Machine Tool Debugging With Synchronized Locus and Variable History
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The debugging efficiency of NC programs and sequence programs that control machine tools and peripheral instruments in FA systems is low due to the need to separately debug each program on different screens, leading to reduced productivity in development.
Innovation Solution
A control system with synchronized first and second controllers that acquire locus and variable history information, allowing for the selection and display of target periods on a common time axis, enabling designers to easily check the relationship between machine tool operations and target instrument transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate debugging screens are used for NC programs and sequence programs, then each program can be debugged independently, but debugging efficiency is lowered and application development productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the debugging interfaces for NC programs and sequence programs into a single integrated screen. The display shows both the tool locus from NC program execution and the variable history from sequence program execution simultaneously, allowing designers to debug both programs together rather than switching between separate screens, thereby improving debugging efficiency while maintaining independent debugging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The debugging screen is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it displays tool locus information, variable history, and allows debugging of both NC and sequence programs in one interface. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate debugging screens while preserving the ability to independently analyze each program type
2Loss of information
If separate screens are used to check NC program locus and sequence program variable transitions, then detailed information for each program can be displayed, but the designer needs to switch between screens reducing overall debugging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display of tool locus information and variable history information into a single screen. The display unit simultaneously presents both types of information with clear visual differentiation, allowing designers to view detailed information for both NC and sequence programs without switching screens, thus eliminating time loss while preserving information completeness
3Ease of operation
If time-synchronized controllers are used to generate common time axis data, then coordination between machine tool and target instrument can be easily verified, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support device as an intermediary that receives data from both the NC controller and sequence controller. This support device performs the time-synchronization function and generates the common time axis, separating the synchronization complexity from the controllers and making it easier to verify coordination between machine tool and target instrument operations
Data Source
AI summary
The support device acquires locus information in which a position of a machine tool corresponding to an instruction value generated by execution of an NC program is associated with time information indicating a control time using the instruction value, and variable history information in which a value of a variable updated by execution of the sequence program is associated with time information indicating an update time The support device selects a target period in an execution period of a program, displays a portion corresponding to the target period in transition indicated by the locus information on a display device, and displays the value of the variable in the target period on the display device based on the variable history information.