JP7562366B2 - How to select machine tool systems and machine tool candidates - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a machine tool system and a method for selecting a candidate machine tool.

Conventionally, computer numerically controlled machine tools (hereinafter referred to as "machine tools") are known that machine a workpiece into a desired shape according to an NC (Numerical Control) program.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system that includes multiple machine tools and a control device that automatically collects tool information and processing conditions stored in each machine tool.

JP 2018-41387 A

However, in a system that automatically collects information about machine tools, the size of the storage space in which the workpieces are placed is unknown because it is not included in the collected information. For this reason, it is not easy to select a candidate machine tool capable of machining a new workpiece from among the multiple machine tools in the system.

This disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a machine tool system and a method for selecting machine tool candidates that can select machine tool candidates capable of machining a workpiece to be machined.

A machine tool system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of machine tools, a collection unit, a memory unit, an estimation unit, a reception unit, and a processing unit. Each of the plurality of machine tools has an accommodation space for accommodating a workpiece and a tool for machining the workpiece. The collection unit collects machining range information indicating the machining range of the tool when a machined workpiece is machined in each of the plurality of machine tools. The memory unit stores attribute information for each of the plurality of machine tools. The estimation unit estimates the size of the accommodation space based on the maximum and minimum values of the machining range. The reception unit receives designation information for a workpiece to be newly machined in one of the plurality of machine tools. The processing unit selects one or more candidate machine tools capable of machining the workpiece to be machined from among the plurality of machine tools, based on the size of the accommodation space and the workpiece size of the workpiece to be machined obtained from the designation information received by the reception unit.

The present disclosure provides a machine tool system and a method for selecting machine tool candidates that can search for machine tool candidates suitable for machining the workpiece to be machined.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a machine tool system. 4 is a schematic diagram showing information stored in a storage unit of a management device; FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a method for selecting a candidate machine tool.

(Configuration of machine tool system 1)
The configuration of a machine tool system 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

The machine tool system 1 comprises a plurality of machine tool devices 10, a management device 20, and a terminal device 30. The plurality of machine tool devices 10 include first to fourth machine tool devices 10a to 10d. However, the number of machine tool devices 10 provided in the machine tool system 1 is not particularly limited, and may be one or more. In the following description, the first to fourth machine tool devices 10a to 10d are collectively referred to as "machine tool devices 10".

[Machine tool device 10]
Each machine tool device 10 includes a machine tool 11 and a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) control unit 12 .

1. Machine tools 11
The machine tool 11 performs cutting on a workpiece (a workpiece) to machine the workpiece into a desired shape. The workpiece may be made of metal or non-metal. In this embodiment, a lathe is assumed as the machine tool 11, but the machine tool 11 may be a milling machine, a machining center, or the like.

The machine tool 11 has a table 13, a storage space 14, a cutting tool 15, and a spindle 16.

A workpiece is placed on the table 13. The table 13 is movable while holding the workpiece. In this embodiment, the table 13 is movable in each of the x-axis direction (an example of a first direction), the y-axis direction (an example of a second direction), and the z-axis direction (an example of a third direction). The x-axis direction is perpendicular to the y-axis direction. The x-axis direction and the y-axis direction are parallel to the horizontal direction. In FIG. 1, the x-axis direction is the left-right direction of the machine tool 11, and the y-axis direction is the depth direction of the machine tool 11. The x-axis direction and the y-axis direction define a horizontal plane. The z-axis direction is perpendicular to both the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. In FIG. 1, the z-axis direction is the vertical direction.

The storage space 14 is a space provided above the table 13. The storage space 14 accommodates a workpiece placed on the table 13. In general, the size of the storage space 14 is called the "table size" which indicates the effective working range of the machine tool 11. The table size may be the size of the machining surface of the machine tool 11. In this disclosure, information indicating the size of the storage space 14 is referred to as the "size information" of the storage space 14.

