Plasma cutting equipment control system

Abstract

The invention provides a plasma cutting equipment control system which comprises a numerical control machine tool which comprises a computer terminal and a machine tool body, the computer terminal is used for issuing a first control instruction of the machine tool body and a second control instruction of plasma cutting equipment, and the machine tool body is used for receiving the first control instruction; the plasma cutting equipment is driven to move based on the first control instruction; the equipment main controller is used for receiving the second control instruction and issuing the process parameters to the execution controller based on the second control instruction; wherein the equipment main controller is communicated with the computer terminal through a digital communication interface; and the execution controller is used for controlling the technological parameters in the cutting process based on the technological parameters issued by the equipment main controller. Data transmission between the equipment main controller and the numerical control machine tool is realized through a standardized digital communication protocol, the real-time performance of multiple tasks can be guaranteed, the system universality is improved, and the task processing real-time performance and reliability are improved through a distributed control architecture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of plasma cutting equipment technology, and specifically to a plasma cutting equipment control system. Background Technology

[0002] Plasma cutting technology, as a highly efficient and precise metal processing method, is widely used in industries such as automotive, locomotive, pressure vessels, chemical machinery, nuclear industry, general machinery, and steel structures. Plasma cutting equipment utilizes the heat of a high-temperature plasma arc to melt part or a portion of the metal at the workpiece's cut edge, and then uses the momentum of high-speed plasma to expel the molten metal, forming the cut. Compared to traditional flame cutting, plasma cutting offers advantages such as better cutting quality, narrower kerf width, higher precision, faster cutting speed, safety, and cleaner operation. Combining CNC machine tools with plasma cutting equipment allows for the setting and sending of process parameters via a computer terminal on the CNC machine tool, and the control of the plasma cutting equipment's movement via the CNC machine tool, achieving digital control of the plasma cutting equipment.

[0003] However, current communication between plasma cutting equipment and CNC machine tools still primarily relies on physical lines for level conversion. This method has limited parameter expansion, making it difficult to meet the real-time multi-tasking requirements under complex working conditions, thus reducing the system's versatility and adaptability. Furthermore, traditional plasma cutting control systems often employ centralized control, which is also insufficient for meeting the real-time multi-tasking needs under complex conditions. Existing communication methods between plasma cutting equipment and CNC machine tools are costly, lack versatility, and are difficult to adapt to different application scenarios, limiting the system's promotion and application. Traditional plasma cutting control systems have limitations in parameter setting and adjustment, making it difficult to flexibly adjust to different workpieces and processing requirements, affecting cutting accuracy and efficiency. Simultaneously, the significant electromagnetic interference generated during plasma cutting severely impacts the reliability of the control system. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems in the existing technology, the purpose of this application is to provide a plasma cutting equipment control system that uses a digital communication interface to replace the traditional physical level conversion line. Data transmission is achieved between the main controller of the equipment and the CNC machine tool through a standardized digital communication protocol, which can ensure the real-time performance of multiple tasks, improve the versatility of the system, and enhance the real-time performance and reliability of task processing through a distributed control architecture.

[0005] This application provides a plasma cutting equipment control system, including:

[0006] The CNC machine tool includes a computer terminal and a machine tool body. The computer terminal is used to issue first control commands to the machine tool body and second control commands to the plasma cutting equipment. The machine tool body is used to receive the first control commands and drive the plasma cutting equipment to move based on the first control commands.

[0007] The main controller of the equipment is used to receive second control commands and, based on these commands, send process parameters to the execution controller; wherein, the main controller communicates with the computer terminal via a digital communication interface; and

[0008] The execution controller is used to control the process parameters during the cutting process based on the process parameters issued by the main controller of the equipment.

[0009] In some embodiments, the device main controller and the execution controller communicate via a digital communication interface.

[0010] In some embodiments, the execution controller includes a gas controller and a cooler controller, and the main controller, the gas controller, and the cooler controller are each a single-chip microcomputer.

