METHOD FOR PROVIDING TOOL DATA RECORDS FOR MACHINING TOOLS

Abstract

A method for providing tool data records for machining tools. A global database is provided for receiving the tool data record. Tool information items are added to the tool data records by users and/or manufacturers of the machining tools. At least one tool data record is validated for a certain machining tool, based on a comparison of a plurality of tool information items concerning at least one comparable parameter of this tool.

Claims

1. A method for providing tool data records for machining tools, the method comprising: providing a global database for receiving the tool data records; adding tool information items to the tool data records by a user and/or a manufacturer of the machining tools; and validating at least one tool data record for a certain machining tool, based on a comparison of a plurality of tool information items concerning at least one comparable parameter of this machining tool.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least portions of the tool data records are transmitted to users for use in the design and/or production of parts.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a tool data record is transmitted directly to a machining unit that is defined as a user and/or to a CNC program for a machining unit for use in the manufacture of parts.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein an information item concerning the status of the validation of the tool data record is also included in the transmission of at least a portion of the tool data record to a user.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the user utilizes a local database with an interface to the global database for addition and/or for transmission.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein tool information that is input into the local database by the user is automatically transmitted to the global database.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein tool information items or the machine parameters utilized during use of the tool, are automatically transmitted from a machining unit and/or from a CNC program for a machining unit to the global database.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the tool data records present in a local database are at least partially updated with updated tool data records from the global database after an active request and/or agreement.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the validation takes place based on agreeing parameters concerning tool information of a tool data record or wherein the validation is carried out based on a plausibility criterion.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the plausibility criterion is a threshold value.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the threshold value is a percentage.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the validation is carried out based on an algorithm or wherein the validation is carried out based on the algorithm that is executed on a computer.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tool information includes empirical values obtained by the user from the use of the machining tools and/or tool machines.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein users of certain tools are identifiable to other users or wherein users of tools are identifiable to certain users.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein an overall configuration of a corresponding tool machine is suggested, based on a tool that is selected by a user or wherein the user chooses the corresponding tool machine from a selection of offered tool machines.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein an overall configuration of a tool machine for producing the part is suggested, based on a digital data record of a part that is input by a user.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user goes through a login process before using the database for input and/or obtaining information.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user obtains information items from the database only after inputting a predetermined number and/or quality of information items into the database.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein a user must pay a fee for the information that is available from the database.

20. A database for providing tool data records for machining tools, wherein the database is designed to validate the tool data records according to the method of claim 1.

21. A system for manufacturing parts, the system comprising: an engineering data management system; and a machining unit, wherein the engineering data management system and the machining unit are connected to one another such that data is exchanged between the engineering data management system and the machining unit, and wherein the engineering data management system includes at least one database according to claim 20.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0063] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein the sole FIGURE shows a flow chart for a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] The FIGURE describes a possible method via which the provision of tool data records for machining tools may be simplified.

[0065] A global database for receiving the tool data records is provided in a first method step 1.

[0066] Tool information items concerning the tool data records are added by users of the machining tools in a second method step 2.

[0067] At least one tool data record for a certain machining tool is validated in a third method step 3, based on a comparison of a plurality of tool information items concerning at least one comparable parameter of this machining tool.

[0068] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.