JP2007327925A - Size measuring device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device supporting product size inspection by a vernier micrometer. <P>SOLUTION: The device includes a computer 3 reading a three-dimensional sheet metal model and acquiring and displaying a size of each part of the three-dimensional sheet metal model and an electronic vernier micrometer 11 capable of transferring a measurement result as numerical data to the computer. The computer 3 includes a three-dimensional sheet metal model reading part 15, a recognition part 17 recognizing a surface constituting the read three-dimensional sheet metal model, a normal direction vector generation part 19 generating a normal direction vector to the outside of the recognized surface, and a search part 21 searching for two surfaces of which the normal direction vectors are antiparallel each other and in which facing surfaces overlap each other. When the inter-surface size of the searched surfaces satisfies a prescribed condition based on a measurement value transmitted from the electronic vernier micrometer, the measurement value and the surface size, together with the three-dimensional sheet metal model, are displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dimension measuring apparatus and a method thereof, and more specifically, when a measurement result transmitted by an electronic caliper is transferred to a computer and the measurement value sent from the electronic caliper satisfies a predetermined condition, the measured value, surface The present invention relates to a dimension measuring apparatus and method for displaying inter-dimensions together with a three-dimensional sheet metal model (for example, a three-dimensional model obtained by modeling a sheet metal product with three-dimensional CAD).

  Conventionally, when comparing a real product with a three-dimensional sheet metal model on a computer, first, the real product is measured with a measuring device (for example, measuring the size of the product with a caliper, the angle of the product with a protractor) Measure).

  In order to confirm the dimensions of the 3D sheet metal model on the computer, the 3D sheet metal model is displayed on the display screen, and each element (point, line, and surface) is manually selected on the screen to display the dimensions. Subsequently, the measured value of the product and the dimension display value of the three-dimensional sheet metal model are confirmed, and it is confirmed whether or not the product and the three-dimensional sheet metal model match.

See also Patent Document 1.
JP-A-10-185544

  Such a conventional method has the following problems. That is, when checking the dimensions of the 3D sheet metal model on the computer display screen, there are many elements (points, lines, and surfaces) that can be selected in the 3D sheet metal model, and combinations thereof. For this reason, there is a problem that the operation of manually selecting the target location on the screen becomes very complicated. In addition, there is a case where the measurement result is manually recorded, and there is a problem that a recording error occurs and man-hours are required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the invention according to claim 1 reads a three-dimensional sheet metal model, acquires a size of each part of the three-dimensional sheet metal model, and displays a computer;
Electronic calipers that can transfer measurement results as numerical data to a computer,
And a transfer means for transferring the result measured with the electronic caliper to the computer,
The computer
A reading section of a three-dimensional sheet metal model;
A recognition unit for recognizing a surface constituting the read three-dimensional sheet metal model;
A surface direction identifying unit that generates a normal direction vector that faces the outside of the recognized surface;
A search unit that searches for two planes in which the normal direction vectors are parallel and opposite in direction and opposite faces overlap,
A dimension measuring device that displays the measured value and the inter-surface dimension together with the three-dimensional sheet metal model when the inter-surface dimension of the retrieved surface satisfies a predetermined condition based on the measured value sent from the electronic caliper Is desirable.

  Preferably, the invention according to claim 2 further includes means for sequentially displaying the inter-surface dimension closest to the measurement value on the three-dimensional sheet metal model.

  The invention according to claim 3 is preferably provided with a database for storing the measured value and the inter-surface dimension corresponding to the measured value in association with the three-dimensional sheet metal model.

