plurality of switching times counted for each combination by the switching number counting means, the minimum number specifying means for specifying the minimum number that is the smallest number of switching times;
A tool arrangement calculation device comprising: arrangement information output means for outputting arrangement information which is arrangement information of the combination corresponding to the minimum number of times specified by the minimum number of times specifying means.   2. The tool arrangement calculating device according to claim 1, wherein the number of times of switching includes a number of times of switching required to switch from a pot of the last used tool to be commanded by the machining program to a pot of the first used tool. . A spare tool registration means for registering a spare tool that is used as a spare for the tool used and is arranged in a pot different from the tool used;
When the spare tool is registered by the spare tool registration means,
The arrangement combination calculating means includes:
Calculating all combinations of the use tool and the spare tool specified by the use tool specifying means;
The switching number counting means includes
A first switching number that is the number of times of switching when the spare tool is not used, and a second switching number that is the number of times of switching when the spare tool is used instead of the used tool, for each combination. Count,
The minimum number specifying means is:
A first total switching number calculating means for calculating, for each combination, a first total switching number that is a sum of the first switching number and the second switching number;
3. The tool arrangement calculating device according to claim 1, wherein a minimum number of times among the first total switching times calculated for each of the combinations by the first total switching number calculating unit is specified. When the tool change command is read from a plurality of machining programs by the tool change command reading means,
The switching number counting means includes
Count the number of switching for each machining program for each combination,
The minimum number specifying means is:
A second total switching number calculating means for calculating, for each combination, a second total switching number that is a sum of the switching times counted for each machining program;
3. The tool arrangement calculating device according to claim 1, wherein a minimum number of times among the second total number of switching times calculated for each of the combinations by the second total switching number calculating unit is specified. When the number of tools used, which is the number of tools used, is N,
The arrangement combination calculating means includes:
N! The tool arrangement calculating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the number of the combinations is derived by calculating. When the number of pots in the tool magazine is the same as the number of tools used,
The arrangement combination calculating means includes:
(N-1)! The tool arrangement calculating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the number of combinations is derived by calculating / 2. A rotation direction determining means for determining whether the tool magazine is rotated normally or reversed;
The tool used is arranged in the forward rotation direction along the outer periphery of the tool magazine,
In the case where the number of pots of the tool magazine is P, and the number of times of switching required to switch from the pot of the tool being used to the pot of the tool to be used next is K,
The tool arrangement calculating device according to claim 1, wherein when K ≧ (P / 2) +1, the rotation direction determining unit determines to invert the tool magazine. . A rotary table installation determining means for determining whether or not a rotary table on which a table for supporting a workpiece rotates is installed in the machine tool;
When it is determined by the rotary table installation determination means that the rotary table is installed,
The switching number counting means includes
3. The tool arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the number of times of switching does not include the number of times of switching required to switch from the pot of the last used tool commanded by the machining program to the pot of the first used tool. Calculation device. Provided in a tool changer of a machine tool to function a tool arrangement calculation device that calculates the arrangement of a plurality of tools respectively arranged in a plurality of pots provided on the outer periphery of a substantially disk-shaped tool magazine that rotates forward or reverse A control program for a tool arrangement calculation device,
A tool change command reading step for reading a tool change command from the machining program of the machine tool;
From the tool change command read in the tool change command reading step, a used tool specifying step for specifying a tool used in the machining program,
An arrangement combination calculating step of calculating all combinations of the arrangement of the used tools specified in the used tool specifying step;
In the arrangement of each combination calculated in the arrangement combination calculation step, the number of times of switching necessary for the pot switching is counted for each combination when the tools are used in the order instructed by the machining program. Switching frequency counting step;
A minimum number specifying step for specifying a minimum number of times of switching among a plurality of the switching times counted for each combination in the switching number counting step;
A control program for a tool arrangement calculating device, comprising: an arrangement information output step for outputting arrangement information which is arrangement information of the combination corresponding to the minimum number specified in the minimum number specifying step.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the control program according to claim 9.

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