Numeric control apparatus and numeric control machine controlling a number of systems

• US 7,774,088 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Ramesh B
• Application Number:
  US11/720,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20090182438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 700/61, 700/159, 700169-170, 700188-189, 700 19- 20
• US Class Current: 700/169
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36163 Local as well as remote control panel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50216 Synchronize speed and position of several axis, spindles

Abstract

Irrespective of operation mode of systems in which predetermined axes belong to, a multi-system numerical controller is provided that freely combines axes belonging to arbitrary systems, and then simultaneously operates axes belonging to a plurality of systems in a predetermined manual mode, or simultaneously operates a plurality of axes belonging to the same system in respective manual operation modes so as to safely take interpolation control in manual operation. The numerical control apparatus includes a plurality of manual operation controllers and independent of the systems; a manual-operation-mode selecting signal provided each for the manual operation controllers; an arbitrary-axis selection signal, provided each for the manual operation controllers or manual modes, for selecting axes from any of the systems; a manual-move-speed instructing signal provided each for the manual operation controller; a manual operation reset signal provided each for the manual operation controllers.

Claims

1. A numerical control apparatus for controlling a plurality of systems, comprising:

a PLC controller;

a plurality of automatic operation controllers provided for each of a plurality of systems, said each system has assigned, fixed control axes that are automatically operated, where the plurality of automatic operation controllers automatically operate the control axes for the plurality of systems based on signals from the PLC controller;

a plurality of manual operation controllers which manually operate, based on the signals from the PLC controller, any axes of the assigned, fixed control axes irrespective of at least one system to which the axes are assigned;

a manual operation axis selector which determines whether or not axes selected through the manual operation controllers can be manually operated; and

an axis controller which controls the assigned, fixed control axes that the manual operation axis selector determines can be manually operated,

wherein each of the plurality of manual operation controllers comprises;

a manual operation mode selector which selects, based on a manual-operation-mode selecting signal output from the PLC controller, one of operation modes;

a manual operation mode controller which performs control using the selected operation mode, based on an arbitrary-axis selection signal output from the PLC controller, indicating axes that are to be manually operated that includes any axes of the assigned, fixed control axes, and based on predetermined signals output from the PLC controller, specifying operating conditions comprising feed speed; and

a manual operation interpolation controller which performs interpolation control of the axes manually operated by the manual operation mode controller.

2. A numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual operation axis selector determines whether the axes that have been selected by the manual operation controllers can manually be operated, based on whether each of the axes is not instructed simultaneously from any of the manual operation controllers, on automatic operation status of the systems that the instructed axes belong to, and on moving status of the axes.

3. A numerical control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the PLC controller outputs to each of the automatic operation controllers an automatic operation reset signal, and outputs to each of the manual operation controllers a manual operation reset signal.

4. A numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arbitrary-axis selection signal comprises an axis specifying signal for specifying one of axial numbers that are assigned uniquely to all of the controllable axes for the systems, and an axis selection signal for determining whether or not an axis specified by the axis specifying signal is valid.

5. A numerical control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the PLC controller outputs to each of the automatic operation controllers an automatic operation reset signal, and outputs to each of the manual operation controllers a manual operation reset signal.

6. A numerical control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the PLC controller outputs to each of the automatic operation controllers an automatic operation reset signal, and outputs to each of the manual operation controllers a manual operation reset signal.

7. A numeric control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation modes comprise:

a jog-move mode, a handle-move, an incremental-move modes, a manual arbitrary move mode, and a return-to-referential-position mode.

8. A numeric control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of systems are implemented within a unit of hardware and each is controlled by a machining program and control signals that are independent of machining programs and control signals for other system from the plurality of systems, and wherein each of the plurality of systems machines at least one product different from a product machined by the other systems.

9. A numeric control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a respective automatic operation controller from the plurality of the automatic operation controllers is provided for each system from the plurality of systems and wherein a number of the plurality of manual operation controllers is independent of a number of the plurality of systems.

