Software architecture for numerical control system, software control method and application

Abstract

The invention discloses a software architecture for a numerical control system, a software control method and application, and the software architecture comprises a user layer which comprises the numerical control system and a PLC interface unit, and the PLC interface unit responds to remote external equipment to generate an operation signal; the inner core layer comprises a PLC inner core, the PLC inner core is in communication connection with the PLC interface unit, and the PLC inner core is used for generating an operation instruction based on the operation signal; the real-time layer comprises a memory unit, the memory unit is in communication connection with the numerical control system and the PLC kernel, the memory unit is used for storing the operation instruction and the state information of the numerical control system, and the PLC kernel obtains the state information of the numerical control system by accessing the memory unit. And the numerical control system obtains an operation instruction by accessing the memory unit. The PLC interface unit is configured in the soft PLC to respond to the remote external equipment, and the memory unit is arranged in the real-time layer, so that the remote external equipment can safely and remotely control the numerical control system in real time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of numerical control machine tools, and in particular relates to a software architecture, a software control method and an application for a numerical control system. Background Art

[0002] Hardware PLCs are widely used in electronic equipment in the field of industrial automation, especially in the field of CNC machine tools. Hardware PLCs are used to perform logic control, auxiliary function management, and IO signal transmission processing, such as tool changing and sensor response.

[0003] With the increasing integration of CNC machine tools, data transmission is no longer limited to the machine itself, but now occurs between the main control console and multiple machine tools. Therefore, CNC systems must support diverse applications across different machine tool manufacturers. Given the diverse communication protocols, such as TCP / IP, serial port protocols, IIC protocols, and SPI protocols, designing a direct remote interface for the CNC system can compromise both data security and system stability.

[0004] Therefore, in response to the above technical problems, it is necessary to provide a software architecture, software control method and application for a CNC system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a software architecture, software control method and application for a numerical control system, which can configure a PLC interface unit in the soft PLC to respond to remote external devices and set up a memory unit in the real-time layer to ensure that the remote external devices can remotely control the numerical control system in real time and safely.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a specific embodiment of the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] A software architecture for a numerical control system, comprising:

[0008] A user layer includes a numerical control system and a PLC interface unit, wherein the PLC interface unit responds to a remote external device to generate an operation signal;

[0009] a kernel layer, comprising a PLC kernel, the PLC kernel being communicatively connected to the PLC interface unit, and the PLC kernel being configured to generate an operation instruction based on the operation signal;

[0010] The real-time layer includes a memory unit, which is communicatively connected to the numerical control system and the PLC core. The memory unit is used to store the operation instructions and the status information of the numerical control system. The PLC core obtains the status information of the numerical control system by accessing the memory unit, and the numerical control system obtains the operation instructions by accessing the memory unit.

[0011] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a remote control interface is encapsulated in the PLC interface unit, and the remote control interface includes a variable control module, which is used to provide at least one variable. The variable control module responds to a remote external device to configure the variable and generates an operation signal based on the configured variable.

[0012] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the variable comprises an input signal variable, each bit field of the input signal variable represents an input signal bit; and / or,

[0013] The variable includes an output signal variable, each bit field of the output signal variable represents an output signal point; and / or,

[0014] The variables include analytical variables, and the analytical variables are used to store variables in the CNC system machining program; and / or,

[0015] The variables include custom variables, and the custom variables are used to store basic function instructions or custom instructions of the CNC machine tool.

[0016] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the variables further include intermediate variables, and the intermediate variables are used to store intermediate results generated when the PLC core executes logic operations.

[0017] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a local call interface is encapsulated in the PLC interface unit, and the PLC kernel is communicatively connected with the local call interface.

[0018] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the software architecture includes a soft PLC, and the soft PLC includes the PLC processing module and the PLC kernel.

[0019] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the real-time layer further includes an I / O unit, and the I / O unit responds to a local hardware device.

