Numerical Controller Tool Replacement Cycle Time Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machining center systems experience increased cycle times during tool replacement due to sequential execution of commands, particularly because the rotating tool axis stop and orientation operations are performed after the start of the tool replacement command, leading to inefficiencies and potential modification complexities when trying to adjust these timings within existing programs.
Innovation Solution
A numerical controller system that analyzes and modifies the execution timing of commands to initiate the rotating tool axis orientation and stop operations during the feed axis positioning command, allowing these processes to be executed earlier without modifying the original program, thereby shortening the cycle time for tool replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the rotating tool axis stop and orientation operations are executed sequentially after the tool replacement command starts, then the operations can be performed in a simple control manner, but the cycle time for tool replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating tool axis stop and orientation operations are executed in advance during the feed axis positioning command, before the tool replacement command is issued. This preliminary action reduces the cycle time by overlapping operations that can be performed concurrently, while the control complexity is managed through automatic detection of command sequences and conditional execution logic in the numerical controller
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating tool axis stop and orientation operations are merged with the feed axis positioning command execution. By combining these operations into the same time window, the patent achieves parallel execution that reduces overall cycle time while maintaining controlled complexity through integrated command processing in the numerical controller
2Loss of time
If the execution timing of rotating tool axis stop and orientation is adjusted within existing programs, then the cycle time can be reduced, but the program modification becomes complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The numerical controller automatically detects when feed axis positioning commands are present before tool replacement commands and autonomously adjusts the execution timing of rotating tool axis stop and orientation operations. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual program modification while achieving cycle time reduction, as the controller modifies its own command execution sequence based on detected program structures
Solution Approach 2:
The numerical controller performs preliminary analysis of the program structure to detect feed axis positioning commands before tool replacement commands, and in advance adjusts the execution timing accordingly. This preliminary detection and automatic adjustment prevents the need for complex program modifications while reducing cycle time
Data Source
AI summary
A numerical controller (100) capable of shortening the cycle time during tool replacement without modifying an existing program is provided. A numerical controller (100) includes a block information checking unit (108) that analyzes a program for respective blocks. When it is determined that one or two or more feed axis positioning commands are present before a tool replacement command found in the analysis result of the program, the block information checking unit (108) modifies the analysis result of the program so that a rotating tool axis orientation operation in the tool replacement command is executed during execution of a feed axis positioning command in any one of the one or two or more feed axis positioning command blocks.