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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TROUBLESHOOTING A MACHINE

  • US 20070088454A1
  • Filed: 12/12/2006
  • Published: 04/19/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A method for troubleshooting operation of a machine operable to perform at least one machining operation on a workpiece, a sensor operatively connected to the machine is configured to sense a machine operation parameter during operation of the machine, a processing unit operatively connected to the sensor includes a processor and a memory, and is configured to receive and store data related to the machine operation parameter received from the sensor, the data including values of the machine operation parameter and trend data for both machining operations and non-machining operations, a controller operatively connected to the machine is configured to output to the processing unit data related to operation of the machine, the processing unit is further configured to correlate data from the sensor and data from the controller to facilitate retrieval of machine operation parameter data for specific cutting tools and specific operations of the machine, the processing unit being further configured to output a fault signal when a fault condition is indicated, a fault condition occurring when the sensed machine operation parameter data meets predetermined fault criteria, the method comprising:

  • sending information related to the fault to an operator of the machine, including at least one of;

    information indicating whether the fault was long term or short term, information identifying a statistical parameter used to characterize the machine operation parameter data, information indicating a time and date for when the fault was detected, information identifying a cutting tool in use when the fault condition occurs during a machining operation, or information identifying a machining operation being performed when the fault condition occurs during a machining operation;

    sending query driven information to the operator of the machine, thereby guiding the operator through an initial analysis to determine the cause of the fault; and

    performing a secondary analysis when the cause of the fault is not determined in the initial analysis, the secondary analysis including at least one of;

    determining if a transient spike in the values of the stored machine operation parameter data is present, analyzing trend data for machining operations, analyzing trend data for non-machining operations, or analyzing certain operations of the machine to determine if the fault includes a machine fault.

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