Method and System for Programmable Numerical Control

• US 20100063608A1
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, John W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/408 characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/414 Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34303 PNC is plc, pic and nc cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method of controlling a machine tool and other controlled devices, as well as a programmable numerical control (PNC) system, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method of controlling includes receiving a first part program at a programmable logic controller (PLC), and storing the first part program in a string array library of a memory portion of the PLC. The method further includes communicating information between the PLC and an operator interface regarding the first part program, and providing a first signal from the PLC to a first port so as to cause the first machine tool to be operated in accordance with the first part program. Also, in at least some embodiments, the PNC system allows for control of multiple machine tools and/or other controlled devices, by way of one or more part programs, and/or for editing of a part program while that program is being executed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a first machine tool, the method comprising:

receiving a first part program at a programmable logic controller (PLC);

storing the first part program in a string array library of a memory portion of the PLC;

communicating information between the PLC and an operator interface regarding the first part program; and

providing a first signal from the PLC to a first port so as to cause the first machine tool to be operated in accordance with the first part program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of part programs including the first part program are received at the PLC, and wherein the communicating includes receiving a selection signal at the operator interface indicating that the first part program should be run so that the first machine tool is operated in accordance with the first part program.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one block of the first part program on the operator interface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one block that is displayed is indicative of a status of the first machine tool in operating in accordance with the first part program.

5. The method of claim 3, further wherein the communicating includes receiving an operator-actuated signal that causes the PLC to restrict operation of the first machine tool in accordance with the first part program to a first process portion corresponding to a first block of the part program, until an additional operator-actuated signal is provided.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operator-actuated signals are received by way of a handwheel.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the communicating includes receiving a signal via the operator interface indicating that at least a portion of the at least one block of the first part program should be modified, and further comprising storing at least one portion of a modified version of the first part program in the memory portion of the PLC.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the storing of the at least one portion of the modified version occurs first within an edit buffer of the memory portion.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

copying the at least one portion of the modified version in the string array library and additionally copying the at least one portion of the modified version from the string array library to an active program buffer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one block of the first part program that corresponds to a first operation of the first machine tool being operated in accordance with the first part program is stored within an active buffer of the memory portion of the PLC.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second signal from the PLC to a second port so as to cause a second machine tool to be operated in accordance with at least one of the first part program and a second part program.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving the second part program at the programmable logic controller (PLC);

storing the second part program in the string array library; and

communicating information between the PLC and the operator interface regarding the second part program.

13. The method of claim 1, providing a second signal from the PLC for receipt by the first machine tool, wherein the first signal causes a first portion of the first machine tool to be operated in accordance with the first part program, and wherein the second signal causes a second portion of the first machine tool to be operated in accordance with the second part program.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising dynamically displaying a tool offset adjustment of a component of the machine tool at the operator interface.

15. The method claim 1, further comprising receiving a command at the operator interface indicating a selection of the first machine tool from among a plurality of selectable machine tools, which is to operate in accordance with the first part program.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising decoding the first part program into commands and associated real value axis positions, and creating motion instructions to operate the machine tool.

17. A method of controlling a controlled device, the method comprising:

receiving at least one part program at a programmable logic controller (PLC);

storing the at least one part program in a string array library of a memory portion of the PLC;

communicating information to an operator interface regarding the stored at least one part program;

receiving a first selection signal at the operator interface indicating a first selection of a first of the at least one part program and communicating the first selection to the PLC;

copying the selected part program to an active program buffer of the memory portion;

receiving a second selection signal at the operator interface indicating a second selection of a machine tool that is to perform a process in accordance with the selected part program;

decoding the selected part program into commands and associated real value axis positions;

storing the commands and associated real value axis positions and generating instructions to execute the commands; and

communicating the commands and associated real value axis positions at least indirectly to both the operator interface and machine tool, so that the machine tool operates based upon the selected part program and so that a representation of an execution of the selected part program is displayed at the operator interface.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising modifying the at least one of a selected part program and an unselected part program during machine tool operation, and

wherein the selected part program is decoded into

19. A programmable numeric control (PNC) system comprising:

an operator interface;

first and second ports respectively capable of at least indirectly interfacing first and second controlled devices, respectively; and

a programmable logic controller (PLC) coupled to each of the operator interface and the first and second ports, wherein the PLC further includes a processing portion and a memory portion, and wherein the memory portion further includes

a part program library capable of storing a plurality of part programs; and

an offset library capable of storing offset information associated with the part programs,

wherein the PLC is capable of sending control signals via the first and second ports that are suitable for controlling the first and second controlled devices in accordance with at least one of the part programs.

20. The PNC system of claim 19,

wherein the plurality of part programs includes first and second part programs, and wherein the control signals include first control signals that are sent via the first port that are suitable for controlling the first controlled device in accordance with the first part program, and the control signals additionally include second control signals that are sent via the second port that are suitable for controlling the second controlled device in accordance with the second part program.

21. The PNC system of claim 20 wherein, assuming that control signals include both the first control signals and the second control signals, the first and second controlled devices form parts of a single controlled device.

22. The PNC system of claim 19, wherein the processing portion at least partly operates in accordance with ladder logic code.

23. The PNC system of claim 19, wherein the operator interface includes at least one touch screen.

24. The PNC system of claim 19, wherein the operator interface is capable of displaying a plurality of user interface screens including at least one first user interface screen by which the operator interface is able to display at least one of the plurality of part programs.

25. The PNC system of claim 24, wherein the at least one first user interface screen is capable of receiving at least one edit command according to which the displayed at least one part program is modified.

26. The PNC system of claim 25, wherein the user interface screens that the operator interface is capable of displaying includes at least one screen that displays at least one of:

(a) a current status of at least one of the controlled devices in performing a process in accordance with one of the part programs; and

(b) a current block of one of the part programs in accordance with which at least one of the controlled devices is performing the process.

27. The PNC system of claim 24, wherein the user interface screens include at least one screen that is capable of displaying a list of the at least one part program and by which the operator interface is capable of receiving a selection of a first of the at least one part program to be performed in relation to the first controlled device.

28. The PNC system of claim 19, wherein the memory portion further includes at least one buffer into which at least one of a first of the part programs and a first portion of the offset information is stored.

29. The PNC system of claim 28, wherein the at least one buffer includes an active buffer and an edit buffer, wherein a first portion of the first part program that is being run by the PNC system is stored in the active buffer, and wherein a second portion of the first part program that is being edited is stored in the edit buffer.

30. The PNC system of claim 28, wherein editing information concerning an edit to the second portion of the first part program is communicated to the part program library so as to result in a modified version of the first part program that is stored in the part program library, and wherein at least a first portion of the modified version of the first part program is subsequently communicated the active buffer, such that a process being performed by the first controlled device is modified in accordance with the modified version of the first part program.

31. The PNC system of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second controlled devices is a respective machine tool.

32. The PNC system of claim 19, further comprising means for receiving an input selecting a block of a first of the at least one part program, wherein the control signals sent by the PLC limit performing of a process by the first controlled device in accordance with the first part of the part program to the selected block until a further input signal is received.