JPH07314290A - Life management system for multi-blade tools - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To improve the machining accuracy of multi-blade tools. [Structure] A life t1 is preset for each of the blades 1 and 2 of the multi-blade tool A and stored in the storage means 4, and
The cumulative usage time t up to the present is updated for each 2
It is stored in the storage means 4. Then, when the machining operation command S is output, for each of the blades 1 and 2 of the selected multi-blade tool A, based on the life data t1 and the cumulative usage time data t stored in the storage means 4. The remaining life Δt is calculated. Then, the current usage time for each blade 1, 2 according to the machining operation command S and the remaining life Δt for each blade 1, 2 calculated above are compared, and as a result of this comparison, all blades 1, When the current usage time of 2 does not exceed the remaining life Δt, the work is processed using the selected multi-blade tool A, the cumulative usage time t is updated by the current usage time, and this is stored in the storage means. Store in 4. In addition, as a result of the above comparison, when there is at least one blade whose current usage time exceeds the remaining life Δt, it is determined that the selected multi-blade tool A has a life.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a life management device for a multi-blade tool having a plurality of blades, and more particularly to a device capable of performing life management for each blade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a machine tool such as a lathe, a spindle is equipped with a multi-blade tool having a plurality of blades, and each blade is sequentially used to perform a multi-step turning process. Do the work. Particularly in recent years, a memory called an ID element is provided in the above-mentioned multi-blade tool, and the data indicating the cumulative usage time of the tool is stored in this memory to manage the life of the tool and to further promote automation. Has been done.

However, the conventional life management simply accumulates the use time of the multi-blade tool and judges whether or not the accumulated time has reached the end of its life (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-21).
No. 0248, JP-A-3-245949, etc.).

Therefore, the life of the multi-blade tool must be set to a unique value that does not depend on the frequency of use for each blade.
For this reason, when the predetermined blade is frequently used, even after the life of the blade is exceeded, it may be continued to be used without reaching the life of the multi-blade tool itself, which may lead to a decrease in machining accuracy. is there. In addition, the life of the multi-blade tool itself may be reached without using a predetermined blade, and the blade may have to be replaced, which causes problems such as waste of the blade and increase of man-hours due to wasteful replacement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to improve the machining accuracy by managing the life of each blade of a multi-edged tool, improve the economical efficiency, and reduce the man-hours. The purpose is.

[0006]

Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of multi-blade tools having a plurality of blades are prepared, and a predetermined multi-blade tool is selected from among the plurality of multi-blade tools according to a machining operation command. In the life management device for a multi-blade tool applied to a machine tool that processes a work for a predetermined time by using a predetermined blade of the selected multi-blade tool, A storage unit that presets and stores, and updates and stores a cumulative use time up to the present for each of the blades, and a life data stored in the storage unit when the machining operation command is output. Based on the and cumulative use time data, the remaining life calculation means for calculating the remaining life for each blade of the selected multi-blade tool, and the current usage time for each blade according to the machining operation command and the Calculated by the remaining life calculation means The remaining life of each blade is compared, and as a result of this comparison, if the current usage time for all blades does not exceed the remaining life, the workpiece is machined using the selected multi-blade tool, and The cumulative use time is updated according to the use time of, and this is stored in the storage means, and as a result of the comparison, when there is at least one blade whose use time of this time exceeds the remaining life, it is selected. The multi-blade tool has a judging means for judging that the tool is at the end of its life.

[0007]

According to this structure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the service life t1 is preset for each of the blades 1 and 2 of the multi-blade tool A and stored in the storage means 4, and the blade 1 is also stored. The cumulative use time t up to the present is sequentially updated for each 2 and stored in the storage means 4.

When the machining operation command S is output, each blade 1 of the multi-blade tool A selected based on the life data t1 and the cumulative usage time data t stored in the storage means 4, The remaining life Δt is calculated for each 2.

Each blade 1 corresponding to the machining work command S,
The current usage time for each blade 2 is compared with the remaining service life Δt for each blade 1, 2 calculated above, and as a result of this comparison, the current service time for all blades 1, 2 does not exceed the remaining service life Δt. In this case, the work is machined using the selected multi-blade tool A, and the cumulative use time t
Is updated and stored in the storage means 4. In addition, as a result of the above comparison, when there is at least one blade whose current usage time exceeds the remaining life Δt, it is determined that the selected multi-blade tool A has a life.

