Working machinery
The machine tool system accurately measures and corrects power consumption in multiple targets by individual control, addressing inaccuracies from deterioration and ensuring timely maintenance, thus enhancing power management and reducing downtime.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FANUC LTD
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing methods for estimating power consumption in machine tools with multiple power confirmation targets face inaccuracies due to deterioration, making precise power consumption determination challenging.
A machine tool system with a single power meter and control device measures and controls individual power confirmation targets, allowing for accurate power consumption estimation by measuring reference power under controlled conditions and correcting for changes due to deterioration.
Enables high-accuracy power consumption determination and timely notification of potential failures or end-of-life conditions, minimizing downtime through precise power consumption monitoring and threshold-based maintenance scheduling.
Smart Images
Figure 0007862578000001
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0005]
[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool.
Background Art
[0002] In a system that supplies power from a distribution board to a plurality of electrical devices, a technique has been proposed in which the current waveform and voltage waveform measured at the distribution board are received, and the power consumption of an electrical device (power confirmation target) is estimated from the current waveform of the electrical device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, it has further been proposed to correct the power based on the power consumption pattern for each electrical device.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In a machine tool having a plurality of power confirmation targets including a plurality of drive shafts and simple operating mechanisms, there may be a case where it is desired to estimate the power consumption of each power confirmation target. However, with the method as described in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that the power consumption cannot be accurately grasped due to deterioration or the like of the power confirmation target.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] A machine tool according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of power confirmation targets, a single power meter provided in a circuit that supplies power to all of the power confirmation targets, and a control device that controls the plurality of power confirmation targets. The control device has a measurement control unit that measures the reference power consumption of each power confirmation target by operating each power confirmation target one by one and acquiring the detected value of the power meter during the operation of the power confirmation target.
Effects of the Invention
[0006] According to this disclosure, power consumption can be determined with high accuracy. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0007] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a machine tool according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0008] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a machine tool 1 according to one embodiment of this disclosure. In the figure, solid arrows indicate electrical circuits for supplying power, and dashed arrows indicate paths for transmitting information (wireless is also possible).
[0009] The machine tool 1 comprises a single power meter 10, a power supply circuit 20, a plurality of power-checking objects 31 to 37, and a control device 40. The machine tool 1 performs machining by driving the power-checking objects 31 to 37 with power supplied from an AC power supply S.
[0010] The power meter 10 is installed in the circuit that supplies power to all power verification targets 31 to 37. In this embodiment, the power meter 10 is installed in the circuit that supplies power from the AC power source S to the power supply circuit 20 that distributes power to all power verification targets 31 to 37. It is preferable that the power meter 10 is installed in a circuit that does not supply power to equipment not controlled by the control device 40 so that the power consumption of power verification targets 31 to 37 can be accurately measured. The power meter 10 only needs to detect power or a value from which power can be calculated. For example, the power meter 10 may be configured to detect a current value from which power can be calculated by multiplying it by the voltage value of the AC power source S.
[0011] The power supply circuit 20 converts the AC power supplied from the AC power supply S into DC power of the voltage required by the power verification targets 31-37 and the control device 40. The power supply circuit 20 may output multiple different voltages in accordance with the specifications of the power verification targets 31-37 and the control device 40.
[0012] The power-checked components 31-37 are power-consuming elements controlled by the control device 40. The power-checked components 31-37 include feedback-controlled servo mechanisms 31-35 and non-feedback-controlled simple operation mechanisms (cooling fan 36 and cutting fluid pump 37). Each of the servo mechanisms 31-35 has a motor M and an amplifier A that drives the motor M. Each of the servo mechanisms 31-35 is a drive mechanism for a drive shaft (including the spindle) that moves the tool and workpiece relative to each other.
[0013] The control device 40 controls the operation of the power verification targets 31-37. Specifically, the control device 40 includes a processing control unit 41, a measurement control unit 42, a calculation control unit 43, a power consumption storage unit 44, a notification unit 45, a threshold setting unit 46, and a life estimation unit 47. The control device 40 can be implemented by one or more computer devices equipped with memory, a processor, an input / output interface, etc., and executing an appropriate control program. In this embodiment, the control device 40 is a so-called numerical control device. The above-mentioned components of the control device 40 are classifications of the functions of the control device 40 and do not necessarily have to be clearly distinguishable in terms of physical configuration and program configuration.
[0014] The machining control unit 41 controls the operation of the power verification targets 31-37 according to a machining program described, for example, by G-code. The machining control unit 41 can be configured in the same way as those in well-known numerical control devices.
[0015] The measurement control unit 42 operates each of the power verification targets 31 to 37 one by one and measures the reference power consumption of each power verification target 31 to 37 by acquiring the detected value of the power meter 10 during the operation of each power verification target 31 to 37. It is preferable that the measurement control unit 42 measures the reference power consumption of at least all of the servo mechanisms 31 to 35 among the power verification targets 31 to 37 one by one in order. At this time, it is preferable that the measurement control unit 42 operates the servo mechanisms 31 to 35 under constant conditions in order to reduce measurement errors. Specifically, the measurement control unit 42 may be configured to operate the servo mechanisms 31 to 35 at a predetermined torque set for each of them, for example, the rated torque, in order to measure the reference power consumption.
[0016] The measurement control unit 42 is preferably configured to operate the power verification targets 31-37 at a predetermined timing, such as when the machine tool 1 is started up. The timing of the operation of the power verification targets 31-37 for measuring the reference power consumption can be, for example, when the machine tool 1 is started up or stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed since the last measurement of the reference power consumption, in order to suppress a decrease in the operating rate of the machine tool 1 due to the measurement of the reference power consumption. The specific interval for measuring the reference power consumption can be, for example, one week or more and three months or less.
[0017] In this way, the measurement control unit 42 operates each of the power verification targets 31 to 37 one by one and measures the reference power consumption, which is the power consumption when the power verification targets 31 to 37 are operated under predetermined input conditions. This allows the reference power consumption, which reflects the change in power consumption due to the deterioration of the power verification targets 31 to 37, to be determined. The control device 40 can estimate the power consumption of the power verification targets 31 to 37 based on the input values used to operate them, but by correcting the estimated power consumption during processing, taking into account the change in reference power consumption, the power consumption of the power verification targets 31 to 37 can be estimated with high accuracy.
[0018] The calculation control unit 43 calculates the current power consumption of the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37 by subtracting the power consumption of power verification targets (servo mechanisms) 31 to 35 other than the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37 from the detected value of the power meter 10 during the operation of multiple power verification targets 31 to 37, including the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37. This allows for highly accurate estimation of the actual power consumption of the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37, even if their power consumption cannot be estimated from the input values. The calculation control unit 43 may be configured to calculate the power consumption of the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37 during the machining operation performed by the machining control unit 41. In addition, the calculation control unit 43 may operate the servo mechanisms 31 to 35 under the same conditions as when the reference power consumption is measured by the measurement control unit 42 in order to calculate the power consumption of the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37 more accurately. Since the power consumption of the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37, which are subject to on / off control, is considered to be always constant, the power consumption of the simple operation mechanisms 36 and 37 calculated by the calculation control unit 43 may be treated as the reference power consumption, which is the power consumption under standard operating conditions.
[0019] The power consumption storage unit 44 stores the reference power consumption measured by the measurement control unit 42 and the power consumption calculated by the calculation control unit 43 for each power check target 31 to 37. This allows the user to easily check whether there has been a change in power consumption due to deterioration of the power check targets 31 to 37.
[0020] The notification unit 45 notifies the outside when the reference power consumption exceeds a power threshold set for each power-check target. The reference power consumption of power-check targets 31 to 37 may increase due to failure or end of life, even if the load is constant. The power threshold is a value that, if the reference power consumption of a power-check target 31 to 37 is greater than the value above, indicates a high risk of failure or end of life for that power-check target 31 to 37. In other words, if the reference power consumption of a power-check target 31 to 37 increases, the machine tool 1 requests the user to replace or maintain that power-check target 31 to 37. The power threshold may be configured to be input by the user, but it is preferable that it be configured to be automatically set or updated by the threshold setting unit 46.
[0021] The threshold setting unit 46 sets the power threshold used by the notification unit 45. Specifically, the threshold setting unit 46 may be configured to set the power thresholds of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 that have been replaced based on the reference power consumption immediately before the replacement when the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 are replaced. By setting the reference power consumption at the time when the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 are replaced, that is, when the user determines that the replacement of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 is necessary, as the power threshold, it is possible to prompt the replacement of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 at the time when they are deteriorated to the same extent as when the user replaces them.
[0022] In addition, the threshold setting unit 46 may set the power thresholds of the respective power confirmation targets 31 to 37 based on a plurality of reference power consumptions stored in the power consumption storage unit 44 immediately before a plurality of replacements of the respective power confirmation targets 31 to 37. That is, for each of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37, a more appropriate power threshold can be set by, for example, using the average value of the reference power consumptions immediately before a plurality of past replacements as the power threshold.
[0023] The life estimation unit 47 estimates the life of each of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 based on a plurality of reference power consumptions stored in the power consumption storage unit 44 for the respective power confirmation targets 31 to 37. Specifically, the life estimation unit 47 calculates, for each of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37, the time until the reference power consumption of each of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 is predicted to reach the power threshold from the time change of the reference power consumption. By presenting the user with the time until the reference power consumption is predicted to reach the power threshold, it is possible to prepare the replacement parts of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 at an appropriate timing, thereby minimizing the downtime.
[0024] As described above, since the machine tool 1 according to the present embodiment measures the reference power consumption of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 by the measurement control unit 42, it is possible to relatively accurately determine the replacement timing of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37 and accurately estimate the actual power consumption of the power confirmation targets 31 to 37.
