JPH09198112A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the number of numerical control units by preparing such a constitution where a user application module directly controls the numerical control unit built into another controller connected via a network by means of an NC interface. SOLUTION: An NC interface function analysis module 17 adds the changed data showing a function to the NC unit designation information and outputs them to a branch module 18. The module 18 checks the presence of its own NC unit or an NC unit that is built into another personal computer based on one of those computer names designated by the NC unit designation information included in the data. Then the module 18 reads the answer data out of a shared memory 72 by means of a shared memory/PC driver 64 and sends the answer data back to the module 17. Then the answer data returned from the personal computer having the designated name are read out via a network module 14, and these data are sent back to the module 17.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller incorporating an NC unit equipped with a numerical control (hereinafter referred to as NC) function for controlling a machine tool, an industrial robot or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control device incorporating a conventional NC unit.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a control device incorporating a conventional NC unit. In FIGS. 4 and 5, 50
Is a personal computer as a control device incorporating an NC unit, 51 is a personal computer main body, and 52 is an NC unit.
The NC unit 52 is incorporated in an expansion slot (not shown) of the personal computer main body 51. Generally, the PC body 5
Reference numeral 1 is a commercially available personal computer, and NC unit 52 is an NC manufactured by an NC maker or a machine maker, which is mounted in an expansion slot (not shown) of this commercially available personal computer.
It is a printed circuit board with functions.

Reference numeral 61 is a main CPU for controlling the personal computer main body 51, 62 is a main memory for storing a program executed by the main CPU 61 and data used when executing this program, 63 is an external memory, and 64 is a personal computer main body 51. A shared memory / PC driver, which is a module for reading and writing data stored in the shared memory 72 of the NC unit 52, which will be described later,
Reference numeral 65 denotes a user application that is manufactured by a user such as a machine maker using the NC interface function described later to control the NC unit 52 described later.
Module 66 is launched from the user application module 65 to
It is an NC interface function analysis module for analyzing the NC interface function included in the module 65.

Here, the NC interface function is a user application module 65 produced by the user to realize a machine-specific function or a device-specific function.
Function that can be used to read or write data or files inside the NC unit 52, or N
It is a function for controlling the operation of C.

67 is a shared memory / PC based on the data sent from the NC interface function analysis module 66.
Shared memory / PC management, which is a module that uses the driver 64 to write to the shared memory 72 of the NC unit 52, which will be described later, or conversely read response data from the shared memory 72 and return it to the NC interface function analysis module 66. A module, 68 is a bus A which is a signal line for connecting the main CPU 61, the main memory 62, the external memory 63 and the NC unit 52 described later, and 69 is a network interface for connecting to another personal computer,
Reference numeral 70 is a network connection line.

Reference numeral 71 is a CPU for controlling the NC unit, 7
2 is a shared memory which is a memory in the NC unit 52 used by the NC unit 52 and the personal computer main body 51;
Is a program memory for storing a program executed by the CPU 71, 74 is a shared memory NC driver which is a module for directly reading and writing data in the shared memory 72 from the NC unit 52 side, and 75 is a user application module 65. An NC interface function processing module, which is a module that realizes a commanded function, 76 is a data memory, which is a memory that stores data used when the CPU 71 executes a program,
Reference numeral 77 is a bus B which is a signal line for connecting the CPU 71, the program memory 73, the data memory 76 and the like.

In order to realize the function unique to the machine or the device, the user creates a program using the NC interface function, stores it in the external memory 63 as the user application module 65, and operates it. As a result, the NC unit 52 to be controlled can be controlled.

Next, an example of the NC interface function will be shown. read (NC unit specification, data type, data
Address): Contents of function: The data or file specified by the argument "data type" is read from the data memory 76 of the NC unit 52 specified by the argument "NC unit specification" and specified by the argument "data address". Write to the address you made.

Write (NC unit designation, data type, data): Function contents: The data designated by the argument "data" is stored in the data memory 76 of the NC unit 52 designated by the argument "NC unit designation" as an argument. Write to the data specified in "Data type".

RefPointReturn (NC unit specification, axis name): Content of function: N specified by argument "NC unit specification"
Among the drive axes to be controlled by the C unit 52, the reference point return of the drive axis designated by the argument "axis name" is executed.

CycleStart (NC unit specification): Function contents: N specified by the argument "NC unit specification"
The cycle start of the C unit 52 is executed.