[0020] Another specific embodiment of the present invention further provides a software control method for a numerical control system, comprising:

[0021] Configuring a user layer, a kernel layer, and a real-time layer, wherein the user layer includes a numerical control system and a PLC interface unit, the kernel layer includes a PLC kernel, the PLC kernel is communicatively connected to the PLC interface unit, and the real-time layer includes a memory unit, the memory unit is communicatively connected to the numerical control system and the PLC kernel;

[0022] Responding to a remote external device to generate an operation signal via the PLC interface unit;

[0023] generating, by the PLC core, an operation instruction based on the operation signal;

[0024] Storing the operating instructions and the status information of the numerical control system by the memory unit;

[0025] The numerical control system obtains operation instructions by accessing the memory unit, and the PLC core obtains status information of the numerical control system by accessing the memory unit.

[0026] Another specific embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic device, which includes: at least one processor; and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor, the at least one processor executes the software control method of the numerical control system.

[0027] Another specific embodiment of the present invention further provides a computer-readable storage medium, on which a computer program is stored. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the software control method of the numerical control system is implemented.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the software architecture, software control method and application for the numerical control system of the present invention can meet the remote control of the numerical control system by remote external devices by setting a PLC interface unit in the user layer;

[0029] By setting up memory units within the real-time layer, the PLC kernel and the CNC system communicate by accessing the memory units, avoiding the time overhead of mapping virtual memory to physical memory and ensuring the real-time performance of the entire software architecture;

[0030] The present invention supports convenient protocol expansion, and machine tool system manufacturers can build an integrated machine tool control workshop through free selection. Moreover, this remote PLC control method can achieve precise and comprehensive control of machine tools. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0032] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a software architecture for a numerical control system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 is a flow chart of a software control method for a numerical control system in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 It is a structural block diagram of an electronic device in another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] Unless expressly stated otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprise" or variations such as "include" or "comprising", etc., will be understood to include the stated elements or components but not to exclude other elements or other components.

[0037] The terms "coupled," "connected," or "connected" as used in this specification encompass both direct and indirect connections. An indirect connection is a connection made through an intermediate medium, such as an electrically conductive medium, which may have parasitic inductance or capacitance. An indirect connection may also include a connection through other active or passive devices, such as switches, follower circuits, or other circuits or components, to achieve the same or similar functional objectives. Furthermore, in the present invention, terms such as "first" and "second" are primarily used to distinguish one technical feature from another and do not necessarily require or imply a specific relationship, quantity, or order between these technical features.

[0038] In order to facilitate understanding of the technical solutions of this application, the technical terms that may appear in the present invention are first explained in detail below.

[0039] The performance of a numerical control system, also known as computer numerical control (CNC), directly impacts the stability and precision of machine tools and is therefore a core component. A CNC system is a control system that controls the machine tool according to the numerical instructions in the machining program, enabling it to complete its work. The CNC system performs interpolation calculations based on the machining program to issue control instructions, amplifying these instructions. Servo motors drive the machine to achieve the desired motion. A position measurement system detects the machine's position or speed and provides feedback to the CNC system to modify the control instructions.

[0040] With the development of CNC controllers, the computing power of hardware continues to increase, the anti-interference ability of field communication protocols continues to increase, and with the development of real-time systems, soft PLC can be comparable to hard PLC in performance in actual applications, and the scalability of hard PLC is relatively poor. The present invention uses soft PLC to realize a multi-integrated CNC machine tool system.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention discloses a software architecture for a numerical control system 11 , including a user layer 10 , a kernel layer 20 and a real-time layer 30 .

[0042] Specifically, the user layer 10 includes a numerical control system 11 and a PLC interface unit 12 , and the PLC interface unit 12 responds to the remote external device 40 to generate an operation signal.

[0043] The kernel layer 20 includes a PLC kernel 21 , which is in communication with the PLC interface unit 12 . The PLC kernel 21 is configured to generate an operation instruction based on an operation signal.

[0044] The real-time layer 30 includes a memory unit 31, which is in communication with the CNC system 11 and the PLC core 21. The memory unit 31 is used to store operating instructions and status information of the CNC system 11. The PLC core 21 obtains the status information of the CNC system 11 by accessing the memory unit 31, and the CNC system 11 obtains operating instructions by accessing the memory unit 31.

[0045] It is understandable that the CNC system is connected to the CNC machine tool through a parallel interface, a serial interface, a field bus, an industrial Ethernet, etc.

