NC data management apparatus and method

A production system including a production line having a series of pieces of production equipment each of which has a parts supply unit. The production system includes: an NC management apparatus that is connected with each piece of the production equipment via a local-area network and acquires therefrom NC data used for operating each piece of the production equipment; and a scheduling apparatus that generates a production schedule and transmits the generated production schedule to the NC management apparatus via the local-area network. Here, the NC management apparatus generates, for each piece of the production equipment, data that is required to perform production according to the production schedule, obtains, for each piece of the production equipment, values that represent differences between current NC data that has been most recently acciuired and the generated data, and outputs the values.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an NC data management apparatus and method for use in a production system.

(2) Description of the Related Art

In the following description, a printed-circuit board mounting system will be used as an example of a production system.

A printed-circuit mounted board is composed of (a) a printed-circuit board, which is made by printing wiring patterns on a board, and (b) electronic circuit components mounted on the board. The process of mounting the electronic circuit components on the board is called a printed-circuit board mounting process.

For executing the printed-circuit board mounting process, first a “line” is necessary. The line is a series of several apparatuses including an apparatus for printing wiring patterns on the board, apparatuses (mounting equipment) for mounting the electronic circuit components onto the print-circuited board, and an apparatus for inspecting the completed printed-circuit mounted boards. For the execution of the printed-circuit board mounting process, a material management system for managing inventories of the components is also required. A mounting system is composed of the material management system and other elements such as a server for managing the entire mounting process. One system includes at least one line.

The main portion of the mounting system is the mounting equipment. Each piece of the mounting equipment includes (a) a number of cassettes which supply the parts on a one-to-one basis, and (b) a rotary head that includes a plurality of nozzles each of which sucks up one by one the parts supplied from the cassettes and mounts the sucked part on a specified position of a printed-circuit board that comes on the conveyer belt.

The series of operation of sucking the parts from the cassettes and mounting the parts on the printed-circuit board is performed based on NC data. The NC data contains an NC program showing amounting position, a parts arrangement program showing which cassettes are used to carry each part, a board program showing the size of the board to be produced, and a parts library showing conditions for mounting a large surface mounting part on a plate-like object other than a cassette.

Currently, the NC data is created by a printed-circuit board production support system (hereinafter referred to as CAM system) based on a design made by a printed-circuit board design system (hereinafter referred to as CAD system).

The created NC data is loaded onto the mounting equipment by the operator when the boards to be produced are changed based on the production plan. The loaded NC data may be tested with some boards before the actual production process, and may be modified depending on the test results, for improving the mounting quality.

The NC data may be modified by the CAM system a number of times due to design specification changes, parts changes, parts adjustments in the field or the like. As a result, many versions of NC data are generated. This requires a thorough data management since without this, spoiled or defective printed-circuit boards are produced due to erroneous NC data loaded on the mounting equipment.

High productivity is required for the printed-circuit board mounting process. To increase the productivity, the downtime of the line should be as short as possible. From the viewpoint of the productivity, a restless, continuous operation is ideal. Though a downtime for changing the NC data is unavoidable, this downtime can be reduced by using the same order of supplying the parts by cassettes for each board type. With this arrangement, the NC data change can be performed only with the setting of the equipment without loading the parts arrangement program and the parts library.

It takes a lot of time to check whether the NC data has been prepared for a production plan made by the scheduling system since the production plan changes depending on the sales of the products. This tendency is remarkable in recent days when there are demands for a variety of products with small quantities. When the NC data has not been prepared yet, even if the production plan is changed or the CAM system is urged to make the NC data, the production of the product is delayed. Accordingly, the NC data preparation status should always be checked based on the production plan.

Aside from the problem with the productivity, there is a problem that a mounting error may occur in the printed-circuit board mounting process. That is to say, in the case relating to the NC data, a mounting error may occur when a parts table obtained by each piece of mounting equipment has not been updated, while it should have been updated reflecting the changes in the parts number due to parts changes made in request of the design division or the purchasing division.

The mounting error is an error in which an erroneous part is mounted on a print-circuited board or a part is mounted on an erroneous position of a print-circuited board, which happens when a cassette is attached to the mounting equipment at an erroneous position.

The completed printed-circuit mounted boards with erroneously mounted parts are defectives and have no commercial value. When this happens, the parts, the time, the man-hours or the like used for the production are wasted, which also decreases the productivity. The mounting error may happen in both reel changes and cassette changes.

