Enabling Advanced CNC Programming with openNC Controllers for HSM Machines Tools

Abstract

Abstract:The manufacturing area has benefited from various progresses over the last decades, such as High Speed Machining (HSM), but CNC programming is still based on dated practices and habits with a segmented unidirectional CAD/CAM/CNC data chain. Decision power is limited at the NC controller stage and online process optimization is difficult. In contrast, advanced programming approaches, such as STEP-NC [9], aim to unify the product/process data within a consistent environment from design to machining. Hence, openNC controller solutions which allow access to their internal algorithms, have emerged. It is consequently possible to implement new tool path control algorithms that respond directly to the actual machining condition. This paper focuses on the interest of openNC controllers to develop advanced programming approaches for HSM processes. The major drawbacks of legacy controllers in the implementation of advanced tool path generation methods are discussed and the most significant openNC projects are reviewed. An integrated test platform has been developed. The advanced HSM programming methods enabled by this openNC controller are discussed.

Retrofitting of the IRB6-S2 robotic manipulator using Computer Numerical Control- based controllers

“…More detailed information is available in [37]. Table 2 presents some features associated with the eight architectures considered in the methodology [17,37], allowing the comparison of the internal characteristics of each platform and the relevance for the retrofitting project.…”

“…The systems should be integrated with other software and hardware applications already used, besides providing consistent user interfaces [21]. To formally define an open system, four definitions are shown below [17]:…”

“…It uses two buses for the hardware layer, for the first is responsible for adaptive control of the machine; and the second allows axis real-time control through drives. The software layer is divided into two tasks to control the path of the tool and check the active process of the machine [17].…”

“…To facilitate the comparison of both solutions implemented, a closed structure was proposed as comparative table with an evaluation criteria based on Open CNC architectures controllers [17] and CNC systems [39]. New robotics architectures systems are integrated by many processors and hardware platforms, controlled by logic modules using multiple programming languages and different communication protocols, and therefore, a robotic manipulator has capabilities to perform complex applications that the traditional controllers are not offering [30].…”

A Design Approach to IoT Endpoint Security for Production Machinery Monitoring

“…However, the potential arising from such enhanced connectivity is not sufficiently addressed in legacy production machinery, which is often poorly connected [2]. The connectivity capabilities of computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools remained constrained within the standardised CNC programming data exchanges, and further limited by a lack of versatile open application programming interfaces (APIs), making it difficult to monitor and control their functions within the whole production process [3]. CNC machine tools may already support a number of diagnostic services, which can be supplemented by additional sensors for direct or indirect monitoring.…”