[0046] The present invention structurally divides the soft PLC into a PLC core 21 and a PLC interface unit 12 (the PLC interface unit 12 can also be understood as the PLC user layer). It is understood that the software architecture proposed in the present invention can run within real-time operating systems, such as Linux and various proprietary real-time operating systems (RTOS). The present invention supports the operation of the soft PLC based on the real-time layer 30, ensuring that the soft PLC's performance is comparable to that of a hard PLC.

[0047] Specifically, since the CNC system 11 runs on the user layer 10 and the PLC kernel 21 is isolated from the user layer 10, a memory unit 31 is allocated in the real-time layer 30 to allow the PLC kernel 21 to directly control the operation of the CNC system 11 and improve efficiency. Memory unit 31 is not managed by the operating system's memory management unit, but rather by the real-time layer 30. This avoids the time overhead of mapping virtual memory to physical memory and ensures the real-time performance of the entire system. Memory unit 31 does not belong to any process, but any process can capture it through the interface of the real-time layer 30, enabling real-time communication between the PLC kernel 21 and the CNC system 11.

[0048] For both security and performance considerations, the present invention incorporates a PLC interface unit 12 within the user layer 10 to facilitate remote control operations. Remote external devices 40 communicate with the PLC interface unit 12, enabling the software architecture to adapt to remote control protocols. In this invention, the soft PLC serves as an intermediary between the remote external device 40 (e.g., a remote computer) and the CNC machine tool, significantly increasing the remote computer's control capabilities over the CNC machine tool. Furthermore, operating the CNC machine tool through the soft PLC makes it easier for operators to get started.

[0049] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the PLC interface unit 12 encapsulates a remote control interface 121. This remote control interface 121 includes a variable control module, which provides at least one variable. The variable control module responds to the remote external device 40 to configure the variable and generates an operation signal based on the configured variable. Therefore, by simply opening the remote control interface 121 to the remote external device 40 for obtaining and setting variables, remote control using various protocols can be accommodated.

[0050] In a specific embodiment, the remote control interface 121 supports communication protocols such as TCP / IP protocol, serial port protocol, IIC protocol, and SPI protocol.

[0051] It should be noted that the variables in this embodiment occupy a certain number of binary bits (e.g., a 32-bit variable has 32 bits). A bit field refers to each binary bit of the variable (bit 0, bit 1, ..., bit N).

[0052] In one specific embodiment, the variables include input signal variables, where each bit field of the input signal variable represents an input signal point. An external device can access the corresponding input signal variable. The variable control module, in response to the remote external device 40, configures the variable and generates an operation signal based on the configured variable (the configured variable is the operation signal). The PLC core 21 processes the signal to generate a corresponding operation instruction. The CNC system 11 controls the operation of the entire CNC machine tool based on the corresponding operation instruction.

[0053] In one embodiment, the variable includes an output signal variable, wherein each bit field of the output signal variable represents an output signal point. Each output signal point corresponds to a CNC machine tool device, and the corresponding CNC machine tool device can be indirectly driven by configuring the output signal variable.

[0054] It is understandable that when faced with more complex CNC machine tools, more complex instruction information needs to be transmitted, and at this time the input signal variables and output signal variables may be difficult to meet the needs.

[0055] To address this situation, in one embodiment, the variables include parsed variables, which are used to store variables in the machining program of the numerical control system 11. For example, by configuring parsed variable R34474, the maximum allowable feed speed can be set, by configuring parsed variable R8006, the tool number of the current spindle can be obtained, and by configuring parsed variable R74140, a synchronized axis can be set.

[0056] In one specific embodiment, the variables include custom variables, which are used to store basic functional instructions or custom instructions for CNC machine tools. CNC machine tools have some basic states, such as start, pause, module switching, and mode selection. By assigning values ​​to custom variables, the machine tool state can be controlled conveniently and quickly. Furthermore, custom variables also reserve some variables for convenient customization by machine tool manufacturers.

