Method and apparatus for computer aided optimization of an occupancy of magazine slots by tools within at least one tool magazine for a machine tool

A control facility for computer-aided optimization of an occupancy of magazine slots by tools within at least one tool magazine for a magazine tool, wherein one or more workpieces of a workpiece type are manufactured using the tools provided by a magazine device at a supply point, comprising:

• a) a detector for a set of magazine slots in at least one tool magazine,
• b) a detector for a set of tools,
• c) a detector for permissible tools per magazine slot,
• d) a detector for a sequence of work steps to be performed by the machine tool on a workpiece, wherein a tool envisaged for a work step of the sequence can be used to manufacture the workpiece,
• e) a detector for work step times that are each needed to perform an individual work step on the workpiece,
• f) a detector for one or more supply times, on the basis of the sequence of work steps to be performed and the occupancy of the magazine slots, that are each needed by the magazine device at the supply point to provide a tool for the next work step, and
• g) an optimizer for the occupancy of the magazine slots by tools, so that the result of the optimization is that the overall waiting period is minimized, wherein the overall waiting period is made up of individual waiting periods that each result from the difference between the detected supply time and the detected work step time if the value of the difference is positive, otherwise the individual waiting period assumes the value zero.

A control facility for computer-aided optimization of an occupancy of magazine slots by tools within at least one tool magazine for a magazine tool, wherein one or more workpieces of a workpiece type are manufactured using the tools provided by a magazine device at a supply point, comprising:

• a) means for detecting a set of magazine slots in at least one tool magazine,
• b) means for detecting a set of tools,
• c) means for detecting permissible tools per magazine slot,
• d) means for detecting a sequence of work steps to be performed by the machine tool on a workpiece, wherein a tool envisaged for a work step of the sequence can be used to manufacture the workpiece,
• e) means for detecting work step times that are each needed to perform an individual work step on the workpiece,
• f) means for detecting one or more supply times, on the basis of the sequence of work steps to be performed and the occupancy of the magazine slots, that are each needed by the magazine device at the supply point to provide a tool for the next work step, and
• g) means for optimizing the occupancy of the magazine slots by tools, so that the result of the optimization is that the overall waiting period is minimized, wherein the overall waiting period is made up of individual waiting periods that each result from the difference between the detected supply time and the detected work step time if the value of the difference is positive, otherwise the individual waiting period assumes the value zero.