Event feedback for numerically controlled machine tool and network implementation thereof
First Claim
1. A method for controlling one or more numerically controlled machine tools, comprising the steps of:
- supplying a machine tool part program to each machine tool;
detecting the occurrence of one of a predetermined set of events at each machine tool;
determining the real time upon each detection of an event;
generating an event signal indicating the identity of the detected event and the time of occurrence upon each detection of an event;
producing a user perceivable indication on a color video display of the machine tool status based upon the identity of the last detected event, the machine tool status being indicated by colors that correspond to each possible machine tool status; and
storing in a nonvolatile read/write memory corresponding to each machine tool part program an indication of the theoretical time for each machine tool to perform each of a plurality of sections of the machine tool part program;
wherein the step of producing a user perceivable indication of the machine tool status includes producing a user perceivable indication of an estimated completion time for the current part on the machine tool based upon the last program step supplied to the machine tool and the indication of the theoretical time to perform each section of the machine tool part program.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The normal course of operating a numerically controlled machine tool includes the automatic collection of significant event data without any special interaction by the machine tool operator. These events are of two types: those embedded in the machine tool part program, which may be ordinary program steps or special event markers; and those which represent operator intervention of the programmed process operating on the machine tool. The theoretical time for the occurrence of the programmed events is embedded in the machine tool part program. The identity, date and time of the actual occurrence of an event is stored in nonvolatile memory. This technique may be used in a single computer controlling one or more machine tools or in a network with a host computer serving as the event depository and as the source of machine tool part programs. The event records are available for analysis to improve the productivity of the operation.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for controlling one or more numerically controlled machine tools, comprising the steps of:
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supplying a machine tool part program to each machine tool; detecting the occurrence of one of a predetermined set of events at each machine tool; determining the real time upon each detection of an event; generating an event signal indicating the identity of the detected event and the time of occurrence upon each detection of an event; producing a user perceivable indication on a color video display of the machine tool status based upon the identity of the last detected event, the machine tool status being indicated by colors that correspond to each possible machine tool status; and storing in a nonvolatile read/write memory corresponding to each machine tool part program an indication of the theoretical time for each machine tool to perform each of a plurality of sections of the machine tool part program; wherein the step of producing a user perceivable indication of the machine tool status includes producing a user perceivable indication of an estimated completion time for the current part on the machine tool based upon the last program step supplied to the machine tool and the indication of the theoretical time to perform each section of the machine tool part program. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A computer for controlling one or more numerically controlled machine tools, comprising:
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a memory for storing a machine tool part program for execution by each machine tool for detecting the occurrence of one of a predetermined set of events; a machine tool interface for each machine tool that is connected to the machine tool and to the memory; a real time clock for generating a real time signal indicative of the current day and time; a central processor connected to the memory, each of the machine tool interfaces, and the real time clock for generating an event signal that indicates the identity of the detected event, the time of occurrence of the detected event, and the identity of the machine tool upon each detection of one of the predetermined set of events; and a video display device connected to the central processor; wherein the central processor produces a user perceivable indication on the video display device of the status of each machine tool based upon the identity of the last detected event at the machine tool via colors corresponding to each possible machine tool status; and wherein each machine tool part program includes an indication of the theoretical time for the corresponding machine tool to perform each of a plurality of sections of the machine tool part program; and wherein the central processor produces a user perceivable indication of the machine tool status by producing a user perceivable indication of an estimated completion time for the current part on each machine tool based upon the last program step supplied to the corresponding machine tool and the indication of the theoretical time to perform each section of the machine tool part program. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A network for controlling one or more numerically controlled machine tools, comprising:
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a computer communications network for data communications; a local computer connected to each machine tool and to the computer communications network, each local computer including; a memory for storing a machine tool part program for the machine tool; a machine tool interface connected to the machine tool and to the memory for supplying a machine tool part program to the machine tool and for detecting the occurrence of one of a predetermined set of events at the machine tool upon supply of one of a predetermined set of program steps of the machine tool part program to the machine tool; a real time clock for generating a real time signal indicative of the current day and time; a local network interface connected to the computer communications network for receiving data from and transmitting data to the computer communications network; and a central processor connected to the memory, the machine tool interface, the real time clock and the local network interface, the central processor generating an event signal that indicates the identity of the detected event, the time of occurrence of the detected event, and the identity of the machine tool upon each detection of one of the predetermined set of events and the central processor transmitting the event signals on the computer communications network via the local network interface; and a network host computer connected to the computer communications network, the host computer including; a host network interface connected to the computer communications network for receiving data from and transmitting data to the computer communications network; a nonvolatile read/write memory; and a central processor connected to the network interface and the nonvolatile read/write memory for receiving the event signals transmitted by each of the local computers and for storing the received event signals in the nonvolatile read/write memory. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification