Machine Tool Chip Tracking Using Time-Series Image Mesh Regions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tools face challenges in efficiently managing chip accumulation, particularly when the accumulation is small and spread over time, leading to clotting and difficulty in removal.
Innovation Solution
An information processing device that captures images of a target area within the machine tool at different times, divides the images into mesh regions, and associates chip information with each region, allowing for the tracking of chip accumulation over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cleaning operation is not performed frequently due to small chip accumulation, then machining can continue over long period, but chips clot and become difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of chip accumulation conditions and issues warnings before chips clot and become difficult to remove. By monitoring chip accumulation in advance and alerting operators at appropriate thresholds, the system enables proactive cleaning before harmful clotting occurs, thus maintaining machining continuity while preventing chip clumping.
2Ease of operation
If cleaning is performed based on machining time or total chip amount, then cleaning schedule is simple to manage, but local chip accumulation is not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the machining area into multiple regions and independently monitors chip accumulation in each region. This segmentation allows precise detection of local chip accumulation while maintaining a simple overall cleaning schedule based on aggregated data or specific region thresholds, thus resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and detection precision.
3Measurement precision
If detailed monitoring of chip accumulation is implemented, then chip management precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses image capture devices to create visual copies of chip accumulation states in different regions. These image copies are processed to extract chip accumulation information without requiring direct physical sensors in each location. This approach achieves detailed monitoring precision while keeping the physical system relatively simple by using optical copying rather than complex sensor networks.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing device according to the present disclosure including: a mesh division unit (102) that divides at least part of first and second images captured at different times of a target area for detecting chips generated from a workpiece, into a plurality of mesh regions, the images each being an inside image of a machine tool; and an information processing unit (103) that performs processing to associate (a) information on a first chip corresponding to a specific mesh region among the plurality of the mesh regions corresponding to the first image, (b) information on a second chip corresponding to the specific mesh region among the plurality of the mesh regions corresponding to the second image, (c) a first time related to the first image, and (d) a second time related to the second image.