[0011] In some embodiments, the computer terminal is also used to receive feedback data from the plasma cutting equipment from the main controller of the equipment.

[0012] In some embodiments, the plasma cutting equipment control system further includes a display screen, and the computer terminal is also used to display the working status data in the feedback data through the display screen.

[0013] In some embodiments, the computer terminal is also used to store feedback data from the plasma cutting equipment and generate cutting data records.

[0014] In some embodiments, the device main controller is connected to the power switch module via a PWM signal circuit.

[0015] In some embodiments, the plasma cutting equipment control system further includes a voltage acquisition module for acquiring the cathode voltage and anode voltage of the plasma jet gun of the plasma cutting equipment, and obtaining the voltage difference between the cathode voltage and the anode voltage.

[0016] The main controller of the equipment is also used to determine whether there is an abnormality after receiving the acquisition signal from the voltage acquisition module, and to execute the specified fault handling action when an abnormality is determined to exist.

[0017] In some embodiments, the plasma cutting equipment control system further includes a drawing device for receiving drawing instructions from a computer terminal and drawing cutting lines on the workpiece to be cut according to the drawing instructions.

[0018] In some embodiments, the line drawing device includes a laser pen assembly.

[0019] The plasma cutting equipment control system provided in this application has the following advantages:

[0020] By adopting the solution of this application, a digital communication interface is used to replace the traditional physical level conversion line. Data transmission is achieved between the main controller of the equipment and the CNC machine tool through a standardized digital communication protocol. The digital communication interface can support the parallel transmission of multiple types of parameters and can be expanded to multiple parameter channels to meet the multi-task requirements of complex working conditions and ensure the real-time performance of multiple tasks. At the same time, the digital communication method is compatible with the interfaces of different devices, which is conducive to improving the system's versatility. This application improves the real-time performance of task processing through a distributed control architecture. Global scheduling is achieved through a computer terminal, motion control is achieved through the machine tool body, and distributed control is achieved through the main controller and execution controller at the plasma cutting equipment end. This avoids the single point of failure of centralized control. At the same time, the distributed architecture can reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference on the entire control system, thereby improving the reliability of the control system. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Other features, objects, and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of a plasma cutting equipment control system according to an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a structural block diagram of a plasma cutting equipment control system according to a specific example of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be comprehensive and complete, and will fully convey the concept of example embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three-dimensional orientation of the structure to fall within the scope of this application. Although certain features are indicated by terms such as "first" or "second" in this specification, these are merely indicative of function and not as a limitation on the number or importance of specific features. Some block diagrams shown in the drawings are functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically or logically independent entities. These functional entities may be implemented in software, in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different network and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0025] To address the problems in existing technologies, a novel digital communication system for CNC machine tools and plasma cutting equipment is urgently needed. This system should be capable of unlimited parameter expansion, possess low cost and high versatility to adapt to different application scenarios. Simultaneously, it is also necessary to consider how to improve the system's anti-interference capabilities to ensure stable operation in complex machining environments.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of a plasma cutting equipment control system according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 As shown in the figure, this application provides a plasma cutting equipment control system, including:

[0027] The CNC machine tool M100 includes a computer terminal M110 and a machine tool body M120. The computer terminal M110 is used to issue first control commands to the machine tool body M120 and second control commands to the plasma cutting equipment. The machine tool body M120 is used to receive the first control commands and drive the plasma cutting equipment to move based on the first control commands. The computer terminal M110 acts as the host computer of the machine tool body M120, realizing the overall control of the cutting process.

[0028] The main controller M210 receives second control commands and, based on these commands, sends process parameters to the execution controller M220. The main controller M210 communicates with the computer terminal M110 via a digital communication interface.

[0029] The execution controller M220 is used to control the process parameters during the cutting process based on the process parameters issued by the main controller M210 of the equipment.