In the printed-circuit board mounting process, a generic name “NC data management process” is used for the NC data version management reflecting design changes, the parts library management reflecting the changes of parts conditions in the field, the NC preparation management reflecting the production plan changes, and the parts table management reflecting the parts name changes.

Conventionally, the NC data creation division receives the design information and the production preparation table information from the design division CAD system, the production management division scheduling system or the like, creates the NC data using the CAM system, and sends the NC data to the production division. Also, the NC data inspected through the production by the mounting equipment is sent as the feedback to the CAM system on an irregular basis by man.

The conventional methods, however, have a problem that it is difficult to recognize the latest version of NC data since various versions of NC data are created due to many design changes by the design division when the design due date comes nearer or many parts number changes are made by the purchasing division as a result of cost estimate comparisons between a plurality of parts makers. When this happens, erroneous NC data is passed to the production division, causing defective printed-circuit boards to be produced.

Also, in the conventional methods, since the NC data inspected through the production by the mounting equipment is sent as the feedback to the CAM system on an irregular basis by man, the conditions for adjusting the parts to the equipment are not reflected onto the database of the CAM system. When this happens, an erroneous parts library is loaded onto the mounting equipment, and defective printed-circuit boards are produced.

Furthermore, though, as stated earlier, high productivity is required for the-printed-circuit board mounting process, and the downtime of the line should be as short as possible to increase the productivity, and a restless, continuous operation is ideal, a downtime for changing the NC data is unavoidable. This generates a problem that it takes time to change the board types and reduces the production operation time.

Furthermore, as stated earlier, it takes a lot of time to check whether the NC data has been prepared appropriately for a production plan made by the scheduling system. This is because the production plan may change depending on the sales of the products. This tendency is remarkable in recent days when there are demands for a variety of products with small quantities. A problem arises under these circumstances that when the NC data has not been prepared yet, even if the production plan is changed or the CAM system is urged to make the NC data, the production of the product is delayed, decreasing the production operation time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an NC data management apparatus and an NC data management method that can be used in a production system to produce high-quality NC data and reduce the time for changing the board types.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following describes an NC data management apparatus and an NC data management method for a production system, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted here that in the following description, a printed-circuit board mounting system will be used as an example of the production system, though the present invention may be applicable to other production systems.

First the construction of a printed-circuit board mounting system and general processing of each component executed for part mounting will be explained, then the NC data management apparatus and the NC data management method will be described in detail.

1. Construction of Mounting System

1.1 General Outline of Mounting System

FIG. 1shows the general outline of the mounting system A in the present embodiment.

Roughly speaking, the mounting system in the present embodiment is composed of a system server (a common database management system, or a database server)1, a mounting line2, a scheduling system (mounting scheduling apparatus)3, amounting quality server4, a CAM system5, and an NC data management system6. These components of the system are connected with each other via a network N, and can communicate bi-directionally with each other.

Each of the above components is a computer system having a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a LAN board or the like. The RAM stores a computer program. Each component performs its function when the microprocessor acquires, interprets, and executes the computer program.

The system server1manages the process of a production in a mounting system A of the printed-circuit board. The management by the system server1includes NC data management.

The mounting quality server4manages, for each board, each part, and each circuit number, the visual inspection results output as a result of visual inspections on the produced printed-circuit boards by a visual inspection apparatus7f.

The mounting line2performs the printed-circuit board production process under the control of the system server1. The mounting line2is composed of a series of apparatuses arranged along a conveyer, the series of apparatuses including an apparatus7afor printing solder onto a printed-circuit board, apparatuses7bto7dfor mounting electronic circuit parts (hereinafter the apparatuses7bto7dare referred to as mounting equipment), an apparatus7efor hardening the electronic circuit parts mounted on the board, a visual inspection apparatus7ffor performing a visual inspection on the produced printed-circuit board, or the like. Each of the apparatuses7ato7fmaking up the mounting line2has a controller that is connected with the system server1via a LAN N. In the present embodiment, only one mounting line is illustrated. However, in reality, one mounting system may include a plurality of lines. The present invention does not exclude such other cases.

