Method for managing turret tools by using visual information for machine tool
The present disclosure relates to a method for managing turret tools for a machine tool, and more particularly, by setting tool information and changing a mounting location of the tool, which is to be mounted or has been mounted, by using visual information about a turret mounted in the machine tool and the tool mounted in the turret, a user may intuitively check information about a tool mounted on the turret and to easily set tool installation information which needs to be set when mounting and detaching the tool, changing a location of the tool, or installing the tool in a machine tool.
1. A method for managing turret tools by using visual information for a machine tool, which manages values of respective items of inherent tool information and installation information about a tool required for writing a numerical control (NC) program, the method comprising:
a controller defining a tool required for a processing process of a machine tool;
the controller determining a tool mounting location of the defined tool on a turret;
a display unit, coupled to the controller, displaying a virtual image of the turret;
the display unit displaying a virtual image of mounting the defined tool on the displayed virtual image of the turret according to the determined tool mounting location;
the controller communicating data associated with the determined tool mounting location to a programmable machine controller; and
the programmable machine controller mounting the defined tool on the turret according to the data associated with the determined tool mounting location.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller checking whether the defined tool corresponding to the determined tool mounting location is mounted so as to be optimized to an actual work order; and
the programmable machine controller changing a tool mounting order on the turret as necessary.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller checking whether an unnecessary tool, which is not defined in the defining of the tool, is mounted on the turret; and
the programmable machine controller separating the unnecessary tool from the turret when the unnecessary tool is mounted.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller checking whether all of the defined tools corresponding to the determined tool mounting positions are mounted.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller checking whether all of the tools mounted in the virtual image of the turret are actually and correctly mounted on the turrets.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller changing a tool mounting location of the mounted tool on the display unit when a user selects a soft key on a touchscreen of the display unit.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller checking a turret number for checking whether a corresponding tool is mounted for each number of the displayed turret;
the controller searching for a tool corresponding to the number of the displayed turret in a tool database when a user selects a tool database soft key on a touchscreen of the display unit; and
the programmable machine controller mounting the searched tool.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the controller checking tool information by checking whether installation information about the mounted tool corresponds to preset installation information about a tool; and
the controller correcting tool installation information when a user selects a tool correction soft key on a touchscreen of the display unit when the installation information about the mounted tool does not correspond to preset installation information about a tool.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
the programmable machine controller changing a tool mounting location of the mounted tool on the turret.