As described above, the life of the multi-blade tool is set for each blade, and even when a predetermined blade is frequently used, the life of the multi-blade tool itself is reached immediately before the life t1 of the blade is exceeded. Since it is determined that the tool is not used and the tool has exceeded the life of the blade, the machining accuracy is dramatically improved. Also,
Since all the blades can be used until at least one blade reaches the end of its life, it is possible to minimize the waste of the blades due to the unnecessary exchange and the increase of the man-hours due to the unnecessary exchange.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a life management device for a multi-edged tool according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the embodiment apparatus, FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view showing the appearance of the embodiment apparatus, and FIG. 2 (b) is a multi-edged tool of the embodiment. FIG. As shown in these drawings, the embodiment apparatus includes a machine tool 5 including a tool magazine 6 and a tool changing device 7, an NC device 9 that drives and controls the machine tool 5 according to an NC machining program, and a plurality of multi-edged tools. A tool data memory 13 for storing tool data relating to A, B, C, ...
Main controller 10 including memory and memory controller 12
And the memory 4 arranged for each of the multi-blade tools A, B, C ...
And a memory controller 14 for exchanging data between the memory 4 and the tool data memory 13.

When the NC machining program is executed by the NC device 9, a tool exchange command S is output to the tool exchange device 7 of the machine tool 5 in accordance with the execution of the program. When the tool change command S is input to the machine tool 5, the tool changer 7 having the function of ATC (automatic tool changer) is driven, and a plurality of multi-blade tools A stored in the tool magazine 6 are provided. B, C ...
A tool suitable for the work is selected from the above, and this is mounted on the spindle of the machine tool 1. In the multi-blade tool, a plurality of tools A, B and C form one group.

The cutting signal V is output to the machine tool 5 in accordance with the execution of the NC machining program, and the table 8 on which the workpiece to be machined is placed is driven to rotate, for example, to perform the turning operation of the workpiece.

The main controller 10 is a programmable controller (PC), and the memory control unit 12 exchanges data with the tool data memory 13 to manage the life of the tool. Further, the machine control unit 11 centrally controls the NC device 9 and the machine tool 9.

The multi-blade tools A, B, C, ... Are tools for cutting. Taking the multi-blade tool A as an example, the multi-blade tool A is provided with two cutting tools 1 and 2 having different specifications. Has been
The pull stud 3 of the tool A is provided with a memory (ID element) 4 for storing tool data regarding the tool A.

In the memory 4, the tool data, that is, the tool ID data indicating the own tool A, the blade ID data indicating the respective blades 1 and 2 of the own tool A, and the respective blades 1 and 2 are stored. Life data showing the life t1 for each blade and each blade 1, 2
The cumulative use time data indicating the cumulative use time (cumulative cutting time) t for each is stored.

The tool ID data, the blade ID data, and the life data are previously input to the memory 4 by using a predetermined writing device.

Now, FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the cumulative usage time t of the cutting tool 1 and the surface roughness of the work surface, for example. As shown in FIG. The surface roughness of the surface increases. Therefore, the accumulated use time t1 that satisfies the required surface roughness (for example, 6.3 s or less) is stored as the life data in the memory 4 as the life of the blade 1. The blade 1 can actually be used with a predetermined processing accuracy up to t2, which is much larger than t1, and this time t2 can also be set as life data.

The cumulative use time data t in the memory 4 is sequentially updated as the blade is actually used in the machine tool 5.

The processing performed by the embodiment apparatus will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, with the execution of the NC machining program,
A group of tools to be used for machining is selected (step 101), and it is determined whether or not there is a tool usable for machining in the selected group (step 102). Here, if there is no usable tool, a process of searching for a spare tool from another group is performed. In addition,
When there is no spare tool, a predetermined abnormal process such as stopping the process is performed.

When it is determined in the above step 102 that there is a usable tool in the group, for example, the tool A, the NC device 9 outputs the tool change command S and the tool change device 7 outputs the tool A to the machine tool. Attach to the spindle of No. 5. Then, the blade (for example, the blade 1) to be used among the blades of the tool A is determined from the contents of the machining program (step 104).

Here, the data stored in the memory 4 of the tool A is read out via the memory controller 14 and written in the tool data memory 13. The memory control unit 12
The stored data in the memory 13 is read out, the cumulative usage time data t is subtracted from the life data t1 of the blade 1 of the tool A to be used for machining, and the remaining life Δt is obtained.
It is determined whether or not the cutting process can be performed this time depending on whether or not t is equal to or less than the usage time required for the cutting this time (step 105). As a result, when it is determined that cutting cannot be performed with the remaining life Δt, the procedure moves to step 101 again, and a usable tool is searched from other groups.

On the other hand, if the blade 1 of the tool A has not reached the end of life (NO at step 105), it is determined that the cutting operation is to be performed using the blade 1 of the tool A, and the memory control unit Reference numeral 12 manages the life of the blade 1. That is, the cutting signal V for cutting by the blade 1 of the tool A
Is output (step 106), and the cutting time tp is counted by the NC device 9 while cutting is being performed. This cutting time tp is output from the NC device 9 to the memory controller 12 of the main controller 10. The memory control unit 12 updates the cumulative usage time t of the blade 1 by adding the cutting time tp to the current cumulative usage time t of the blade 1 of the tool A, and writes the updated cumulative usage time t in the tool data memory 13. (Step 107).