FeedHold (NC unit designation): Content of function: N designated by argument "NC unit designation"
The feed hold of the C unit 52 is executed.

Since a plurality of NC units 52 can be mounted inside the personal computer 50,
In the above-mentioned argument "NC unit designation", the shared memory start address assigned to the NC unit to be controlled is designated.

Next, the processing procedure of the user application module 65 will be described with reference to FIG. a1. Processing on the side of the personal computer 51 The NC interface function analysis module 66 decodes the NC interface function used by the user application module 65 and allocates the "shared memory top address" assigned to the controlling NC unit.
To the shared memory / PC management module 67 by adding the data obtained by changing the above-mentioned function into data representing “the kind of function, the number of arguments, the first argument, the second argument, ...”. To do. The shared memory / PC management module 67 uses the shared memory / PC driver 64 to write the data corresponding to the NC interface function to the shared memory 72 of the NC unit 52 having the specified “shared memory start address”.

B. Processing on NC Unit 52 Side The NC interface function processing module 75 uses the shared memory / NC driver 74 to analyze the data written in the shared memory 72, execute the requested processing, and execute the processing result (response Data) is written in the shared memory 72 using the shared memory / NC driver 74.

A2. Processing on the side of the personal computer 51 Shared memory / PC management module 67
The PC driver 64 is used to read response data from the shared memory 72 and return the response data to the NC interface function analysis module 66. The NC interface function analysis module 66 returns the response data to the user application module 65.

[0017]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The control unit incorporating the C unit is network-connected to another control unit, but the NC unit that can be controlled by the user application module is the control unit in which this user application module is stored. However, there is a problem in that it is not possible to directly control the NC unit incorporated only in the incorporated NC unit and the NC unit incorporated in another control device connected to the network.

[0018]

In a control device according to the present invention, a numerical control unit for mounting a numerical control function and controlling a drive axis and a numerical control interface function for controlling the numerical control unit are used. The user application module produced by the above, the numerical control interface function analysis module for decoding the numerical control interface function used in this user application module, and creating data, and the numerical control unit Or read the file,
A shared memory driver for writing, a network interface for network connection with other control devices, a network module for exchanging data via this network interface, and the sharing by a command from this network module A net response module for instructing the memory driver to send and receive data, and a command from the numerical control interface function analysis module are determined, and the shared memory driver is instructed to transfer data, or a network connection is made from the network module. And a branch module for selecting whether to issue a command for data transfer to another control device that is being used.

Further, the numerical control interface function included in the user application module and analyzed by the numerical control interface function analysis module is a control device incorporating a numerical control unit to be controlled and a numerical control to be controlled. The unit can be specified.

Further, a numerical control unit discrimination table for registering a relationship including one of the numerical control unit, a control device incorporating at least the numerical control unit, or a machine equipped with the control device incorporating the numerical control unit is provided. The numerical control interface function makes it possible to specify a control device incorporating a numerical control unit to be controlled or a machine equipped with a control device incorporating a numerical control unit to be controlled, and the branching module is used for the numerical control. By referring to the unit discrimination table, the numerical control unit to be controlled is discriminated.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control device incorporating an NC unit which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control device incorporating an NC unit which is an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a diagram showing the software configuration of FIG. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 61,
Reference numerals 68, 69, 70, 71 to 77 are the same as those of the above-mentioned conventional device, and the description thereof is omitted. Reference numeral 10 is a personal computer as a control device incorporating the NC unit, 11 is a personal computer main body, and 52 is an NC unit incorporated in an expansion slot (not shown) of the personal computer main body 11.

Reference numeral 12 is a main memory of the personal computer main body 11,
Reference numeral 13 is an external memory for storing the program executed by the main CPU 61 and data used when executing the program, 14 is a network module for exchanging data with other personal computers using the network, 15
Writes data from the network module 14 to the shared memory 72 of the NC unit 52 using the shared memory PC driver 64, and vice versa.
A net response module that uses the C driver 64 to read the data in the shared memory 72 and pass it to the network module 14.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a module for controlling the NC unit 52, which is a user application module produced by a user such as a machine maker using the NC interface function, and 17 is used by the user application module 16. This is an NC interface function analysis module that decodes an NC interface function, creates data, and activates a branch module 18 described later.

