TWI703007B - CNC compound operation panel system - Google Patents

Abstract

A CNC compound operation panel system is suitable for signal connection with at least one computer numerical control machine tool and an I/O device, and includes a physical control unit and a virtual control unit. The virtual control unit includes a network communication module suitable for signal connection with the at least one computer numerical control machine tool, a touch screen with a plurality of virtual keys and outputting a virtual operation signal, and a virtual control module. The control module receives the virtual operation signal and outputs a virtual control signal to the at least one computer numerical control tool machine via the network communication module according to the virtual operation signal. By setting the virtual control unit, different virtual buttons can be designed according to different customer needs, and the hardware architecture will not need to be changed due to changing these virtual buttons. Therefore, it can be free from hardware architecture and space. The size is limited, and free to change and adjust according to customer needs.

Description

CNC compound operation panel system

The invention relates to an operating system for a computer numerical control machine tool, in particular to a CNC compound operation panel system.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) is an indispensable device in the automatic processing industry. Because its operating interface is controlled by instructions that are biased toward machine language, for those who are not familiar with machine instructions, they need to perform complex operations. , Not only difficult to operate, but also prone to operating errors.

Therefore, the current computer numerical control machine tools are mostly used by connecting an I/O device to an operation panel. The operation panel usually has a plurality of buttons, which can be preset by the user by pressing a single button. Good group actions, such as emergency stop, automatic operation, zero return, fast feed, etc., have a more user-friendly operation interface, which is convenient for users to operate or edit programs intuitively.

However, due to the different architectures of computer numerical control machine tools in various factories, in order to be able to match the hardware, almost every operation panel can only be applied to a single computer numerical control machine tool, which is difficult to carry out according to customer needs. Change adjustment.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a CNC composite operation panel system that is easy to customize.

Therefore, the CNC composite operation panel system of the present invention is suitable for signal connection with at least one computer numerical control machine tool and an I/O device, and includes a physical control unit and a virtual control unit.

The physical control unit includes an I/O communication module suitable for signal connection to the I/O device, a physical operation interface that has a plurality of physical buttons and outputs a physical operation signal when the physical buttons are operated, and an electrical A physical control module that connects the I/O communication module with the physical operation interface. The physical control module receives the physical operation signal and outputs a physical control signal to the I/O communication module according to the physical operation signal. I/O device.

The virtual control unit includes a network communication module suitable for signal connection with the at least one computer numerical control machine tool, a touch screen with a plurality of virtual keys and outputting a virtual operation signal when the virtual keys are operated, and A virtual control module electrically connecting the network communication module and the touch screen. The virtual control module receives the virtual operation signal and outputs a virtual control signal to the network communication module according to the virtual operation signal. At least one computer numerical control machine tool.

The effect of the present invention is that by setting the virtual control unit, different virtual keys can be designed according to different customer needs, and the hardware structure will not need to be changed due to changing the virtual keys. Therefore, it is not necessary Limited by the hardware architecture and space size, it can be changed and adjusted freely according to customer needs.

1 and 2, an embodiment of the CNC composite operation panel system of the present invention is suitable for signal connection with a computer numerical control tool 91 (Computer Numerical Control, abbreviated as CNC) and a computer numerical control tool 91 The corresponding I/O device 92 controls the operation of a machine tool (not shown) through the computer numerical control machine tool 91 and the I/O device 92. The CNC compound operation panel system includes a physical control unit 2 and a virtual control unit 3.

Among them, each manufacturer’s computer numerical control machine tool 91 has its corresponding I/O device 92, and communicates with each manufacturer’s custom protocol. For example, if FANUC’s computer numerical control machine tool 91 is used with the corresponding The I/O device 92 of the computer numerical control machine tool 91 and the I/O device 92 use the JD51A interface and protocol for signal communication. If the computer numerical control machine tool 91 of Mitsubishi and the corresponding I/O device 92 are used , The computer numerical control tool 91 and the I/O device 92 use the interface and protocol of RIO1 for signal communication.

The physical control unit 2 includes an I/O communication module 21 suitable for signal connection to the I/O device 92, a physical operation that has a plurality of physical buttons 221 and outputs a physical operation signal when the physical buttons 221 are operated. The interface 22, and a physical control module 23 electrically connecting the I/O communication module 21 and the physical operation interface 22, the physical control module 23 receives the physical operation signal and passes the I/O according to the physical operation signal The communication module 21 outputs a physical control signal to the I/O device 92.

