Visual Marking Guidance for CNC Precision Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CNC machines require complex and time-consuming setup and calibration processes, particularly for material positioning and tooling, which limits their efficiency and precision, especially for novice operators and results in high operational costs and material waste.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses visual indicia on the workpiece to guide a CNC machine's cutting element, with visual input devices detecting markings to determine pre-defined movement routines and adjust the cutting element's position, allowing for automated precision control in multiple axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional CNC setup procedures are used with work coordinate offsets and manual positioning, then machining precision can be achieved, but setup time and operator skill requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning and coordinate offset procedures with an automated visual recognition system. The system uses cameras to detect visual indicia on the workpiece and automatically calculates toolpath transformations, eliminating the need for operators to manually measure and input work coordinate offsets while maintaining machining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The workpiece itself provides positioning information through visual indicia that are automatically detected by the system. The workpiece essentially 'tells' the CNC machine where to position itself by containing machine-readable visual codes that encode position and orientation data, making the workpiece self-descriptive of its location.
2Measurement precision
If manual measurement and positioning methods are used for material alignment, then accurate positioning can be achieved, but operator skill requirements and potential for errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual measurement tools (rulers, protractors, calipers) with automated optical measurement systems. Cameras capture images of visual indicia on the workpiece, and software automatically calculates position and orientation, eliminating the need for operators to perform manual measurements and reducing skill requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the workpiece position and orientation by detecting visual indicia through cameras. This digital representation is then used to automatically transform the toolpath, replacing the need for manual measurement and calculation while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Productivity
If visual indicia detection is implemented for automated positioning, then setup time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual indicia as an intermediary between the workpiece and the CNC control system. These indicia serve as a communication bridge, encoding position and orientation information in a format that can be automatically detected by cameras and processed by software, simplifying the interface between physical and digital domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicia system serves multiple functions: it provides position information, orientation information, and material identification all through a single detection mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate measurement and positioning systems, actually decreasing overall system complexity despite the added visual recognition capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and device for automated precision control of a computer numerical control (CNC) machine to a workpiece. The system receives via at least one visual input device at least one detectable marking on a workpiece. The system decodes the at least one detectable marking and determines a stored and pre-defined movement routine of a cutting element attached to the CNC machine relative to the workpiece based on the at least one marking. The system then determines, using the at least one visual input device and/or another visual input device, a current position of a working end of the cutting element relative to the at least one marking. Finally, the system performs the pre-defined movement routine including cutting into the workpiece with the cutting element.