[0030] The main controller M210 and execution controller M220 are located within the plasma cutting equipment, working in conjunction with the CNC machine tool M100 to perform the cutting actions of the CNC plasma cutting equipment. The plasma cutting equipment also includes a cutting head. The machine tool body M120 is used to move the cutting head according to the speed and shape set in the first control command of the computer terminal M110 to achieve the cutting of workpieces of different shapes.

[0031] This application employs a digital communication interface to replace the traditional physical line level conversion method, realizing communication between CNC machine tools and plasma cutting equipment. It overcomes the limitations of traditional communication methods in terms of parameter expansion, enabling unlimited parameter settings and flexible adjustments. This meets the real-time requirements of multi-task operation under complex working conditions, significantly improving the system's versatility and adaptability. This application implements a digital communication system with strong anti-interference capabilities, effectively addressing electromagnetic interference generated during plasma cutting, ensuring stable operation of the control system in complex processing environments, and improving the reliability of the control system. The digital communication system of this application is low-cost, highly versatile, and adaptable to different application scenarios, greatly reducing the overall cost of plasma cutting equipment and enhancing its market competitiveness. This application achieves remote communication and data interaction between CNC machine tools and plasma cutting equipment through a digital communication interface and digital communication protocol, overcoming the limitations of traditional centralized control and meeting the needs of modern industrial production for remote operation and real-time monitoring.

[0032] In this embodiment, the main controller of the equipment communicates with the computer terminal via a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) digital interface, employing a custom digital communication protocol. Data transmission can be transmitted via Bluetooth, carrier wave, Wi-Fi, CAN, or other carriers as needed. Optionally, in this embodiment, the main controller communicates with the computer terminal via a CAN bus, and the main controller also communicates with the execution controller via a CAN bus. Because the CAN communication protocol offers strong real-time performance and reliability, it is suitable for applications in industrial automation control systems.

[0033] Figure 2 This is a structural block diagram of a plasma cutting equipment control system according to a specific example of this application. Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, the execution controller includes a gas controller M221 and a cooler controller M222. The main device controller, gas controller, and cooler controller are respectively equipped with a first microcontroller chip, a second microcontroller chip, and a third microcontroller chip. The main device controller corresponds to the plasma cutting power controller, which communicates with the gas controller and cooler controller through a digital communication interface to realize gas control and cooling temperature control during the plasma cutting process. For example, the main device controller connects and communicates with the gas controller and cooler controller through a CAN bus, but this application is not limited to this. The main device controller can also communicate with the gas controller and cooler controller in other ways, such as Bluetooth, carrier wave, WIFI, etc. The main device controller sends gas supply parameters to the gas controller, which is used to realize gas supply and flow regulation during the plasma cutting process. The main device controller sends cooling temperature parameters to the cooler controller, which is used to control the operation of the cooling system during the plasma cutting process.

[0034] In this embodiment, optionally, the first microcontroller chip uses GigaDevice's GD32F303 chip as the main controller. This chip features a high-performance ARM Cortex-M4 core, abundant peripheral resources, and advanced electromagnetic interference suppression technology, and is characterized by fast instruction execution speed, with most instructions completed within a single cycle. Optionally, the second and third microcontrollers can also use GigaDevice's GD32F303 chips, but this application is not limited to this; other types of microcontroller chips can also be used as needed, and are not limited to those listed herein.

[0035] The existing communication methods for CNC machine tools and plasma cutting equipment still have the following problems: current plasma cutting equipment lacks intelligent and visualization functions, is complex to operate, inconvenient, and difficult to remotely control and monitor in real time, thus limiting production efficiency and flexibility. This application, by using GigaDevice's GD32F303 chip and a custom digital communication protocol, achieves system intelligence and visualization, overcoming the problems of complex and inconvenient operation of traditional plasma cutting equipment, and improving the system's ease of operation and human-machine interaction.

