Machine tool control system and method utilizing metal mold arrangement information
First Claim
1. A machine tool control system for controlling a machine tool unit that carries out machining based on a machining program of a machining schedule, said machine tool unit including a CNC device, a turret for supporting a plurality of metal molds and a tool storage unit for storing a plurality of metal molds, said machine tool control system comprising:
- a metal mold arrangement information file that stores metal mold arrangement information indicating each metal mold located in the tool storage unit of the machine tool unit; and
a controller that stores the machining schedule and metal mold information indicating characteristic properties of a metal mold to be used by the machine tool unit for machining based on each machining program associated with the machining schedule, said controller comprising;
a program transfer unit for transferring a machining program to the CNC device of the machine tool unit; and
a dedicated line for transferring the metal mold information to the CNC device by a different route than that for each respective machining program,wherein said CNC device searches the metal mold arrangement information stored in the metal mold arrangement information file to determine if each metal mold specified by the metal mold information is located in the machine tool unit, said CNC device transmitting metal mold exchange instruction information when a specified metal mold is determined not to be present, to facilitate setting a specified metal mold in the turret of the machine tool unit to carry out machining according to the associated machining program.
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Abstract
A machine tool control system and method are provided that utilize metal mold arrangement information to improve machining efficiency and control. According to the disclosure, a machining schedule, a machining program and metal mold information (indicating the characteristic properties of a metal mold to carry out machining) are transferred to a controller for controlling a CNC device and a machine tool unit (e.g., a turret punch press). The controller transfers the metal mold information for the machining program to the CNC device by a different transfer route than that of the machining program. The CNC device searches for a metal mold specified by the metal mold information based on metal mold arrangement information stored in a file. The metal mold arrangement information indicates each metal mold that is located in the machine tool unit. If a specified metal mold is not present, a metal mold exchange instruction is issued so that the specified metal mold may be set in the machine tool unit to carry necessary machining operations.
42 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A machine tool control system for controlling a machine tool unit that carries out machining based on a machining program of a machining schedule, said machine tool unit including a CNC device, a turret for supporting a plurality of metal molds and a tool storage unit for storing a plurality of metal molds, said machine tool control system comprising:
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a metal mold arrangement information file that stores metal mold arrangement information indicating each metal mold located in the tool storage unit of the machine tool unit; and a controller that stores the machining schedule and metal mold information indicating characteristic properties of a metal mold to be used by the machine tool unit for machining based on each machining program associated with the machining schedule, said controller comprising; a program transfer unit for transferring a machining program to the CNC device of the machine tool unit; and a dedicated line for transferring the metal mold information to the CNC device by a different route than that for each respective machining program, wherein said CNC device searches the metal mold arrangement information stored in the metal mold arrangement information file to determine if each metal mold specified by the metal mold information is located in the machine tool unit, said CNC device transmitting metal mold exchange instruction information when a specified metal mold is determined not to be present, to facilitate setting a specified metal mold in the turret of the machine tool unit to carry out machining according to the associated machining program. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A machine tool control method for controlling a machine tool unit that carries out machining based on a machining program of a machining schedule, said machine tool unit including a CNC device, a turret for supporting a plurality of metal molds and a tool storage unit for storing a plurality of metal molds, said method comprising:
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storing, in a metal mold arrangement information file, metal mold arrangement information indicating each metal mold located in the machine tool unit; storing, in a controller, the machining schedule and metal mold information indicating characteristic properties of a metal mold to be used by the machine tool unit for machining based on each machining program associated with the machining schedule; transferring a machining program from the controller to the CNC device of the machine tool unit and, thereafter, transferring the metal mold information from the controller to the CNC device by a different route than that for each respective machining program; transferring each machining program from said CNC device to the machine tool unit; searching the metal mold arrangement information stored in the metal mold arrangement information file to determine if each metal mold specified by the metal mold information is located in the machine tool unit; and transmitting metal mold exchange instruction information when a specified metal mold is determined not to be present, so that the specified metal mold may be set in the machine tool unit to carry out machining according to the associated machining program. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification