JP6517706B2 - Numerical control system for efficient exchange of numerical control data - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a numerical control system, and more particularly to a numerical control system that exchanges numerical control data efficiently.

Many numerical control devices (CNC) are connected to a data processing device such as a PC, and are included to constitute a numerical control system (for example, Patent Document 1). In the numerical control system, a data processing apparatus such as a PC (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer section) is for supporting machine control based on data obtained when the numerical control apparatus is controlling a machine. It provides data processing and various user interfaces that allow the user to input and output data interactively.
As described above, in a numerical control system having a personal computer unit, data necessary for the numerical control device to control a machine is held in a memory or the like in the numerical control device. The personal computer section can freely access data in the numerical control device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional numerical control system. In the figure, the numerical controller 1 and the personal computer 2 are connected to a bus 3 such as PCI-Express via buffers 10 and 20, respectively. The buffers 10 and 20 are used to transfer numerical control data (CNC data) from the numerical control device 1 to the personal computer unit 2, and are constituted by, for example, a memory.
The data set processing unit 11 included in the numerical control device 1 directly receives, into the buffer 10, numerical control data including data obtained by the numerical control device 1 analyzing a program, operation data of a machine to be controlled, etc. Alternatively, data is set (written) to the buffer 20 via the bus 3. On the other hand, the application 21 operating on the personal computer section 2 calls an API (application programmable interface) 22 based on an instruction such as data processing or screen display from the user, and is necessary for data processing or screen display. Numerical control data is read (read) from the buffer 10 via the bus 3 or directly from the buffer 20.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-161021

  In general, recently used buses such as PCI-Express take a long time to transfer small-capacity data, and therefore, accessing data across the bus imposes a high load. Taking FIG. 6 as an example, the data set from the data set processing unit 11 to the buffer 10 is lightly loaded, and the data set processing unit 11 to the buffer 20 via the bus 3 is heavily loaded. Further, the data read from the buffer 10 from the application 21 through the bus 3 is heavily loaded, and the data read from the application 21 to the buffer 20 is small. Therefore, when the numerical control data transferred from the numerical control device 1 to the personal computer unit 2 is stored in a biased manner in the buffer 10 of the numerical control device 1, the load of data reading by the application 21 increases. In the case where the numerical control data is stored in the buffer 20 of the personal computer 2 in a biased manner, the load on the data set by the data set processing unit 11 increases and processing control of the numerical control device 1 is caused. There is a problem of affecting.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a numerical control system capable of adjusting the load applied to the transfer of numerical control data according to the operating condition of the numerical control device.

  In the numerical control system according to the present invention, the use state of the buffer used for transferring numerical control data from the numerical control device to the personal computer unit is dynamically switched according to the load condition of the numerical control device. More specifically, when the load on the numerical control device is high, the buffer provided on the numerical control device side is preferentially used, and when the load on the numerical control device is low, the buffer provided on the personal computer unit side Use preferentially.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is connected to a numerical control device having a first buffer capable of storing numerical control data, which is data related to control of a machine, and the numerical control device via a bus. In the numerical control system having a personal computer unit provided with a second buffer capable of storing the numerical control data, the numerical control device is data priority information indicating priority for each data type of the numerical control data. A data set allowable time which is a time allowed to set the numerical control data to the second buffer based on the stored data priority information storage unit and the load state of the numerical control device The allowable time calculation unit to calculate, the data priority order information stored in the data priority order information storage unit, and the data set allowable time calculated by the allowable time calculation unit And a buffer determination unit that determines, for each data type, a buffer as a data set destination of the numerical control data so that data can be set within the data set allowable time, and the buffer determination unit determines An in-use buffer information setting unit for transmitting to the PC unit an in-use buffer information which is information on a buffer serving as a data setting destination for each data type of the numerical control data, the personal computer unit further comprising: And a priority setting unit configured to set data priority information indicating the priority for each data type to the data priority information storage unit, and an application operating on the personal computer unit sets the buffer information in use. Of the first buffer or the second buffer based on the in-use buffer information received from the Obtaining the numerical control data from one even without a numerical control system, characterized in that.