[0025] Regarding the above embodiment and modification examples, the following additional remarks are further disclosed. (Additional Remark 1) The machine tool (1) comprises a plurality of power verification targets (31-37), a single power meter (10) installed in the circuit that supplies power to all power verification targets (31-37), and a control device (40) that controls the plurality of power verification targets (31-37). The control device (40) has a measurement control unit (42) that operates each power verification target (31-37) one by one and obtains the detected value of the power meter (10) while the power verification targets (31-37) are operating, thereby measuring the reference power consumption of each power verification target (31-37).
[0026] (Note 2) The measurement control unit (42) may operate the power verification targets (31-37) at a predetermined timing.
[0027] (Note 3) The control device (40) may further include a notification unit (45) that notifies the outside when the reference power consumption exceeds a power threshold set for each power verification target (31-37).
[0028] (Note 4) The control device (40) may further include a threshold setting unit (46) that, when a power verification target (31-37) is replaced, sets the power threshold of the replaced power verification target (31-37) based on the reference power consumption immediately before the replacement.
[0029] (Note 5) The control device (40) may further include a power consumption storage unit (44) that stores a reference power consumption for each power verification target (31-37), and a life estimation unit (47) that estimates the lifespan of the power verification targets (31-37) based on a plurality of reference power consumptions.
[0030] (Note 6) Multiple power verification targets (31-37) may include servo mechanisms (31-35) that include motors (M) and amplifiers (A).
[0031] (Note 7) The multiple power verification targets (31-37) include simple operation mechanisms (36, 37) that are not feedback controlled, and the control device (40) may further include a calculation control unit (43) that calculates the current power consumption of the simple operation mechanisms (36, 37) by subtracting the power consumption of the other power verification targets (31-35) from the detected values of the power meter (10) during the operation of the multiple power verification targets (31-37) including the simple operation mechanisms (36, 37).
[0032] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. The embodiments described above can be modified, partially deleted, etc., in any way that does not depart from the gist of this disclosure or from the spirit of this disclosure derived from the claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, the order of operations and processes in the embodiments described above are shown as examples only and are not limited thereto.
[0033] For example, the machine tool according to this disclosure may not have a common power supply circuit and may be configured to perform DC conversion, etc., at each power verification target. Furthermore, the power meter may be provided downstream of the power supply circuit. The machine tool according to this disclosure can have any number of power verification targets. Also, the simple operation mechanism may be, for example, a belt conveyor, an air compressor, an electric heater, etc. In the machine tool according to this disclosure, the control device only needs to have a measurement control unit, and the calculation control unit, power consumption storage unit, threshold setting unit, and notification unit can have any configuration. Furthermore, the control device may be a computer device capable of controlling the power verification targets via a numerical control device. [Explanation of symbols]
[0034] 1 Machine tools 10 Power meter 20 Power circuit 31-35 Servo mechanism (power check target) 36. Cooling fan (simple operation mechanism / power consumption subject to verification) 37. Cutting fluid pump (simple operation mechanism / power consumption subject to verification) 40 Control device 41 Machining Control Unit 42 Measurement Control Unit 43 Calculation Control Unit 44 Power consumption storage section 45 Hochi Department 46. Threshold setting section 47 Life estimation section A Amplifier M Motor S AC power supply
Claims
1. Multiple power supply verification targets, A single power meter installed in the circuit that supplies power to all of the aforementioned power verification targets, A control device that controls the plurality of power verification targets, Equipped with, The control device is A measurement control unit operates each of the power verification targets one by one and obtains the detected value of the power meter while each power verification target is operating, thereby measuring the reference power consumption of each power verification target, A notification unit that notifies the outside when the aforementioned standard power consumption exceeds a power threshold set for each of the power verification targets, When the power verification target is replaced, a threshold setting unit sets the power threshold of the replaced power verification target based on the reference power consumption immediately before the replacement. A machine tool having
2. Multiple power supply verification targets, A single power meter installed in the circuit that supplies power to all of the aforementioned power verification targets, A control device that controls the plurality of power verification targets, Equipped with, The control device is A measurement control unit operates each of the power verification targets one by one and obtains the detected value of the power meter while each power verification target is operating, thereby measuring the reference power consumption of each power verification target, A power consumption storage unit that stores the reference power consumption for each of the power verification targets, A machine tool having a life estimation unit that estimates the lifespan of the power-check target based on a plurality of reference power consumptions.
3. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the measurement control unit operates the power verification target at a predetermined timing.
4. The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of power verification targets include a servo mechanism having a motor and an amplifier.
5. The aforementioned multiple power verification targets include simple operating mechanisms that are not feedback controlled, The machine tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control device further comprises a calculation control unit that calculates the current power consumption of the simple operation mechanism by subtracting the power consumption of the power verification targets other than the simple operation mechanism from the detected value of the power meter during the operation of the plurality of power verification targets including the simple operation mechanism.