JPH04352007A - Group management system for nc machine tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily set up working NC data for plural NC machine tools by a group managing computer and to simplify the whole system. CONSTITUTION:In the group management system for NC machine tools, the group managing computer HC sets up working NC data converted into respectively different data formats or the like in plural NC machine tools NC1 to NCm through respective communication terminals ITS1 to TSm. The working NC data are stored in an external storage device AM and transferred to the corresponding NC machine tools NC1 to NCm through the terminals ITS1 to ITSm. The terminals ITS1 to ITSm can execute bidirectional data communication between the computer HC and the corresponding NC machine tools NC1 to NCm.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a group management system for NC machine tools, more specifically, a group management system for NC machine tools that sets NC data for machining using a communication terminal in a DNC (direct numerical control) system of an NC machine tool. Regarding.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a DNC system, for example, has been known as a group management system for NC machine tools and the like. This D
The NC system is intended to improve the operating rate of NC machine tools, etc., and controls multiple NC machine tools (hereinafter, including tool presetters, measuring instruments, etc.) by a host computer (group management computer). , is managed.

[0003] Then, this host computer sets machining NC data indicating machining conditions and the like for each of these NC machine tools. That is, when the processing NC data is input to the host computer,
A predetermined program converts the data into a format compatible with the target NC machine tool, and the N.
This was transferred to machine tool C.

[0004] Therefore, the host computer needs to have programs for converting data into different data formats for a plurality of NC machine tools, and requires a program that incorporates these conversion programs as subroutines.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional group management system for NC machine tools,
Whenever the NC data for machining of an NC machine tool is changed, it is necessary to newly input the data and convert the data format into the host computer. As a result, a program for format conversion and transfer is required for each NC machine tool, which requires time and effort to create, and there are problems in that the NC data for machining is set using a plane driver.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a group management system for NC machine tools that can easily set NC data for machining for a plurality of NC machine tools.
That is the purpose.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a group management system for NC machine tools in which a plurality of NC machine tools NC1 to NCm are collectively controlled by a group management computer HC. NC machine tool NC1
~Communication terminals ITS1~ITS attached to each of the NCm and capable of data communication with the group control computer HC
m, and an external storage device AM that is controlled by the group management computer HC and stores machining NC data for the plurality of NC machine tools NC1 to NCm, and these communication terminals ITS1 to ITSm use this external storage. Each NC machine tool N based on the processing NC data stored in the device AM
This is a group management system for NC machine tools that sets NC data for machining in C1 to NCm.

[0008]

[Operation] According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, when setting NC data for machining, such as machining conditions, for each of a plurality of NC machine tools NC1 to NCm of different models, the group management computer In HC, these multiple N
NC data for machining is set according to the data format corresponding to the C machine tools NC1 to NCm, and is stored in the external storage device AM. This NC data for processing is then read out from the external storage device AM, transferred to the corresponding communication terminals ITS1 to ITSm, and further
It will be set to C machine tools NC1 to NCm.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A group management system for NC machine tools according to the present invention will be explained below based on embodiments.

FIGS. 2 to 7 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this DNC system includes a host computer 21, a plurality of communication terminals 22A, 22B, . Communication terminal 22A
, 22B, . . . are respectively connected to the NC machine tools 2.
3A, 23B, . . . .

The host computer 21 manages this system and performs various controls, such as setting NC data for machining of these NC machine tools 23A, 23B, . . . . Further, the host computer 21 can be incorporated into, for example, a host system such as Ethernet.

As is well known, the host computer 21 includes a CPU 211, a ROM 212, a RAM 213, an I/O
214, in addition to the bus-connected VRAM 215, graphic controller 216, and DMA controller 2.
17, a network controller 218, and a disk driver 219. Further, in FIG. 2, 24 is a display controlled by a graphics controller 216, and 25 is a disk driver 219.
Hard disk device (external storage device) controlled by
are shown respectively. This host computer 21
is started by MS-DOS and the hard disk drive 25
The above control can be performed using data and programs stored in the . The DMA controller 217 allows direct access to the hard disk device 25 from, for example, the communication terminals 22A, . . . .

As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 2
2A, 22B,... are CPU221, ROM222
, RAM 223, I/O 224, character generator 225, and this character generator 225
It is configured to include a window display 226 controlled by, etc. This communication terminal 22A (hereinafter 22B)
The same applies to .
(including application programs in addition to basic programs such as DOS) and operates them. Further, the communication terminal 22A has a memory of, for example, a maximum of 8 Mbytes, and can also be used as a memory or a remote buffer for the NC machine tool 23A. Note that these communication terminals 22A are connected via the network controller 218.
is the host computer 21 based on a predetermined protocol.
Two-way communication is possible.

In the DNC system configured as described above, the host computer 21 sets machining NC data (machining dimensions, required tools, feed speed, etc.) for various NC machine tools 23A, 23B, . can do. This data setting can be performed with reference to the display 24 by executing the editor program. Then, the processing NC set in this way
The data is stored in the hard disk device 25 and read out from the corresponding communication terminal 22A, .
... and further to this communication terminal 22A,
... is sent to the NC machine tools 23A, ..., and NC data for machining is set.

FIG. 4 shows these communication terminals 22A, 22B,
. . shows a program that is executed when the system starts up. First, the CPU 221 of the communication terminal 22A,
The ROM 222 and RAM 223 are initialized (step S401), and then a request is made to the host computer 21 to transfer parameters (NC data for processing) (step S401).
402).

[0017] Then, wait until the data arrives at the I/O 224 (loop until S403 becomes YES)
, When the data arrives, this data is transferred to and stored in the RAM 223, which is an internal memory (S404). After this,
Once all the requested data has been transferred and stored in the RAM 223 (YES in S405), the process will proceed to the next step.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the transfer of NC data for processing by the host computer 21 to the communication terminals 22A, . . . . Upon input of the timer interrupt signal, the communication terminals 22A, . . .
It is determined whether the number . (S50
2).

[0019] Then, wait until the transfer is completed (S5
03), specifies that the communication terminal is 1 (22A) to the I/O 214 (S504). Then, the parameters (machining NC data) held in the internal memory RAM 213 are transferred to the I/O of the communication terminal 22A via this I/O 214.
224 (S505). When the transfer is completed, this program ends (S506). In addition, communication terminal 2
2A further transfers the thus transferred data to the NC machine tool 23A.

[0020]

As described above, according to the group management system for NC machine tools according to the present invention, processing NC data can be easily set for a plurality of NC machine tools. Furthermore, since the communication terminal uses the external storage device of the host computer, the terminal itself can be made compact and handy, and the system as a whole can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a group management system for NC machine tools according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a group management system for NC machine tools according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a communication terminal in a group management system for NC machine tools according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing part of a program in a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an interrupt routine of a host computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

HC group management computer NC1~NCm NC machine tool ITS1~ITSm Communication terminal AM External storage device

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] In a group control system for NC machine tools in which a plurality of NC machine tools are collectively controlled by a group control computer, the system is attached to each of the plurality of NC machine tools and is capable of data communication with the group control computer. and an external storage device that is controlled by the group management computer and stores machining NC data for the plurality of NC machine tools, and these communication terminals store the machining NC data stored in the external storage device. Each N based on NC data
A group management system for NC machine tools characterized by setting NC data for machining in C machine tools.