Numerical Controller Look-Ahead Restart Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing numerical controllers face challenges in controlling the restart of look-ahead processing due to the inability to finely designate restart conditions based on specific machine states, such as axis position and spindle speed, leading to inefficiencies in executing macro statements.
Innovation Solution
A numerical controller with a restart condition determination unit and look-ahead preceding restart unit that allows for the designation of restart conditions related to axis movement, coordinate values, servomotor deviation, and signal inputs, enabling precise control over the execution timing of macro statements and reducing cycle time by advancing the restart timing of look-ahead processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If look-ahead processing is performed continuously without suppression, then machining efficiency is improved by minimizing delayed analysis influence, but macro statements cannot be executed at correct positions when axis movement is in progress
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary look-ahead analysis on program blocks before actual execution, storing analysis results in a buffer. This allows the controller to prepare machining paths and detect macro statements in advance, then execute them at correct positions by comparing with actual axis positions, thus maintaining both high machining efficiency and precise macro statement execution timing
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously compares the actual axis position with the position information stored in the look-ahead buffer. When a macro statement is detected during look-ahead, the system uses feedback from the actual axis position to determine whether to execute the macro statement, ensuring execution occurs at the correct position rather than during axis movement
2Manufacturing precision
If look-ahead suppression command is used to ensure correct macro statement execution, then macro execution accuracy is improved, but cycle time increases due to delayed look-ahead restart
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the look-ahead processing state by introducing a look-ahead stop code that can be set or cleared based on runtime conditions. When the stop code is set, look-ahead is suspended; when cleared, look-ahead restarts. This dynamic control allows the system to suppress look-ahead only when necessary for macro execution accuracy, then quickly resume it to minimize cycle time extension
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of macro statements during the look-ahead phase. When a macro statement is detected, the system sets the look-ahead stop code in advance, suspending further look-ahead processing before the axis reaches the macro execution position. This preliminary action prevents incorrect macro execution while allowing look-ahead to resume quickly after the macro is executed, minimizing overall cycle time impact
3Ease of operation
If look-ahead restart is designated block by block as in prior art, then control simplicity is maintained, but inability to control restart by specific values such as axis position and spindle speed reduces adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter used for look-ahead restart control from simple block-by-block designation to multi-parameter control including axis position, spindle speed, and other machining parameters. The control unit compares these parameters with predetermined values to determine restart timing, providing flexible adaptability while maintaining ease of operation through programmable parameters that can be set according to specific machining requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A numerical controller capable of finely designating a restart condition for look-ahead for a program after suppression of the look-ahead is configured to sequentially read out and analyze commands for blocks of a program, perform look-ahead processing to save the result of the analysis in a buffer, and execute the commands for the blocks looked ahead based on the analysis result saved in the buffer, thereby controlling a machine, and is provided with a function of stopping the look-ahead processing when a block into which a code for stopping look-ahead is inserted is read out from the program. The numerical controller is characterized by being provided with a restart condition determination unit, configured to determine whether or not a look-ahead restart condition commanded by the code for stopping look-ahead is satisfied, and a look-ahead preceding restart unit, configured to restart the look-ahead processing if it is determined by the restart condition determination unit that the restart condition is satisfied, and in that the restart condition is a condition related to the state of the machine.