Networked file operations for computer numerical controls
First Claim
1. A system for effecting file operations at a computer numerical control on files accessed at a remote location through a standard, open network, comprising:
- a network;
a plurality of computer numerical controls linked to the network;
a plurality of machines, with each machine being able to undergo predetermined motions, each machine being linked to at least one computer numerical control of the plurality of computer numerical controls, wherein the at least one computer numerical control is able to control the motions of the machine to which it is linked;
a plurality of workstations linked to the network, in which any but at least one workstation of the plurality of workstations includes a file handler; and
at least one storage medium linked to the network, the at least one storage medium being configured to store a file having a machine control related program for the control of one or more of the plurality of machines, wherein the file handler is configured to selectively transfer the machine control program to the computer numerical control or to run the machine control program from its location on the at least one storage medium further wherein the file handler is connected to any of the plurality of computer numerical controls by a plurality of communication channels to permit simultaneous execution of one or more machine control programs while transferring another machine control program, wherein a part program, a part program subroutine and a macro can be executed at a given computer numerical control from either a memory of a computer numerical control or the at least one storage medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A networked system combines multiple workstations, storage devices and file handlers with multiple computer numerical controls. Typically, each workstation comprises a personal computer with a Windows-based operating system utilizing a standard process-to-process communication protocol, such as Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). This type of system allows a wide variety of M-to-N topologies in CNC environments. Further, the use of a file management system, according to the present invention, allows the activation and execution of part program operations at a computer numerical control on files accessed through standard open networks.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for effecting file operations at a computer numerical control on files accessed at a remote location through a standard, open network, comprising:
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a network;
a plurality of computer numerical controls linked to the network;
a plurality of machines, with each machine being able to undergo predetermined motions, each machine being linked to at least one computer numerical control of the plurality of computer numerical controls, wherein the at least one computer numerical control is able to control the motions of the machine to which it is linked;
a plurality of workstations linked to the network, in which any but at least one workstation of the plurality of workstations includes a file handler; and
at least one storage medium linked to the network, the at least one storage medium being configured to store a file having a machine control related program for the control of one or more of the plurality of machines, wherein the file handler is configured to selectively transfer the machine control program to the computer numerical control or to run the machine control program from its location on the at least one storage medium further wherein the file handler is connected to any of the plurality of computer numerical controls by a plurality of communication channels to permit simultaneous execution of one or more machine control programs while transferring another machine control program, wherein a part program, a part program subroutine and a macro can be executed at a given computer numerical control from either a memory of a computer numerical control or the at least one storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A file management system for use with a plurality of networked workstations and computer numerical controls, comprising:
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a file handler configured for communication with the plurality of networked workstations and computer numerical controls, the file handler including a file server and a file client, wherein the file handler is stored at a first networked computer;
at least one computer numerical control that is stored on a second networked computer remote from the first networked computer; and
a storage medium able to store a part program, a part program subroutine and a macro for use by the at least one computer numerical control in controlling machine motion, wherein the file server is configured to selectively manage transfer of the part program, part program subroutine, or macro to the at least one computer numerical control from the storage medium or to manage execution of the part program, part program subroutine, or macro from the storage medium, and the file client is configured to manage transfer of data from the at least one computer numerical control to the storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A system for utilizing multiple types of file operations on a networked computer numerical control from a remote networked storage medium, comprising:
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a workstation;
a computer numerical control having a memory for storing a file having a machine control program, wherein a machine control program includes at least one of a part program, a part program subroutine, and a macro;
an open network to which the workstation and the computer numerical control are linked, the open network being capable of carrying communications between multiple types of devices;
a storage medium disposed at a remote location on the network relative to the computer numerical control, the storage medium being configured to store a file having a motion control program for use by the computer numerical control; and
a file handler linked to the open network, wherein instructions related to movement of the file between the computer numerical control and the storage medium is input at the workstation and transferred to the file handler for implementation further wherein the file handler is connected to any of a plurality of networked computer numerical controls by a plurality of communication channels to permit simultaneous execution of one or more machine control programs while transferring another machine control program, further wherein the part program, the part program subroutine or the macro can be executed at the computer numerical control from either the memory or the storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification