Machine Tool Control Method for Minimizing Tool Change Wait Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current machine tool systems face inefficiencies in machining process duration due to waiting times caused by tool provision processes, which are not optimally integrated with machining operations, leading to increased overall process duration.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines and regroups tool provision processes in relation to machining operations to minimize waiting times, ensuring tool preparation occurs within machining process intervals, thereby eliminating dependency on tool provision processes and optimizing machining process duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tool provision processes are performed separately from machining operations, then tool availability is ensured, but waiting times increase and machining process duration is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining tool provision processes in advance and regrouping them to occur within machining operation time intervals. The control device calculates and schedules tool provisioning to happen concurrently with machining operations, ensuring tools are ready before needed without extending overall process duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention achieves continuity by making machining operations and tool provision processes occur simultaneously rather than sequentially. The control device schedules tool provisioning to run during machining operation intervals, eliminating idle waiting time and ensuring continuous productive action throughout the manufacturing process.
2Loss of time
If tool provision processes are integrated within machining operations, then waiting times are reduced, but process coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device serves as an intermediary that coordinates between machining operations and tool provision processes. It receives machining process data, determines appropriate tool provision timing, and schedules these processes to occur within machining intervals, thereby managing the coordination complexity centrally rather than requiring complex distributed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic scheduling where the control device adjusts tool provision timing based on actual machining operation intervals. The regrouping of tool provision processes is flexible and adaptive to the specific timing requirements of each machining operation, allowing optimal coordination without rigid fixed schedules.
3Productivity
If multiple tool provision processes are regrouped within machining intervals, then machining process duration is optimized, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device merges multiple tool provision processes into unified scheduling decisions. By combining several tool provisioning tasks and determining their optimal arrangement within machining intervals as a single coordinated operation, the system reduces overall control complexity compared to managing each tool provision independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temporal parameters of tool provision processes by regrouping them within specific time intervals of machining operations. The control device adjusts scheduling parameters to fit tool provision within available machining intervals, optimizing the timing parameters to minimize waiting time while managing control complexity through systematic parameter adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling tool changing operations on a machine tool. A machining process on a tool has a sequence of machining operations with respectively one defined tool (58) and respectively a defined duration. For changing tools, tools of a tool spindle (18a, 18b) are provided by a second storage unit (66, 68) which is in communication with a first storage unit (34). A sequence of tool providing processes is associated with the machining processes, in which a tool providing process has respectively a determined duration. The method also comprises a determination step and a control step. In the determination step for the machining process, the duration of the machining processes and the tool providing processes are determined and in the control step, the tool providing processes are grouped temporally in relation to the machining processes, such that the tool machining processes only require a minimum waiting time in the machining process.