The cutting tool 15 is attached to the spindle 16 and rotates. The cutting tool 15 is used to cut the workpiece. In this embodiment, the position of the spindle 16 is fixed. The cutting tool 15 moves relative to the workpiece, which moves together with the table 13.

2. CNC control unit 12
The CNC control unit 12 controls the machine tool 11 in accordance with an NC (Numerical Control) program. The NC program includes a G code and an O code. The G code is used to process the movement of the table 13 in the machine tool 11 and the setting of a coordinate system. The G code includes target coordinate values (X, Y, Z) and a feed rate (F code) for moving the table 13 toward the target coordinate values (X, Y, Z). The O code is a program number for identifying the program.

The CNC control unit 12 acquires the stroke of the table 13 in the x-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the "x-axis stroke"), the stroke in the y-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the "y-axis stroke"), and the stroke in the z-axis direction (hereinafter referred to as the "z-axis stroke") when cutting the workpiece using the cutting tool 15.

The x-axis stroke indicates the range of movement of the table 13 in the x-axis direction and is defined by the maximum and minimum values in the x-axis direction. The y-axis stroke indicates the range of movement of the table 13 in the y-axis direction and is defined by the maximum and minimum values in the y-axis direction. The z-axis stroke indicates the range of movement of the table 13 in the z-axis direction and is defined by the maximum and minimum values in the z-axis direction. The x-axis stroke, y-axis stroke, and z-axis stroke are represented by the movement trajectory of the table 13 in each axial direction, or the coordinates of the table 13.

In this disclosure, the x-axis stroke, y-axis stroke, and z-axis stroke are each referred to as the "machining range," and information indicating the machining range of the cutting tool 15 is referred to as the "machining range information" of the cutting tool 15. In the following description, the x-axis stroke, y-axis stroke, and z-axis stroke may be collectively referred to as the "machining range."

The CNC control unit 12 transmits control data including the x-axis stroke, y-axis stroke, and z-axis stroke during machining to the management device 20 each time the workpiece is cut.

[Management device 20]
As shown in FIG. 1 , the management device 20 includes a storage unit 21 , a collection unit 22 , an estimation unit 23 , a communication unit 24 , and a processing unit 25 .

The functions of the management device 20 are achieved by a server. The server is managed by a system administrator. The server may be a cloud server. The cloud server is owned and managed by a specialized business operator, and is used as a server by users of the system 1.

The management device 20 (specifically, the communication unit 24) can communicate with each of the multiple machine tool devices 10 and the multiple terminal devices 30 wirelessly or wired via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network).

1. Storage unit 21

As shown in FIG. 2, the memory unit 21 stores attribute information I, machining range information of the cutting tool 15, and size information of the storage space 14 for each machine tool 11.

The attribute information I includes information on the operation rate, installation location, and equipment type. The operation rate is an index that indicates the operation status of each processing device 10. The operation rate is calculated, for example, from the ratio of production volume to production capacity. The operation rate may be a ratio calculated by the processing unit 25 using the reception time of the control data received by the communication unit 24 as the operation time. The installation location indicates the location where each machine tool 11 is installed (e.g., the country name and the factory name, etc.). The equipment type indicates the type of each machine tool 11 (e.g., a machining center, an NC lathe, an NC milling machine, etc.). The attribute information I of each machine tool 11 may be stored in the memory unit 21 by the system administrator, or may be included in the control data received from each CNC control unit 12, and the memory unit 21 may extract and store the information.

The processing range information is stored in the memory unit 21 by the collection unit 22.

The size of the storage space 14 is estimated by the estimation unit 23, and the size information of the storage space 14 is stored in the memory unit 21 by the estimation unit 23.

2. Collection unit 22

The collection unit 22 receives control data sent from the CNC control unit 12 of each machine tool device 10 each time machining is performed. The collection unit 22 stores the machining range information included in the control data in the memory unit 21.

If the processing range indicated by the processing range information does not fall within the processing range stored in the memory unit 21, the collection unit 22 updates (expands) the processing range information stored in the memory unit 21 based on the processing range information included in the control data.