The invention according to claim 4 is a step in which the transmitting means transfers the measurement result measured by the electronic caliper to the computer as numerical data;
The reading unit of the computer reads a three-dimensional sheet metal model;
A step of recognizing a surface constituting the read three-dimensional sheet metal model by the recognition unit of the computer;
A step of generating a normal direction vector that faces the outside of the recognized surface by a surface direction identification unit of the computer;
A search unit of the computer for searching for two planes in which the normal direction vectors are parallel and opposite in direction and the opposite planes overlap;
The display means displays the measurement value and the inter-surface dimension together with the three-dimensional sheet metal model when the inter-surface dimension of the retrieved surface satisfies a predetermined condition based on the measurement value sent from the electronic caliper. The dimension measuring method including a process is preferable.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to narrow down the surface elements when checking the dimensions on the three-dimensional sheet metal model based on the characteristics of the measuring instrument used (such as calipers) and the actual measurement values. Then, the dimension position on the three-dimensional sheet metal model to be confirmed can be analogized and displayed on the screen together with the three-dimensional sheet metal model.

  As a result, it is possible to automatically perform a position confirmation operation for dimension confirmation on a three-dimensional sheet metal model that has been performed manually in the past, thereby reducing the number of product inspection work steps and eliminating product inspection errors. is there.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the dimension measuring apparatus 1.

  The dimension measuring apparatus 1 includes a computer (main body) 3, a display unit 5, an input unit (for example, a keyboard 7 / mouse 9), an electronic caliper 11, and a connection unit 13. The electronic caliper 11 measures at least a part of a product (or part), and is measured using a so-called jaw 11a, beak 11b, and depth bar 11c as a measuring method. Then, the measurement data is transmitted to the computer (main body) 3 via the connection unit 13.

  Please refer to FIG. The computer (main body) 3 includes a reading unit 15, a recognition unit 17, a normal direction vector generation unit 19, and a search unit 21.

  The reading unit 15 reads a three-dimensional sheet metal model (for example, a three-dimensional model obtained by modeling a sheet metal product with a three-dimensional CAD) from a memory for processing.

  The recognizing unit 17 automatically recognizes the surfaces constituting the three-dimensional sheet metal model.

  The normal direction vector generation unit 19 generates a normal direction vector to the outside of the surface searched by the search unit 17 (outside direction of the three-dimensional sheet metal model surrounded by a plurality of surfaces). .

  The search unit 21 searches for two surfaces in which the normal direction vectors are parallel and opposite in direction, and opposite surfaces overlap each other. When the inter-surface dimension of the retrieved surface satisfies a predetermined condition based on the measurement value sent from the electronic caliper, the measurement value and the surface dimension are displayed in association with each other together with the three-dimensional sheet metal model. Here, the predetermined condition is a typical case where a condition that is within an allowable range of an error between an actual measurement value and a dimension value of the three-dimensional sheet metal model is typical.

  The operation of the dimension measuring apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in step S301, the reading unit 15 reads a three-dimensional sheet metal model. Thereby, computer program processing can be performed on the three-dimensional sheet metal model.

  In step S303, the dimensions of the part are measured by the electronic caliper 11. The measured value is generated as electronic data.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, the measurement of the product manufactured by sheet metal processing will be described. First, in a bending machine (for example, a press brake), a bending process in which the punch P and the die D are relatively brought close to each other and the plate-like portion of the workpiece W is bent by the cooperation of the punch P and the die D. I do. For example, the punch P is configured to move up and down relatively with respect to the die D, and before bending, the workpiece W is horizontal so that the thickness t is in the vertical direction. And is placed on the die D. And a bending process is performed in order of a bending process, and a product is manufactured. Subsequently, the electronic caliper 11 is used to measure whether the manufactured product is within a predetermined tolerance. At this time, a comparison target is a three-dimensional sheet metal model. That is, the three-dimensional sheet metal model is a three-dimensional solid model modeled with the required product dimensions.

  In step S305, the connection unit 13 transmits the measurement data measured by the electronic caliper to the computer (main body 3). On the other hand, the computer 3 receives the measurement data and stores it in a memory in the computer 11.

  In step S307, the search unit 21 searches the inter-surface dimension closest to the measurement value from the measurement value of the transferred measurement data. Thereby, the applicable inter-surface dimension is specified.

