Nesting method and punching method for machine tool control system

A controller for transferring information for managing and controlling machine tools, an automatic warehouse and a CNC device reads material information (e.g., size, shape, material) on an actual material on a pallet in an automatic warehouse before transferring a machining program for nesting. The controller judges whether the material information matches a material on which products are nested, newly nests the products of a machining schedule on the material of the material information when they do not match, and transfers the machining program for the nesting to the CNC device and machine tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a nesting method and a punching method for 
a machine tool control system capable of machining efficiently in a short 
period of time. 
2. Background and Related Arts 
When a plurality of parts of different sizes are to be blanked from a 
single material (standard length material) in sheet metal processing, 
nesting for allocating these parts to the material in such a manner that 
the proportion of a portion of the material effectively used as the parts 
in the whole material becomes large is automatically performed by a 
computer. 
For instance, in a machine tool control system shown in FIG. 1, a tool 
center 1 reads a machining schedule prestored in a file 3 and carries out 
nesting processing on a prestored material when the machining schedule 
indicates sheet metal processing for blanking a plurality of products. 
This nesting processing is described in detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram for 
explaining the nesting processing of the tool center 1. For instance, when 
it is planned to nest two products A, one product B and one product C 
having respective shapes shown in FIG. 2 on the same material, a nesting 
processing unit 15 of the tool center 1 reads a reference shape ai from 
which these prestored products can be blanked from a material information 
file 7 and plans to nest the above products on the shape ai. 
For instance, two products A, one product B and one product C are to be 
blanked from the shape ai as shown in FIG. 2 and a machining program m1 
for this blanking information S1 is created and stored in a machining 
program file 9. 
In addition to the above products, when a product D is planned to be nested 
on the same material, the nesting processing unit 15 of the tool center 1 
reads a shape bi from which the product D can be blanked from the material 
information file 7 and plans to nest the product D. 
For instance, nine products D are to be blanked from this shape bi as shown 
in FIG. 2 and a machining program m2 for this blanking information S2 is 
created and stored in the machining program file 9. 
As shown in FIG. 2, nesting schedules Ki based on these machining programs 
m1 and m2 and blanking information S1 and S2 are created. In FIG. 2, for 
example, a "10-th" nesting schedule Ki shows that nesting is carried out 
on a single material using the machining program m1 based on the blanking 
information S1. A "20-th" nesting schedule Ki shows that nesting is 
carried out on a single material using the machining program m2 based on 
the blanking information S2. 
The tool center 1 copies the nesting schedules Ki and the machining 
programs mi into a controller 11. 
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of an automatic warehouse 131 included in a 
peripheral equipment 13. The controller 11 draws the first nesting 
schedule Ki, compares this nesting schedule Ki with prestored inventory 
information Ji in the automatic warehouse 131 and judges whether the 
material ti of the nesting schedule Ki is present in the inventory 
information Ji. 
This inventory information Ji, as shown in FIG. 4, stores numbers of 
shelves 133 (133a, 133b, 133c, . . . ) of the automatic warehouse 131, 
names of pallets 135 (135a, 135b, 135c, . . . ), names (including shape, 
size and material) of materials (material A, material B, . . . ) on the 
pallets 135 and the number of the materials in a corresponding manner. 
When the material ti of the nesting schedule Ki is stored as inventory 
information Ji, a signal (to be referred to as "shelf switching 
instruction signal" hereinafter) for switching to a shelf storing the 
material corresponding to the material ti is supplied to a line control 
board 23. A machining program mi for the machining schedule Ki is drawn 
and transferred to a CNC device 25 by, for example, DNC transfer system. 
The automatic warehouse 131 draws a pallet 135 on a shelf 133 specified by 
the shelf switching instruction signal and carries a material pi mounted 
on this pallet 135 to a machine tool 27, such as a turret punch press. The 
machine tool 27 blanks the material pi mounted on the pallet 135 based on 
the machining program mi specified by the nesting schedule Ki. When the 
machine tool 27 cannot blank the material pi mounted on the pallet 135 
based on the machining program mi, it supplies a blanking error signal to 
the controller 11 through the line control board 23 immediately. 