[0057] In one embodiment, the variables also include intermediate variables, which are used to store intermediate results generated when the PLC core 21 performs logical operations. For example, if the PLC core 21 generates a result of 2 during a logical operation, the result 2 is stored in the intermediate variable Q1, which then serves as an intermediate result. A second logical operation is then performed on Q1. For example, when Q1 is greater than 0, an output signal variable y1.1 is output as 1. If a light is connected to the corresponding point of the output signal variable y1.1, the light turns on; otherwise, the light turns off.

[0058] Furthermore, the PLC interface unit 12 encapsulates a local call interface 122 , the PLC kernel 21 is communicatively connected to the local call interface 122 , and the local call interface 122 is communicatively connected to the local device.

[0059] Furthermore, the PLC kernel 21 further includes a PLC kernel interface, which is communicatively connected to the local call interface 122 and the remote control interface 121 .

[0060] It can be understood that the present invention respectively sets the PLC interface unit 12 and the PLC kernel 21 in the user layer 10 and the kernel layer 20 to achieve isolation. The PLC interface unit 12 cannot operate the PLC kernel 21 at will, and can only transmit operation signals through the interface provided by the PLC kernel 21. That is, the PLC interface unit 12 can only operate in the manner allowed by the kernel layer 20, so as to avoid remote external devices 40 threatening the safe operation of the user layer 10.

[0061] Compared with other remote control methods, such as directly embedding a module for implementing remote control in a numerical control system, the present invention communicates with a remote external device 40 via a remote control interface 121, which is safer, simpler to operate, and more scalable.

[0062] In one embodiment, the real-time layer 30 also includes an I / O unit that responds to local hardware devices. It will be appreciated that the local hardware devices include hardware interfaces, including PC interfaces, fieldbus interfaces, or gateway interfaces. The local hardware devices are the hardware layer of the real-time operating system.

[0063] The PLC kernel interacts with the real-time operating system (RTOS) through I / O units. The PLC kernel manages the PLC's logical operations and I / O inputs and outputs, ensuring real-time operation. For example, if the PLC scan cycle is set to 10 milliseconds, a real-time task is created through the RTOS's hardware interface to ensure that each PLC cycle completes within 10 milliseconds.

[0064] like Figure 2 As shown, the present invention also discloses a software control method for a numerical control system, based on Figure 1 The software architecture shown in FIG. 1 includes a user layer 10, a kernel layer 20, and a real-time layer 30. The user layer 10 includes a numerical control system 11 and a PLC interface unit 12. The kernel layer 20 includes a PLC kernel 21, which is in communication with the PLC interface unit 12. The real-time layer 30 includes a memory unit 31, which is in communication with the numerical control system 11 and the PLC kernel 21.

[0065] The software control method specifically includes:

[0066] S1, responding to the remote external device 40 through the PLC interface unit 12 to generate an operation signal;

[0067] S2, generating an operation instruction based on the operation signal by the PLC core 21;

[0068] S3, storing the operation instructions and the status information of the numerical control system 11 through the memory unit 31;

[0069] S4 , the numerical control system 11 obtains an operation instruction by accessing the memory unit 31 , and the PLC core 21 obtains status information of the numerical control system 11 by accessing the memory unit 31 .

[0070] Furthermore, the PLC interface unit 12 responds to the remote external device 40 to generate an operation signal, including: the remote control interface 121 includes a variable control module, the variable control module is used to provide at least one variable, the variable control module responds to the remote external device 40 to configure the variable, and generates an operation signal based on the configured variable.

[0071] It can be seen from the above technical solutions that the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0072] By setting up the PLC interface unit in the user layer, the remote external equipment can remotely control the CNC system;

[0073] By setting up memory units in the real-time layer, the PLC kernel and the CNC system communicate by accessing the memory units, avoiding the time overhead of mapping virtual memory to physical memory and ensuring the real-time performance of the entire system;

[0074] The present invention supports convenient protocol expansion, and machine tool system manufacturers can build an integrated machine tool control workshop through free selection. Moreover, this remote PLC control method can achieve precise and comprehensive control of machine tools.

[0075] Please refer to Figure 3 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention further provides an electronic device 400, which includes at least one processor 401, a memory 402 (e.g., a non-volatile memory), a storage 403, and a communication interface 404, wherein the at least one processor 401, the storage 402, the storage 403, and the communication interface 404 are connected together via a bus 405. The at least one processor 401 is configured to call at least one program instruction stored or encoded in the storage 402, so that the at least one processor 401 executes various operations and functions of the software control method for a numerical control system described in various embodiments of this specification.

