JPH0685126B2 - Numerical control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a numerical controller suitable for application in the field of metal working for cutting press dies, plastic dies, etc., and particularly to an interactive input format. The present invention relates to a numerical control device that simplifies data creation in a numerical control device that creates contour curve data for contour cutting.

[Prior Art] In this type of numerical control device, it is necessary to move a tool such as an end mill along a contour curve formed by a combination of straight lines and circular arcs to perform a lot of contour cutting.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for creating contour curve data for contour cutting in an interactive input format, for example, one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-127950 is known.

As shown in FIG. 5, this device is equipped with a machine tool 1 with an ATC.
The numerical controller 2 is connected to the display device 3 and the keyboard device 4, and the data input from the keyboard device 4 is stored in the storage device 5 in the numerical controller 2.
And the contour curve is displayed on the display device 3 based on the data supplied from the storage device 5. A soft key device 6 for inputting various data to the numerical control unit 2 is attached to the display device 3.

Then, as shown in FIG.
There is a signal generation function corresponding to the symbol displayed at the bottom of the screen of the display device 3, and when the operator presses the soft key corresponding to the symbol, the signal of this soft key is transmitted to the numerical controller 2. There is.

In such a conventional numerical control device, for example, the seventh
A case of creating the contour curve 7 shown in the figure will be described.
It is assumed that the contour curve 7 is formed with a point A as a starting point, a straight line L from the point A to the point B, and a circular arc c rotating clockwise from the point B to the point C. That is, the straight line L and the arc c are the contour elements forming the contour curve 7. The contour curve 7 is created by the following procedure.

(1) Press the soft key to select the symbol S7 (Fig. 6) pointing to the upper right.

(2) The coordinate value (xa, ya) of the point A from the keyboard device 4,
And input the coordinate value (xb, yb) of the point B.

(3) The numerical controller 2 creates a straight line L connecting the point A and the point B and displays it on the display device 3.

(4) Press the soft key to select the symbol S1 indicating a clockwise circular arc.

(5) The coordinate value (xc, yc) of the point C from the keyboard device 4,
And the value of radius R of arc c.

At this point, since only two points B and C and the radius R are known, there are two circular arcs, clockwise, of the circles c1 and c2 shown in FIG. 8, and it is not possible to determine one.

Therefore, in order to obtain the contour curve 7 shown in FIG. 7, the operator must assume the trajectory group of FIG. 8 and input another condition. That is, in order to distinguish the arc from the above arc, it is necessary to input from the keyboard device 4 or the soft key device 6 the condition for determining whether the fan angle of the arc is larger or smaller than 180 °.

(6) Input the condition that the fan angle of arc c is smaller than 180 °.

(7) The arc c in FIG. 7 is created and displayed.

In the above example, the case where the conversion point at which the type of line changes from a straight line to a circular arc or from a circular arc to a straight line is known, such as the point B of the contour curve 7, is shown. Such a simple contour curve 7
However, the operator needs to make a high degree of judgment as in the above item (5).

Next, a more complicated contour curve 8 shown in FIG. 9 will be described as an example. In the figure, L2 is a straight line passing through the point D and parallel to the y-axis, c3 is a circular arc with a radius R3 centered on the point D, L3 is a straight line with an inclination θ contacting the circular arc c5 at its leftmost point H, and c4 is a circular arc c3. And an arc of radius R4 that touches both the straight line L3, c5 is an arc of radius R5 centered on the point J, and L4 is a straight line that passes through the point I and is parallel to the x-axis. It is an element. Note that an arc whose center position is unknown, such as arc c4, is in contact with two line segments is called an insertion arc. Further, in the following description, a circle and an arc forming a part thereof are indicated by the same reference numeral.

Here, the coordinate values of the point D, the intersection E of the straight line L2 and the circular arc c3, the contact point I of the circular arc c5 and the straight line L4, and the center J of the circular arc c5 are known. On the other hand, the contact point F between the two arcs c3 and c4, the contact point G between the arc c4 and the straight line L3, and the contact point H between the straight line L3 and the arc c5 are unknown points that cannot be known from the figure. However, the coordinate values of these points F, G, and H can be obtained by performing algebraic calculation in the numerical controller 2 based on the constraint condition obtained from FIG.

When the above algebraic calculation is executed, for example, a circle having a radius R4 which is in contact with the circular arc c3 and the straight line L3 is located near the lower intersection of the two intersections of the straight line L3 and the circular arc c3, as shown in FIG. You can have 4
In addition, four pieces can be formed near the upper intersection not shown. In FIG. 10, only the lower four circles c4, c4b, c4c, c4d are shown.

Now, in FIG. 9, the tool 9 is moved along the contour curve 8
Consider moving in the order of points D → E → F → G → H → I.
The operator uses the keyboard device 4 and the soft key device 6 shown in FIG. 5 to create the contour curve 8 in the following procedure.