Reference numeral 18 checks the argument "NC unit designation" of the NC interface function in the data sent from the NC interface function analysis module 17, and shares the sent data using the shared memory / PC driver 64. Write to memory 72 or network module 14
The reference numeral 19 denotes an NC unit discrimination table, which is a branching module for processing to send to the.

As in the case of the conventional apparatus, the user creates a program using the NC interface function in order to realize the function unique to the machine or the apparatus, and creates the program as the user application module 16 in the external memory 13. It is possible to control the NC unit 52 to be controlled by storing it in the memory and operating it.

Next, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the processing of the control device incorporating the NC unit according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The type of NC interface function is the same as that of the conventional device, but the argument "NC unit specification" differs from that of the conventional device in that "PC name,
Shared memory top address "is used. Here, an example in which the name registered in the network module 14 being used is used as the personal computer name is shown.

NC interface function analysis module 1
7 includes the above-mentioned function in the "NC unit designation" information,
The changed data is added to the data representing “the kind of function, the number of arguments, the first argument, the second argument, ...”, and output to the branch module 18.

The operation of the branch module 18 will be described. N
Depending on the "personal computer name" of "NC unit designation" in the data sent from the C interface function analysis module 17, the NC unit incorporated in the personal computer in which the user application module is stored or inside another personal computer Check if it is the NC unit installed in.

A. When the NC unit incorporated in the personal computer in which the user application module is stored is specified: "NC unit designation" designates the NC unit incorporated in the personal computer in which the user application module is stored. If so, the data corresponding to the NC interface function (type of function, number of arguments, first argument, second argument, ...) Is shared memory / PC driver 64, as in the conventional device.
N with the shared memory start address sent using
Write to the shared memory 72 of the C unit 52.

Thereafter, the branch module 18 uses the shared memory / PC driver 64 to read the response data from the shared memory 72, and returns the response data to the NC interface function analysis module 17.

B. When the NC unit incorporated in another personal computer is designated: "NC unit designation"
When the NC unit incorporated in another personal computer is specified (however, it is limited to the personal computer connected by the network), N is set in the shared memory start address information.
The data to which the data corresponding to the C interface function is added is sent to the personal computer having the designated name using the network module 14.

After that, the branch module 18 uses the network module 14 to read the response data returned from the personal computer having the designated name and return the response data to the NC interface function analysis module 17.

Next, the operation of the network module 14 will be described. When the "NC unit designation" designates an NC unit stored in another personal computer, the network module 14 sends the data created by the branch module 18 to the personal computer having the designated name.

The network module 14 of the personal computer having the designated name sends the data sent from the network module 14 of the other personal computer to the net response module 15, and the response data sent from the net response module 15 Return the data to the computer that sent it.

After that, the network module 14 of the personal computer that has sent the data sends the response data returned from the personal computer having the designated name to the branch module 18.

Next, the operation of the net response module 15 of the personal computer having the designated name will be described. The net response module 15 uses the shared memory / PC driver 64 to convert the data corresponding to the NC interface function in the data sent from the network module 14 to the NC having the specified shared memory start address.
Write to the shared memory 72 of the unit 52.

Thereafter, the shared memory / PC driver 64 is used to read the response data, and the response data is returned to the network module 14.

The operation of the NC interface function processing module 75 of the personal computer having the designated name analyzes the data written in the shared memory 72 by using the shared memory / NC driver 74 as in the conventional apparatus and requests it. Process is executed and the process result (response data) is shared memory
Write to the shared memory 72 using the NC driver 74.

The operation of the NC interface function analysis module 17 of the personal computer that has sent the data returns the response data to the user application module 16 as in the conventional device.

In the above-described embodiment, an example of designating "PC name, shared memory start address" as the argument "NC unit designation" of the NC interface function is shown. It suffices that the NC unit to be controlled can be specified, and the same effect can be obtained even if the NC unit is replaced with a symbol.

Embodiment 2 of the Invention FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an NC unit discrimination table used by the branch module 18 of the controller incorporating the NC unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 20 is an NC machine name, a personal computer name, a shared memory. NC unit discrimination table for discriminating the head address, 21 is the NC machine name,
Reference numeral 22 is a personal computer name, and 23 is a shared memory start address.