  In step 309, the dimension display means is searched and the inter-surface dimension and the measured value are displayed on the display unit 5 in association with the three-dimensional sheet metal model. Thereby, it can be judged whether the dimension location displayed on the three-dimensional sheet metal model is a measured location of the actual product.

  In step S311, it is determined whether or not the dimension display means displays the next candidate having the next closest face-to-face dimension in accordance with the selection of the selection button. If it is determined to display the next candidate, the process returns to step S307. When it is determined that the next candidate is not displayed, the process proceeds to step S313. As a result, the location where the actual measurement position of the product coincides with the dimension display position of the three-dimensional sheet metal model is finally displayed.

  In step S313, the measurement result is recorded in a memory (such as a database). That is, the measurement value and the inter-surface dimension corresponding to the measurement value are associated with the three-dimensional sheet metal model and stored in a memory (such as a database). Thereby, for example, it is possible to obtain an accompanying effect such that an inspection result sheet or the like that compares the dimension value of the three-dimensional sheet metal model with data such as a measurement result can be automatically created.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the processing of the three-dimensional sheet metal model will be described in more detail. In step S401, the recognizing unit 17 specifies the surfaces constituting the model. For example, by extracting graphic elements (lines, arcs) constituting one closed curve on the same plane, one surface constituted by these elements can be specified. Thereby, a computer program process can be performed with respect to each surface which comprises a three-dimensional sheet metal model.

  In step S403, the normal direction vector generation unit 19 generates a normal direction vector in the outward direction for each recognized surface. Here, the outward direction is a direction that is not the thickness direction of the three-dimensional sheet metal model.

  In step S405, the recognition unit 17 determines whether there is another surface. When it is determined that there is another surface, the process returns to step S401. If it is determined that there is no other surface, the process proceeds to step S407.

  Thus, normal direction vectors can be generated for all the surfaces of the three-dimensional sheet metal model.

  In step S407, the search unit 21 identifies two surfaces having the same direction of the outer normal vector and opposite directions.

  In step S409, the search unit 21 determines whether the surfaces overlap. For example, the outer shape of two surfaces having the same surface direction is projected onto any one plane parallel to these surfaces, and the presence or absence of overlap of the projected shapes is determined. When it is determined that the surfaces overlap, the process proceeds to step S411. If it is determined that the surfaces do not overlap, the process returns to step S407. Thereby, the location which can be measured with the electronic caliper 11 (so-called jaw 11a, beak 11b) can be specified. In measuring the size of a sheet metal product using calipers, it is rarely necessary to measure with a depth bar because of its shape characteristics.

  A description will be given of the case where two planes in which the normal direction vectors are parallel and opposite in direction and the opposite planes overlap are used as search conditions.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the manufactured product has a part that can be measured with the electronic caliper 11 and a part that cannot be measured. That is, the position corresponding to the dimension D1 and the position corresponding to the dimension D2 cannot be measured by the electronic caliper 11. On the other hand, the part corresponding to the dimension D3 (measured by the beak 11b) and the dimension D4 (measured by the jaw 11a) can be measured. In accordance with this condition, the corresponding surface is narrowed down.

  In more detail with reference to FIG. 7, a normal direction vector B1 is generated for the surface P1, the surface P3, the surface P5, and the surface P7 among the surfaces P1 to P9 of the three-dimensional sheet metal model. Yes. A normal direction vector B2 is generated for the surface P2, the surface P4, the surface P6, the surface P8, and the surface P9.

  For example, the surface P9 is only the surface P1, and the surface P8 is the surface P1, the surface P3, the surface P5, and the surface P7. Similarly, there are surfaces that satisfy the conditions for the other surfaces, but are omitted here.

  In step S411, the search unit 21 determines whether or not the inter-surface dimensions in the overlapping positional relationship are closest to the measured value. When it is determined that the measured value is the closest, the process proceeds to step S413. If the condition of being closest to the measured value is not satisfied, the process returns to step S407.

