CNC Coolant Pump Timing for Chip Washing and Lower Power Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing numerical control devices fail to appropriately manage the supply of coolant, leading to excessive coolant usage and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A numerical control device that includes a spouting mechanism to wash away chips using cutting fluid, with a first determination part to determine an appropriate timing for pump operation based on processing time and a first pump drive part to drive the pump for a specific time before the processing program ends, and optionally includes intermittent pumping to reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If power is cut off merely in the case of entering a standby state, then the control is simple, but the supply of coolant becomes excessive and power consumption cannot be appropriately suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The control device determines a specific time point before the processing program ends and drives the pump from that specific time until the end of processing. This preliminary action ensures chips are washed away before processing concludes, while avoiding unnecessary pump operation during standby states, thus reducing power consumption without compromising chip removal effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The control device uses feedback from the processing program end time to determine when to activate the pump. By calculating the specific time based on the remaining processing duration, the system optimizes pump operation timing to coincide with actual chip generation periods, preventing both excessive coolant supply and unnecessary power consumption
2Reliability
If the pump is driven constantly, then chips are reliably washed away, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of constant pump operation, the control device implements periodic action by driving the pump only during specific intervals - from a determined specific time until the processing program ends. This periodic operation maintains reliable chip washing during critical periods while significantly reducing power consumption during non-critical periods when chip generation is minimal or nonexistent
3Reliability
If the pump is driven for a long time, then chips are thoroughly washed away, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device calculates a specific time point before the processing program ends and drives the pump from that point onward. This preliminary timing ensures sufficient pump operation duration to thoroughly wash away chips generated during processing, while limiting the total operation time to only what is necessary, avoiding unnecessary extended operation that would waste both time and energy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively washes away chips at the appropriate timing while reducing power consumption by optimizing pump operation.
Implementation Method 1
a spouting mechanism that washes away chips generated by processing a workpiece disposed inside a cover based on a processing program, by spouting cutting fluid into the cover by driving a pump
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a numerical control device, a machine tool, a control method, a program, and a storage medium with which it is possible to drive a cutting fluid jetting mechanism at an appropriate timing. On the basis of a processing program, chips are generated by the processing of a workpiece disposed in a cover, and a CPU controls a jetting mechanism that washes away the chips by jetting a cutting liquid into the cover through the driving of a pump. The CPU determines whether or not a specific time Tsp before a first prescribed time from the time when the processing program ends has been reached, on the basis of the processing time from the start of processing based on the processing program to the end of processing (S13, S21). When the CPU determines that the specific time Tsp has been reached (S13: YES, S21: YES), the CPU drives the pump for the first prescribed time from the specific time Tsp to the end of the processing program (S29).