Wherein, the I/O communication module 21 is connected to the I/O device 92 by a physical circuit. The physical operation interface 22 preferably further has a plurality of display lights 222 corresponding to the physical buttons 221, and the physical control module 23 receives a physical feedback from the I/O device 92 via the I/O communication module 21 And control the corresponding indicator light 222 to emit light according to the entity feedback signal.

The virtual control unit 3 includes a network communication module 31 suitable for signal connection to the computer numerical control machine tool 91, a touch control device having a plurality of virtual buttons 321 and outputting a virtual operation signal when the virtual buttons 321 are operated. The screen 32 and a virtual control module 33 electrically connected to the network communication module 31 and the touch screen 32. The virtual control module 33 receives the virtual operation signal and communicates via the network according to the virtual operation signal. The group 31 outputs a virtual control signal to the computer numerical control tool 91.

Among them, the network communication module 31 and the computer numerical control machine tool 91 preferably communicate with each other using Ethernet network technology.

Wherein, the network communication module 31 preferably stores an IP address (Internet Protocol Address) corresponding to the computer numerical control tool 91, and the virtual control module 33 determines the signal connection Whether the IP address of the computer numerical control machine tool 91 matches the stored IP address, and the judgment result is displayed on the touch screen 32, so that the user can be informed of the computer numerical control machine tool 91 currently connected Is it correct to avoid user setting errors.

The touch screen 32 (Touchscreen) can be implemented using an inductive liquid crystal display that can receive input signals from a contact (including a finger or a plastic pen tip, etc.), or a flat screen, etc. The sensing method can be capacitive, resistive, infrared, Or sonic and other methods.

Wherein, the touch screen 32 preferably further has a plurality of display light areas 322 respectively corresponding to the display lights 222, and the virtual control module 33 is received by the computer numerical control tool 91 via the network communication module 31 The virtual feedback signal is used to control the corresponding display light area 322 to emit light according to the virtual feedback signal.

The touch screen 32 can also be designed to have at least one authority button 323 (not shown in FIG. 1), and the at least one authority button 323 can operate its corresponding function only by entering a password. For example, one or more authority buttons 323 can be set for maintenance personnel or specific personnel. When the user presses one of the authority buttons 323, the touch screen 32 will display a message such as "password input required", and wait for the virtual control mode After the group 33 compares the user's input password and determines that it is correct, the function corresponding to the authority button 323 can be executed.

Wherein, the touch screen 32 preferably further has three warning light areas 324. When the virtual control module 33 receives a warning signal transmitted by the computer numerical control tool 91 via the network communication module 31, it controls the corresponding The warning light area 324 is illuminated. For example, the warning light areas 324 may display red, yellow, and green lights from top to bottom, and when the virtual control module 33 receives the warning signal related to the operation and processing, the green light is displayed. The area 324 is always on. When the virtual control module 33 receives the warning signal related to emergency stop, the yellow warning light area 324 flashes, and the virtual control module 33 receives the warning signal related to the abnormal condition. When a warning signal is given, the warning light area 324 that displays red light flashes, so that the user can be clearly informed of the current operating status of the machine tool. Wherein, the touch screen 32 may have one or more warning light areas 324, the number of which may vary according to actual needs, and is not limited thereto.

The touch screen 32 can also be designed to have a language switch button (not shown), and the user can operate the language switch button to switch the language displayed on the touch screen 32.

Wherein, the number of the virtual keys 321 can be designed to be the same as the number of the physical keys 221, and the functions of the virtual keys 321 correspond to the functions of the physical keys 221 respectively, but the physical keys can also be designed The buttons 221 correspond to the general function buttons of most models in the industry, and the virtual buttons 321 correspond to the parts of the above-mentioned general physical buttons 221, and they can be added according to the needs of different models and different customers. Set virtual function buttons for additional functions. That is, the number of the virtual buttons 321 and the corresponding functions can be adjusted according to the applicable model and customer needs, and when the number of the virtual buttons 321 is large, the touch screen 32 can also There is a page change button (not shown) to switch the display page and display the virtual buttons 321 with different functions.

Wherein, the virtual control module 33 can also receive the warning signal related to the operating state of the machine tool from the computer numerical control machine tool 91 through the network communication module 31, for example, related to loose tool detection, grasping Tool detection, processing air blowing, water output overload, motor overload, door opening detection, etc. operating status, and the above operating status is displayed on the touch screen 32 to facilitate the user to monitor the current operating status of the machine tool.

It is worth mentioning that the virtual control module 33 can also have built-in information such as user manual, operation manual, M-code list, etc., and the user can display the above information on the touch screen 32 by operating the touch screen 32 , For users to view.