The controller 11 stops operation as soon as it receives the blanking error 
signal. That is, the conventional machine tool control system makes a 
blanking plan without confirmation from the tool center I that a material 
pi large enough to enable the products of the nesting schedule ki to be 
blanked therefrom is actually present in the automatic warehouse 131. 
The machine tool 27 is provided with a terminal 29 for handling an urgent 
order or special order on the site. When an operator operates this 
terminal 29, the operator judges whether a material (not blanked) with 
which the order can be accepted is present in the automatic warehouse 131 
and operates the terminal 29 to carry out nesting when the material is 
present on a pallet of a shelf. 
When products blanked by the machine tool 27 are stored on pallets, either 
a nesting storage system, such as that shown in FIG. 3A, or a position 
specification storage system, such as that shown in FIG. 3B, is employed. 
The nesting storage system shown in FIG. 3A is to arrange blanked products 
on a pallet 135 by reproducing a blanked image. This system has such 
advantages that storage efficiency is high without excess or shortage of 
space on the pallet 135 and products can be stored at a uniform height. 
The position specification storage system shown in FIG. 3B is to pile up 
the same products at the same location of the pallet 135. This system is 
advantageous when the products are to be taken out because the same 
products are stored at the same location of the pallet 135. 
Punching by the machine tool 27 is carried out using a single turret punch 
press as a punching machine. That is, a plurality of punches/dies are set 
on upper and lower turrets of the turret punch press and required 
punches/dies are searched from the plurality of punches/dies and 
positioned at the machining location to carry out several different types 
of punching on a workpiece. 
As described above, since the conventional machine tool control system 
makes a blanking plan without the tool center's confirmation that a 
material large enough to enable the products of a nesting schedule to be 
blanked therefrom is actually present in the automatic warehouse, it has 
such a problem that machining takes time. 
Therefore, when there is no material of a size predetermined by the tool 
center in the automatic warehouse, even if a machining program for 
blanking is created, machining based on this machining program may not be 
carried out. 
Since the tool center does not carry out nesting for a special order, but a 
field operator carries out nesting by selecting a material which is not 
blanked, a large area remains on this material after nesting. 
Further, when blanked products are stored on a pallet, either nesting 
storage or position specification storage system is employed. However, in 
either system, since the tool center causes products to be stored without 
taking into consideration the field conditions and schedule, there has 
been such a problem that a pallet has been occupied by specific products 
for a long time or machining takes time because a pallet must be taken in 
and out frequently. 
Further, since machining is carried out by a single turret punch press 
based on a nesting schedule, there has been such a problem that machining 
takes time as a whole because a machining time required by the turret 
punch press takes long and other machine tools on a production line have 
to wait. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and it is 
therefore an object of the present invention to obtain a machine tool 
control system capable of machining efficiently in a short period of time 
by making a nesting schedule which takes into consideration line 
conditions on the automatic warehouse side and the machine tool side. 
To attain the above object, there is provided a nesting method for a 
machine tool control system in which a controller for transferring 
information for managing and controlling machine tools, an automatic 
warehouse and a CNC device nests the blanking shapes of products on a 
prestored material on a pallet of the automatic warehouse based on a 
machining schedule from a tool center and transfers a machining program 
for this nesting to the machining tool side through the CNC device to 
blank the material on the pallet of the automatic warehouse. The method 
may comprise the steps of: reading material information on the actual 
material on the pallet of the automatic warehouse before transferring the 
machining program for nesting; judging whether the material information 
matches a material of the machining program; nesting products of the 
machining schedule on the material of the material information when they 
do not match; and transferring the machining program for this nesting. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the 
products of the machining schedule are newly nested on the material of the 
material information and all the products cannot be nested on the 
material, another material in the automatic warehouse is drawn and 
remaining products are newly nested on the drawn material. 
To attain the above object, there is also provided a nesting method for a 
machine tool control system in which a controller for transferring 
information for managing and controlling machine tools, an automatic 
warehouse and a CNC device nests the blanking shapes of products on a 
prestored material on a pallet of the automatic warehouse based on a 
machining schedule from a tool center and transfers a machining program 
for this nesting to the machine tool side through the CNC device to blank 
the material on the pallet of the automatic warehouse. The method 
comprises the steps of: accessing information on an odd material to 
retrieve an odd material from which products to be interrupt nest inputted 
from a terminal can be blanked from the odd material information; and 
nesting the products to be interrupt nested on the retrieved odd material. 
