Program generator having function of optimizing machining sequence

• US 10,444,718 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Inventors: Kurohara, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Chun
• Application Number:
  US15/612,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20170357231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 700173, 700174
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0405 Programme-control specially adapted for machine tool control and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/40938 Tool management
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32015 Optimize, process management, optimize production line
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34418 Scheduler for sequential control, task planning, control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35162 Determine workpiece placement, nesting in blank, optimize, minimize loss material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A program generator extracts at least one machining process from a machining program, analyzes the machining process, generates information regarding the machining process, gives the machining process a score based on the information regarding the machining process, and determines a sequence of the machining process based on the given score. The information regarding the machining process includes a machining shape to be formed by the machining process. The machining process is given a score based on the machining shape.

Claims

1. A program generator for controlling a machine tool based on a machining program, the program generator comprising:

a machining process analysis unit configured to extract at least one machining process from the machining program, analyze the at least one machining process, and generate information regarding the machining process;

a machining process scoring unit configured to give the machining process a score based on the information regarding the machining process; and

a machining sequence determination unit configured to determine a sequence of the machining process based on the score given to the machining process by the machining process scoring unit,

wherein the machine tool is configured to perform the machining process on a workpiece in the sequence based on the score,

the information regarding the machining process includes a machining shape to be formed by the machining process, and

the machining process scoring unit is configured to give the machining process the score based on the machining shape to be formed by the machining process, the machining shape including at least one of

a balance of the machining shape including a proximity of the machining shape to a circle,

a size of the machining shape, or

a position of the machining shape on the workpiece.

2. The program generator according to claim 1, wherein the machining process scoring unit is configured to give the machining process the score based on

the information regarding the machining process, and

information regarding any one of a previous machining process and a machining process earlier than the previous machining process, the previous machining process and the machining process earlier than the previous machining process being determined by the machining sequence determination unit.

3. The program generator according to claim 1, further comprising:

a machining program generation unit configured to generate a machining program based on the sequence of the machining process determined by the machining sequence determination unit.

4. The program generator according to claim 1, wherein the machining process scoring unit is configured to give the machining process the score based on a distance from the machining shape to a plurality of jigs for supporting the workpiece.

5. The program generator according to claim 1, wherein the machining process scoring unit is configured to give the machining process the score based on whether or not the machining shape crosses an intermediate line of the workpiece, the intermediate line being a line between, and equally spaced from, adjacent jigs among a plurality of jigs for supporting the workpiece.

6. The program generator according to claim 1, wherein

the machining process scoring unit is configured to

give the machining process a plurality of scores based on the machining shape to be formed by the machining process, the machining shape including

the balance of the machining shape including the proximity of the machining shape to a circle,

the size of the machining shape, and

the position of the machining shape on the workpiece, and

add the plurality of scores together to obtain a total score of the machining process.

7. The program generator according to claim 6, wherein

the machining process scoring unit is configured to obtain a plurality of total scores of a plurality of machining processes, respectively, and

the machining sequence determination unit is configured to determine a sequence of the plurality of machining processes based on the plurality of total scores.