(1) Press the soft key to select the symbol S5 (FIG. 6) indicating the direction directly below.

(2) Coordinate value of point D (Dx, Dy), coordinate value of point E (Ex, Ey)
Enter.

(3) A straight line L2 connecting the point D and the point E is created and displayed on the display device 3.

(4) Press the softkey corresponding to the counterclockwise symbol S2 to select this symbol S2.

(5) The data corresponding to the circle c3, that is, the radius R3 and the center coordinates (Dx, Dy) are input from the keyboard device 4.

(6) Select the counterclockwise symbol S2.

(7) Input the data corresponding to circle c4 and radius R4. At this time, the display device 3 displays a question "Does this circle touch the previous figure?"
The previous figure means the circle c3. The coordinate value (Fx, Fy) of the point F is unknown at this point.

(7a) In order to supplement the condition of (7) above, the arc FG to be selected turns left when crossing the circles c3 to c4, and 18
Enter that the arc is smaller than 0 ° (see Fig. 10).

(8) Select the symbol S7 pointing to the upper right.

(9) Input the inclination θ of the straight line L3. At this time, the display device 3 displays the question "Does this straight line touch the previous graphic?" Here, the previous figure means the circle c4. At this point, point G
The coordinate values (Gx, Gy) of are unknown.

(10) Select the symbol S1 indicating the clockwise direction.

(11) Data corresponding to circle c5 in Fig. 2, that is, radius
Enter R5, center coordinate value (Jx, Jy) and end point coordinate value (Ix, Iy). Also, the condition that the figure L3 immediately before is in contact with is input by an affirmative response.

(11a) In order to supplement the condition of (11) above, arc HI
Enter that the arc turns right when crossing the straight line L3 to the circle c5 and is an arc smaller than 180 °.

It is difficult for the operator to discover the conditions added in (7a) and (11a) without making a mistake. Moreover, whether or not the condition added in (7a) is correct cannot be determined at the time of input, and it becomes clear only when it reaches the item (11). Therefore, the operator is often faced with the need to go back and redo the items already entered.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the conventional numerical control device, when the contour element is not uniquely determined, a desired contour element is selected and determined from a plurality of contour elements. Was extremely difficult.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a numerical controller capable of immediately determining a desired contour element.

[Means for Solving Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention forms contour elements based on data input from data input means,
In a numerical control device capable of sequentially connecting the contour elements to create a contour curve, issuing a command for a machining operation such as contour cutting along the contour curve, and displaying the contour curve on a graphic display device, Position input means for specifying a position on the display screen of the graphic display device,
All contour elements satisfying the data input from the data input means are displayed on the graphic display device, and the contour elements designated by the position input means are selected from the contour elements displayed on the graphic display device. And a control means for creating the contour curve according to the selected contour element.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, all the contour elements obtained by the algebraic calculation from the known conditions are displayed on the display device. Among these contour elements, a desired contour element can be designated and immediately selected by a position input means such as a light pen or a mouse.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a numerical controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. This device differs from the conventional device shown in FIG. 5 in the following points.

A light pen device 11 (position input means) is added to the numerical control unit 2 so that the position on the display device 3 can be designated.

The numerical controller 2 recognizes a figure designated by the light pen device 11 among the displayed figures and stores the figure as a figure forming a contour curve, while the other figures are stored in the storage device 5 and the display device 3. Erase from.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the display screen 3a of the display device 3 has lx pixels in the horizontal direction (x direction) and ly pixels in the vertical direction (y direction). Further, in the storage device 5, there is provided a display surface storage area 5a (FIG. 4) composed of addresses corresponding to the respective pixels 1, 2, 3 ... n, n + 1 ... lx.ly. The display data stored in 1 to lx · ly are converted and displayed on the display screen 3a.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described by taking the case of creating the contour curve 8 shown in FIG. 9 as an example.

(1) Press the soft key to select the symbol S5 (FIG. 6) indicating the direction directly below.

(2) Coordinate value of point D (Dx, Dy), coordinate value of point E (Ex, Ey)
Is input to determine the address Id of the display surface storage area 5a corresponding to the point D and the address Ie of the display surface storage area 5a corresponding to the point E. Next, the address Id, Id + lx, Id + 2l
Display data indicating the existence of the figure is written in x ... Ie. The straight line L2 is drawn on the display screen 3a by converting this display data and displaying it on the display screen 3a.

(3) A straight line L2 connecting the point D and the point E is created and displayed on the display device 3.

(4) Press the softkey corresponding to the counterclockwise symbol S2 to select this symbol S2.

(5) The data corresponding to the circle c3, that is, the radius R3 and the center coordinates (Dx, Dy) are input from the keyboard device 4.

(6) Select the counterclockwise symbol S2.

(7) Input the data corresponding to circle c4 and radius R4. At this time, the display device 3 displays a question "Does this circle touch the previous figure?"
The previous figure means the circle c3. The coordinate value (Fx, Fy) of the point F is unknown at this point.

