Numerical Controller Automatic Signal Trace for NC Program Debugging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Debugging and maintenance of NC program signals, particularly for interpolation and auxiliary functions, require extensive efforts as operators need to manually check related input and output signals and their dependencies, making it cumbersome to trace signal processing flows.
Innovation Solution
A numerical controller with an automatic trace function that utilizes an NC function related signal table and a functional sampling signal table to identify and trace signals associated with NC program blocks, allowing for easier debugging and maintenance by automatically tracking signal dependencies during NC program execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual checking of related input and output signals is performed for debugging and maintenance, then signal processing flow can be traced, but considerable time and effort are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates and stores signal dependency information tables before actual debugging operations. These tables contain pre-analyzed relationships between NC program signals and ladder program signals, allowing operators to quickly retrieve tracing information without performing manual signal checks during debugging, thus reducing debugging time while maintaining tracing accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copied representation of signal relationships through structured tables that mirror the actual signal dependencies. Instead of manually tracing through complex signal flows, operators can examine these copied table representations which contain all necessary tracing information in an organized format, significantly reducing the time required for signal flow analysis
2Loss of information
If cross reference function is used to search for signals in dependent relation, then signal dependencies can be found, but extensive manual searching is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex signal dependency information into structured tables that separate different aspects of signal relationships (input signals, output signals, dependent signals). This segmentation allows operators to directly access specific signal dependency information without performing extensive manual searches through interconnected signal flows
Solution Approach 2:
The signal dependency tables serve as an intermediary structure between the NC program signals and ladder program signals. Instead of directly searching through complex signal relationships, operators can query this intermediary table which has already organized and stored the dependency information, making signal searching easier while ensuring complete dependency information is retrieved
3Productivity
If automatic trace function is implemented, then signal tracing efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional tables and processing units
Solution Approach 1:
The command analysis unit and trace signal extraction unit are designed to handle multiple types of NC program signals and various signal dependency relationships through a unified automatic tracing mechanism. This multi-functional design improves tracing efficiency for different signal types while avoiding the need for separate processing systems for each signal category, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A numerical controller includes a programmable controller that performs input and output of a signal based on a ladder program and performs control of a machine based on an NC program. The numerical controller includes a first table associating the function used for control of the machine, an input signal, and an output signal and a second table associating the input signal, the output signal, and a signal in a dependent relation with the input signal and the output signal. Based on a function code of a function commanded by a block of the NC program that is preread, the numerical controller refers to the first and the second tables, identifies a signal to be subjected to automatic trace, and performs trace.