In addition, in order to attain the above object, there is provided a 
nesting method for a machine tool control system in which a controller for 
transferring information for managing and controlling machine tools, an 
automatic warehouse and a CNC device nests the blanking shapes of products 
on a prestored material on a pallet of the automatic warehouse based on a 
machining schedule from a tool center and transfers a machining program 
for this nesting to the machine tool side through the CNC device to blank 
the material on the pallet of the automatic warehouse. The method 
comprises the steps of: accessing information on each pallet of the 
automatic warehouse to group products according to a delivery date and 
type of machining for post-processing of the machining schedule; 
retrieving a pallet having a shape capable of storing the grouped products 
from the pallet information; nesting storage positions of the grouped 
products on the retrieved pallet based on the grouping information; and 
transferring the storage positions based on this nesting to the automatic 
warehouse together with the machining program. 
To attain the above object, there is further provided a punching method for 
a machine tool control system having a plurality of punching machines for 
punching a sheared material based on a transmitted machining program and 
causing the plurality of punching machines to punch the material by 
informing nesting information on the material, the method comprising the 
steps of: dividing the nesting information for punching by each of the 
plurality of punching machines and creating a plurality of machining 
programs for the respective divided nesting information; and transferring 
the plurality of machining programs to the respective punching machines 
simultaneously when different types of punching are made on the material. 
The nature, principle and utility of the present invention will become more 
apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction 
with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail 
hereinunder with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
First Embodiment 
FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a first embodiment of the 
machining tool control system according to the present invention. In the 
machine tool control system of FIG. 5, a tool center 30 transfers by 
Ethernet or LAN 5 and copies a machining schedule for scheduling by when 
and how many predetermined products are to be machined and a machining 
program for machining these products into a controller 32. 
The controller 32 reads a machining schedule hi for the day and the 
materials of inventory information Ji on an automatic warehouse 131 of the 
peripheral equipment 13, nests the products of the machining schedule hi 
based on the materials ti, determines a material ei from which the largest 
number of products can be blanked, and creates a nesting schedule Ki. 
Thereafter, the controller 32 draws a machining program mi, transfers it to 
a CNC device 25 and sends a shelf switching instruction signal for 
switching to a shelf storing the material ei to the automatic warehouse 
131 through a line control board 23. 
At this point the controller 32 reads the current conditions (consisting of 
shelf numbers, pallet numbers, material names pi (including shape, size, 
and type of material), number of materials, etc.) of the automatic 
warehouse 131 from the line control board 23 and judges whether the 
material ei of the nesting schedule Ki and the actual material pi thus 
read match. When they do not match, nesting is carried out again based on 
the shape of the actual material pi. 
When the actual material pi is too small to blank all the products of the 
nesting schedule Ki, another material fi is drawn from the inventory 
information Ji, and the remaining products are nested on this material fi. 
The controller 32, as shown in FIG. 6, comprises a machining schedule file 
34, an inventory master information file 36, a nesting schedule file 38, a 
machining program file 40, a dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 and 
a DNC transfer unit 44. 
The machining schedule file 34, as shown in FIG. 7, prestores a machining 
schedule hi which consists of product names (A, B, C, D, . . . ), number 
of products, delivery date and machine tools in a corresponding manner. 
The inventory master information file 36, as shown in FIG. 8, prestores 
inventory information Ji which consists of shelf numbers of the automatic 
warehouse 131, pallet numbers, material names ti (including shape, size 
and type of material), and the number of materials in a corresponding 
manner. 
The nesting schedule file 38, as shown in FIG. 9, prestores a nesting 
schedule Ki which consists of machining programs (m1, m2, m3, . . . ), the 
number of materials, material names ei, actual material names pi or 
material names fi (collectively referred to as "material Ri" (R1, R2, R3, 
. . . )) in a corresponding manner. As noted above, the material names may 
include or indicate material information, such as the shape, size and type 
of material. 
The dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 reads a predetermined amount 
of products from the machining schedule file 34 and retrieves a material 
ei from which these products can be blanked from the inventory master 
information file 36. 
The dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 draws, from the machining 
program file 40, a machining program mi corresponding to the blanking 
information si for blanking products from the retrieved material ei, and 
sequentially stores the machining program mi, the material name ei and the 
number of materials in the nesting schedule file 38 as a nesting schedule 
kei. 
The dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 reads the conditions 
(consisting of shelf number, pallet number, material name fi, the number 
of materials, etc.) of the automatic warehouse 131 and judges whether the 
material ei of the nesting schedule kei and the actual material pi thus 
read match. Whey they do not match, the unit 42 carries out nesting again 
based on the shape of the actual material pi and stores this nesting 
schedule kpi (Ki.rarw.kpi) in the nesting schedule file 38. When the 
actual material pi is smaller, the unit 42 draws another material fi from 
the inventory information Ji, nests the remaining products on this 
material fi, and stores this nesting schedule kfi (Ki.rarw.kfi) in the 
nesting schedule file 38. 
The DNC transfer unit 44 draws a nesting schedule kei, kpi or kfi 
(collectively referred to as "nesting schedule Ki") from the nesting 
schedule file 38, sends a shelf switching instruction signal for switching 
to a shelf having a material Ri included in this nesting schedule Ki to 
the automatic warehouse 131 through the line control board 23 and 
transfers the machining program mi to the CNC device 25 by DNC transfer 
system. 
The operation of the machine tool control system according to the first 
embodiment constituted as described above is described with reference to 
FIG. 10. 
The tool center 30 transfers and copies a machining schedule for scheduling 
by when, what product and how many products are to be machined into the 
machining schedule file 34 of the controller 32 and a machining program 
for machining these products into the machining program file 40. The 
controller 32 carries out the following processing along with this 
copying. 
In step S1001, the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 of the 
controller 32 draws a machining schedule hi for the day from the machining 
schedule file 34. For example, products A, B and C of the machining 
schedule file 34 shown in FIG. 7 are drawn. 
Thereafter, the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 retrieves a 
material ei which is large enough to enable a combination of the products 
and the number of the combinations to be nested thereon from the inventory 
master information file 36 (step S1003). Then it is judged whether such a 
material ei exists (step S1005). When such a material ei exists, the 
processing proceeds to step S1013. On the other hand, when such a material 
ei does not exist, the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 retrieves 
a substitutive material eis (step S1007). It is judged whether the 
substitutive material eis is larger than the material ei (step S1009). 
When the substitutive material eis is larger than the material ei, the 
dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 selects the substitutive 
material eis rather than the material ei (step S1011), and processing 
proceeds to step S1013. 
In step S1013, the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 retrieves a 
machining program mi for machining these products from the machining 
program file 40, and stores the machining program mi and the material ei 
in the nesting schedule file 38 as a set. 
For example, a second material Pb in the inventory master information file 
36 is drawn as the material ei for nesting products A, B and C. 
In step S1009, when the substitutive material eis is not larger than the 
material ei, the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 42 creates such a 
nesting schedule that products as many as possible are blanked from the 
substitutive material eis (step S1015). Then, a material eiss from which 
the rest can be blanked is retrieved (step S1017). Such a nesting is 
carried out as to blank the rest from the material eiss (step S1019), and 
the processing proceeds to the step S1021. 
In step S1021, the machining program mi is transferred to the CNC device 25 
by DNC transfer system. 
In step S1023, a shelf switching instruction signal for switching to a 
shelf having the material of the nesting schedule is sent to the automatic 
warehouse 131 through the line control board 23. 
It is judged whether any material ei still remains (step 1025). When any 
material ei does not remain, the processing returns to step S1007. On the 
other hand, when any material ei still remains, it is judged whether the 
machining has been completed (step S1027). When the machining has not been 
completed yet, the processing returns to step S1025. When the machining 
has been completed, the processing proceeds to step S1029. 
In step S1029, it is judged whether any machining schedule hi still 
remains. When any machining schedule hi remains, the processing returns to 
step S1001. On the other hand, when any machining schedule hi does not 
remain, the processing is terminated. 
That is, according to the first embodiment, when the shape of the actual 
material on the pallet on the respective shelf of the automatic warehouse 
and the shape of the planned material do not match, nesting is newly 
planned with reference to the shape of the actual material. 
Therefore, since it is not necessary to make a new program again, there is 
obtained such an effect that machining is completed quickly. 