(8) Select the symbol S7 pointing to the upper right.

(9) Input the inclination θ of the straight line L3. At this time, the display device 3 displays the question "Does this straight line touch the previous graphic?" Here, the previous figure means the circle c4. At this point, point G
The coordinate values (Gx, Gy) of are unknown.

(10) Select the symbol S1 indicating the clockwise direction.

(11) Data corresponding to circle c5 in Fig. 2, that is, radius
Enter R5, center coordinate value (Jx, Jy) and end point coordinate value (Ix, Iy). Also, the condition that the figure L3 immediately before is in contact with is input by an affirmative response.

The above (1) to (11) are the same as the case of creating the contour curve 8.

(12) When the operations up to (11) are performed, the straight line L2, the circle c3, the circle c5, and the straight lines L3 and L3a are displayed among the figures in FIG.

Here, the circle c3, the circle c5, and the straight line L3 are also displayed in the same manner as the straight line L2 connecting the two points D and E.

That is, the address on the display surface storage area 5a corresponding to these graphic loci is determined, the display data indicating the existence of the graphic is written to the address, the display data is converted and displayed, and the graphic is displayed on the display screen. Pictured on 3a.
At this point, other figures, that is, circles c4, c4b, c4
c, c4d, c4e, c4f, c4g, c4h are not displayed.

(13) The operator uses the light pen device 11 to draw a straight line L3
Select. That is, the operator operates the light pen device 11
When the light receiving part of is pressed against a point on the straight line L3 on the display screen 3a, one pixel of the display screen 3a is determined, and the address Il of the display surface storage area 5a corresponding to this pixel is determined. The numerical control unit 2 compares and calculates which address of the displayed graphic the address Il is on. As a result, it is determined that the address IL is a part of the straight line L3. In this way, the numerical controller 2 recognizes that the straight line L3 is a straight line forming the contour straight line 8 and deletes the other straight line L3a from the storage device 5 and the display device 3.

At this stage, the numerical controller 2 displays the circles c4, c4b, c on the display device 3.
4c, c4d, c4e, c4f, c4g, c4h are newly added and displayed.

(14) The operator uses the light pen device 11 to select the smaller arc FG of the circle c4. This selection is performed similarly to the selection of the straight line L3 described in the above item (13). That is,
The address In of the display surface storage area 5a corresponding to one point on the circular arc FG is determined, and the circular arc FG including this address In is determined as a result of the comparison calculation. As a result, the circles c4b, c4c, c4d, c4e,
c4f, c4g, c4h are deleted, the smaller arc FG, straight line L2,
The arc c3, the straight line L3, and the arc c5 remain on the display screen of the display device 3.

By the above operation, the contour curve 8 shown in FIG. 9 is completed.

Although the light pen device 11 is used as the position input means in the above embodiment, the position input means is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to move a cursor displayed on the screen of the display device by using a keyboard device, a mouse or the like, and move the cursor onto a desired figure to select it.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, contour elements are formed based on the data input from the data input means, the contour elements are sequentially connected to create a contour curve, and the contour curve is created. Along with commanding a machining operation such as contour cutting, in a numerical controller capable of displaying the contour curve on a graphic display device, position input means for designating a position on the display screen of the graphic display device, All the contour elements satisfying the data inputted from the data input means are displayed on the graphic display device, and the contour elements designated by the position input means are selected from the contour elements displayed on the graphic display device. A control means for selecting a contour element and creating the contour curve according to the selected contour element is provided. Therefore, two or more contour elements ( Even if there is a solution figure, the operator can visually confirm and select a desired contour element on the display device. As a result, the contour curve can be created quickly and surely without interruption of work, trial and error operation, and without requiring the geometric knowledge of the operator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a numerical control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of creating a contour curve by the numerical control device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the display screen 3a, FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the display surface storage area 5a provided in the storage device 5,
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an outline of a conventional numerical control device,
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a soft key device of the same device, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a contour curve 7, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing two contour elements c1 and c2 that can be taken in the contour curve 7, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of another contour curve 8, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing four contour elements that can be taken in the contour curve 8. 2 ... Numerical control unit, 3 ... Display device, 4 ... Keyboard device, 5 ... Storage device, 6 ... Soft key device (4 above)
6 is data input means), 7,8 ... Contour curve, 9 ... Tool,
11 …… Light pen device (position input means).

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A contour element is formed on the basis of data input from a data input means, the contour elements are sequentially connected to create a contour curve, and a command for a machining operation such as contour cutting is performed along the contour curve. In the numerical controller capable of displaying the contour curve on the graphic display device, the position input means for designating the position on the display screen of the graphic display device and the data input from the data input means are displayed. All the satisfying contour elements are displayed on the graphic display device, and the contour element designated by the position input means is selected from the contour elements displayed on the graphic display device, and the selected contour element is selected. And a control means for creating the contour curve.