  In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, the data priority order information includes a necessary data setting time which is a processing time required for data setting processing for each data type of the numerical control data, and an access frequency for each data type The numerical control system according to claim 1, characterized in that

  In the invention according to claim 3 of the present application, the buffer determination unit preferentially sets numerical control data of a data type having a high access frequency among data types of the numerical control data to the second buffer. The numerical control system according to claim 2, characterized in that:

  According to the present invention, it is possible to maximize the performance of the application executed by the personal computer unit while keeping the CPU load of the numerical control device below a certain level.

It is a schematic block diagram of the numerical control system by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which illustrates data priority information. It is a figure which illustrates buffer information in use. It is a schematic flowchart of the process performed on an allowance time calculation part. It is a schematic flowchart of the process performed on a buffer determination part. It is a schematic block diagram of the numerical control system by a prior art.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or similar configuration as the prior art will be described using the same reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a numerical control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The numerical control system 100 of the present embodiment is configured by connecting the numerical control device 1 and the personal computer unit 2 via the bus 3 in the same manner as the numerical control system of the prior art. The data set processing unit 11 included in the numerical control device 1 sets numerical control data directly to the buffer 10 or to the buffer 20 via the bus 3, and an application 21 operating on the personal computer unit 2. Calls API 22 based on an instruction such as data processing or screen display from the user, and reads numerical control data necessary for data processing or screen display from buffer 10 via bus 3 or directly from buffer 20 Do. The data set processing by the data set processing unit 11 is executed every processing cycle of the numerical control device 1.
The numerical control device 1 of the present embodiment further includes an allowable time calculation unit 12, and the data set processing unit 11 includes a buffer determination unit 13 and an in-use buffer information setting unit 14. Further, the personal computer unit 2 of the present embodiment includes the priority setting unit 23.

  The allowable time calculation unit 12 is a functional unit that measures the load of the numerical control device 1 and calculates a data set allowable time, which is a time allowed for data set processing by the data set processing unit 11. As a load of the numerical control device 1 measured by the allowable time calculation unit 12, for example, the time required for servo interpolation control per unit time may be measured. The allowable time calculation unit 12 calculates and determines the allowable time of the data set processing based on the measured load of the numerical control device 1 using, for example, Equation 1 shown below. In the equation (1), the data set allowable reference time indicates the maximum time to be divided into the data set in the non-operation state, and the servo interpolation reference time indicates the servo interpolation time in the non-operation state. The values are calculated in advance by experiments and the like.

  The allowable time calculation unit 12 stores the determined data set allowable time in the data set allowable time storage unit 15 provided on the memory. Here, when the data set allowable time is calculated by measuring the load of the numerical control device 1, if the data set allowable time previously calculated is already stored in the data set allowable time storage unit 15, the current calculation is performed. The difference between the calculated data set allowable time and the previously calculated data set allowable time stored in the data set allowable time storage unit 15 is calculated, and when the difference is larger than a predetermined threshold D, the data set The data set allowance time stored in the allowance time storage unit 15 is updated. By doing this, even when the load of the numerical controller 1 fluctuates in a small range, it is possible to use a stable data set allowable time without being affected by the fluctuation.

The priority setting unit 23 included in the personal computer unit 2 sets data priority information to the data priority information storage unit 16 provided on the memory in the numerical control device 1 based on a call from the application 21. Do.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of data priority order information. As shown in FIG. 2, in the data priority order information, the data set processing unit 11 of the numerical control device 1 sets the numerical control data in the buffer 20 of the personal computer unit 2 for each type of numerical control data. It is the information which associated the required data set time which is the time required for and the frequency of access to the numerical control data from the application 21. As the initial value of the required data setting time for each type of numerical control data, a value measured by conducting experiments beforehand is registered. Also, the initial value of the access frequency for each type of numerical control data is set to 0.
The priority setting unit 23 may set the access frequency for each type of numerical control data notified by the application 21 through the API 22 as data priority information. In addition, the access frequency for each type of numerical control data is determined by monitoring and statistically accessing the numerical control data in the past within a predetermined time through the API 22 by the application 21 and setting the data as data priority information You may do so. Also, these may be combined. When a plurality of applications 21 are operating, the total value of the access frequency of each application 21 may be set as data priority information.

The buffer determination unit 13 included in the numerical control device 1 reads the data set allowable time stored in the data set allowable time storage unit 15 and the data priority order information stored in the data priority order information storage unit 16, The buffer 10 provided in the numerical control device 1 and the buffer 20 provided in the personal computer unit 2 set either numerical control data for either buffer based on the read data set allowance time and the data priority order information. Decide if you want to set data.
As an example of the method of determining the buffer, the combination of data types is considered in order from the numerical control data of the data types with high access frequency indicated by the data priority information, and the necessary data set time of the combined data types is added and added It is determined that numerical control data of a data type with a high access frequency is to be set in the buffer 20 as long as the required data set time does not exceed the data set allowable time, and the numerical control data of other data types is It is conceivable to set data against If the data set destination of the numerical control data of each data type is determined by this method when the priority data shown in the lower part of FIG. 2 is set and the data set allowable time is 100 μsec, the access frequency is determined. The highest order (priority order) is A → C → B → D. Considering the combination of data types that are prioritized in this order (that is, the access frequency is the highest in total) [A, B, The order of C], [A, C], [A, B], [A], [B, C], [B], [C] (D is excluded because the access frequency is 0) can be considered. The required data set time is added for each combination, and the most preferred data type combination that fits within the data set tolerance time is searched. For example, the combination of [A, B, C] is 150 μsec, and the combination of [A, C] is 110 μsec, which exceeds the allowable data set time, but the combination of [A, B] is 90 μsec. Since the set allowable time does not exceed, the numerical control data of data types A and B are set in the buffer 20 provided in the personal computer section 2 and the remaining data types are C and D of numerical control data. It can be decided to set data in the buffer 10 provided.

The in-use buffer information setting unit 14 uses the in-use buffer information provided in the memory of the personal computer unit 2 as the in-use buffer information relating to the data setting destination of each numerical control data determined by the buffer determination unit 13. Data is set in the storage unit 24.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of in-use buffer information. As shown in FIG. 3, the in-use buffer information corresponds to the data type of the numerical control data in any of the buffer 10 of the numerical control device 1 and the buffer 20 of the personal computer unit 2 of the numerical control data of the data type. It is information associated with information indicating which is stored (which one is being used). The in-use buffer information illustrated in FIG. 3 includes numerical control data of data types A and B in the buffer 20 included in the personal computer 2, and numerical control data of data types C and D in the numerical control device 1. Show that they are stored respectively.

Then, the data set processing unit 11 sets each numerical data set according to (buffer 10, buffer 20) to the data set destination of the numerical control data determined by the buffer determination unit 13 for each data type in this manner. . Since the data set processing by the data set processing unit 11 is executed for each processing cycle of the numerical control device 1 as described above, the buffer of the data set destination for each data type of the numerical control data by the buffer determination unit 13 The decision will be reflected every processing cycle.
The API 22 of the personal computer unit 2 refers to such in-use buffer information to specify whether numerical control data requested by the application 21 is stored in the buffer 10 or in the buffer 20. Then, the numerical control data requested by the application 21 is read and acquired by accessing the specified buffer, and the acquired numerical control data is handed over to the application 21.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of the process performed by the above-described allowable time calculation unit 12.
[Step SA01] The allowable time calculation unit 12 measures the load of the numerical control device 1.
[Step SA02] Based on the load of the numerical control device 1 measured in step SA01, the allowable time calculation unit 12 calculates a data set allowable time which is an allowable time for data set processing.

