Simulation apparatus for manual operation of machine tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9869994-B2
Application number	US-201514636788-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 19, 2014
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A simulation apparatus 1 includes a touch panel 20 , a display controller 11 , a display screen data storage unit 12 , an input control unit 13 , an operation information storage unit 14 , a model data storage 16 , a simulation executor 15 and an NC program generator 17 . The simulation executor 15 displays an image of a movable structure 12 to be operated on the touch panel 20 , moves the image in accordance with a manual operation and checks occurrence of interference, and, in the case where interference occurs, stops the movement of the image and displays the occurrence of interference on the touch panel 20 . Further, in the case where it is confirmed that no interference occurs, the NC program generator 17 generates an NC program based on manual operation information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A simulation apparatus for manual operation of machine tool having structures including at least one movable structure, a drive member driving the movable structure, a numerical controller controlling operation of the drive member, and a display device, the simulation apparatus comprising:
a model data storage storing at least model data relating to the movable structure and model data relating to other structures having a possibility of interference with the movable structure within a movable area of the movable structure;
a display controller displaying images relating to a model of the movable structure and models of the other structures on the display device;
a manual operation signal generator having a manual operation unit and generating a manual operation signal for moving an image of the movable structure displayed on the display device in accordance with operation of the manual operation unit;
a simulation executor reading out the model data stored in the model data storage, arranging models relating to the other structures in a determined positional relationship and arranging a model relating to the movable structure in a predetermined positional relationship, and displaying an image relating to the models on the display device through the display controller, and receiving the manual operation signal generated by the manual operation signal generator and displaying an image in which the model relating to the movable structure is moved in accordance with the received manual operation signal on the display device through the display controller; and
an NC program generator receiving information relating to the manual operation signal and a movement path of the movable structure from the simulation executor and generating an NC program based on the received manual operation signal information and movement path,
the simulation executor being configured to also check whether interference occurs between the models of the structures when moving the model relating to the movable structure in accordance with the manual operation signal,
in a case where interference occurs, immediately stop the movement of the model relating to the movable structure and provide a display indicating the occurrence of interference on the display device through the display controller, and

display an image in which the model relating to the movable structure has been returned to its initial position, without depending on an external operation signal, and
in a case where an interference-free movement path of the movable structure is confirmed, transmit information relating to the received manual operation signal and the interference-free movement path to the NC program generator.

2. The simulation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the simulation executor is configured to, in a case where the movement of the movable structure is for machining a workpiece, calculate a depth of cut in the machining, and
the NC program generator is configured to correct machining conditions in the NC program to be generated in accordance with the depth of cut calculated by the simulation executor.

3. A simulation apparatus for manual operation of machine tool having structures including at least one movable structure, a drive member driving the movable structure, a numerical controller controlling operation of the drive member, and a display device, the simulation apparatus comprising:
a model data storage storing at least model data relating to the movable structure and model data relating to other structures having a possibility of interference with the movable structure within a movable area of the movable structure;
a display controller displaying images relating to a model of the movable structure and models of the other structures on the display device;
a manual operation signal generator having a manual operation unit and generating a manual operation signal for moving an image of the movable structure displayed on the display device in accordance with operation of the manual operation unit;
a simulation executor reading out the model data stored in the model data storage, arranging models relating to the other structures in a determined positional relationship and arranging a model relating to the movable structure in a predetermined positional relationship, and displaying an image relating to the models on the display device through the display controller, and receiving the manual operation signal generated by the manual operation signal generator and displaying an image in which the model relating to the movable structure is moved in accordance with the received manual operation signal on the display device through the display controller; and
an NC program generator receiving information relating to the manual operation signal and a movement path of the movable structure from the simulation executor and generating an NC program based on the received manual operation signal information and movement path,
the simulation executor being configured to also check whether interference occurs between the models of the structures when moving the model relating to the movable structure in accordance with the manual operation signal,
in a case where interference occurs, immediately stop the movement of the model relating to the movable structure and provide a display indicating the occurrence of interference on the display device through the display controller, and

display an image in which the model relating to the movable structure has been returned to an operation position just before the occurrence of interference, without depending on an external operation signal, and
in a case where an interference-free movement path of the movable structure is confirmed, transmit information relating to the received manual operation signal and the interference-free movement path to the NC program generator.

4. The simulation apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:
the simulation executor is configured to, in a case where the movement of the movable structure is for machining a workpiece, calculate a depth of cut in the machining, and
the NC program generator is configured to correct machining conditions in the NC program to be generated in accordance with the depth of cut calculated by the simulation executor.

5. A simulation apparatus for manual operation of machine tool having structures including at least one movable structure, a drive member driving the movable structure, a numerical controller controlling operation of the drive member, and a display device, the simulation apparatus comprising:
a model data storage storing at least model data relating to the movable structure and model data relating to other structures having a possibility of interference with the movable structure within a movable area of the movable structure;
a display controller displaying images relating to a model of the movable structure and models of the other structures on the display device;
a manual operation signal generator having a manual operation unit and generating a manual operation signal for moving an image of the movable structure displayed on the display device in accordance with operation of the manual operation unit;
a simulation executor reading out the model data stored in the model data storage, arranging models relating to the other structures in a determined positional relationship and arranging a model relating to the movable structure in a predetermined positional relationship, and displaying an image relating to the models on the display device through the display controller, and receiving the manual operation signal generated by the manual operation signal generator and displaying an image in which the model relating to the movable structure is moved in accordance with the received manual operation signal on the display device through

Assignees

• Dmg Mori Seiki Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ogawa Tetsuo

Classifications

• G05B19/4097 Primary

  characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM (G05B19/4093 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05B19/4061 Primary

  Avoiding collision or forbidden zones · CPC title

• G05B2219/35216

  Program, generate nc program, code from cad data · CPC title

• G05B2219/49157

  Limitation, collision, interference, forbidden zones, avoid obstacles · CPC title

• G05B19/18 Primary

  Numerical control [NC], i.e. automatically operating machines, in particular machine tools, e.g. in a manufacturing environment, so as to execute positioning, movement or co-ordinated operations by means of program data in numerical form (G05B19/418 takes precedence) · CPC title