Then, from the contents of the machining program, the tool A
A blade to be used for machining the next work is determined from the blades. Here, when it is determined that the blade 2 should be used next, the memory control unit 12 reads the stored data of the memory 13 and accumulates from the life data t1 of the blade 2 of the tool A to be used for machining. The remaining life Δt is obtained by subtracting the usage time data t, and it is determined whether or not the current cutting is possible depending on whether or not the remaining life Δt is less than or equal to the usage time required for the current cutting. (Step 108).
As a result, when it is determined that cutting cannot be performed with the remaining life Δt, the procedure is performed again in step 10
1 is moved to, and a usable tool is searched from other groups.

On the other hand, when the blade 2 of the tool A has not reached the end of its life (NO in step 108), it is determined that the blade 2 of the tool A should be used for cutting, and the memory control unit Reference numeral 12 manages the life of the blade 2. That is, the cutting signal V for cutting with the blade 2 of the tool A
Is output (step 109), and the cutting time tp is counted by the NC device 9 while the cutting is being performed. This cutting time tp is output from the NC device 9 to the memory controller 12 of the main controller 10. The memory control unit 12 updates the cumulative usage time t of the blade 2 by adding the cutting time tp to the current cumulative usage time t of the blade 2 of the tool A, and writes the updated cumulative usage time t in the tool data memory 13. (Step 110).

In this way, when the cutting work by the tool A is completed (step 111), the process of selecting the group of tools that can be used for the next work from the contents of the working program is executed similarly to step 101 (step 112),
Similar processing is repeatedly executed (steps 102 to 11).
1) Then, all the machining is finished (YES at step 113). Here, as long as it is determined in step 105 and step 108 that the service lives of all the blades of the tool have not been reached, the cumulative use time t updated in step 107 and step 110 is set to the memory 4 of the corresponding tool. To write to (step 1
14 judgment YES). For example, in the memory 4 of the tool A, update data indicating the cumulative use time t increased by the current cutting time is written in the memory 4 for each of the blades 1 and 2, and the next life determination (step 105, 10
8) can be accurately performed for each of the blades 1 and 2 (step 115).

However, when it is judged that either one of the blades of the tool has reached the end of its life in either step 105 or step 108, the accumulated use time t updated in step 107 is set to the memory of the corresponding tool. The process of writing to 4 is not performed (NO at step 114). In this case, it is determined that the tool has reached the end of its life, and that effect and the cumulative use time of each blade of the tool that has reached the end of the life are, for example, C
Display on the RT screen to alert the operator that the blade needs replacement.

In the embodiment, the cumulative use time data t is stored in the memory 4 provided in the tool to manage the life, but the point is that the accumulated use time is calculated for each tool and each blade. Therefore, the life management of the present invention can be applied to a system in which a tool is not provided with a memory.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the life is managed for each blade of the multi-edged tool, so that the machining accuracy is dramatically improved, the economical efficiency is improved, and the man-hours are reduced. Reduction is also achieved at the same time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a life management device for a multi-edged tool according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the apparatus of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 (b) is a view showing the multi-edged tool of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by the apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the cumulative use time of the blade of the multi-edged tool and the surface roughness.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cutting tool 2 cutting tool 4 memory 5 machine tool 9 NC device 12 memory control unit A, B, C multi-edged tool

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of multi-blade tools having a plurality of blades are prepared, and a predetermined multi-blade tool is selected from the plurality of multi-blade tools according to a machining operation command, and the selected multi-blade is selected. In a life management device for a multi-blade tool applied to a machine tool that processes a work for a predetermined time using a predetermined blade of a tool, the life is preset for each blade of the multi-blade tool, and the memory is stored. Updating the cumulative use time up to the present for each blade, storage means for storing, when the machining operation command is output, based on the life data and cumulative use time data stored in the storage means, Remaining life calculation means for calculating the remaining life for each blade of the selected multi-blade tool, and the current usage time for each blade according to the machining operation command and each blade calculated by the remaining life calculation means Compare the remaining life for each As a result of the comparison, if the current usage time does not exceed the remaining life for all blades, the workpiece is processed using the selected multi-blade tool, and the cumulative usage time is updated with the current usage time. While storing this in the storage means, as a result of the comparison, if there is at least one blade whose current usage time exceeds the remaining service life, it is determined that the selected multi-blade tool is service life A tool for managing the life of multi-blade tools. 2. The multi-blade tool according to claim 1, wherein the multi-blade tool is provided with the storage means, and the storage means stores the life data and the cumulative use time data relating to the multi-blade tool. Life management device.