[Step SA03] The allowable time calculation unit 12 determines in advance the difference between the data set allowable time calculated in step SA02 and the previously calculated data set allowable time already stored in the data set allowable time storage unit 15. It is determined whether it is larger than the threshold D. If the threshold value D is larger than the threshold value D, the process proceeds to step SA04. If the threshold value D is equal to or less than the threshold value D, the present process ends.
[Step SA04] The allowable time calculation unit 12 overwrites and stores the data set allowable time calculated in step SA02 in the data set allowable time storage unit 15.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of the process performed by the above-described buffer determination unit 13.
[Step SB01] The buffer determination unit 13 creates a combination of data types in which the data type with the highest access frequency is prioritized.
[Step SB02] The buffer determination unit 13 repeats Steps SB03 to SB05 in the priority order (that is, the order in which the access frequency is the highest in total) for the combination of each data type created in Step SB01.
[Step SB03] The buffer determination unit 13 adds the required data set time of each data type included in the combination of data types.

[Step SB04] The buffer determination unit 13 determines whether the required data set time added in Step SB03 exceeds the data set allowable time. If it exceeds, the process from step SB03 is repeated for the next combination of data types, and if it does not exceed, the process moves to step SB05.
[Step SB05] The buffer determination unit 13 determines the data type included in the combination of data types determined in step SB04 as the data type to be stored in the buffer 20 of the PC unit 2, and ends this processing.
[Step SB06] The buffer determination unit 13 determines that there is no data type to be stored in the buffer on the personal computer side, and ends this processing.

  By the numerical control system having the above configuration, it is possible to maximize the performance of the application executed in the personal computer unit while keeping the CPU load of the numerical control device below a certain level.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited only to the example of embodiment mentioned above, It can implement in a various aspect by adding an appropriate change.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the buffer determination unit 13 simply performs processing in which data having a high access frequency is regarded as a data type having a high priority, but the access frequency is multiplied by the necessary data setting time for each data type. The priority may be determined based on the value. Since the necessary data set time is increased depending only on the amount of data of the data type, the PC unit 2 acquires the priority based on the value obtained by multiplying the access frequency and the required data set time from the numerical control device 1 Since the values depend on the substantial amount of data, they can be used as priorities that are more realistic.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 numerical control device 2 personal computer 3 bus 10, 20 buffer 11 data set processing unit 12 permissible time calculation unit 13 buffer decision unit 14 in-use buffer information setting unit 15 data set permissible time storage unit 16 data priority information storage unit 20 application 21 Application 22 API
23 Priority setting unit 24 In-use buffer information storage unit 100 Numerical control system

Claims (3)

A numerical control device provided with a first buffer capable of storing numerical control data, which is data related to control of a machine, and the numerical control device are connected to the numerical control device via a bus and a second one capable of storing the numerical control data In a numerical control system having a personal computer unit provided with a buffer,
The numerical controller is
A data priority information storage unit storing data priority information indicating priority of each data type of the numerical control data;
An allowable time calculating unit that calculates a data set allowable time which is an allowable time for setting processing of the numerical control data to the second buffer based on a load state of the numerical control device;
The data can be set within the data set allowable time based on the data priority order information stored in the data priority order information storage unit and the data set allowable time calculated by the allowable time calculation unit. A buffer determination unit that determines, for each data type, a buffer to which data control data is to be set;
An in-use buffer information setting unit for transmitting, to the personal computer unit, in-use buffer information which is information on a buffer serving as a data setting destination for each data type of the numerical control data determined by the buffer determination unit;
The personal computer unit is
A priority setting unit configured to set, in the data priority information storage unit, data priority information indicating a priority for each data type of the numerical control data;
An application operating on the personal computer unit performs the numerical control from at least one of the first buffer and the second buffer based on the in-use buffer information received from the in-use buffer information setting unit. Get data,
A numerical control system characterized by The data priority order information is obtained by associating a required data set time, which is a processing time required for data set processing for each data type of the numerical control data, with an access frequency for each data type.
The numerical control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Among the data types of the numerical control data, the buffer determination unit determines to preferentially set numerical control data of a data type having a high access frequency to the second buffer.
The numerical control system according to claim 2, characterized in that:

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