Programmable synchronous and asynchronous block execution for a computer numerical control

• US 6,401,005 B1
• Filed: 09/27/1999
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company LLC (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Malaspina, Fabio, Schwarz, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahta, Kidest
• Application Number:
  US09/406,659
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 700/95, 700/182, 700/200, 700/203, 700/165, 700/145, 700/2, 700/6, 700/7, 700/169, 700/159, 707/502, 709/400, 713/201
• US Class Current: 700/159
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4093 characterised by part programming, e.g. entry of geometrical information as taken from a technical drawing, combining this with machining and material information to obtain control information, named part programme, for the NC machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34085 Software interpolator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34167 Coarse fine, macro microinterpolation, preprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34398 Channel stops and waits for marker until other channel puts that marker
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34399 Switch between synchronous and asynchronous mode of controllers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A computer numerical control system for providing more efficient execution of part program blocks. The computer numerical control system selectively may be utilized in a synchronous mode in which the part program blocks are executed under control of a logic engine. This synchronous operation may be changed to an asynchronous operation, and vice versa, by providing a synchronization control parameter in the part program. Additionally, the system may be switched to an auto-synchronous mode in which part program block execution automatically is accomplished in either synchronous mode or asynchronous mode depending on the content of the data blocks being processed.

Claims

1. A computer numerical control system, comprising:

a block execution module able to execute a plurality of data blocks in a part program, used for controlling a machine;

a logic engine module able to control the execution of one or more of the plurality of data blocks depending on parameters of the part program, wherein the logic engine module operates according to a logic engine scan rate and the block execution module operates at a block execution scan rate that is in a synchronous mode or an asynchronous mode with respect to the logic engine cycle rate; and

a synchronization control parameter entered into the part program, wherein the synchronization control parameter is able to initiate a change between the synchronous mode and the asynchronous mode during execution of its part program.

2. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the block execution module comprises a block execution processor and the logic engine comprises a logic engine processor.

3. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the synchronization control parameter is selected to maintain operation of the block execution module in the synchronous mode with respect to the logic engine module.

4. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the synchronization control parameter is selected to maintain operation of the block execution module in the asynchronous mode with respect to the logic engine module.

5. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the synchronization control parameter is selected to initiate an autosynchronous mode in which the block execution module switches between the synchronous mode operation and the asynchronous mode operation depending on the content of each data block being executed.

6. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the block execution scan rate is based on an adjustable scan time interval.

7. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 6, wherein the logic engine scan rate is based on a logic scan time interval that is a multiple of the adjustable scan time interval, the multiple being an adjustable parameter.

8. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 7, wherein the multiple is in the range from 1 to 20.

9. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 8, wherein the logic scan time interval is in the range from approximately 2 milliseconds to approximately 40 milliseconds.

10. The computer numerical control system as recited in claim 1, wherein the logic engine scan rate is equal to the block execution rate during asynchronous mode.

11. A method of executing a part program on a computer numerical control, comprising:

executing a plurality of data blocks of a control program;

subjecting at least some of the plurality of data blocks to the control of a logic engine operating at a logic scan rate; and

selectively changing the execution of the plurality of data blocks from a synchronized state with respect to the logic scan rate to an asynchronized state during execution of the control program.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising changing the execution of the plurality of data blocks from the asynchronized state to synchronized execution with respect to the logic scan rate.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising automatically changing execution of the plurality of data blocks between the asynchronized state and synchronization with the logic scan rate depending on the content of the data block to be executed.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein selectively changing comprises placing an appropriate instruction in the control program.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein placing includes programming a predetermined G-code into the control program.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising establishing a logic scan rate having a scan time interval in the range from approximately 2 milliseconds to 40 milliseconds.

17. A method for efficient operation of a computer numerical control that utilizes a logic engine having a logic scan frequency, comprising:

executing certain blocks of a motion control program in synchronization with the logic engine;

executing other blocks of the motion control program in asynchronization with the logic engine; and

changing between synchronized execution and asynchronized execution during execution of the motion control program.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising placing a code in the control program that causes a change from synchronized execution to asynchronized execution.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising placing a code in the control program that causes a change from asynchronized execution to synchronized execution.

20. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising placing a code in the control program that causes automatic changes between synchronized and asynchronized execution depending on the content of a control program block to be executed.

21. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising determining a logic scan frequency.