Method and system for programmable numerical control

• US 9,483,043 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US14/187,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/408 characterised by data handling or data format, e.g. reading, buffering or conversion of data
• 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 19/414 Structure of the control system, e.g. common controller or multiprocessor systems, interface to servo, programmable interface controller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34303 PNC is plc, pic and nc cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method of controlling a machine tool and other controlled devices, as well as a programmable numerical control (PNC) system, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method of controlling includes receiving a first part program at a programmable logic controller (PLC), and storing the first part program in a string array library of a memory portion of the PLC. The method further includes communicating information between the PLC and an operator interface regarding the first part program, and providing a first signal from the PLC to a first port so as to cause the first machine tool to be operated in accordance with the first part program. Also, in at least some embodiments, the PNC system allows for control of multiple machine tools and/or other controlled devices, by way of one or more part programs, and/or for editing of a part program while that program is being executed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a plurality of machine tools including a first machine tool and one or more additional machine tools, the method comprising:

providing a controller having a memory portion with a part program library configured to receive a first part program in at least one string array, wherein the first part program includes parameters for guiding each of the plurality of machine tools; and

wherein the parameters include axis coordinates for instructing a servo to move a machine tool part to a position as specified by the first part program;

allocating an active tool path buffer and an active display path buffer in the memory portion, wherein the active tool path buffer is configured to serve as a memory source for the first part program when decoding the first part program for execution, and wherein the active display path buffer is capable of communicating a status of the first part program during execution of the first part program;

allocating one or more edit path buffers in the memory portion, wherein a copy of the first part program is receivable into a first edit path buffer of the one or more edit path buffers, and wherein the first edit path buffer is capable of providing the first part program for display on an interface and for receiving inputs from the interface to modify the first part program;

configuring the active tool path buffer, the active display path buffer, and the first edit path buffer to allow for simultaneous execution and editing of the first part program; and

operating the first machine tool in accordance with the first part program and each of the one or more additional machine tools respectively in accordance with either the first part program or one or more additional part programs, wherein the first machine tool and the one or more additional machine tools are run simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of part programs including the first part program and the one or more additional part programs respectively into distinct edit path buffers that are comprised by the one or more edit path buffers and that are in the memory portion.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein each of the one or more additional machine tools is operated in accordance with the first part program.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

providing an offset library real number array in the memory portion for receiving offset inputs capable of modifying the execution of the first part program, and

allocating one or more active offset buffers in the memory portion for receiving offset data associated with the first part program.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

allocating one or more edit offset buffers configured to allow for the simultaneous operations of providing offset data for use with the first part program and editing the offset data associated with the first part program during operation of the first part program.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the first part program;

selecting the first part program; and

decoding the first part program into commands and associated real number axis coordinates after a receipt of a selection of the first part program.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing the commands and associated real value axis positions and generating instructions to execute the commands.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

communicating the commands based upon the first part program at least indirectly to both a user interface and each of the first machine tool and the one or more additional machine tools, so that each of the machine tools operates based upon the first part program and so that a representation of the execution of the first part program is displayed at the user interface.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the one or more additional part programs into distinct edit path buffers that are comprised by the one or more edit path buffers and that are in the memory portion; and

receiving a selection signal at the interface indicating that the first part program has been selected and should be run so that the first machine tool is operated in accordance with the selected first part program,

wherein the one or more additional machine tools are respectively run in accordance with the one or more additional part programs.

10. A method of controlling plurality of machine tools including a first machine tool and one or more additional machine tools, the method comprising:

receiving at least one part program at a controller, wherein the at least one part program includes parameters for guiding the machine tools, wherein the parameters include axis coordinates for instructing a servo to move a machine tool part to a position as specified by the at least one part program;

storing the at least one part program in a string array library of a memory portion of the controller;

receiving a first selection signal at an operator interface indicating a first selection of a first part program of the at least one part program and communicating the first selection to the controller;

decoding the first part program identified by the first selection into commands and associated real value axis positions;

storing the commands and associated real value axis positions and generating motion instructions to execute the commands;

receiving a second selection signal at the operator interface indicating an additional selection of the first machine tool, from among the plurality of machine tools, for performing a process in accordance with the first part program; and

communicating the motion instructions at least indirectly to both the operator interface and the first machine tool, so that the first machine tool operates based upon the first part program and so that a representation of an execution of the first part program is displayed at the operator interface;

wherein the memory portion is configured to provide for simultaneous execution and editing of the first part program, and

wherein a first additional machine tool of the one or more additional machine tools is operated, based upon the at least one part program, simultaneously with the operating of the first machine tool.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of part programs including the at least one part program are received at the controller, and wherein the communicating includes receiving a further selection signal at the operator interface indicating that a second part program of the plurality of part programs should be run so that a first one of the one or more additional machine tools is operated in accordance with the second part program.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

displaying at least one of a plurality of blocks of the first part program on the operator interface.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein two different ones of the first and one or more additional part programs respectively are run in connection with two different parts, respectively, of one of the plurality of machine tools.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one of the plurality of machine tools is a lathe, and the two different parts respectively are first and second portions of the lathe.

15. A method of controlling a plurality of machine tools including a first machine tool and one or more additional machine tools, the method comprising:

storing a first part program in a part program library of a memory portion of a controller configured to interface with the plurality of machine tools, and storing a plurality of part programs including the first part program in the form of string arrays in the memory portion of the controller upon receipt of the plurality of part programs at the controller, wherein the first part program includes parameters for guiding the first machine tool wherein the parameters include axis coordinates for instructing a servo to move a machine tool part to a position as specified by the first part program;

decoding the first part program into commands and associated real number axis coordinates after a receipt of a first selection of the first part program; and

storing the commands and associated real number axis coordinates for execution of the first part program,

wherein the controller is capable of segregating and storing the plurality of part programs, wherein the segregating includes assigning each of the part programs to a distinct location in the part program library;

wherein the memory portion is configured to provide for simultaneous execution and editing of the first part program, and

operating the machine tools of the plurality of machine tools simultaneously based upon the plurality of part programs.

16. The method of claim 15, further including receiving a machine tool selection signal at an operator interface, indicating that the first machine tool should be operated in accordance with the first part program, wherein the operator interface is in communication with the controller and the first machine tool.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the controller is capable of communicating the commands and associated real number axis coordinates at least indirectly to at least one of an operator interface and the first machine tool.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the commands and associated real number axis coordinates communicable by the controller are interpretable in the form of a graphical representation of an execution of the selected first part program for display at the operator interface.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the memory portion further includes an offset library comprising a real number array.

20. The method of claim 15, further including receiving at least one machine tool selection signal at an operator interface, indicating that two or more of the plurality of machine tools should be operated in accordance with the first part program, wherein the operator interface is in communication with the controller and the first machine tool.