NC program searching method, NC program searching unit, NC program creating method, and NC program creating unit

A numerical control (NC)-program searching unit comprising:

• an inputter to which shape data of a machining target is input from an outside;
• an image-data generator configured to generate, as machining target image data, image data corresponding to the shape data of the machining target;
• an NC-program storage configured to store NC programs created in the past;
• a finish-shape generator configured to generate, based on the NC programs created in the past, image data of a machining finish shape as finish shape image data;
• an image-data storage configured to store the finish shape image data in association with an NC program corresponding thereto;
• a searcher configured to compare the machining target image data and the finish shape image data to thereby calculate a similarity of the machining target image data to the finish shape image data and search, based on the similarity, candidates of finish shape image data similar to or matching the machining target image data;
• a display configured to display the candidates of the finish shape image data and display, when finish shape image data is designated by external input out of the candidates of the finish shape image data, an NC program corresponding to the designated finish shape image data;
• and
• an NC-program outputter comprising a processor configured to output the NC program corresponding to the designated finish shape image data to a machining tool so that the machining tool is operated based on the output NC program,
• wherein the finish-shape generator is configured to generate a removal shape, which is a shape to be removed from the image data, based on the NC programs created in the past, and generate the finish shape image data based on the removal shape.

A numerical control (NC) program creating unit comprising:

• an inputter to which shape data of a machining target is input from an outside;
• an image-data generator configured to generate, as machining target image data, image data corresponding to the shape data of the machining target;
• an NC-program storage configured to store NC programs created in the past;
• a finish-shape generator configured to generate, based on the NC programs created in the past, image data of a machining finish shape as finish shape image data;
• an image-data storage configured to store the finish shape image data in association with an NC program corresponding thereto;
• a searcher configured to compare the machining target image data and the finish shape image data to thereby calculate a similarity of the machining target image data to the finish shape image data and search, based on the similarity, candidates of finish shape image data similar to or matching the machining target image data;
• a display configured to display the candidates of the finish shape image data and display, when finish shape image data is designated by external input out of the candidates of the finish shape image data, an NC program corresponding to the designated finish shape image data;
• an editor configured to edit, according to an instruction input from the outside, an NC program being displayed;
• and
• an NC-program outputter comprising a processor configured to output the NC program corresponding to the designated finish shape image data to a machining tool so that the machining tool is operated based on the output NC program,
• wherein the finish-shape generator is configured to generate a removal shape, which is a shape to be removed from the image data, based on the NC programs created in the past, and generate the finish shape image data based on the removal shape.