Machining time estimating apparatus

A machining time estimating apparatus configured to collectively calculate machining times required for machining performed in a plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools in accordance with respective NC machining programs, the machining time estimating apparatus comprising:

• a mechanical configuration-time data storage unit configured to store mechanical configuration-time data, which are control parameters relating to respective machining times of the plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools;
• a machining time estimation unit configured to estimate the machining time required for the machining performed in accordance with the respective NC machining program in a first numerically-controlled machine tool among the plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools, and based on NC commands of the respective NC machining program and the mechanical configuration-time data of the first numerically-controlled machine tool stored in the mechanical configuration-time data storage unit, wherein the first numerically-controlled machine tool is designated as a standard numerically-controlled machine tool used as a reference to calculate machining time for the other numerically-controlled machine tools among the plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools;
• an NC command data counting unit configured to obtain NC command data based on the NC commands decoded from the respective NC machining program which affect machining time in relation to a mechanical configuration;
• and
• a mechanical configuration difference time calculation unit configured to calculate machining time required for machining performed in accordance with the respective NC machining program in each of the other numerically-controlled machine tools based on the machining time required for the machining performed in accordance with the respective NC commands in the first numerically-controlled machine tool as estimated by the machining time estimation unit and an inner product of (i) a first vector representing the NC command data obtained by the NC command data counting unit, and (ii) a second vector representing a difference in the mechanical configuration-time data between the first numerically-controlled machine tool and said each of the other numerically-controlled machine tools.