Numerical Controller Advanced Position Interference Check

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing numerical controllers face challenges in efficiently and reliably preventing interference between movable parts and other objects during machine operation, as current interference check methods are time-consuming and may fail to detect interference in a timely manner, especially when dealing with multiple systems or machines in a shared workspace.

Innovation Solution

A numerical controller with pre-reading and advanced position calculation capabilities, which determines an advanced time for interference checks based on previous processing times, communication delays, and deceleration periods, and calculates an advanced position for the movable parts to predict and prevent interference by outputting this position to an interference checking device for timely intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If interference check is performed frequently to ensure timely detection, then reliability of interference prevention is improved, but loss of time for each check increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of interference detectionVSAvoidmachine operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by calculating advanced positions that predict future movable part locations before actual interference occurs. The interference check is performed on these predicted positions in advance, allowing the system to detect potential interference before it happens, thus improving reliability without requiring continuous monitoring during actual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the interference check timing based on the current operation state. By calculating the time required for interference check processing and communication, and determining appropriate advanced times dynamically, the system optimizes check frequency to match actual operational needs, balancing reliability with productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If interference check processing time is reduced to maintain productivity, then machine operation efficiency is improved, but measurement precision of interference detection may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine operation efficiencyVSAvoidinterference detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs interference checks on advanced positions that predict future locations of movable parts. By checking these predicted positions in advance using full-precision calculations, the system ensures detection accuracy is maintained while avoiding the need for continuous high-speed monitoring during actual operation, thus preserving measurement precision while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the interference check position is calculated in advance to improve detection timing, then reliability of interference prevention is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional calculation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference prevention reliabilityVSAvoidcalculation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system calculates advanced positions that represent future locations of movable parts before interference occurs. These advanced positions are derived from current position, speed, and acceleration data, providing a computationally efficient way to predict future states without requiring complex real-time simulation, thus improving reliability with moderate complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The advanced position calculation acts as an intermediary between current system state and future interference risk assessment. By introducing this intermediate predictive step, the system bridges the gap between present operation and future potential interference, enabling timely detection without requiring direct complex real-time analysis of all possible future states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If communication time between numerical controller and interference checking device is minimized, then productivity is improved, but reliability of interference detection may worsen due to reduced processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation continuityVSAvoidinterference detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs interference checks on advanced positions in advance, before actual operation reaches those points. This preliminary checking allows communication between the numerical controller and interference checking device to occur during periods when the machine is not critically dependent on immediate response, thus enabling optimized communication timing that maintains both productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1890211B1Numerical controller
Publication Date: 2012.03.14 FANUC LTD
  • EP1890211B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1890211B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1890211B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a numerical controller capable of foreseeing the occurrence of interference during operation of a machine and securely preventing the interference. An advanced position calculating section determines advanced time for the next interference check, based on an end time point of an interference check by an interference checking device and the sum of a time required for the interference check, a time required for communication, a time required for decelerating and stopping a movable part, and a predetermined float. Further, an advanced position of the movable part at the advanced time is calculated based on pre-read program data and is outputted to the interference checking device. The interference checking device performs the interference check at the advanced position. If it detects interference, the interference checking device delivers an axis stop signal to a motion command output section, thereby stopping a motion command and decelerating and stopping the movable part. Since interference check timing is settled in accordance with the time required for the interference check, the occurrence of interference can be securely prevented without delay or advance.