Each of the mounting equipment7bto7dhas (a) a plurality of cassette positions which cassettes, which are used to supply parts to each equipment, are attached to and detached from, and (b) a rotary head that sucks up a supplied part from a cassette, transfers and mounts the part onto the board. One cassette supplies one part to the rotary head. The reason why a plurality of pieces of mounting equipment are required is that the number of cassettes that can be attached to one piece of mounting equipment is not enough to mount all parts onto the board. The number of pieces of mounting equipment is determined based on a printed-circuit board on which the largest number of parts are mounted. As a result, part of the mounting equipment may not be used in the case where a printed-circuit board, on which a small number of parts are mounted, is to be produced.

The NC data management system6manages the NC data that is used by the whole system or by each mounting equipment of the line. Now, the system server1, the mounting line2, and the NC data management system6will be described in terms of their construction and processing. Information generated for the management processing including the NC data management will also be explained.

1.2 Construction of System Server

The system server1uses production preparation table information as the basic information in managing the production of a printed-circuit board by the mounting system. In the present embodiment, the production preparation table information is used to determine when and in what equipment the NC data should be prepared. Generally, execution of one production plan requires approximately one week.

FIG. 2shows tables which have different pieces of data used by the NC data management system for the management.

The table (A) shown inFIG. 2is a production preparation table100. The production preparation table100is created based on a production plan by the scheduling system3, and transmitted to the system server1via the network N. That the production preparation table100is incorporated into the system server1is characteristic. This enables the master data for each line or equipment to be checked immediately against the production preparation table100. With this arrangement, it is possible to immediately recognize parts, tools or other items required for the planned production. Incidentally, in conventional systems, the system server acquires the production preparation table offline.

The production preparation table100includes items such as a production planned start date/time101, a board name102, and a planned number of products103, as shown in the table (A) inFIG. 2. The item “board name”102shows the name of the type of the printed-circuit board to be produced. The item “planned number of products”103shows the number of products to be produced for each board type.

The table shows detailed information. For example, the table may show that 5000 printed-circuit boards of “ABC-1” type, 2000 printed-circuit boards of “ABC-2” type, and 3000 printed-circuit boards of “ABC-3” type are planned to be produced. If the products are to be produced in sequence, the production preparation table100shows all information necessary for the sequential production.

In addition, the production preparation table100has mounting information that shows each equipment's share of work load (what equipment mounts what part) that is identified by the line ID, as shown in the table (A) inFIG. 2.

The table (B) inFIG. 2is an NC management table110. The NC management table110shows the work currently performed by each equipment in each line. The management information is very large in amount. As a result, the drawing shows only a part of the management information.

The NC management table110at least contains items such as a board ID111, a line ID112, an equipment ID113, an NC management ID114, as shown in the table (B) inFIG. 2. The information in this table enables one to recognize what equipment in what line is operating for producing a certain board, and the version of the used program. The NC management ID114is a pointer pointing to an NC management ID table120.

The NC management ID table120contains items such as an NC management ID121being a pointer number, an equipment ID122, a data type ID123, a PG-Ver-ID master124, an inspection status125, an effective date126, a download flag127, a spec change No.128, and contents of change129. These information indicate equipment used for mounting onto a certain board, data type used for operation, used program, production deadline, whether or not data has been downloaded from a database, and an identification number of a specification change.

The PG-Ver-ID table130contains items such as a program version number (PG-Ver-ID)131, a program ID132, and a version ID133of the program.

The program ID master140contains items such as a program ID141and a program name142.

The parts arrangement table150contains items such as a program ID151, an equipment ID152, a Z number153, a parts number154, and a parts shape code155.

The parts shape table160contains items such as a parts shape ID161, a program ID162, an equipment ID163, a parts number164, and a parts shape code165.

The inspected parts library table170contains items such as an LIB-ID171, an equipment ID172, an equipment type ID173, a parts shape code174, a parts shape version ID175, a parts number176, an old parts shape code177, a set flag (0: unused, 1: used)178, an inspection status (0: CAM master, 1: inspected)179, an update date180, and a %PARTS fact (binary)181.

The master data300is divided into a line master190, a line construction master200, an equipment master210, a board master220, a surface section master230, a data type master240, a flagmaster250, an equipment type master260, and a version master270.

The line master190contains a line ID191, a line name192, and a CAM line name193.

The line construction master200contains a line name201, an equipment name202, a sequential number203, and a carry-in/carry-out (1: carry-in, 2: carry-out, 0: neither)204.

