Operation training simulation system for computer numerical control (CNC) machine

Abstract

An operation training simulation system for a computer numerical control (CNC) machine includes a physical control device for inputting control and operation commands, a software simulator connected with the physical control device, a transmission apparatus connecting the physical control device with the software simulator and a simulation display electrically connected to the software simulator. The software simulator generates machining and operation simulations based on the inputted control and operation conditions through the physical control device, and the simulation display visualizes the machining and operation simulations generated by the software simulator. Therefore, using the operation training simulation system for CNC machine not only eliminates the consumptive materials cost but also solve the personal injury problem. Consequently, the learning efficiency of the trainees and the familiarization to machine are raised in this way.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a block diagram which illustrates an operation training simulation system for a CNC machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the operation training simulation system for a CNC machine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a control panel of a physical control device of the operation training simulation system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a command and operation panel of the control panel of the physical control device of the operation training simulation system;

FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the physical control device of the operation training simulation system; and

FIG. 6 is an operational side view of the operation training simulation system when the system is mounted on a CNC machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 1 is a block diagram which illustrates an operation training simulation system for a CNC machine of the present invention and FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the operation training simulation system for a CNC machine in accordance with the present invention. The operation training simulation system for a CNC machine 100 comprises a physical control device 150, a transmission apparatus 120, a software simulator 160 and a simulation display 170. The physical control device 150 includes a control panel 110 and a panel display 117.

The physical control device 150 has an interface the same as a control box of a real CNC machine so that the physical control device 150 can provide practical and realistic sensation of operating. The control panel 110 comprises a command and operation panel that includes the buttons, switch, operation interface for inputting and compiling a control code and so on. The control panel 110 is provided to input the operation code of motion for the machine, like the numerals, motion commands and condition parameters. The control panel 110 is a realistic CNC machine control panel associated with the demanded type of machine for training. In FIG. 2, the command and operation panel of the control panel 110 includes a program selecting device 111, an operation mode selecting device 112, a cutter-feeding adjusting device 113, a cutter selecting device 114, a cutter moving device 115 and a numerical control code input apparatus 116 for inputting control and operation commands that includes selecting operation modes, controlling machining conditions and changing machining programs etc.

The program selecting device 111 can select executive CNC machine program to simulate the conditions of the executive program. The conditions are divided into two kinds: protection conditions which cannot compile the numerical control code and compilation conditions which can compile the numerical control code. The operation mode selecting device 112 can select the manual operation mode, inputting the motion command many times, or the automatic operation mode, inputting the motion command once. The manual operation mode simulates the manufacturing process step by step and the automatic operation mode simulates the manufacturing process continually. The cutter-feeding adjusting device 113 can adjust the cutting speed of the cutter in the simulated motion of machine. The cutter selecting device 114 can select the cutter used in the simulated manufacturing process, such as turning, milling or drilling cutter. The cutter moving device 115 can move the cutter used in the simulated motion of the machine. The numerical control code input device 116 proceeds the simulated control of the cutter motion of the CNC machine by numerical control code. The panel display 117 shows the input numerical control code. The panel display 117 is set with the control panel 110 to present the inputted numerals, motion commands and condition parameters.

The simulation display 170 is implemented with a screen of a computer 130. The physical control panel 150 connects with the computer 130 via the transmission apparatus 120 that transmits the control signal to the computer 130. The transmission apparatus 120 can be an RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 line, wireless transmission apparatus or local area network (LAN) interface, such as an Ethernet interface.