In the above-described first embodiment, an example in which "PC name, shared memory start address" is specified as the argument "NC unit specification" of the NC interface function has been shown. However, in the second embodiment of the invention, "NC" is specified. "Machine name" is designated, the branch module 18 checks the NC unit discrimination table 20 as shown in FIG. 3, and discriminates the personal computer name and the shared memory start address from the NC machine name.

In the above embodiment, as the NC unit discrimination table, NC machine name, personal computer name and NC
Although the example is shown in which the shared memory start address that specifies the unit is used, the NC machine name, the personal computer name, and the shared memory start address that specifies the NC unit are not necessarily used, and symbols or the like may be used. .

In the above embodiment, as the NC unit discrimination table, NC machine name, personal computer name and NC
Although an example of configuring with a shared memory start address for designating a unit has been shown, a shared memory start address for designating a personal computer name and an NC unit is used depending on the scale of a system connected to a network or the scale to be controlled. Or an NC machine name and a shared memory start address designating an NC unit.

In the above embodiment, a personal computer is used as the control device incorporating the NC unit. However, as long as it controls the NC machine or the NC device such as the FA workstation or the FA controller,
Needless to say, it can be used.

[0046]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

The user application module uses the NC interface function to directly control the numerical control unit incorporated in another control device connected by the network, so that the numerical control to be controlled is performed. You can add more units.

Further, since the numerical control interface function can specify the control device incorporating the numerical control unit to be controlled and the numerical control unit to be controlled, the numerical control unit of the designated control device is controlled. The user application module can be used in other control devices connected to the network, and the portability of the user application module is improved, so that the development time can be shortened.

Furthermore, the relationship between the numerical control unit and the control device incorporating the numerical control unit, the relationship between the numerical control unit and the machine equipped with the control device incorporating the numerical control unit, or the numerical control unit and the numerical control unit. A numerical control unit discrimination table for registering a relationship with a machine equipped with a control device incorporating the numerical control unit and a numerical control unit, wherein the branch module refers to the numerical control unit discrimination table Since the control device incorporating the numerical control unit and the numerical control unit to be controlled are discriminated, it becomes possible to specify the numerical control unit to be controlled by specifying the control device or machine. Easy to create and edit user application modules Ri, further control device, since the change of the equipped with mechanical or numerical control unit of the control device can be dealt with changing the numerical control unit determination table, can easily cope with such changes in the system.

[0050]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control device incorporating an NC unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a control device incorporating an NC unit which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an NC used by a branch module of a control device incorporating an NC unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows a unit discrimination table.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control device incorporating a conventional NC unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a software configuration of a control device incorporating a conventional NC unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 personal computer, 11 personal computer main body, 12 main memory, 13 external memory, 14 network module, 15 net response module, 16
User application module, 17 N
C interface function analysis module, 18 branch module, 19, 20 NC unit discrimination table, 21 NC machine name, 22 PC name,
23 shared memory start address, 52 NC unit, 61 main CPU, 64 shared memory / PC driver, 68 bus A, 69 network interface, 70 connection line, 71 CPU, 72
Shared memory, 73 program memory, 74
Shared memory / NC driver, 75 NC interface function processing module, 76 Data memory, 7
7 Bus B.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A numerical control unit equipped with a numerical control function for controlling a drive axis, a user application module manufactured using a numerical control interface function for controlling the numerical control unit, and A numerical control interface function analysis module that decodes a numerical control interface function used in a user application module and creates data, and a shared memory driver that reads and writes data or a file with respect to the numerical control unit. , A network interface for network connection with another control device, a network module for exchanging data via this network interface, and a command from this network module for sending data to the shared memory driver. Data transmission / reception command, and a command from the numerical control interface function analysis module to determine the data transmission / reception command to the shared memory driver, or other network connection from the network module And a branch module for selecting whether to issue a data transfer command to the control device. 2. The numerical control interface function included in the user application module and analyzed by the numerical control interface function analysis module is a control device incorporating a numerical control unit to be controlled and a numerical value to be controlled. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a control unit can be designated. 3. A numerical control unit discrimination table for registering a relationship including one of a numerical control unit, a control device incorporating at least the numerical control unit, or a machine mounting the control device incorporating the numerical control unit. The numerical control interface function enables designation of a control device incorporating a numerical control unit to be controlled or a machine equipped with a control device incorporating a numerical control unit to be controlled, and the branching module is The control device according to claim 1, wherein the numerical control unit discrimination table is referenced to determine the numerical control unit to be controlled.