Tool changing – Process
Patent
1992-01-30
1993-09-14
Briggs, William
Tool changing
Process
36447411, 36447421, 483 4, 483 11, B23Q 3155, G06F 1546
Patent
active
052444473
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool management method in a factory automation (FA) system, and more particularly, to a tool management method for a real-time exchange of tool management data between an FA computer and machining cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
A factory in which many computer numerically-controlled machine tools are installed comprises machining cells each centered around a computer numerically-controlled machine tool, a cell controller for controlling the machining cells, and a host computer connected to the cell controller.
Tool management data, which includes data on the service life and the like of tools used for individual computer numerically-controlled machine tools, is managed by individual computer numerically-controlled units. When the tool management data is managed by the host computer or the cell controller, the data is cyclically transferred in data blocks to the cell controller, because the communication line is low-speed and unidirectional, and thus the data is managed by the cell controller, which processes the data, or managed with the aid of an operator.
To obtain a more efficient tool management, however, preferably the cell controller or the computer numerically-controlled unit receives the most recent data on the service life, and number of uses and the like of tools, at all times, but with the conventional unidirectional, low-speed communication line, the tool management data cannot be transferred in a real-time mode, and therefore, an efficient tool management cannot be achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to solve the aforementioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tool management method which permits a real-time exchange of tool management data, to thereby achieve an efficient tool management.
To fulfill the above-mentioned object, a tool management method in an FA system, which consists of an FA computer and machining cells, is provided, wherein the FA computer is connected with the computer numerically-controlled units in the machining cells through bi-directional communication lines, so that these units share the tool management dat. Therefore, whenever the tool management data of either side is updated, the updated data is transferred to the other side, to thereby carry out a real-time management of tool management data.
An FA computer such as a cell controller is connected to computer numerically-controlled units with bi-directional communication lines. These units both maintain tool management data, and whenever the tool management data of either side is changed, the changed data is transferred to the other side, and thus the controlling computer can always obtain updated tool management data. Also, the computer numerically-controlled units can immediately obtain tool management data that has been changed by the FA computer, to thus ensure a more efficient tool management.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1(a) is a flowchart showing the process of transferring tool life data from the cell controller to a machining cell;
FIG. 1(b) is a flowchart showing the process of sending data on the number of times a tool is used from a computer numerically-controlled unit (CNC) to the cell controller;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of hardware of an FA system for implementing the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an example of tool management data.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the hardware for implementing the present invention. In the drawing, a cell controller 10 receives a production management command, which includes tool management data, from a host CPU 20, and then sends a control signal, such as a machining command or the like, to machining cells 30, 40 and 50. The cell controller 10, in turn, receives machining information including tool management data such as a numb
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Hammer, et al., "In Stufen auszubauendes flexibles Fertigungssystem zum Bohren und Frasen," V.D.I.-Zeitschrift, vol. 125, No. 5, Mar. 1983, pp. 135-141, Dusseldorf, DE.
Matsui Yoshiro
Tanaka Kunio
Briggs William
Fanuc Ltd.
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