System and method for maintenance and repair of CNC machines

• US 6,138,056 A
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
• Original Assignee: Therwood Corporation
• Inventors: Susnjara, Kenneth J., Hardesty, Michael P
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): CABRERA, ZOILA E
• Application Number:
  US09/032,855
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 700/79, 700/80, 700/174, 700/177, 700/180, 700/175, 700/179, 700/195, 702/184, 702/177, 706/911, 706/912, 409/194, 409/193, 409/80, 408/11, 483/11, 83/62.1
• US Class Current: 700/174
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4063 Monitoring general control system G05B19/4062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31467 Display of operating conditions of machines, workcells, selected programs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32226 Computer assisted repair, maintenance of system components
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32234 Maintenance planning
• 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 408/172 Responsive to Tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/30728 In response to cutter condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 483/138 including means to monitor and control, i.e., adaptive machining

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed providing improved maintainability for CNC machine tools with serviceable parts. An electronic manual with video, audio, and textual information is stored in memory on a computer system integrated with the CNC tool control. A first register in computer system memory stores predetermined cycle value for at least one serviceable part. A service clock accumulates information collected from tool movement data monitored using the CNC machine tool control in a second register. Maintenance events are indicated for at least one serviceable part based on a comparison of first and second register contents. A graphical display with a graphical representation of the CNC machine shows where the maintenance event has occurred and where maintenance is required with an accompanying alarm indication. Such an indication may be a visual alarm indication superimposed on the graphical display in proximity to location of maintenance event. Text, video, and audio information and instructions representative of steps involved in maintenance event are retrieved from the electronic manual in response to an alarm indication and displayed on a computer screen including a graphical display. Information from the electronic manual is further accessed in a general access mode for training or general information purposes using Hypertext link search.

Claims

1. A controller of a CNC machine, comprising:

a processing device, a storage device, an input device, a first input/output device, a second input/output device, a display device, and a sound reproduction device being connected together through a communication system;

a machine program, a distance table and a time table being stored in the storage device;

the processing device upon executing the machine program decodes the machine program into distance-data and running-time data for directing a cutting tool to travel along an axis of the CNC machine;

wherein the distance-data and the running-time data being correspondingly accumulated in the distance table and the time table.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the storage device further comprises an electronic maintenance manual.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the display device displays a template of the electronic maintenance manual once the controller receives a request from the input device.

4. The controller of claim 2, wherein the display device displays a maintenance schedule view window once the controller receives a request through the input device.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the maintenance schedule view window further comprises an event-description box, a group box, a cycle-time box, an event-history box and a time-remaining box.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein a plurality of events being selectable from an event-history data key, whereby the event-description box, the group box, the cycle-time box, the event-history box and the time-remaining box each correspondingly display relevant data pertaining to a selected event.

7. The controller of claim 5, wherein the controller being updated by inputting information into the event-description box, the group box, the cycle-time box, the event-history box and the time-remaining box through the input device.

8. The controller of claim 2, wherein the electronic maintenance manual further comprises a hypertext search feature.

9. The controller of claim 2, wherein the display device displays a template of the electronic maintenance manual once one of a value contained in the distance table reaches a distance threshold value and a value contained in the time table reaches a time threshold value.

10. The controller of claim 2, wherein a warning signal being produced through the sound reproduction device once one of a value contained in the distance table reaches a distance threshold value and a value contained in the time table reaches a time threshold value.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the display device displays a screen comprising a flashing service-needed message.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the screen further comprises a graphical representation depicting a trouble area of the CNC machine, a message suggesting corrective actions, and a plurality of option keys.

13. The controller of claim 2, wherein the storage device further comprises a plurality of threshold values each pertaining to one aspect of the CNC machine.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein a same group value is assigned to the plurality of threshold values having a same number.

15. The controller of claim 14, wherein the display device sequentially displays graphical representations depicting different areas of the CNC machine having a same group number once a threshold value of that group number has been reached.

16. The controller of claim 1, wherein the distance table stored with a predetermined distance value and the time table stored with a predetermined time value correspondingly and accumulatively subtract the distance data and the time-running data.

17. The controller of claim 2, wherein the display device displays a video clip once the controller receives a request from the input device.

18. A method of monitoring a CNC machine with a controller, comprising the steps of:

executing a machine program by a processing device;

decoding the machine program into a distance-data and a running-time data for directing a cutting tool to travel along an axis of the CNC machine;

accumulating the distance-data in a distance table; and

accumulating the running-time data in a time table.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprises a step of:

storing an electronic maintenance manual into a storage device.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprises a step of:

displaying a template of the electronic maintenance manual on a display device once the controller receives a request from an input device.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprises a step of:

displaying a maintenance schedule view window once the controller receives a request through an input device.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprises a step of:

displaying an event-description box, a group box, a cycle-time box, an event-history box and a time-remaining box in the maintenance schedule view window.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprises a step of:

selecting one of a plurality of events from an event-history data key; and

displaying relevant data of the selected event in the event-description box, the group box, the cycle-time box, the event-history box and the time-remaining box.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprises a step of:

updating the controller by inputting information into the event-description box, the group box, the cycle-time box, the event-history box and the time-remaining box through an input device.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprises a step of:

searching the electronic maintenance manual with a hypertext search feature.

26. The method of claim 19 further comprises a step of:

displaying a template of the electronic maintenance manual once one of a value contained in the distance table reaches a distance threshold value and a value contained in the time table reaches a time threshold value.

27. The method of claim 19 further comprises a step of:

producing a warning signal once one of a value contained in the distance table reaches a distance threshold value and a value contained in the time table reaches a time threshold value.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprises a step of:

displaying a screen comprising a flashing service-needed message.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprises a step of:

displaying a graphical representation depicting an area of the CNC machine, a message suggesting corrective actions, and a plurality of option keys on the screen.

30. The method of claim 19 further comprises a step of:

storing a plurality of threshold values each pertaining to one aspect of the CNC machine.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprises a step of:

assigning a same group number to the plurality of threshold values having a same number.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprises a step of:

sequentially display graphical representations depicting different areas of the CNC machine having a same group number once a threshold value of that group number has been reached.

33. The method of claim 18 further comprises a step of:

accumulatively subtracting the distance data and the time-running data correspondingly from a predetermined distance value stored in the distance table and a predetermined time value stored in the time table.

34. The method of claim 19 further comprises a step of:

displaying a video clip on a display device once the controller receives a request from an input device.

35. A controller of a CNC machine, comprising:

a processing device, a storage device, an input device, a first input/output device and a second input/output device being connected together through a communication system;

a distance table and a time table being stored in the storage device;

a transducer being connected to a motor of the CNC machine and the first input/output device;

the transducer inputting rotation data of the motor to the controller upon a motor-run;

the processing device calculates a distance data and a running-time data based on at least one characteristic of a transmission and the rotation data;

wherein the distance table and the time table correspondingly accumulate the distance-data and the running-time data.

36. A method of monitoring a CNC machine, comprising the steps of:

collecting rotation data of a motor of the CNC machine;

calculating a distance data and a time data based on the rotation data and at least one characteristic of a transmission;

accumulating the distance-data in a distance table; and

accumulating the running-time data in a time table.

37. A controller of a CNC machine, comprising:

a processing device, a storage device, an input device, a first input/output device and a second input/output device being connected together through a communication system;

a machine program, a first distance table, a second distance table, a first time table and a second time table being stored in the storage device;

the processing device upon executing the machine program decodes the machine program into program distance data and program running-time data for directing a cutting tool to travel along an axis of the CNC machine;

the first distance table and the first time table correspondingly accumulate the program distance-data and the program running-time data;

a transducer being connected to a motor of the CNC machine and the first input/output device;

the transducer inputting rotation data of the motor to the controller upon a motor-run;

the processing device calculates a machine distance data and a machine running-time data based on the rotation data and at least one characteristic of a transmission;

the second distance table and the second time table correspondingly accumulate the distance data and the running-time data;

wherein the processing device compares a content of the first distance table with a content of the second distance table, and compares a content of the first running-time table with a content of the second running-time table.

38. The controller of claim 37, wherein the storage device further comprises an electronic maintenance manual.

39. The controller of claim 38, wherein the display device displays a template of the electronic maintenance manual once one of a distance comparison result does not fall within a predetermined distance boundary and one of a time comparison result does not fall within a predetermined time boundary.

40. The controller of claim 38, wherein a warning signal being produced through the sound reproduction device once one of a distance comparison result does not fall within a predetermined distance boundary and one of a time comparison result does not fall within a predetermined time boundary.

41. A method of monitoring a CNC machine, comprising the steps of:

executing a machine program by a processing device;

decoding the machine program into a program distance data and a program running-time data for directing a cutting tool to travel along an axis of the CNC machine;

accumulating the program distance data in a first distance table;

accumulating the program running-time data in a first time table;

collecting rotation data from a CNC machine motor;

calculating a machine distance data and a machine time data based on the rotation data and at least one characteristic of a transmission;

accumulating the machine distance data in a second distance table;

accumulating the machine running-time data in a second time table; and

comparing a content of the first distance table with a content of the second distance table, and comparing a content of the first time table with a content of the second time table.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprises a step of:

storing an electronic maintenance manual into a storage device.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprises a step of:

displaying a template of the electronic maintenance manual once one of a distance comparison result does not fall within a predetermined distance boundary and a time comparison result does not fall within a predetermined time boundary.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprises a step of:

producing a warning signal once one of a distance comparison result does not fall within a predetermined distance boundary and a time comparison result does not fall within a predetermined time boundary.