Method for electronically operating two machine tools

• US 7,606,630 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Maier, Volker
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US11/885,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20080188971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 700159-161, 700/169, 700/180, 340/3.1, 340/3.3, 340/3.9, 483/15
• US Class Current: 700/161
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/165 Plural machine tools, e.g., flexible manufacturing

Abstract

There is described a method for electronically operating a machine tool which comprises an electronic machine tool control and is positioned on a working place. Said machine tool is connected, through a data connection, to a server platform which is independent of the working place and on which software model algorithms run for simulating the machine tool behavior. For this purpose, said algorithms effect back the machine behavior in such a way that when process data items available through the data connection are deviated, process data items modified by calculated set values are transmitted through the data switch to the machine tool control and are used thereby. The machine tool control is carried out in sections, i.e. the section(s) are meaningfully considered on the basis of the software models of the machine tool behavior remotely from the software platform.

Claims

1. A method for electronically operating two machine tools, comprising:

providing a machine tool set up at a production site, wherein the machine tool has an electronic machine control, and wherein the machine tool is in data connection with a server platform, wherein the server platform is independent of the production site;

providing at least one software model algorithm on the server platform for simulating the machine behavior during operation, wherein the software model algorithm records an interaction of the two machine tools in model form and on the basis of actual process data from the one machine tool generates set process data for the other machine tool;

transmitting process data constantly or repeatedly from the machine control via the data connection to the server platform;

editing the process data based upon the software model algorithm;

determining set process data for a later point in time based upon the software model algorithm;

comparing the set process data with actual process data transmitted at the later point in time;

generating changed values for at least some of the process data based upon the algorithm;

sending the changed process data via the data connection to the machine control; and

using the changed process data for controlling the machine at the production site by the machine control.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software model algorithm is loaded onto the software platform via the data connection by a manufacturer of the machine.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the software model algorithm is loaded onto the software platform via the data connection by a software service provider.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data connection is effected over internet.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data connection has access restrictions.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data connection is coded.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one software module algorithm is selected in the production site via the data connection, and wherein the selection is from a plurality of software model algorithms.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein a first software model algorithm is loaded onto the software platform via the data connection by a manufacturer of the machine and a second software model algorithm is loaded onto the software platform via the data connection by a software service provider.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one process data is related to a spindle.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process data comprises a spindle torque for a boring machine.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the process data comprises a spindle current for a boring machine.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one process data is stored to optimize the software model algorithm.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein all process data are stored to optimize the software model algorithm.

14. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a computing time of the software model algorithm is determined in a tabular form for various machine tools.