When nesting is newly carried out, if all the products of a drawn machining 
schedule cannot be nested on the material, the remaining products are 
nested on another material in the automatic warehouse. Therefore, there is 
obtained such an effect that it is not necessary to correct nesting even 
if there are a large number of products to be nested. 
Second Embodiment 
FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of the 
machine tool control system according to the present invention. The 
machine tool control system of FIG. 11 comprises a controller 51 for 
making interrupt nesting on an odd material zi which has been left over 
after blanking when a field operator makes interrupt nesting on a special 
order by operating the terminal 29 of the machine tool. 
This controller 51 comprises an odd material information file 52, an 
interrupter nesting detection unit 54, an odd material retrieving unit 56 
and a dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58. 
The odd material information file 52 stores information zi on a plurality 
of odd materials which have been left after blanking. The odd material 
information zi consists of odd material names (such as shape and 
material), the number of odd materials and the like. 
The interrupt nesting detection unit 54 reads nesting information which it 
has received through the terminal 29, detects what products are allocated 
to which material and how, and stores a machining schedule hie in which a 
symbol indicating an urgent or special order is added to this detection 
result in the machining schedule file 34. 
The dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58 reads the current conditions 
(such as shelf numbers, pallet numbers, material names pi, the number of 
materials, etc.) of the automatic warehouse 131 from the line control 
board 23 and judges whether the material ei of the nesting schedule Ki and 
the actual material pi thus read match. When they do not match, nesting is 
newly carried out based on the shape of the actual material pi. When the 
actual material pi is too small to blank the products of the nesting 
schedule Ki therefrom, another material fi is drawn from the inventory 
information Ji and the remaining products are nested on this material fi. 
Further, the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58 accepts this 
machining schedule hie in preference to others as an interrupt when the 
machining schedule hie for an urgent or special order is present in the 
machining schedule file 34, activates the odd material retrieving unit 56 
and informs the unit 56 of the machining schedule hie at the same time. 
The odd material retrieving unit 56 reads the machining schedule hie from 
the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58, reads the products, the 
number of products, etc. of this machining schedule hie, retrieves odd 
material information which enables these products and the number of the 
products to be blanked from the odd material information file 52 and 
informs the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58 of this odd material 
information. 
The machine tool control system constituted above is described below. 
For instance, when the operator plans to nest the products A and B of a 
special order as shown in FIG. 11 by operating the terminal 29 of the 
machine tool 27, the interrupt nesting detection unit 54 detects this 
nesting plan and stores a machining schedule hie in which a symbol 
indicating an urgent or special order is added to the result of this 
detection in the machining schedule file 34. 
The dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58 accepts this machining 
schedule hie in preference to others as an interrupt when the machining 
schedule hie is present in the machining schedule file 34, activates the 
odd material retrieving unit 56 and informs the unit 56 of the machining 
schedule hie at the same time. 
The odd material retrieving unit 56 reads the machining schedule hie from 
the dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58 and draws odd material 
information on an odd material zi as shown in FIG. 12, for example, from 
the odd material information file 52. 
The dynamic nesting schedule creating unit 58 allocates the products of the 
machining schedule hie to the shape of the odd material zi, as shown, for 
example, in FIG. 13, when it is informed of the odd material information 
on the odd material zi from the odd material retrieving unit 56. 
Therefore, since the odd material zi which has been left over after 
blanking is blanked based on this interrupt nesting when the field 
operator makes interrupt nesting on a special order by operating the 
terminal of the machine took, a large remaining area is not left over. 
Since an odd material is automatically blanked based on interrupt nesting 
unless the operator searches for a material having a large remaining area, 
there is obtained such an effect that the machining time is fast. 
It is not always necessary to use an odd material for an interrupt special 
order and a material in the automatic warehouse 131 may be used instead. 
Further, an odd material may be used for a scheduled product. 
Third Embodiment 
FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of a controller according to a 
third embodiment of the machine tool control system according to the 
present invention. 
The controller 60 of FIG. 14 nests products to be mounted on a pallet by 
grouping products having the same delivery date and machine tool for 
post-processing of the machining schedule hi and retrieving a pallet in 
the automatic warehouse 131 capable of mounting the grouped products. 
A material (also simply referred to as "sheet") is blanked based on nesting 
information ni on a pallet and the blanked products are mounted on the 
pallet based on this nesting information ni. 
The controller 60 comprises a machining schedule file 62, a machining 
program file 63, a pallet information file 64, a grouping file 66, and a 
pallet nesting file 68. The controller 60 further comprises a grouping 
unit 70, a pallet drawing and nesting unit 72, a sheet nesting unit 74 and 
a position specifying unit 76. 
The machining schedule file 62 stores a machining schedule hi which 
consists of product name, quantity, size, delivery date and type of 
machining tool for post-processing. 
The pallet information file 64 stores shelf numbers, the sizes of pallets, 
etc. in a corresponding manner. 
The grouping file 66 stores grouping information Gi on products grouped 
according to delivery date and type of post-processing, machining program 
mi and machining schedule hi in a corresponding manner. 
The pallet nesting file 68 stores nesting information ni on pallets for 
mounting S the products of each grouping information Gi. This nesting 
information ni consists of shelf numbers, pallet names, the locations of 
products on each pallet, etc. 
The grouping unit 70 reads each machining schedule of the machining 
schedule file 62, groups products according to delivery time and type of 
post-processing, and stores this grouping information Gi, machining 
schedule hi and machining program mi in the grouping file 66. 
The pallet drawing and nesting unit 72 compares the size of each pallet of 
the pallet information file 64 with each group information Gi when unit 70 
finishes grouping, nests the number of products able to be stored on each 
pallet and stores the nesting information ni and the group information Gi 
in the pallet nesting file 68 in a corresponding manner. 
The sheet nesting unit 74 reads the nesting information ni for each group 
in the pallet nesting file 68, takes out information on the same products 
of an immediate group from the nesting information ni, nests the products 
taken out on a material specified by the machining schedule hi one after 
another and transfers a machining program mi for executing the nesting 
information ni for machining. 
The position specifying unit 76 reads nesting information ni on the pallet 
of the machining program mi each time the machining program mi is 
transferred and informs the automatic warehouse 131 of a storage position 
on the pallet 135i through the line control board 23. 
The operation of the machine tool control system constituted above is 
described below with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. 
The grouping unit 70 reads the machining schedule hi shown in FIG. 16, for 
example, and groups products according to delivery date, size and type of 
machine tool for post-processing and stores the machining program and the 
machining schedule hi in the grouping file 66 (step S1501). 
For instance, as shown in FIG. 16, products A, B, D, E, and J are grouped 
as group GI to be first machined in the subsequent step; products C, F, H 
and L are group as group G2 to be machined next in the subsequent step; 
and these groups are stored separately. 
Thereafter, the pallet drawing and nesting unit 72 reads pallet information 
on the automatic warehouse 131 prestored and nests the products of each 
group on a pallet specified by this pallet information. When all the 
products cannot be stored on one pallet, another pallet is drawn to store 
the remaining products and the remaining products are nested on the pallet 
(step S1503). 
In FIG. 15, out of the products A, B, D, E and J of group GI, products A, B 
and E are nested on pallet P1 and the remaining products D and J are 
nested on pallet P2 (preferably P2&lt;P1). 
Out of the products C, F, H and G of group G2, products C and F are nested 
on pallet P3 and the remaining products G and H are nested on pallet P4. 
In these pallet nesting information ni, group numbers Gi, product names and 
storage positions on respective pallets are stored in a corresponding 
manner. 
The sheet nesting unit 74 reads a machining schedule for products on a 
low-numbered pallet from the file 66, nests products having an early 
delivery date on a sheet one after another and stores this nesting 
information together with a corresponding machining schedule (step S1505). 
The sheet nesting unit 74 transfers this machining program mi for 
machining, reads the storage positions of products on the sheet from the 
pallet nesting file 68 and transfers this information (step S1507). 
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, only products A are stored at the position 
of the pallet for the product A in the automatic warehouse 131, only 
products B are stored at the position of the pallet for the product B and 
only products C are stored at the position of the pallet for the product 
C. 
As described above, according to this embodiment, information on each 
pallet in the automatic warehouse is acquired in advance, products are 
grouped according to the delivery date and type of machining for 
post-processing of a machining schedule, the storage positions of the 
group products are nested on a pallet having a shape capable of storing 
the grouped products, and the blanked products are stored at the 
respective storage positions. 
Therefore, since the storage efficiency of each pallet is high and it is 
configured to pile up certain products only at a specific position, it is 
not necessary to move a pallet frequently. Since a machine tool for 
post-processing can thereby take out a desired material quickly, there is 
obtained such an effect that the machining time is fast. 
Fourth Embodiment 
According to a fourth embodiment, there is provided a machine tool control 
system which improves machining efficiency and reduces preparation work by 
carrying out punching in a shorter period of time than the machining or 
processing time required by the subsequent step. 
FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of the fourth embodiment of the 
machine tool control system according to the present invention. FIG. 17 is 
a diagram which places emphasis on the automatic warehouse 131 and the 
machine tool. In the figure, the controller, the tool center, the CNC 
device, etc. are collectively referred simply to as "control apparatus". 
In FIG. 17, a workpiece to be machine is stored on a shelf in the automatic 
warehouse 131. A first shearing machine 83 for shearing the workpiece 
along its shorter side is disposed beside the automatic warehouse 131 and 
a second shearing machine 85 for shearing the workpiece along its longer 
side is disposed beside the first shearing machine 83. 
Beside the second shearing machine 85, a first turret punching machine 87 
and a second turret punching machine 89 as punching machines for carrying 
out different types of punching on the workpiece are arranged in parallel 
to each other. A bending machine 91 and a welding machine 93 are arranged 
beside the second turret punching machine 89 and the bending machine 91, 
respectively. A halfway storage general-purpose vendor 95 is arranged 
between the second turret punching machine 89 and the bending machine 91, 
branching from the second turret punching machine 89. Further, a control 
apparatus 97 for controlling the above machine tools is provided. 
The control apparatus 97, as shown in FIG. 18A, judges through comparison 
whether there is an odd material S in blank materials W.sub.A, W.sub.B and 
W.sub.C after the first and second shearing machines 83 and 85 shear the 
blank materials W.sub.A, W.sub.B and W.sub.C from a sheet material W. 
Further, the control apparatus 97, as shown in FIG. 18B, allocates the 
punching shapes of rectangular holes H.sub.A, round holes H.sub.B and 
portions H.sub.C to be punched out from four corners to the sheared blank 
material W.sub.B. The plurality of punching shapes are divided into 
several groups and stored. Further, the machining time of a portion to 
which each divided and stored punching shape is allocated and the 
machining time of the bending machine, for example, in the subsequent step 
are compared and judged. 
Further, the control apparatus 97 judges through comparison whether molds 
mounted on the turrets of the first and second turret punching machines 87 
and 89 are stored. 
Moreover, NC data for machining each allocated portion is created and the 
blank materials W.sub.A, W.sub.B and W.sub.C are punched by the first and 
second turret punching machines 87 and 89. 
Operation up to the creation of an NC machining program for carrying out 
punching by the first and second turret punching machines 87 and 89 
according to the above constitution is described with reference to a flow 
chart shown in FIG. 19. 
The blank materials W.sub.A, W.sub.B and W.sub.C to be sheared from the 
sheet W by the first and second shearing machines 83 and 85 are first 
blanked (steps S1901). Thereafter, it is judged whether there is an odd 
material S in the blank materials W.sub.A, W.sub.B and W.sub.C (steps 
S1903). When there is no odd material S or when there is at least one odd 
material S, a plurality of punching shapes (for example, rectangular holes 
H.sub.A round holes H.sub.B and portions H.sub.C to be punched out as 
shown in FIG. 18B) are allocated to the blank materials W.sub.A, W.sub.B 
and W.sub.C (step S1905, step S1909). When there is no odd material S, 
after step S1905, half of the plurality of punching shapes are allocated 
to the first turret punching machine 87 and the other half of the 
plurality of punching shapes are allocated to the second turret punching 
machine 89 (step S1907). On the other hand, when there is at least one odd 
material S, after step S1909, the blank material is divided into, for 
example, an inner processing portion having the rectangular holes H.sub.A 
and the round holes H.sub.B and an outer processing portion having 
portions H.sub.C to be punched out (step S1911). Then the inner processing 
portion is allocated to the first turret punching machine 87 and the outer 
processing portion is allocated to the second turret punching machine 89 
(step S1913). 