The software simulator 160 is performed by the computer 130 based on the inputs of the control panel 110. The software simulator 160 simulates machining and operation simulations based on the control and operation commands of the control panel 110. Consequently, the machining and operation simulations are presented on the simulation display 170 on the computer 130. Therefore, a trainee can practically input control and operation commands through the control panel 110, observe the real-like machining simulation generated by the software simulator 160 through the simulation display 170 and immediately modify the control and operation commands to practice. The operation training simulation system prevents the trainee from potential hazardous state and eliminates wasting cutter and workpiece during training.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative physical control device of the operation training simulation system and FIG. 4 illustrates another alternative control panel of the physical control device of the operation training simulation system. The buttons, keys, tuners, indicative lights, tuners, knobs etc. on the control panel are configured with the demanded machine type. For example, the control panel for training a CNC lathe may be different from a CNC milling machine. Therefore, those devices 111,112,113,114,115,116 shown in FIG. 2 may be alternatively implemented with the buttons, keys, indicative lights, tuners, knobs and so on shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 of the control panel. Figures are used for illustrative purposes only.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which illustrates another alternative embodiment of the physical control device of the operation training simulation system. The physical control device 150b further includes a shell 140 to mount the control panel 110b and the panel display 117. The physical control device 150b has an alternative configuration and implements the numerical control code input device 116 of the control panel 110 (in FIG. 2) with a separated keyboard 142. The keyboard 142 connects to the shell 140 through a slot 141.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, which illustrates an operational embodiment of the operation training simulation system. The embodied CNC machine 700 comprises a physical control device 150 and a software simulator 160 which visualizes the machining motions to present on the simulation display 170. The physical control device 150 is mounted on the machine 700 with the software simulator 160 inside to provide further realistic sensation and felling for training the trainees. The simulation display 170 may use a LCD display, a plasma display or a three-dimensional (3D) displaying device and is mounted on the machine 700 to replace the actual working platform for cutters and work pieces. The three-dimensional displaying device may be a laser projector that projects 3D simulations at the actual working platform for cutters and work pieces. Therefore, when a trainee inputs machining conditions through the physical control device 150, the software simulator 160 generates the simulated operations of cutters and work pieces, which is presented on the simulation display 170.

The simulated machining operations include the manufacturing period, the cutter-feeding conditions, the cutting conditions and so on. Even the parts which are too imperceptible to clearly be displayed can be observed obviously by the simulation display 170. The trainee can modify the control and operation commands when any machining error occurs during simulation and will be satisfied with the real response of the software simulator 160. By this method, the trainee can directly observe or repeatedly inspect the manufacturing process to experience the operation conditions and enhance the familiarization for CNC machine.

According to the composition and the embodiments above, there are many advantages of the present invention, such as:

1. The system proposes a physical control panel to be an operation interface for simulated manufacturing, so the training system solves the problem of the adaptive period while the operators operate a real CNC machine.

2. The training system proposes a simulation display to present the simulated machining conditions and shapes, such as the manufacturing period, cutter-feeding conditions, cutting conditions and so on. Even the parts which are too imperceptible to clearly be displayed can be observed obviously. Thus, it is helpful for the trainees or beginners to realize a real CNC machine in this way.

3. The training system proposes a physical control panel applied for training beginners to simulate the real manufacturing machining of a CNC machine. The beginners need not learn complex program code of software in order to simulate the manufacturing machining, so the period of additional training education can be diminished.

4. The training system proposes a physical control panel to be an operation interface for simulated manufacturing, and the physical control panel can be applied for training the beginners in manufacturing industry or teaching the students in educational training organizations to enhance their familiarizations for operating CNC machines.

5. The training system can not only eliminate the consumptive material cost and the waste of the work pieces but also diminish the machine damage caused by the improper operation of the machine by beginners.

6. The training system can let the trainees operate under a secure circumstance to eliminate the danger and raise both the learning efficiency and familiarizations. Thus, the personal injury resulted from the insufficient familiarity for machine of the beginners can be eliminated.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, their spirit and scope of the appended claims should no be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments container herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An operation training simulation system for a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, the system comprising: a physical control device including a control panel, and the control panel including a command and operation panel for inputting control and operation commands;a software simulator connected with the physical control device, and generating machining and operation simulations based on the inputted control and operation commands through the command and operation panel;a transmission apparatus connecting the physical control device with the software simulator; anda simulation display electrically connected to the software simulator to visualize the machining and operation simulations generated by the software simulator.

2. The operation training simulation system of claim 1, wherein the command and operation panel includes a plurality of buttons, keys, indicative lights, tuners or knobs for inputting the control conditions.

3. The operation training simulation system of claim 2, wherein the control panel includes a panel display.

4. The operation training simulation system of claim 1, wherein the transmission apparatus is a wire transmission apparatus.

5. The operation training simulation system of claim 1, wherein the wire transmission apparatus is a wireless transmission apparatus.

6. The operation training simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulation display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

7. The operation training simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulation display is a plasma display.

8. The operation training simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulation display is a three-dimensional displaying device.

9. The operation training simulation system of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional displaying device is a laser projector.

10. The operation training simulation system of claim 3, wherein the physical control device further comprises a shell to mount the command and operation panel and the panel display.

11. The operation training simulation system of claim 10, wherein the physical control device further comprises a keyboard and the shell comprises a slot through which the keyboard is connected.