Machine Operation Observation for Wasteful Waiting Time Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to identify and analyze wasteful waiting times in machine tools during operations like tool exchange, spindle speed adjustments, and timing adjustments with peripheral equipment, as these periods are not clearly visible from conventional operation waveforms.
Innovation Solution
An observation apparatus and method that acquires operation status data with time information, extracts time ranges based on specific conditions related to potential waiting times, and outputs this information for clear visualization, allowing users to distinguish and analyze wasteful waiting times effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional waveform measurement and analysis methods are used, then operation status data can be acquired, but it is difficult to identify wasteful waiting time and the analysis burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and highlights specific time ranges corresponding to operations that may generate waiting time (tool exchange, spindle speed adjustment, timing adjustment, feed axis positioning, auxiliary operation completion) from the overall waveform data. By isolating these critical segments and displaying them with distinct visual attributes, the system makes waiting time visible without requiring users to analyze entire waveform datasets manually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different display attributes (such as color coding, shading, or highlighting) to time ranges that correspond to operations with waiting time possibilities. This visual differentiation allows users to quickly identify and analyze waiting periods in the waveform data without being overwhelmed by the complete dataset, thereby reducing analysis burden while improving information visibility.
2Measurement precision
If users manually check each point where waiting time may occur, then waiting time can be identified, but the process becomes time-consuming and burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and marking of time ranges corresponding to operations that may generate waiting time before presenting the data to the user. By pre-processing the waveform data to highlight critical segments (tool exchange, spindle speed reaching target speed, timing adjustment, etc.), the system eliminates the need for users to manually check each potential waiting point, thereby maintaining identification accuracy while significantly reducing analysis time.
3Loss of information
If detailed waveform data is displayed, then operation status can be monitored, but it becomes difficult to quickly locate waiting time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous waveform data into distinct time ranges corresponding to specific operations (tool exchange, spindle speed adjustment, timing adjustment, feed axis positioning, auxiliary operation). Each segment is displayed with visual attributes that distinguish it from other periods, allowing users to monitor overall operation status while quickly locating waiting time periods without being overwhelmed by undifferentiated detailed waveform data.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an observation apparatus, an observation method, and an observation program capable of presenting a point of interest for finding a wasteful waiting time of a machine. The observation apparatus includes an observation data acquisition unit configured to acquire observation data on an operation status of a machine along with time information, an extraction unit configured to extract, on the basis of a first condition relating to the observation data, a time range of the observation data corresponding to an operation of the machine, the operation having a possibility of generating a waiting time, and an output unit configured to output information on the extracted time range.