[0076] In the embodiments of the present specification, the electronic device 400 may include but is not limited to: a personal computer, a server computer, a workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a mobile electronic device, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device, a messaging device, a wearable electronic device, a consumer electronic device, and the like.

[0077] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a computer-readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions. When the computer-executable instructions are executed by a processor, they can be used to implement the various operations and functions of the rotor initial phase detection method described in the various embodiments of this specification.

[0078] The computer-readable medium in the present invention may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium, or any combination thereof. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any combination thereof. More specific examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to, an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. In the present invention, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium containing or storing a program that can be used by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0079] In the present invention, a computer-readable signal medium may include a data signal propagated in baseband or as part of a carrier wave, which carries computer-readable program code. This propagated data signal may take a variety of forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may also be any computer-readable medium other than a computer-readable storage medium, which may transmit, propagate, or transfer a program for use by or in conjunction with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The program code contained on the computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, optical cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination thereof.

[0080] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present invention may be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Thus, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product implemented on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to magnetic disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0081] The present invention is described with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that each process and / or block in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, as well as combinations of processes and / or blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, an embedded processor, or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device generate instructions for implementing the processes in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams. Figure 1 a process or multiple processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in a block or multiple blocks.

[0082] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above and that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and non-restrictive, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, not the foregoing description, and all variations within the meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included therein. Any reference sign in a claim should not be construed as limiting the claim to which it relates.

[0083] In addition, it should be understood that although this specification is described in terms of implementation methods, not every implementation method contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative method of the specification is only for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A software architecture for a numerical control system, characterized in that: include: A user layer includes a numerical control system and a PLC interface unit, wherein the PLC interface unit responds to a remote external device to generate an operation signal; a kernel layer, comprising a PLC kernel, the PLC kernel being communicatively connected to the PLC interface unit, and the PLC kernel being configured to generate an operation instruction based on the operation signal; The real-time layer includes a memory unit, which is communicatively connected to the numerical control system and the PLC core. The memory unit is used to store the operation instructions and the status information of the numerical control system. The PLC core obtains the status information of the numerical control system by accessing the memory unit, and the numerical control system obtains the operation instructions by accessing the memory unit.

2. The software architecture for a numerical control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PLC interface unit encapsulates a remote control interface, which includes a variable control module. The variable control module is used to provide at least one variable. The variable control module responds to a remote external device to configure the variable and generates an operation signal based on the configured variable.

3. The software architecture for a numerical control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The variable includes an input signal variable, each bit field of the input signal variable represents an input signal point; and / or, The variable includes an output signal variable, each bit field of the output signal variable represents an output signal point; and / or, The variables include analytical variables, and the analytical variables are used to store variables in the CNC system machining program; and / or, The variables include custom variables, and the custom variables are used to store basic function instructions or custom instructions of the CNC machine tool.

4. The software architecture for a numerical control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The variables also include intermediate variables, which are used to store intermediate results generated when the PLC core performs logical operations.

5. The software architecture for a numerical control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PLC interface unit encapsulates a local call interface, and the PLC core is communicatively connected with the local call interface.

6. The software architecture for a numerical control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The software architecture includes a soft PLC, and the soft PLC includes the PLC interface unit and the PLC kernel.

7. The software architecture for a numerical control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The real-time layer also includes an I / O unit, which responds to local hardware devices.

8. A software control method for a numerical control system, based on the software architecture according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: include: Responding to a remote external device to generate an operation signal via the PLC interface unit; generating, by the PLC core, an operation instruction based on the operation signal; Storing the operating instructions and the status information of the numerical control system by the memory unit; The numerical control system obtains operation instructions by accessing the memory unit, and the PLC core obtains status information of the numerical control system by accessing the memory unit.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that: The electronic device comprises: at least one processor; and A memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to execute the software control method for a numerical control system according to claim 8.

10. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by the processor, the software control method of the numerical control system according to claim 8 is implemented.

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