2. Estimation unit 23
The estimation unit 23 estimates the size of the accommodation space 14 based on the maximum and minimum values of the machining range of each machine tool 11.

Specifically, the estimation unit 23 estimates the maximum difference among the differences between the maximum value MAX and the minimum value MIN of the x-axis stroke, the y-axis stroke, and the z-axis stroke as the size of the storage space 14. Therefore, in this embodiment, the longest stroke among the x-axis stroke, the y-axis stroke, and the z-axis stroke is determined to be the size of the storage space 14.

However, when estimating the size of the storage space 14 from the difference between the maximum value MAX and the minimum value MIN, the difference may be used as the size of the storage space 14 as is, or, for example, the difference may be rounded down to the nearest digit and used as the size of the storage space 14.

The estimation unit 23 stores the estimated size of the storage space 14 in the memory unit 21.

3. Terminal device 30
Here, the terminal device 30 is a smart device such as a smartphone, or an information processing device such as a personal computer, etc. The terminal device 30 includes a storage unit 31, a display unit 32, a reception unit 33, and a query generation unit .

The memory unit 31 stores work information. The memory unit 31 stores information on the product number, work size, processing type, production location, and planned sales location of each of a plurality of workpieces in association with each other as work information. The product number of a workpiece is an identification number unique to the workpiece. Typically, a different product number corresponds to a different workpiece size. The processing type of a workpiece indicates the type of processing that needs to be performed on the workpiece (e.g., facing, groove cutting, hole drilling, etc.). The product number, work size, processing type, production location, and planned sales location of each workpiece can be stored in the memory unit 31 by, for example, a system administrator.

The display unit 32 is a display that is visually viewed by the user. The display unit 32 displays a list of the product numbers of each of the multiple workpieces.

The reception unit 33 receives operations from the user. The reception unit 33 is, for example, a keyboard or a mouse. The reception unit 33 receives from the user specification information indicating the product number of a workpiece to be newly machined on one of the multiple machine tools 11 (hereinafter referred to as the "workpiece to be machined"). For example, when the user uses the reception unit 33 to select the product number of the workpiece to be machined from the product numbers displayed on the display unit 32, the reception unit 33 receives the selected product number as the specification information. The reception unit 33 transmits the specification information received from the user to the query generation unit 34.

The query generation unit 34 acquires the product number of the workpiece to be processed, which is indicated by the specification information. The query generation unit 34 references the workpiece information stored in the memory unit 31, and acquires the information on the workpiece size, processing type, production location, and planned sales location that is stored in association with the product number of the workpiece to be processed. The query generation unit 34 transmits a request query indicating the information on the product number, workpiece size, processing type, production location, and planned sales location of the workpiece to be processed to the management device 20.

4. Processing Unit 25
When the processing unit 25 receives a request query from the query generation unit 34 via the communication unit 24, it refers to the size information of the storage space 14 stored in the memory unit 21, and selects a machine tool 11 (hereinafter referred to as a "candidate machine tool") capable of machining the workpiece to be machined from among the multiple machine tools 11 based on the size of the storage space 14 and the workpiece size of the workpiece to be machined.

Specifically, the processing unit 25 selects a machine tool candidate whose accommodation space 14 has a size equal to or larger than the work size of the workpiece to be machined. The processing unit 25 may select one or more machine tool candidates, and the number of machine tool candidates is not particularly limited.

When multiple machine tool candidates are selected, the processing unit 25 refers to the attribute information I in the memory unit 21 to obtain information on the availability rate, installation location, and equipment type of each machine tool candidate, and also refers to the request query to obtain information on the processing type, production location, and planned sales location of the workpiece to be processed.

The processing unit 25 assigns a priority to each machine tool candidate based on the availability rate of each machine tool candidate. Specifically, the processing unit 25 assigns a higher priority to a machine tool candidate with a lower availability rate.