[0036] In this embodiment, the computer terminal is also used to receive feedback data from the plasma cutting equipment from the main controller of the equipment. Optionally, the computer terminal is also used to store the feedback data from the plasma cutting equipment and generate cutting data records. Therefore, the computer terminal has a data recording function, which can save key parameters in the cutting process, facilitating subsequent process optimization and quality control.

[0037] In this embodiment, the control system supports remote control and real-time monitoring functions. For example... Figure 2As shown, in this embodiment, the plasma cutting equipment control system also includes a display screen M130, which communicates with a computer terminal M110. The computer terminal M110 is also used to display the working status data from the feedback data through the display screen, thereby achieving visualization. Operators can observe and operate the cutting process through the display screen M130.

[0038] The core of plasma cutting is the formation of a stable plasma arc between the cathode and anode, and the stability of the arc is directly determined by the voltage difference between the cathode and anode, which corresponds to the arc voltage. For example... Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the plasma cutting equipment control system further includes a voltage acquisition module M230, used to acquire the cathode and anode voltages of the plasma torch of the plasma cutting equipment and obtain the voltage difference between the cathode and anode voltages. A comparator can be installed at the voltage acquisition module to compare the voltage difference between the cathode and anode voltages. The voltage acquisition module can further determine whether an abnormality exists based on the voltage difference and output an abnormality detection signal to the main controller of the equipment. Alternatively, the voltage acquisition module can send the voltage difference as an acquisition signal to the main controller of the equipment. The main controller of the equipment is also used to determine whether an abnormality exists after receiving the acquisition signal from the voltage acquisition module, and to execute a specified fault handling action when an abnormality is determined. During normal cutting, the arc voltage has a fixed range. If the arc voltage is abnormal (too high or too low), an abnormality is determined, and a specified fault handling action is executed, such as cutting off the output current or reducing the output current through a power switch, thereby automatically adjusting the working state of the plasma cutting machine power supply to ensure the safe operation of the plasma cutting equipment. An equipment panel can also be installed in the plasma cutting equipment to display the current status of the plasma cutting equipment.

[0039] In some embodiments, the plasma cutting equipment control system further includes a drawing device for receiving drawing instructions from a computer terminal and drawing cutting lines on the workpiece to be cut according to the drawing instructions, facilitating positioning by the operator. Optionally, the drawing device includes a laser pointer assembly.

[0040] In some embodiments, the remote control and real-time monitoring functions of the control system are implemented via industrial Ethernet, allowing operators to observe and operate the cutting process in real time via a computer terminal. The data logging function of the control system uses an SQL (Structured Query Language) database set up on the computer terminal for storage, enabling the permanent saving of key parameters during the cutting process, facilitating subsequent process optimization and quality control.

[0041] In some embodiments, the main controller of the device is connected to the power switching module via a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal circuit. The main controller controls the switching of the power devices based on second control commands issued from a computer terminal. The PWM signal is a periodic high-low level pulse, and its duty cycle directly determines the conduction time of the power switching module. A higher duty cycle results in a longer conduction time and more output power; a lower duty cycle results in a shorter conduction time and less output power. In this embodiment, the main controller can also acquire the output current signal through a current signal sampling circuit and process the data with the internal DSP (Digital Signal Processor) processing unit through an A / D conversion peripheral interface to achieve closed-loop current control. In this embodiment, the peripheral circuits of the main controller, in addition to the PWM signal circuit and digital communication interface, also include a current signal sampling circuit and a relay control circuit. These circuits enable control of the power switching module, acquisition and processing of current signals, control of the arc ignition process, and data communication with the CNC machine tool.

[0042] In some embodiments, the gas controller is responsible for gas supply and flow regulation during the plasma cutting process, employing a GigaDevice GD32F303 chip. The gas controller connects to the general-purpose I / O interface of its internal DSP processing unit via a solenoid valve control circuit. Based on gas status information, it controls the corresponding solenoid valves through the solenoid valve control circuit to control the required gas pressure and flow direction. Optionally, the gas controller interacts with the main controller of the equipment via a CAN communication circuit to achieve real-time monitoring of the gas status. The peripheral circuitry of the gas controller includes a solenoid valve control circuit, a gas pressure signal sampling circuit, and a CAN communication circuit. These circuits enable control of the solenoid valves, acquisition and processing of gas pressure signals, and data communication with the main controller of the equipment.

