NC and Sequence Program Debugging on a Common Time Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In FA systems where machine tools controlled by NC programs and target instruments controlled by sequence programs operate in linkage, debugging efficiency is low due to the need to separately debug each program while checking separate screens.
Innovation Solution
A control system where time-synchronized controllers generate locus and variable history information, allowing designers to easily check the relationship between machine tool operations and target instrument actions by displaying target portions of the locus and variable transitions on a common time axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate screens are used to check NC program and sequence program during debugging, then each program can be debugged independently, but debugging efficiency is lowered and application development productivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separate display screens for NC program and sequence program into a single integrated display screen. This allows both programs to be debugged simultaneously on one screen, eliminating the need to switch between multiple screens and significantly improving debugging efficiency while maintaining the ability to independently debug each program type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a temporal dimension of debugging (switching between screens sequentially) to a spatial dimension by displaying both NC program and sequence program simultaneously on one screen. This dimensional change allows designers to monitor both programs at the same time, improving productivity without sacrificing independent debugging capability.
2Loss of information
If separate screens are used for checking NC program and sequence program, then detailed information can be displayed for each program, but the designer needs to check multiple separate screens which lowers debugging efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple information displays (NC program details, sequence program details, tool locus, variable transitions) into a single integrated screen. This merging maintains comprehensive program detail information while eliminating the need to switch between multiple separate screens, thereby improving ease of operation and debugging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated screen is segmented into multiple display regions, each showing different types of information (NC program, sequence program, locus, variables). This segmentation allows detailed information to be organized and displayed simultaneously without overwhelming the user, maintaining information completeness while improving operational simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If time-synchronized display of locus and variable history is implemented, then relationship between machine tool and target instrument can be easily checked, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a display control unit as an intermediary that manages the time-synchronized display of locus and variable history information. This intermediary component coordinates the display timing and content, making it easy to verify linkage operations between machine tool and target instrument while centralizing the complexity management in a dedicated unit rather than分散 across multiple components.
Data Source
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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.