The processing unit 25 assigns a priority to each candidate machine tool based on the information on the production location and planned sales location of the workpiece to be processed and the installation location information of the candidate machine tool. Specifically, the processing unit 25 assigns a higher priority to the candidate machine tool the closer the production location of the workpiece to be processed is to the installation location of the candidate machine tool, and the closer the planned sales location of the workpiece to be processed is to the installation location of the candidate machine tool. However, the processing unit 25 may assign a priority to each candidate machine tool using only one of the information on the production location and planned sales location of the workpiece to be processed.

The processing unit 25 assigns a priority to each candidate machine tool based on the equipment type information of each candidate machine tool and the processing type information of the workpiece to be processed. Specifically, the processing unit 25 assigns a higher priority to the equipment type that can perform the processing indicated by the processing type of the workpiece to be processed.

Then, the processing unit 25 determines the priority order of the multiple machine tool candidates using at least one of the various priorities described above.

The processing unit 25 displays one or more selected machine tool candidates on the display unit 32 of the terminal device 30. When multiple machine tool candidates are selected, the processing unit 25 displays the priority of each machine tool on the display unit 32.

The user of the terminal device 30 can select a machine tool capable of machining the workpiece to be machined from among the multiple machine tools by checking the candidate machine tools displayed on the display unit 32. In addition, when multiple candidate machine tools are displayed on the display unit 32, the user of the terminal device 30 can select a machine tool suitable for machining the workpiece to be machined from among the multiple machine tools by checking the priority order of each candidate machine tool.

(How to select a machine tool candidate)
Next, a method for selecting a candidate machine tool executed in the machine tool system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the method for selecting a candidate machine tool.

In step S1, the collection unit 22 collects machining range information for each machine tool 11.

In step S2, the estimation unit 23 estimates the size of the storage space 14 based on the maximum and minimum values of the machining range indicated by the machining range information of each machine tool 11.

In step S3, the processing unit 25 selects a candidate machine tool capable of machining the workpiece from among the multiple machine tools 11 based on the size of the accommodation space 14 and the workpiece size of the workpiece to be machined.

In step S4, the processing unit 25 determines whether multiple machine tool candidates have been selected.

If it is determined in step S4 that multiple machine tool candidates have not been selected, in step S5, the processing unit 25 displays the one selected machine tool candidate on the display unit 32 and ends the process.

If it is determined in step S4 that multiple machine tool candidates have been selected, in step S6, the processing unit 25 assigns a priority to each machine tool candidate based on the availability rate of each machine tool candidate.

In step S7, the processing unit 25 assigns a priority to each candidate machine tool based on the information on the production location and planned sales location of the workpiece to be processed and the installation location information of the candidate machine tool.

In step S8, the processing unit 25 assigns a priority to each candidate machine tool based on the equipment type information of each candidate machine tool and the processing type information of the workpiece to be processed.

In step S9, the processing unit 25 determines the priority order of multiple candidate machine tools using at least one of the various priorities.

In step S10, the processing unit 25 displays the selected multiple machine tool candidates and their priorities on the display unit 32 and ends the process.

(Modification)
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

(Variation 1)
In the above embodiment, the estimation unit 23 estimates the maximum difference among the differences between the maximum values MAX and minimum values MIN of the x-axis stroke, y-axis stroke, and z-axis stroke as the size of the storage space 14, but this is not limited to this.

For example, the estimation unit 23 may estimate the difference between the maximum value MAX and minimum value MIN of one of the x-axis stroke, y-axis stroke, and z-axis stroke as the size of the storage space 14. Generally, the x-axis stroke is the largest of the x-axis stroke, y-axis stroke, and z-axis stroke, so if the size in the x-axis direction is compatible, the sizes in the y-axis and z-axis directions will also be compatible. Therefore, in many cases, the difference between the maximum value MAX and minimum value MIN of the x-axis stroke can be estimated as the size of the storage space 14.

(Variation 2)
In the above embodiment, the x-axis and y-axis directions are parallel to the horizontal direction, and the z-axis direction is vertical, but this is not limited to the above. The x-, y-, and z-axis directions may be inclined with respect to the horizontal or vertical direction as long as they are perpendicular to each other.