The equipment master210contains an equipment ID211, an equipment name212, an equipment IP address213, an equipment type ID, and a CAM equipment name.

The board master220contains a board ID221and a board name222.

The surface section master230contains a surface number (0: front, 1: back)231and a surface section name232.

The data type master240contains an equipment type ID241, a data type ID242, a data type name243, and a data present (1) absent (0)244.

The flag master250contains a flag number251and a flag design252.

The equipment type master260contains an equipment type name262.

The version master270contains a version ID271and a version name272.

FIG. 3shows the function construction in the NC data management system.

As understood fromFIG. 3, the NC data management system has an NC management data registration/management function41, a production preparation table incorporation/management function42, a difference display function43, and a parts library registration/editing/generation function44.

The NC management data registration/management function41is executed to incorporate the NC data created by the CAM5shown inFIG. 1into the NC management apparatus6, and manage the incorporated data. The NC management data registration/management function41is divided into an NC management data display function411, an NC management data add/register function412, an NC management data edit function413, and an NC management data delete function414. Now, each of these functions will be described with reference to the display screen shown inFIG. 4.

(1) NC Management Data Display Function411

FIG. 4shows a display screen of the NC management apparatus6. InFIG. 4, the display screen is shown within the frame, and the terms appearing in the display screen are explained outside the frame. In the upper row of the screen, buttons a1, a2, a3, and a4are provided for selection of items “data type”, “board name”, “line name”, and “equipment name”, respectively. Under this row, buttons b1to b5are provided for “display”, “add”, “edit”, “delete”, and “register”, respectively. The lower half of the screen is occupied by a table listing the NC management data.

When a user presses the data type button a1, the board name button a2, the line name button a3, and the equipment name button a4to set corresponding columns in the table and presses the display button b1, the data is output to the NC management screen.FIG. 4shows the screen displaying the set contents.

In the table shown inFIG. 4, if the day on which the user inputs data has not reached the effective date, the effective date is reversed and displayed red. Also, if a check flag is not turned on for any of requested board name, line name, equipment name, and data type, the check column is reversed and displayed red. The NC management data display function411also obtains the quality fraction defective for the same program name and a board ID of a board having been produced in the past from the mounting quality server4, and displays the obtained quality fraction defective on the NC management screen.

Detailed of the above process is shown in the processing flow shown inFIG. 9. InFIG. 9, S1represents the input process, S2, S3, and S4represent the process of reading data from each master, S5represents the process in which the NC management data is generated from the data acquired through S1–S4and displayed. S6represents a screen displaying the NC management data. The contents of this screen is the same as the table shown inFIG. 4.

When the “add” button b2is pressed on the screen shown inFIG. 4, one record can be added on the screen.FIG. 10shows the NC management screen displayed after the add button b2is pressed. InFIG. 10, a row encircled by a thick line represents an added record R. For the record R, a board name, a line name, and an equipment name are selected for the respective columns from the displayed corresponding masters, CAM is displayed as a default in the inspection status column, and a data type and a program name are selected for the respective columns from the displayed contents of the NC data area for the CAM. After the contents of the added record R is set, the user is required to press the enter button (for example, ENTER key provided on the keyboard) to write the added contents to the common database system server1.

(3) NC Management Data Edit Function413

When the user wants to modify the displayed records, the user presses the “edit” button b3on the NC management screen. Ordinarily, the contents planned based on the production preparation table are not modified. This function is provided nonetheless because there is a possibility that it is found during work that a partial modification is preferable.

Modification can be made for the columns of inspection status, program name, Ver, effective date, check, and specification change No. After the editing is completed, the enter button is pressed to write the data to the common database system server1.

FIG. 11shows the screen displayed after the editing button b3is pressed. The drawing shows that editing of the columns of inspection status, data type, program name, Ver, quality fraction defective, effective date, and specification change is available.

(4) NC Management Data Delete Function414

When the user wants to delete the currently displayed records, the user presses the “delete” button b4. This causes the specified record to be deleted from the common data base system server1.

FIG. 12shows an example in which a row encircled by a thick line represents the record R selected for deletion.

Now, the production preparation table incorporation/management function42, which is one of the functions shown inFIG. 3provided in the management system, will be described. As described earlier, the production preparation table is created by the scheduling system3. The table is incorporated into the NC data management system6by the user, and the system6displays the table on the screen. The user incorporate the table by pressing the menu button on the upper right side of the screen to display line names, and selects one among the displayed line names.FIG. 5also shows a display example of the incorporated production preparation table.

