Machine Operation Waveform Mapping to CNC Program Execution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to effectively correlate the operation status of industrial machines with their signal waveforms, making it difficult to understand how machine tools behave during machining operations, especially when multiple tools are exchanged.

Innovation Solution

An observation apparatus and method that acquires and displays operation status data alongside instruction program execution status in time series, allowing for the association of signal waveforms with machining programs through a control unit that includes data acquisition, execution status retrieval, and display units, enabling users to specify time points and retrieve feature points in waveforms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If operation status data and waveforms are displayed separately, then data organization is simple, but it is difficult to grasp the relation between machine behavior and waveforms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata organizationVSAvoidrelation between machine behavior and waveforms

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines operation status data and waveform data into a single integrated display interface. The display unit shows both types of data simultaneously with synchronized time axes, allowing users to directly correlate machine behavior with corresponding waveforms without switching between separate displays or manually synchronizing them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives both operation status data and waveform data, processes them together, and outputs them in a correlated manner. It uses time information from both data sources to synchronize their display, creating a unified view that shows the relationship between machine operations and waveforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple tools are exchanged during machining operations, then machine versatility increases, but it becomes more difficult to grasp the relation between operation status and waveforms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine operation typesVSAvoidrelation between operation status and waveforms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit divides the operation status data into distinct segments corresponding to different tools and machining operations. Each tool exchange is clearly marked and separated in the display, allowing users to track which waveform corresponds to which tool without confusion. This segmentation maintains clarity even when multiple tools are used.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses different display attributes (such as color coding) to distinguish between different tools and operation types. When tools are exchanged, the display changes visual attributes to indicate the transition, making it easier to track which waveform segment corresponds to which tool throughout the machining process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If only waveforms are displayed, then observation of machine behavior is simple, but it is difficult to understand how the machine tool actually behaves

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaveform observationVSAvoidmachine behavior context

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges waveform display with operation status data display in a unified interface. Both data types are shown simultaneously with synchronized time references, allowing users to observe waveforms while directly seeing the corresponding machine behavior context without needing to switch between separate displays or manually correlate the data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Device complexity

If operation status data and execution status data are displayed without association, then data acquisition is simple, but the relation between observed operations and instruction programs cannot be understood

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata acquisitionVSAvoidrelation between operations and programs

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit serves as an intermediary that receives both operation status data and execution status data, processes them together using their time information, and outputs them in a correlated display. This intermediary processing establishes the relationship between observed operations and instruction programs without complicating the data acquisition process itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11262275B2Observation apparatus, observation method and observation program

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 FANUC LTD

AI summary

To provide an observation apparatus, an observation method and an observation program capable of easily understandable output of a relation between a signal waveform representing an actually-observed operation of a machine and an instruction program to the machine. An observation apparatus includes an observation data acquisition unit for acquiring observation data on an operation status of a machine along with time information, an execution status acquisition unit for acquiring execution status data including an execution position and a specific parameter value for an instruction program to the machine, along with time information, and a display unit for displaying the observation data and the execution status data in association with each other in time series.