(Variation 3)
In the above embodiment, the receiving unit 33 receives the part number of the workpiece to be processed from the user, but the workpiece size of the workpiece to be processed may be directly received. In this case, the storage unit 31 does not need to store the workpiece size of each workpiece.

(Variation 4)
In the above embodiment, when multiple machine tool candidates are selected, the processing unit 25 assigns priorities to the machine tool candidates by appropriately using the operating rate, installation location and equipment type of each machine tool candidate, the processing type of the workpiece to be processed, the production location and the planned sales location, but this is not limited to this.

The processing unit 25 may assign a priority to each candidate machine tool based on the work size of the machined workpiece and the work size of the workpiece to be machined. The work size of the machined workpiece can be estimated based on the movement trajectory of the cutting tool 15 during machining in each machine tool 11. Specifically, the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the position coordinates of the cutting edge in each of the x-axis direction, y-axis direction, and z-axis direction is calculated from the movement trajectory of the cutting tool 15, and the calculated difference is estimated as the work size of the workpiece to be machined. However, the work size of the machined workpiece may also be estimated as the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the position coordinates of the cutting edge in one or two of the x-axis direction, y-axis direction, and z-axis direction.

1 Machine tool system 10a to 10c First to third machine tool device 11 Machine tool 12 CNC control unit 13 Table 14 Storage space 15 Cutting tool 20 Management device 21 Memory unit 22 Collection unit 23 Estimation unit 24 Communication unit 25 Processing unit 30 Terminal device 31 Memory unit 32 Display unit 33 Reception unit 34 Query generation unit I Machine tool attribute information

Claims (6)

A plurality of machine tools each having an accommodation space for accommodating a workpiece and a tool for machining the workpiece;
a collection unit that collects machining range information indicating a machining range of the tool when a machined workpiece is machined in each of the plurality of machine tools;
a storage unit for storing attribute information of each of the plurality of machine tools;
an estimation unit that estimates a size of the accommodation space based on a maximum value and a minimum value of the processing range;
A reception unit that receives designation information of a workpiece to be newly machined by any one of the plurality of machine tools;
a processing unit that selects one or more candidate machine tools capable of machining the to-be-machined workpiece from among the plurality of machine tools based on a size of the accommodation space and a work size of the to-be-machined workpiece obtained from the designation information received by the receiving unit; and
A machine tool system comprising: the attribute information includes an operation rate of each of the plurality of machine tools,
When a plurality of the candidate machine tools are selected, the processing unit assigns priorities to the plurality of candidate machine tools based on the operation rates of the candidate machine tools.
The machine tool system according to claim 1 . The attribute information further includes installation location information of each of the plurality of machine tools,
When a plurality of the machine tool candidates are selected, the processing unit assigns priorities to the plurality of machine tool candidates based on at least one of a production location and a planned sales location of the work to be processed and the installation location information of the machine tool candidates.
3. A machine tool system according to claim 1 or 2. The attribute information further includes equipment type information of each of the plurality of machine tools,
When a plurality of the candidate machine tools are selected, the processing unit assigns priorities to the plurality of candidate machine tools based on the equipment type information of the candidate machine tools and the machining type of the workpiece to be machined.
4. The machine tool system according to claim 1. The processing unit assigns priorities to the plurality of candidate machine tools based on a work size of the machined workpiece and a work size of the to-be-machined workpiece.
5. A machine tool system according to claim 1. A step of collecting machining range information indicating a machining range of a tool when a machined workpiece is machined in each of a plurality of machine tools each having an accommodation space for accommodating a workpiece and a tool for machining the workpiece;
estimating a size of the accommodation space based on a maximum value and a minimum value of the processing range information;
A step of selecting one or more candidate machine tools capable of machining the to-be-machined workpiece from among the plurality of machine tools based on the estimated size of the accommodation space and a work size of the to-be-machined workpiece to be newly machined by any one of the plurality of machine tools;
A method for selecting a candidate machine tool comprising:

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