FIG. 13is a flowchart showing the procedure of the incorporating. The procedure will be detailed later. Here, mainly the operation of the user in incorporating the production preparation table will be described.(1) First, when the user inputs an instruction to fetch the production preparation table for a period from X days before to X′ days after the date of month M day N (today) (environmental setting) from a common database1, write the table to the local database, and display the table on the main screen, the NC data management system6reads the production preparation table and the system table from the system table.(2) Immediately after the above operation is completed, the production preparation status and the NC preparation status for each equipment are displayed at the same time on the main screen (a screen shown on the left-hand side ofFIG. 5).(3) The user, watching the displayed production plan, selects the batch download button Db provided in the table.(4) The NC management apparatus6then searches the NC data belonging to a period of the production start date up to (N+Y) days after (environmental setting), and if all the necessary data is not found, reverses the NC preparation status column and displays it red on the screen.(5) On the other hand, if the NC data has been downloaded, the NC management apparatus6reverses the batch download button column for the production preparation data and displays it blue.

Now, the procedure of incorporating the production preparation table will be described with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 13.

Main Flow

(M-1) After the user presses the production preparation table button (not illustrated), the environment setting table (system-MST) stored in the system table is referred to and the output range of the production preparation table corresponding to a period between the production start day and the production end day is determined, and the production preparation table and the system table are read (step S131). Then, the enter flag F of the production preparation table is referred to and one of the following two processes is executed depending on the value of the enter flag F.(1) When the enter flag F is “0”, the production preparation table (common database) for the specified period including the production start date, lot No., board name, board number, surface section, line name, and the number of products is displayed on the screen (step S132). Here, only the board master refers to the production preparation table and assigns the board IDs to board masters automatically and sequentially from the board names.(2) When the enter flag F is “1”, the production preparation ID table and the production preparation version table are incorporated, and the tables are displayed on the screen.
(M-2) The following points are checked on each record contained in the displayed production preparation table.From the board ID (board master) and the line ID (line master), the line construction master is referred to and the equipment ID is obtained.From the board ID and the line ID and the obtained equipment ID, the NC management tables that match “board ID +line ID +equipment ID” are obtained (step S133).If no such NC management tables are obtained, the NC preparation status flag of the production preparation table is set to “2”.If one or more such NC management tables are obtained, the following steps are executed in sequence.(1) The NC management ID tables having the NC management IDs are obtained.(2) All the data type IDs1–7are referred to, then the following steps are executed (here, the data type master is searched for “equipment type ID +data type”, and only “1” out of the data present (1) absent (0) is displayed. In the case of absent (0), “-” is displayed, indicating that the data does not exist) (steps S134, S135).(3) When there is a record with the enter flag “1” and the effective date is the current day or earlier (step S136), sign “∘” is displayed on the sub-screen as the equipment data preparation status, indicating that the equipment data has been prepared (step S137).(4) Regarding the parts table (data type ID:7), when there is a record with the enter flag “1” and the effective date is the current day or earlier, sign “∘” is displayed on the main screen as the parts table preparation status, indicating that the parts table has been prepared.

In this flow, it is judged whether there is a record matching “NC management ID +equipment ID + data type”.

Regarding the parts table (data type ID:6), when there is a record with the enter flag “1”, sign “∘” is displayed on the main screen.

After the above processes, the production preparation ID table and the production preparation version table are created.

When the enter flag “1” is found to be attached, the production preparation ID table and the production preparation version table are modified.

(M-3) The button-for a production plan record desired to be downloaded with the batch download is set so that the button can be turned ON/OFF (“Db” inFIG. 5). When the batch download is attempted in another menu, the ON/OFF of the button is checked.

(M-4) After (M-2) is performed, when some data is missing after NC-READY-DAY in the environment setting table (system-MST) (when the NC data preparation status flag is “0” or “1”), the NC data preparation status column is reversed and displayed red.

(M-5) When the download end flag in the local database production preparation table is “1”, the batch download button column is reversed and displayed blue. (The description of the procedure of processing the production preparation table ends.)

Difference Display Function43

The difference display function fetches two pieces of data in terms of the management No., equipment name, and data type in the production preparation table, and outputs the difference between the two pieces of data.FIG. 6shows an example in which comparisons are made between management No. 3 and No. 6.

