Machine tool management system

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a system capable of managing a machine tool via a cloud server on a network, by connecting a local area network to an external wide area network using an edge device. [Solution] A machine tool management system using a network in which an NC-controlled machine tool and an edge device are connected via LAN, and the edge device and a cloud server on the network are connected by asynchronous communication, the machine tool management system being characterized by: comprising a sensor data transmission means for transmitting sensor data detected by a sensor attached to the machine tool and / or a tool to the edge device, and an operation condition data communication means between the machine tool and the edge device; and being capable of centrally managing the machine tool and the tool via the cloud server.

Description

Machine tool management system

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine tool management system that can monitor the operating status of an NC-controlled machine tool that uses CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) technology and set operating conditions for the machine tool via a cloud server on a network.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a machine tool system that operates the machine tool using an external mechanical unit that is retrofitted to the machine tool, but does not include the technical idea of ​​operating the machine tool via a cloud server on a network. Patent Document 2 discloses automatic operation control of a machining center via a cloud server on a network, but does not include the technical idea of ​​setting operating conditions or monitoring the operating status.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 6722372 Japanese Patent No. 7296672

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a system that can manage machine tools via a cloud server on a network by connecting a local area network to an external wide area network using an edge device.

[0005] The machine tool management system of the present invention is a machine tool management system that uses a network in which an NC-controlled machine tool and an edge device are connected via a LAN and the edge device is connected via MQTT communication to a cloud server on the network, and is characterized by having a sensor data transmission means that transmits sensor data detected by sensors attached to the machine tool and / or tool to the edge device, and an operating condition data communication means between the machine tool and the edge device, and being able to centrally manage the machine tool and tool via the cloud server.

[0006] Here, NC-controlled machine tools refer to various machine tools that can perform machining using CNC technology.

[0007] In the present invention, the machine tool and the edge device form a local network through a LAN connection, and the cloud server on the network and the edge device form an external wide area network through asynchronous communication. Here, the LAN connection may be wireless or wired. In the present invention, it is sufficient to enable asynchronous communication between the edge device and the cloud server on the network, and MQTT communication, for example, can be used. MQTT communication is an abbreviation for Message Queuing Telemetry Transport and is one of the OASIS standard message protocols for IoT. Asynchronous one-to-many communication is possible through messaging using a publish / subscribe pattern. In the present invention, the edge device is an IoT device that functions as a gateway between the machine tool and the cloud server on the network.

[0008] In the field of NC-controlled machine tools using CNC technology, the operating state of the machine tool and the machining state of the tool are acquired by many sensors, and are program-controlled via a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).

[0009] Examples of sensors include current sensors, vibration sensors, and acoustic sensors for sensing the tool state and the operating state of the machine tool, as well as photoelectric sensors for sensing ATC tool switching, spindle rotation on / off, etc. Up until now, machine tools have sometimes been managed based on information from these sensors, but management of machine tools involving tool switching and management of multiple machine tools via a cloud server on a network have not been performed.

[0010] In the present invention, the edge device is preferably linked to authentication information of the cloud server. The edge device may be equipped with an LTE communication module, or the edge device and the cloud server may be communicatively connected via a SIM-equipped router. Here, SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module, and subscriber-specific ID information is registered in the SIM. Therefore, initial setup (provisioning) when connecting to a cloud server on a network can be securely achieved based on this SIM authentication.

[0011] In the present invention, the management area of ​​the cloud server preferably has a UI control unit, and the UI control unit is connected to a communication terminal via HTTPS communication. HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, and is a protocol used to securely transmit data between a web browser and a website. The UI control unit serves as a user interface control unit, and can easily set operating conditions for machine tools and monitor the operating status of machine tools and tools via a cloud server on a network via HTTPS communication via a communication terminal such as a tablet.

[0012] In the present invention, a local network is formed between various machine tools and edge devices, and this edge device is communicatively connected to a cloud server on the network, making it easy to centrally manage machine tools and tools via a communication terminal.

[0013] 1 shows a configuration diagram of a machine tool management system according to the present invention;

[0014] An example of the configuration of a management system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0015] In this embodiment, an NC control unit 11 is incorporated into a machine tool 10, and a ladder program 12 is also incorporated. In this example, various sensors 13 are attached to the machine tool afterward, but sensors that are attached to the machine tool in advance are also included.