10. A numeric control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a manual operation controller manually operates a plurality of axes simultaneously selected from different systems of the plurality of systems.

11. A numeric control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a separate reset signal is provided for each controller.

12. A numeric control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the manual operation controller comprises user interface elements designating various move operations.

13. A numeric control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of systems comprises a respective system controller, wherein the respective system controller comprises an automatic mode selector and one respective automatic operation controllers from the plurality of automatic operation controllers and wherein each of the plurality of manual operation controllers are independent of the plurality of systems and system controllers and comprise manual operation mode selectors and the operating conditions selector.

14. A numerical control machine tool comprising:

a spindle;

a plurality of tool slides; and

a numerical control apparatus for controlling a plurality of systems, comprising;

a PLC controller;

a plurality of automatic operation controllers provided for each of a plurality of systems, said each system has assigned, fixed control axes that are automatically operated, where the plurality of automatic operation controllers automatically operate the control axes for the plurality of systems based on signals from the PLC controller;

a plurality of manual operation controllers which manually operate, based on the signals from the PLC controller, any axes of the assigned, fixed control axes irrespective of at least one system to which the axes are assigned;

a manual operation axis selector which determines whether or not axes selected through the manual operation controllers can be manually operated; and

an axis controller which controls the assigned, fixed control axes that the manual operation axis selector determines can be manually operated,

wherein each of the plurality of manual operation controllers comprises;

a manual operation mode selector which selects, based on a manual-operation-mode selecting signal output from the PLC controller, one of operation modes;

a manual operation mode controller which performs control using the selected operation mode, based on an arbitrary-axes selection signal output from the PLC controller, indicating axes that are to be manually operated that includes any axes of the assigned, fixed control axes, and based on predetermined signals output from the PLC controller, specifying operating conditions comprising feed speed; and

a manual operation interpolation controller which performs interpolation control of the axes manually operated by the manual operation mode controller.

15. A numerical control machine tool according to claim 14, wherein the manual operation axis selector determines whether the axes that have been selected by the manual operation controllers can manually be operated, based on whether each of the axes is not instructed simultaneously from any of the manual operation controllers, on automatic operation status of the systems that the instructed axes belong to, and on moving status of the axes.

16. A numerical control machine tool according to claim 15, wherein the PLC controller outputs to each of the automatic operation controllers an automatic operation reset signal, and outputs to each of the manual operation controllers a manual operation reset signal.

17. A numerical control machine tool according to claim 14, wherein the arbitrary-axis selection signal comprises an axis specifying signal for specifying one of axial numbers that are assigned uniquely to the controllable axes of the systems, and an axis selection signal for determining whether or not an axis specified by the axis specifying signal is valid.

18. A numerical control machine tool according to claim 17, wherein the PLC controller outputs to each of the automatic operation controllers an automatic operation reset signal, and outputs to each of the manual operation controllers a manual operation reset signal.

19. A numerical control machine tool according to claim 14, wherein the PLC controller outputs to each of the automatic operation controllers an automatic operation reset signal, and outputs to each of the manual operation controllers a manual operation reset signal.

20. A system for controlling a plurality of machining tools where the plurality of tools form a plurality of machining equipment units such that each of the plurality of tools is present in a single machining equipment unit of the plurality of machining equipment units and each of the plurality of machining equipment units is assigned a fixed control axes different from control axes of other machining equipment units from the plurality of machining equipment units, the system comprising:

a selector which is manipulated by an operator selecting an automatic operation mode, for one of the plurality of machining equipment units, executed by a respective automatic operation controller from a plurality of automatic operation controllers;

a selector which is manipulated by the operator selecting a manual operation mode executed by at least one manual operation controller;

the plurality of automatic operation controllers, provided for each of the plurality of machining equipment units, which automatically control fixed control axes of a respective machining equipment unit and automatically perform machining based on a stored program; and

the at least one manual operation controller which manually controls portions of fixed control axes from different equipment units forming an arbitrary virtual equipment unit with a virtual control axes and automatically performs machining using the arbitrary virtual equipment unit.