More specifically, first, management No.3and No.6are specified objects to be compared with each other. Also, the equipment name (MPAV2 1A), and data type (parts LIB) are set. Then, the NC management table, the NC management ID table, the PG-Ver-ID table, and the program ID master are searched for a file at C :\inspection_sectionline_ID\equipment_ID\data_type_ID\PG-Ver-ID\program_name (EG12345A0oso1.POS), a difference tool is automatically activated, and the difference is displayed.FIG. 6also shows the difference obtained as a result of the search.

The NC Management apparatus6generates, for each piece of production equipment data that is required to perform production according to the production schedule, obtains, for each piece of the production equipment, differences between current NC data that has been acquired the most recently and the generated data, and outputs the obtained differences.

Data Management

The data string management function is performed using the data hierarchy shown inFIG. 7and the data tables shown inFIG. 2. The data hierarchy shown inFIG. 7is applied to both the NC management apparatus6and the common database management system1. It is understood fromFIG. 7that the highest layer includes files such as CAM master, NC management master, inspected, common parts library, and production preparation list, and the lower layers include, in the case of the CAM master file, “line1” file, equipment file “MV2V—1A” or the like. Similarly, in the case of the NC management master file, “line ID” file, “equipment ID” file, “data type ID” file, “PG-Ver-ID” file or the like are stringed sequentially.

Now, the parts library registration/editing/generation function will be described with reference to the user screen shown inFIG. 8. The parts library registration/ editing/generation function44calculates the parts fraction defective for each of the equipment ID and the parts shape code using the NC management master (registered from the CAM system) and the inspected parts library of the mounting quality server4. When the inspection section is “inspected” and the fraction defective is 100 ppm, the setting flag is turned ON. Here, the user may select a setting flag. It is also possible with the plural arrangement program selection to generate a parts library from the inspected parts library database. On the production preparation table output main screen (FIG. 5), if the user sets the common library button and executes the lower button, the inspected parts library table in each arrangement program is referred to and a parts library common to the selected production preparation record is generated. The details of the process are described in the processing flow shown inFIG. 15.

FIG. 15shows the production preparation table shown inFIG. 5. When the common parts setting library button Cb on this table is pressed, the lower table in the drawing is generated, then the process proceeds downward to generate a parts library common to the selected production preparation record.

NC Data Management System

FIG. 16is a simplified flowchart showing the procedure of the NC data management system.

WhileFIG. 1shows the apparatuses connected to the network N,FIG. 16shows the functional relationships between them. The {circle around (1)} NC data preparation check function, {circle around (2)} NC data batch incorporation function, {circle around (3)} difference library generation function, and {circle around (3)} line manager data feedback function appearing in the drawing are the functions the NC management apparatus6has. Of these, the function {circle around (1)} is shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, and therefore the description is omitted here.

FIG. 17shows the {circle around (2)} NC data batch incorporation function. The function reads the commonality processing file from the NC, arrangement, board, parts library, and management block created by the CAM apparatus5, and combines the arrangements and parts libraries having the same common arrangement ID into one file. The board library is divided in units of boards. The NC library is kept unchanged. The incorporated NC data is written to the management file of the management block by the planned-and-created data write function.

FIG. 18shows the {circle around (3)} difference library generation function. The function outputs, as the library difference file, only the parts library data that is registered with the parts library integration table in the NC management database for the first time.

FIG. 19shows the {circle around (4)} line manager data feedback function. The function sends, as the feedback, the data obtained during actual manufacturing stages in the mounting apparatuses (the data of what parts have mounting defectives, or what boards are difficult for certain parts to be mounted thereon) via the line manager. The data is stored as the fact NC data.

FIG. 20is a flowchart showing the procedure of the NC data management system. The flowchart shows details of the simplified system flowchart shown inFIG. 16.FIG. 20shows the functions shown inFIGS. 17,18, and19. in combination.

2. NC Data Management System

The NC data management system improves the efficiency of NC data management work and prevents operation mistake in changing the board (unit) type.

FIG. 21shows the construction of the NC data management system.FIG. 21mainly shows the functions of the NC management apparatus6shown inFIG. 1. The NC management apparatus6is connected to the related systems such as the scheduler or CAM via the LAN, and can incorporate the information generated by each system.