Practical application description, when using the CNC compound operation panel system for operation, the user can arbitrarily choose whether to use the physical operation interface 22 or the touch screen 32 for control. When the physical operation interface 22 is selected, for example, use When a person presses the physical operation interface 22 corresponding to the physical button 221 of the light-on function (the light bulb icon button on the right in FIG. 1), the physical operation interface 22 outputs the physical operation signal according to the user's pressing, and the entity controls The module 23 receives the physical operation signal and outputs the physical control signal to the I/O device 92 via the I/O communication module 21 according to the physical operation signal. The I/O device 92 uses a vendor-defined protocol to transmit data related to The signal of the light-on request is sent to the computer numerical control machine tool 91. After the computer numerical control machine tool 91 receives the light-on request, it controls the machine tool to turn on the light through the I/O device 92 and makes the I/O device 92 The physical feedback signal that outputs the light-on message is sent to the physical control module 23 via the I/O communication module 21, and the physical control module 23 then controls the physical button 221 corresponding to the light-on function The indicator light 222 lights up to inform the user that the machine tool has been turned on. At this time, it is preferable to design the computer numerical control tool 91 to also return the virtual feedback signal related to the light-on message via the network communication module 31 to the virtual control module 33, so that the virtual The control module 33 also controls the display light area 322 of the virtual button 321 (the light bulb icon button on the right side of the touch screen 32 in FIG. 1) corresponding to the light-on function to light up, so that the touch screen 32 and the The display on the physical operation interface 22 is consistent.

When the user chooses to operate the touch screen 32, for example, the user presses the virtual button 321 corresponding to the light-on function of the touch screen 32 (the light bulb icon button on the right side of the touch screen 32 in FIG. 1), the The touch screen 32 outputs the virtual operation signal according to the user's pressing. The virtual control module 33 receives the virtual operation signal and outputs the virtual control signal to the computer value via the network communication module 31 according to the virtual operation signal. To control the machine tool 91, the computer numerically controlled machine tool 91 uses the protocol defined by the manufacturer to transmit the signal related to the light-on control to the I/O device 92, so as to control the light-on of the machine tool through the I/O device 92 and output The virtual feedback signal related to the light-on message is sent to the virtual control module 33 via the network communication module 31, and the virtual control module 33 then controls the display light of the virtual button 321 corresponding to the light-on function Area 322 lights up to inform the user that the machine tool has been turned on. At this time, it is better to design the computer numerical control machine tool 91 and also send back the physical feedback signal related to the light-on message through the I/O device 92 to the I/O communication module 21. The physical control module 23 enables the physical control module 23 to simultaneously control the display light 222 of the physical button 221 (the light bulb icon button on the right side in FIG. 1) corresponding to the light-on function to light up, so that the physical operation interface 22 is consistent with the display on the touch screen 32.

1 and 3, it is another application method of the CNC compound operation panel system of the present invention. In this application method, the network communication module 31 is suitable for signal connection with a plurality of computer numerical control machine tools 91a, 91b.

For clear description, the computer numerical control machine tools 91a, 91b and the I/O devices 92a, 92b are marked with different numbers in FIG. 3. Wherein, the computer numerical control tool 91a and the I/O device 92a are corresponding structures, the computer numerical control tool 91b and the I/O device 92b are corresponding structures, and the computer numerical control tool 91a, 91b can control the corresponding machine tool through the I/O devices 92a and 92b respectively.

The touch screen 32 also has a switch button 325 (not shown in FIG. 1). The switch button 325 can be operated to cause the virtual control module 33 to switch and output respective virtual control signals to the network communication module 31. Respective computer numerical control machine tools 91a, 91b.

Practical application description, since the hardware of the physical control unit 2 is matched with the hardware architecture of the computer numerical control machine tool 91b and the I/O device 92b, the physical control unit 2 is fixed to control the computer The numerical control machine tool 91b, and the virtual control unit 3 is connected to the computer numerical control machine tools 91a, 91b via Ethernet. Therefore, the user can switch the currently controlled machine tool by operating the switch button 325 Is it the computer numerical control machine tool 91a or the computer numerical control machine tool 91b? Since the actual operation method is the same as the above description, it will not be repeated.

It is worth mentioning that the network communication module 31 can also be signally connected to a computer 93 via an Ethernet network, so that the computer 93 can download programs and perform the operation settings of the virtual control unit 3. For example, the virtual buttons 321 on the touch screen 32 can be updated by downloading programs through the computer 93.

Based on the above description, the advantages of this embodiment can be summarized as follows:

1. By setting the virtual control unit 3, different virtual buttons 321 can be designed according to different customer needs, and the hardware architecture will not need to be changed due to the change of the virtual buttons 321. Therefore, it is not The hardware architecture and space are limited, and can be adjusted freely according to customer needs. This is an innovative architecture that has not been seen before on the market, and is the first novel design.