[0043] In some embodiments, the cooler controller is used to control the cooler during the plasma cutting process. It is connected to the main controller of the equipment via a CAN bus to achieve temperature control of the cooler. The cooler controller can automatically adjust the operating state of the cooler according to the temperature commands sent by the main controller of the equipment.

[0044] In some embodiments, the CAN bus in the plasma cutting equipment control system adopts the CAN2.0 extended format with a baud rate of 250KB / s, but this application is not limited to this. Reliable data communication and real-time, efficient task scheduling are achieved between the equipment main controller, gas controller, and cooler controller via the CAN bus.

[0045] The plasma cutting equipment control system provided in this application has the following advantages:

[0046] By adopting the solution of this application, a digital communication interface is used to replace the traditional physical level conversion line. Data transmission is achieved between the main controller of the equipment and the CNC machine tool through a standardized digital communication protocol. The digital communication interface can support the parallel transmission of multiple types of parameters and can be expanded to multiple parameter channels to meet the multi-task requirements of complex working conditions and ensure the real-time performance of multiple tasks. At the same time, the digital communication method is compatible with the interfaces of different devices, which is conducive to improving the system's versatility. This application improves the real-time performance of task processing through a distributed control architecture. Global scheduling is achieved through a computer terminal, motion control is achieved through the machine tool body, and distributed control is achieved through the main controller and execution controller at the plasma cutting equipment end. This avoids the single point of failure of centralized control. At the same time, the distributed architecture can reduce the impact of electromagnetic interference on the entire control system, thereby improving the reliability of the control system.

[0047] The above description, in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of this application and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of this application to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of this application, and all such modifications or substitutions should be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A control system for a plasma cutting apparatus, characterized by, The system comprises: a numerical control machine tool comprising a computer terminal and a machine tool body, the computer terminal being configured to issue a first control instruction for the machine tool body and a second control instruction for a plasma cutting device, the machine tool body being configured to receive the first control instruction and drive the plasma cutting device to move based on the first control instruction; a device main controller configured to receive the second control instruction and issue process parameters to an execution controller based on the second control instruction; wherein the device main controller communicates with the computer terminal through a digital communication interface; and the execution controller configured to control process parameters in a cutting process based on the process parameters issued by the device main controller.

2. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein, The device main controller communicates with the execution controller through a digital communication interface.

3. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein, The execution controller comprises a gas controller and a cooler controller, and the device main controller, the gas controller and the cooler controller each adopt a single-chip microcomputer.

4. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein, The computer terminal is further configured to receive feedback data of the plasma cutting device from the device main controller.

5. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein, The system further comprises a display screen, and the computer terminal is further configured to display working state data in the feedback data through the display screen.

6. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein, The computer terminal is further configured to store the feedback data of the plasma cutting device and generate a cutting data record.

7. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein, The device main controller is connected with a power switch module through a PWM signal circuit.

8. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein, The system further comprises a voltage acquisition module configured to acquire cathode voltage and anode voltage of a plasma jet gun of the plasma cutting device and obtain a voltage difference between the cathode voltage and the anode voltage. The device main controller is further configured to determine whether there is an abnormality after receiving the acquisition signal of the voltage acquisition module, and execute a specified fault handling action when it is determined that there is an abnormality.

9. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein, The system further comprises a line drawing device configured to receive a line drawing instruction of the computer terminal and draw a cutting line on a workpiece to be cut according to the line drawing instruction.

10. The control system for a plasma cutting apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein, The line drawing device comprises a laser pen assembly.

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