The following are the characteristic features of the NC data management system.(1) Checking on the NC Preparation Status Based on Production Plan

The NC data management system incorporates the production plan information online that is created by the scheduler3or the like, and based on the incorporated information, checks on the preparation of the NC data to be downloaded into each equipment.(2) Managing Versions of Supplementary NC Data

The NC data management system manages a plurality of versions of NC data, where different versions are generated due to specification changes or due to additional data obtained during actual mounting by the mounting equipment. The NC data management system manages the data assuring the equipment operation quality, as the inspected data. The inspected data can be used when another type of NC data is created, by merging in part or as a whole.(3) Performing Batch Input/Output of Supplementary NC Data

The NC data management system performs a batch download or upload of NC data with a plurality of pieces of equipment in units of lines, via the protocol conversion apparatus or LAN having been described earlier.

Conclusion

The NC data management apparatus or method described above can be used in a production system to produce high-quality NC data and reduce the time for changing the board types.

The NC data management apparatus or method, in such a production system that includes a production line being a series of a plurality of pieces of production equipment each of which has a parts supply unit, comprises: means for acquiring NC data used for operating each piece of the production equipment; means for acquiring a parts library used for operating each piece of the production equipment; and means for, in a version management managing changes of the acquired NC data in terms of design and production conditions, automatically turning on a check flag that indicates a usable status judging from (a) a version number with which a design specification change is managed and (b) an effective date of data use, using as a key a name of a board or a unit to be produced and a name of equipment.

The above NC data management apparatus or method may further comprise: means for automatically checking on an NC data preparation status of each piece of the production equipment in each line by referring to production preparation table information containing production plan information for each line; and means for outputting a warning and a generation date when the automatic checking means judges that the NC data preparation status is not satisfactory.

The above NC data management apparatus or method may compare NC data generated from design information by a CAM system with inspected NC data that has been adjusted so that each piece of equipment can produce a conforming item, and send data showing results of the comparison to a CAM system master, as a feedback.

The above NC data management apparatus or method may search NC data, which was generated in the past from the acquired production preparation table, for inspected NC data that was generated in the past, using as a key a name of a board or a unit to be produced and a name of equipment, and reuse the NC data.

In the above NC data management apparatus or method, the acquired NC data may be managed in a hierarchy composed of a plurality of layers so that the acquired NC data is stringed between the plurality of layers.

Although the present invention has been fully described by way of embodiment, it is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The following are also considered to be included in the present invention.(1) A computer program for causing the above-described method to be achieved by a computer, or digital signals representing the computer program.(2) A computer-readable recording medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, a semiconductor memory or the like in which the computer program or the digital signals are recorded.(3) The computer program or the digital signals may be transferred via an electric communication line, a radio or a wired communication line, or a network such as the Internet.(4) A computer system having a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores the computer program and the microprocessor operates according to the computer program.(5) The computer program or the digital signals may be recorded in the recording medium and transferred to, or may be transferred via a network such as the Internet to another independent computer system so that the computer program is executed in the computer system.(6) A combination of the above embodiment and any of the above variations.

As described above, the printed-circuit board mounting system of the present invention includes a production line being a series of a plurality of pieces of production equipment each of which has a parts supply unit, and comprises: means for acquiring NC data used for operating each piece of the production equipment; means for acquiring a parts library used for operating each piece of the production equipment; and means for, in a version management managing changes of the acquired NC data in terms of design and production conditions, automatically turning on a check flag that indicates a usable status judging from (a) a version number with which a design specification change is managed and (b) an effective date of data use, using as a key a name of a board or a unit to be produced and a name of equipment.

With this construction, it is possible to prevent in advance occurrence of an error that NC data is not changed though it is required from a design specification change. This ensures the mounting quality.

The above NC data management apparatus or method may further comprise: means for automatically checking on an NC data preparation status of each piece of the production equipment in each line by referring to production preparation table information containing production plan information for each line; and means for outputting a warning and a generation date when the automatic checking means judges that the NC data preparation status is not satisfactory.

With the above construction, it is possible to prevent any NC data preparation items from omitted and proceed in accordance with the production schedule, and also to delete the mounting equipment loss. This improves the operation efficiency.

The above NC data management apparatus or method may compare NC data generated from design information by a CAM system with inspected NC data that has been adjusted so that each piece of equipment can produce a conforming item, and send data showing results of the comparison to a CAM system master, as a feedback.