At step S1915, it is judged whether the difference between the machining 
time of the first turret punching machine and the machining time of the 
second turret punching machine is equal to or less than a predetermined 
tolerance t. When the difference is more than the predetermined tolerance 
t, the processing returns to step S1905 to re-allocate the punching shape 
portions. When re-allocating the portions, the required machining time of 
the first and second turret punching machines may be considered. If the 
machining time of the second turret punching machine is longer than that 
of the first machine, for example, a hole to be machined by the second 
turret punching machine which has the same shape as a hole to be machined 
by the first turret punching machine and a machining type for which the 
die lies at the first turret punching machine are re-allocated. Similarly, 
when the machining time of the first turret punching machine is longer, 
re-allocation of the portions to be machined may be performed. It should 
be noted that nibbling and pattern machining are excluded from 
re-allocation, since accuracy may be deteriorated if those are 
discontinued halfway. If the machining time does not become equal to or 
less than the predetermined tolerance even after re-allocation and 
division are performed, the case where the machining time is determined to 
be a minimum may be adopted. 
When the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined tolerance t, 
it is judged through comparison whether dies used for each allocated 
portion are memorized (step S1917). Step S1917 may be performed by the 
control apparatus 97 by accessing and reviewing stored die information for 
the first turret punching machine 87 and the second turret punching 
machine 89 (see FIG. 17). When there are no dies to be used in step S1911 
or when the required dies are not present or set in each turret, dies are 
exchanged (step S1919) and the NC data for each allocated portion is 
created (S1921). On the other hand, when there are dies to be used, the 
processing proceeds to step S1921 directly. The creation of a machining 
program is completed due to the above processing and stored (step S1923). 
The thus stored machining program is executed to allocate the plurality of 
punching shapes to the first and second turret punching machines 87 and 
89. 
Therefore, when the stored machining program is executed, such a single 
sheet material W as shown in FIG. 18A is carried to the first shearing 
machine 83 by a carrying machine (not shown) from among sheet materials 
stored on the shelves of the automatic warehouse 131. Then a shorter side 
L.sub.A of the sheet material W is sheared by the first shearing machine 
83 and a longer side line L.sub.B of the sheet material W is sheared by 
the second shearing machine 85 to divide the sheet material W into three 
blank materials W.sub.A, W.sub.B and W.sub.C. An odd material S is present 
in the left portion (shown by oblique lines) of the blank material W.sub.B 
out of these. 
This blank material W.sub.B is carried to the first turret punching machine 
87 and punches and dies for three rectangular holes H.sub.A and two round 
holes H.sub.B which are allocated to the inner portion of the blank 
material W.sub.B are located at respective machining positions to machine 
these holes. Thereafter, this blank material W.sub.B is carried to the 
second turret punching machine 89 and its odd material S is nibbled and 
cut off with a punch and die. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 18C, the four 
corners H.sub.C of the blank material W.sub.B are cut off with another set 
of punch and die. 
Subsequently, the blank material W.sub.B shown in FIG. 18C is folded inward 
along bending lines L.sub.C, L.sub.D, L.sub.E and L.sub.F by a press 
brake, for example, as the bending machine 91. This folded blank material 
W.sub.B is carried to the welding machine 93 and rising portions in the 
folded four corners are welded so that a rectangular product is produced 
by a series of machining steps. When this machining time is much shorter 
than the machining time of the bending machine 91, the workpiece W.sub.B 
machined by the second turret punching machine 89 may be stored on the way 
to the bending machine 91; that is, it may be carried and stored by the 
general-purpose vendor 95 and then folded. 
When the first and second turret punching machines 87 and 89 are arranged 
to divide punching operation in this way, machining can be carried out in 
a shorter period of time, with greater efficiency and reduced preparation 
work than the prior art. 
This fourth embodiment can be carried out in another form by suitably 
making modifications without being limited to the above example of the 
embodiment. Although the first and second turret punching machines 87 and 
89 are arranged in parallel to each other in this embodiment, they may be 
arranged in series, or three or more turret punching machines may be 
arranged. Although a turret punching machine is used as the punching 
machine, another type of punching machine may be used. 
More generally, it should be understood that many modifications and 
adaptations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the 
art and it is intended to encompass such obvious modifications and changes 
in the scope of the claims appended hereto.