Numerical controller for machine having component inspection timing notification function

• US 9,429,933 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
• Inventors: Misoka, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US14/197,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32234 Maintenance planning

Abstract

A numerical controller for a machine tool has a component inspection timing notification function for notifying a user of the timing for inspection of each individual component used in the machine tool. The numerical controller reads an inspection cycle, acquires the date of inspection and state quantity of the component, and calculates an amount of change in state quantity. If the amount of change in state quantity is larger than a predetermined threshold, the inspection cycle is changed. If not, the next inspection date is calculated based on the last inspection date and the inspection cycle. Then, the next inspection date is notified.

Claims

1. A numerical controller for a machine, having function of notifying a timing for inspection of at least one of a plurality of components used in the machine, the numerical controller comprising:

inspection cycle storage means for storing a plurality of inspection cycles for the component;

inspection cycle selecting threshold storage means for storing a first threshold for the selection of an inspection cycle for the component based on an amount of change in state quantity of the component;

state quantity storage means for storing inspection dates for the component and state quantities measured on the inspection dates in association with one another;

amount-of-change calculation means for calculating the amount of change in state quantity based on at least two inspection dates stored in the state quantity storage means and state quantities measured on the at least two inspection dates;

inspection cycle selection means for selecting one of the inspection cycles stored in the inspection cycle storage means by comparing the amount of change in state quantity calculated by the amount-of-change calculation means with the first threshold;

next inspection date calculation means for calculating the next inspection date based on the last inspection date for the component and the inspection cycle selected by the inspection cycle selection means; and

inspection date notification means for notifying the next inspection date calculated by the next inspection date calculation means.

2. The numerical controller for a machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

operation schedule acquisition means for acquiring an operation schedule for the machine;

inspection candidate date acquisition means for extracting a possible date for component inspection from the operation schedule acquired by the operation schedule acquisition means, thereby acquiring an inspection candidate date;

next inspection date selection means for selecting, as the next inspection date, an inspection candidate date nearest and prior to a deadline date for the next inspection, based on the inspection candidate date acquired by the inspection candidate date acquisition means, with the next inspection date calculated by the next inspection date calculation means regarded as the deadline date for the next inspection; and

inspection date notification means for notifying the next inspection date selected by the next inspection date selection means.

3. The numerical controller for a machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

life determining threshold storage means for storing a second threshold for the determination of the life of the component;

component life determination means for determining the life of the component by comparing the state quantity measured on the inspection date with the second threshold stored in the life determining threshold storage means;

component life notification means for notifying that the component life is exhausted when the component life determination means determines that the component life is exhausted;

component replacement information storage means for storing component replacement information indicative of a component replacement when the component notified of exhaustion of the life thereof by the component life notification means is replaced; and

replaced-component inspection cycle selection means for selecting the inspection cycle for the replaced component, from the plurality of inspection cycles stored in the inspection cycle storage means, when the component replacement information is stored in the component replacement information storage means.