  In step S413, the search unit 21 determines whether or not there are other applicable combinations. When it is determined that there is another applicable combination, the process returns to step S407. When it is determined that there is no other applicable combination, the process ends. Thereby, the corresponding position of the three-dimensional sheet metal model corresponding to the measurement point of the product can be sequentially searched and finally specified.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a three-dimensional sheet metal model is displayed on the screen G, and the dimension 801 obtained as described above is displayed. If this size is acceptable, the confirm button 803 is selected. If the size is not different, the next candidate button 805 is selected. The measured value here is displayed in the display area 807.

  Please refer to FIG. By selecting the next candidate button, a new dimension 901 is displayed. If this dimension is applicable, the confirm button 903 is selected.

  Please refer to FIG. The measured value is compared with the dimensions of the three-dimensional sheet metal model. If the measured value is within the tolerance, the determination unit 1009 notifies that the tolerance is within the tolerance. The dimension value is displayed in the dimension value display area 1003, the measurement value is displayed in the measurement value display area 1005, and the difference between the two is displayed in the difference display area 1007.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the example of the embodiment mentioned above, It can implement in another aspect by adding an appropriate change.

It is the schematic explaining the schematic structure of a dimension measuring apparatus. It is the schematic explaining the structure of the outline of the computer of a dimension measuring apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a dimension measuring apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a dimension measuring apparatus. It is explanatory drawing explaining the manufacture process of a product. It is explanatory drawing explaining the caliper measurable location of a product. It is explanatory drawing explaining the search of a surface. It is explanatory drawing explaining a dimension specific screen. It is explanatory drawing explaining a dimension specific screen. It is explanatory drawing explaining a dimension specific screen.

Explanation of symbols

1 Dimension measuring device 3 Computer (main unit)
5 Display unit 7 Keyboard 9 Mouse 11 Vernier caliper 13 Connection unit 15 Reading unit 17 Recognition unit 19 Normal direction vector generation unit (surface direction identification unit)
21 Search part

Claims (4)

A computer that reads a three-dimensional sheet metal model and acquires and displays the dimensions of each part of the three-dimensional sheet metal model;
Electronic calipers that can transfer measurement results as numerical data to a computer,
And a transfer means for transferring the result measured with the electronic caliper to the computer,
The computer
A reading section of a three-dimensional sheet metal model;
A recognition unit for recognizing a surface constituting the read three-dimensional sheet metal model;
A surface direction identifying unit that generates a normal direction vector that faces the outside of the recognized surface;
A search unit that searches for two planes in which the normal direction vectors are parallel and opposite in direction and opposite faces overlap,
When the inter-surface dimension of the retrieved surface satisfies a predetermined condition based on the measurement value sent from the electronic caliper, the measurement value and the inter-surface dimension are displayed together with the three-dimensional sheet metal model. Dimension measuring device.   2. The dimension measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for sequentially displaying an inter-surface dimension closest to the measured value on the three-dimensional sheet metal model.   The dimension measuring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a database that stores the measured value and the inter-surface dimension corresponding to the measured value in association with the three-dimensional sheet metal model. A step of transmitting a measurement result measured by an electronic caliper to a computer as numerical data;
The reading unit of the computer reads a three-dimensional sheet metal model;
A step of recognizing a surface constituting the read three-dimensional sheet metal model by the recognition unit of the computer;
A step of generating a normal direction vector that faces the outside of the recognized surface by a surface direction identification unit of the computer;
A search unit of the computer for searching for two planes in which the normal direction vectors are parallel and opposite in direction and the opposite planes overlap;
The display means displays the measurement value and the inter-surface dimension together with the three-dimensional sheet metal model when the inter-surface dimension of the retrieved surface satisfies a predetermined condition based on the measurement value sent from the electronic caliper. Process,
A dimension measuring method comprising:

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