Virtual Machine Manager

• US 20100274380A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hurco Companies, Inc.
• Inventors: Gray, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,588,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/104
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35097 Generation of cutter path, offset curve
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35098 Automatic coarse, rough and finish cutting path generation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49017 DTM desktop manufacturing, prototyping
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49029 Virtual rapid prototyping, create a virtual prototype, simulate rapid prototyping process

Abstract

Systems and methods for virtual machine management are disclosed. A virtual machine manager may communicate with a storehouse, which may include one or more virtual machines. The virtual machine manager may select one or more virtual machines, or may create one or more virtual machines, depending on the requirements of an input.

Claims

1. A machine manager, the machine manager comprising:

a storehouse, the storehouse including at least one virtual machine in an electronic storage, wherein each of the at least one virtual machines is associated with at least one virtual kinematics machine, each of the at least one virtual kinematics machines describing the kinematics of at least one machine tool system; and

a virtual machine manager associated with one or more electronic processors, the virtual machine manager operable to receive an input and provide one or more virtual machines from the storehouse, if the input is compatible with at least one of the one or more virtual machines from the storehouse, or generate at least one new virtual machine if the input is not compatible with at least one of the one or more virtual machines.

2. The machine manager of claim 1, wherein the new virtual machine is based on the at least one virtual machines from the storehouse.

3. The machine manager of claim 1, wherein the input is one or more part programs, the one or more part programs defining one or more geometries for a machined part.

4. The machine manager of claim 3, wherein the part program is entered by a conversational mode of operation.

5. The machine manager of claim 3, wherein the part program specifies machine independent information for machining a part.

6. The machine manager of claim 1, wherein a generalized kinematics system is used to create new virtual machines.

7. The machine manager of claim 1, wherein one or more machines are associated with the virtual machine manager.

8. The machine manager of claim 7, wherein the one or more machines are each represented by at least one virtual machine in the storehouse.

9. The machine manager of claim 7, wherein the virtual machine manager controls the scheduling of the one or more virtual machines to optimize machining schedules and work item schedules.

10. The machine manager of claim 1, the virtual machine manager further comprising at least one process compatibility rule.

11. The machine manager of claim 10, wherein the process compatibility rule allows a virtual machine that describes the kinematics of at least one machine tool system with a first number of axes to be provided based on an input that requires a second number of axes, provided the first number of axes is greater than or equal to the second number of axes.

12. The machine manager of claim 1, wherein the at least one machine tool system represents a virtual machine tool system.

13. The machine manager of claim 1, wherein the at least one machine tool system represents a physical machine tool system.

14. The machine manager of claim 13, wherein the physical machine tool system is a milling machine which is controlled to machine a part.

15. A method for creating a virtual machine, the method comprising:

providing a virtual machine manager associated with one or more electronic processors, the virtual machine manager operable to select one or more virtual machines from a storehouse, each of the one or more virtual machines associated with at least one virtual kinematics machine, each of the at least one virtual kinematics machines describing the kinematics of at least one machine tool system;

receiving a request for a virtual machine;

generating a new virtual machine based at least in part on at least one of the virtual machines from the storehouse; and

providing the new virtual machine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a generalized kinematics system is used to create the new virtual machine.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more machines is associated with the virtual machine manager, the one or more machines each associated with at least one virtual kinematics machine.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more machines are each represented by at least one virtual machine in the storehouse.

19. The method of claim 15, the virtual machine manager further comprising at least one process compatibility rule.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the new virtual machine is generated by copying one or more of the virtual machines from the storehouse.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one machine tool system represents a virtual machine tool system.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one machine tool system represents a physical machine tool system.

23. A method for providing a virtual machine, the method comprising:

providing a virtual machine manager associated with one or more electronic processors, the virtual machine manager operable to select one or more virtual machines from a storehouse, each of the one or more virtual machines associated with at least one virtual kinematics machine, each of the at least one virtual kinematics machines describing the kinematics of at least one machine tool system;

receiving a request for a virtual machine;

selecting one or more of the one or more virtual machines in the storehouse, based at least in part on a selection criteria; and

providing the one or more virtual machines.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein one or more machines are associated with the virtual machine manager, the one or more machines each associated with at least one virtual kinematics machine.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more machines are each represented by at least one virtual machine in the storehouse.

26. The method of claim 23, the virtual machine manager further comprising at least one process compatibility rule.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the virtual machine manager controls the scheduling of the one or more virtual machines to optimize machining schedules and work item schedules.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one machine tool system represents a virtual machine tool system.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one machine tool system represents a physical machine tool system.