Virtualization-based numerical control system and method thereof

• US 10,372,111 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2015
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huazhong University of Science & Technology
• Original Assignee: Huazhong University of Science & Technology
• Inventors: Yang, Jianzhong, Feng, Bingyan, Hui, Enming, Ding, Guotao, Lu, Yongliang
• Primary Examiner(s): Connolly, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US15/109,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20160327939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/414 Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4185 characterised by the network communication
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23067 Control, human or man machine interface, interactive, HMI, MMI
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31422 Upload, download programs, parameters from, to station to, from server
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Disclosed is a numerical control system, comprising a local NC device and a remote server connected therewith, and the remote server operates to process non-real-time tasks, comprising G code programming, coding and machining simulation, and to realize value-added functions. The server is connected with the NC device via a client disposed on the NC device, and the client operates to conduct virtual operation on the remote server via a HMI of the local NC device by using virtualization technology, thereby controlling operation on the server on the local NC device, and controlling NC machining by cooperation of the server and the local NC device. The invention also discloses a control method for the system. The invention is capable of realizing diversified, elastic and individual function configuration of the whole numerical control system, and improves the machining efficiency of the numerical control system.

Claims

1. A virtualization-based numerical control (NC) system for controlling NC machining by configuring a remote server and a local NC device and facilitating interaction thereof, said system comprising:

a local NC device operating to process real-time tasks, comprising speed processing, interpolation operation, position control and on-line detection, and to realize human-computer interaction; and

a remote server connected with said local NC device, said remote server operating to process non-real-time tasks, comprising G code programming, coding and machining simulation, and to realize value-added functions, comprising one or more value added functions, the value added functions including one or more of document editing or document viewing, Internet browsing, WinSCP file transfer, NC code quality analysis and detection, and NC code spline fitting and optimization;

wherein said remote server is connected with said local NC device via a client disposed on said local NC device, and said client operates to conduct virtual operation on said remote server via a human-machine interactive device of said local NC device by using virtualization technology, thereby controlling said remote server on said local NC device, and facilitating NC machining control by cooperation of said remote server and said local NC device.

2. The virtualization-based NC system of claim 1, wherein the process of conducting virtual operation on said remote server via a human-machine interactive device by said client comprises:

transmitting an operation interface image corresponding to said remote server to a Human-Machine Interface (HMI), transmitting operation on the operation interface to said remote server in an instruction manner, and transmitting the result to said HMI for updating and displaying after said remote server responds, thereby facilitating localization operation of said remote server.

3. The virtualization-based NC system of claim 2, wherein the process of transmitting and displaying said operation interface image comprises firstly compressing said operation interface image, then transmitting said compressed image to said local NC device based on TCP/IP protocol, and decompressing said compressed image and finally refreshing said HMI according to said decompressed image by said local NC device receiving said decompressed image.

4. The virtualization-based NC system of claim 1, wherein said remote server is a server/PC, a virtual machine running on said server/PC, or a tablet computer.

5. The virtualization-based NC system of claim 1, wherein said remote server can be connected with one or more of a plurality of local NC devices for interaction, NC machining or resource sharing.

6. The virtualization-based NC system of claim 1, wherein functions of said remote server can be one or more of expanded, cut down or configured through said client disposed on said local NC device.

7. The virtualization-based NC system of claim 1, wherein said client is self-adaptive to different screens, and the interface resolution is automatically adjustable according to the screen size of said HMI.

8. The virtualization-based NC system of claim 1, wherein said virtual operation on said remote server on said HMI of said local NC device and workpiece processing by a NC machine may occur simultaneously.

9. A control method for a virtualization-based numerical control (NC) system, said system operating for controlling NC machining by configuring a remote server and a local NC device and facilitating interaction thereof, and said control method comprising:

locally arranging an NC device operating to process real-time tasks, comprising speed processing, interpolation operation, position control and on-line detection, and to realize human-computer interaction; and

remotely arranging a server connecting with said local NC device, said server operating to process non-real-time tasks, comprising G code programming, coding and machining simulation, and to realize value-added functions, comprising one or more value added functions, the value added functions including document editing or document viewing, Internet browsing, WinSCP file transfer, NC code quality analysis and detection, and NC code spline fitting and optimization;

disposing a client on said NC device and running said client, so as to facilitate connection between said server and said NC device via said client disposed on said NC device, conducting virtual operation on said server via a human-machine interactive (HMI) device on said NC device by utilizing virtualization technology, so as to control said server on said local NC device, and further to facilitate NC machining control by cooperation of said server and said local NC device.

10. The control method for a virtualization-based NC system of claim 9, wherein the process of conducting virtual operation on said server via said (HMI) device by said client comprises:

transmitting an operation interface image corresponding to said server to the HMI device, transmitting operation on the operation interface to said server in an instruction manner, and transmitting the result to the HMI device for updating and displaying after said server responds, thereby facilitating localization operation of said server.