The present invention relates to an automatic programming device and a method therefor, for preparing a nesting program to nest (make a cutting plan of) parts over a workpiece such as a sheet (sheet material) and machine the parts.
Conventionally, an operator checks an entire layout of parts automatically arranged over a plurality of sheets according to automatic nesting. If found a low-yield sheet, the operator conducts optimization by manually rearranging parts with the use of parts moving and copying commands.
For example, a high-yield layout of parts PX and PY shown in
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-007274
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-007275
According to the conventional automatic nesting, an operator must entirely manually edit parts on a sheet with the use of sheet editing commands, thereby needing time and labor for optimization. In particular, if the editing must be carried out over a plurality of sheets, there will be a problem of further increasing labor of the operator.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems. An object of the invention is to provide an automatic programming device and a method therefor, capable of simplifying a sheet program data editing operation conducted by operator and shortening a data preparation time.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one characteristic of the present invention provides an automatic programming device for preparing a nesting machining program for a machine tool in a machining system that conducts nesting to arrange parts over a workpiece and machines the workpiece with the machine tool according to a result of the nesting.
The automatic programming device includes a storage means to store information relating to the parts subjected to the nesting and information relating to the workpiece, an input means with which an operator designates parts or sheets, and a control means to carry out:
(A) a process of acquiring nested workpiece information relating to the workpiece nested according to the information relating to the parts and the information relating to the workpiece;
(B) a process of locking sections that require no re-nesting in the nested workpiece information according to the operator's designation;
(C) a process of conducting re-nesting on sections other than the locked sections; and
(D) a process of preparing a nesting machining program according to all nesting results.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the control means sets priority order on the sections other than the locked sections, and according to the priority order, conducts the re-nesting process on the sections other than the locked sections.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the locked sections are at least one of the parts and sheets.
Another characteristic of the present invention provides an automatic programming method for an automatic programming device having an input means, a storage means, and a control means in a machining system that conducts nesting to arrange parts over a workpiece, and according to a result of the nesting, makes a machining tool machine the workpiece, the method allowing the automatic programming device to prepare a nesting machining program for the machine tool and including:
(A) a step of making the control means acquire nested workpiece information relating to the workpiece nested according to information relating to the parts and workpiece read out of the storage means;
(B) a step of making the control means lock sections that require no re-nesting in the nested workpiece information according to operator's designation entered with the input means;
(C) a step of making the control means conduct re-nesting on sections other than the sections locked in the step (B); and
(D) a step of making the control means prepare a nesting machining program according to all nesting results.
According to another characteristic of the present invention, the locked sections are at least one of the parts and sheets.
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, a machine tool that machines parts after the parts are nested is a laser machine tool as an example. The present invention is not limited to this and is applicable to an NC turret punch press, a combined machine, and the like.
As shown in
The database 3 also stores data of machined parts. The control device 11 of the laser machine tool 5 is provided with a display unit 13 to display various pieces of information.
As shown in
In the automatic programming device 7, the CPU 15 follows instructions given by an operator through the input device 21, uses data in the database 3, employs the RAM 19 according to a computer program from the ROM 17, and prepares for the laser machine tool 1 a machining program that includes a nesting process to be explained later.
Next, with reference to
First, in step SA01, the automatic programming device 7 acquires nesting sheet information (sheet names, the number of sheets, and the like) automatically nested by automatic nesting or manual nesting on the basis of sheet and parts data.
In step SA02, the automatic programming device 7 locks in the nesting sheet information parts arrangements that have been designated by the operator as not requiring re-nesting. For example, the operator designates with the input device 21 serving as the input means the parts arrangements shown in
Locking a parts arrangement is carried out by the operator who specifies with the input device 21 the parts arrangement on the display device 23.
Next, in step SA03, the automatic programming device 7 locks in the nesting sheet information a high-yield sheet designated by the operator as not requiring re-nesting.
For example, there are a plurality of sheets ST1, ST2, and ST3 in
Locking a high-yield sheet is carried out by the operator by specifying with the input device 21 serving as the input means one or more of a plurality of sheets displayed on the display device 23.
In this example, high-yield sheets not requiring re-nesting are specified by the operator. Instead, the high-yield sheets not requiring re-nesting may automatically be specified and locked.
Next, in step SA04, the automatic programming device 7 acquires information relating to parts to be nested, and in step SA05, acquires information relating to target sheets and priority order thereof. The steps SA04 and SA05 will be explained in detail in each of the cases of locking parts positions (step SA02) and locking sheets (step SA03).
In step SB01 of
In step SB02, the automatic programming device 7 stores as a user designated sheet a section other than the parts-arrangement-locked sections. For example, an inner section of the locked parts P1 to P4 on the sheet ST1 shown in
In step SB03, the automatic programming device 7 sets priority order on the stored user designated sheet. For example, the user designated sheet of the inner section of the locked parts P1 to P4 on the sheet ST1 shown in
Returning to
In this explanation, there is one level of priority order (Priority-1). If there are a plurality of user designated sheets having a plurality of levels of priority order, parts to be nested are nested on user designated sheets according to the levels of priority order.
Next, in step SA07, the automatic programming device 7 displays a result of the nesting (for example, the state shown in
Thereafter, in step SA09, the automatic programming device 7 prepares a nesting machining program according to all nesting results.
In step SC01 of
In step SC02, the automatic programming device 7 acquires information relating to the unlocked sheets as acquired material information (sheets that must automatically be arranged). For example, the sheets ST2 and ST3 shown in
In step SC03, the automatic programming device 7 sets priority order on the acquired material information. For example, the sheets ST2 and ST3 shown in
Returning to
In this example, there are two levels of priority order (Priority-2 and Priority-3). A case with a larger number of levels of priority order is manageable in a similar manner.
The re-nesting process to nest parts to be nested is carried out in order of the case when parts positions are locked and the case when sheets are locked.
Next, in step SA07, the automatic programming device 7 displays a result of the nesting (for example, the state shown in
Thereafter, all nesting results are checked, parts arrangements are determined, and the nesting machining program preparing process ends (step SA09).
As mentioned above, this embodiment checks layouts of sheets on which parts are automatically arranged, designates only sheets or parts that must automatically be arranged, and automatically arranges them, thereby providing effects of simplifying a data preparing operation, shortening a data preparation time, and reducing data preparation errors.
The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and is properly modifiable to realize other embodiments.
The present invention is able to simplify a sheet program data preparing operation carried out by operator and shorten a data preparation time.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2014-204967 | Oct 2014 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2015/072535 | 8/7/2015 | WO | 00 |