[0016] The edge device 20 has an NC communication control unit 21 and a server communication control unit 22, and the NC communication control unit 21 is communicatively connected to the NC control unit 11 of the machine tool 10 via a LAN. The server communication control unit 22 is communicatively connected to an edge communication control unit 31 on the cloud server 30 side using LTE.

[0017] The edge device has a program analysis unit 23, a judgment processing unit 24, and a stop signal issuing unit 25, and program information used or being used by the machine tool and sensor data transmitted from the sensor 13 are taken into the judgment processing unit 24, and in this embodiment, are transmitted to a cloud server 30 on the network via MQTT communication.

[0018] Cloud server 30 has a UI control unit 32 and is connected to a terminal 40 such as a tablet via HTTPS communication. In this case, terminal 40 may be provided on a control panel of the machine tool or the like. Cloud server 30 has a database 33 for the operation history of the machine tool, tool use history, etc., a data request unit 37, a data processing unit 36, a notification condition notification destination 34, and a notification control unit 35, which are connected to terminal 40 via UI control unit 32. In addition, the operation status of the machine tool may be communicated to a communication terminal 50 such as a smartphone.

[0019] In this example, initial setup is performed to connect to a cloud server using SORACOM Krypton via a SIM issued by SORACOM and its authentication platform (SORACOM Endorse). Various services, such as AWS IoT Core, Amazon Cognito, Azure IoT Hub Device Provisioning Service, and SORACOM Inventory, can be used as the cloud server. While the following example uses a Raspberry Pi as the edge device, various IoT devices used for gateways, routers, etc. can also be used.

[0020] When an edge device such as a Raspberry Pi is connected to a SORACOM SIM-equipped router, authentication settings such as certificates are automatically completed, and provisioning (initial settings) for connecting to the cloud server 30 is securely achieved. In this example, a subprogram for automatically controlling the machine tool's stop is embedded under the machining program in the NC control unit 11 of the machine tool. Next, the LAN cable of the edge device is connected to the NC port of the NC control unit. This allows the machine tool 10, edge device 20, and cloud server 30 to form a network.

[0021] Next, the operator inputs the machine tool name and location into the edge device 20 using a tablet or a terminal 40 installed on the machine tool's control panel. A list of tool post names, tools, etc. is displayed, allowing the operator to select from the list. This allows the UI control unit 32, data request unit 37, data processing unit 36, and machine operation / tool ​​determination DB 33 to communicate with each other to select a machining program. When the operator issues an automatic machining command, the workpiece is automatically and repeatedly machined. If an abnormality is detected in the machine tool's operating status or the tool's machining status, the determination processing unit 24 determines this abnormality based on sensor data from the sensor 13. This information is sent to the cloud server 30 via the NC communication control unit 21 and server communication control unit 22, and based on information previously registered in the notification condition notification destination 34, the notification control unit 35 sends the information to the communication terminal 50 or the terminal 40 connected to the UI control unit via HTTPS. On the other hand, a signal judged as abnormal by the judgment processing unit 24 is automatically sent from the stop signal issuing unit 25 to the ladder program 12 of the NC control unit, which calls a subprogram and issues an operation stop command 25a.

[0022] The present invention enables the unified management of various machine tools and tools via a communication terminal.

[0023] 10 Machine tool 20 Edge device 30 Cloud server 40 Terminal

Claims

1. A machine tool management system that uses a network in which an NC-controlled machine tool and an edge device are connected via a LAN and the edge device is connected via asynchronous communication with a cloud server on the network, and that has a sensor data transmission means that transmits sensor data detected by sensors attached to the machine tool and / or tool to the edge device, and an operating condition data communication means between the machine tool and the edge device, and is capable of centrally managing the machine tool and tool via the cloud server.

2. A machine tool management system according to claim 1, wherein the edge device is linked to authentication information of the cloud server.

3. A machine tool management system according to claim 2, wherein the management area of ​​the cloud server has a UI control unit, and the UI control unit is connected to a communication terminal via HTTPS communication.

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