2. By configuring the virtual control unit 3 in conjunction with the physical control unit 2, and making at least part of the functions of the virtual keys 321 correspond to the functions of the physical keys 221, the physical operation interface 22 and the touch screen can be provided simultaneously There are 32 two sets of operating interfaces. When the position of the physical button 221 or the virtual button 321 is faulty, there is another set of corresponding operating interfaces that can be used.

3. The virtual control module 33 uses the IP address to check whether the computer numerical control machine tool 91 signaled is correct, which can prevent the installation and pairing with the wrong machine from failing to operate normally.

4. By setting the display lights 222 and the display light areas 322, it is possible to give feedback to show whether the machine tool executes the user's operation command, which is convenient for the user to control the situation.

In summary, the CNC compound operation panel system of the present invention can indeed achieve the purpose of the invention.

However, the above are only examples of the present invention. When the scope of implementation of the present invention cannot be limited by this, all simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of the present invention and the content of the patent specification still belong to Within the scope of the patent for the present invention.

2: Physical control unit 21: I/O communication module 22: Physical operation interface 221: physical button 222: indicator light 23: Physical control module 3: Virtual control unit 31: Network communication module 32: Touch screen 321: Virtual button 322: display light area 323: Permission button 324: Warning light area 325: Switch button 33: Virtual control module 91, 91a, 91b: computer numerical control machine tool 92, 92a, 92b: I/O device 93: Computer

Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the CNC compound operation panel system of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of the embodiment; and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of another application of this embodiment.

2: Physical control unit

21: I/O communication module

22: Physical operation interface

221: physical button

222: indicator light

23: Physical control module

3: Virtual control unit

322: display light area

323: Permission button

324: Warning light area

325: Switch button

33: Virtual control module

91a, 91b: computer numerical control machine tool

31: Network communication module

32: Touch screen

321: Virtual button

92a, 92b: I/O device

93: Computer

Claims (9)

A CNC composite operation panel system, suitable for signal connection with at least one computer numerical control machine tool and an I/O device, including: A physical control unit, including an I/O communication module suitable for signal connection to the I/O device, a physical operation interface with a plurality of physical buttons and outputting a physical operation signal when the physical buttons are operated, and a The I/O communication module is electrically connected to the physical control module of the physical operation interface. The physical control module receives the physical operation signal and outputs a physical control signal to the I/O communication module according to the physical operation signal. The I/O device; and A virtual control unit includes a network communication module suitable for signal connection with the at least one computer numerical control tool, a touch screen with a plurality of virtual keys and outputting a virtual operation signal when the virtual keys are operated, And a virtual control module electrically connecting the network communication module and the touch screen. The virtual control module receives the virtual operation signal and outputs a virtual control signal to the network communication module according to the virtual operation signal. The at least one computer numerical control machine tool. The CNC composite operation panel system according to claim 1, wherein the network communication module and the at least one computer numerical control tool use Ethernet technology to communicate. The CNC compound operation panel system according to claim 1, wherein the network communication module stores an IP address corresponding to the at least one computer numerical control tool, and the virtual control module determines the signal connected At least one computer numerically controls whether the IP address of the machine tool matches the stored IP address, and displays the judgment result on the touch screen. The CNC compound operation panel system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the functions of the virtual keys correspond to the functions of the physical keys. The CNC composite operation panel system according to claim 1, wherein the physical operation interface further has a plurality of indicator lights, and the physical control module receives a physical feedback signal from the I/O device via the I/O communication module , And control the corresponding indicator light to emit light according to the entity feedback signal. The CNC composite operation panel system according to claim 5, wherein the touch screen also has a plurality of display light areas corresponding to the display lights, and the virtual control module communicates with the computer through the network communication module. The control tool machine receives a virtual feedback signal, and controls the corresponding display lamp area to emit light according to the virtual feedback signal. The CNC compound operation panel system of claim 1, wherein the touch screen also has a switch button, and when the network communication module signal is connected to a plurality of computer numerical control machine tools, the switch button can be operated and The virtual control module is switched to output respective virtual control signals to respective computer numerical control tool machines through the network communication module. The CNC composite operation panel system according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen further has at least one authority button, and the at least one authority button needs to enter a password to operate its corresponding function. The CNC composite operation panel system according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen further has at least one warning light area, and the virtual control module receives the data transmitted by the computer numerical control tool via the network communication module When a warning signal, control the warning light area to emit light.

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