STEP-NC Compliant Intelligent CNC Milling Machine with an Open Architecture Controller

A STEP-NC or ISO 14649 compliant machine controller is developed, using Open Architecture Control technology for a three-axis Computer Numerical Control milling machine in this research. The controller is developed on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, using C++ language. This new development is proposed as a low-cost alternative to ISO6983 standard, ensuring continuous integration in the CAD/CAM/CNC chain in machining; thus, it broadens the spectrum of problems handled by conventional CNC systems. The new machine controller is intelligent enough to extract geometrical and manufacturing parameters, cutting tool data, and material data from the STEP-NC file. Accordingly, tool paths for machining can be generated in the controller itself. The shop floor level modification of parameters and the possibility of regeneration of new toolpaths is an added advantage of this new controller. The modified or improved version of the STEP-NC file can be sent back to the CAD/CAM system to close the CAD/CAM/CNC chain. Machine condition monitoring can be achieved by connecting sensors through an available slave I/O board. In the present development, the current drawn by each servo motor is fed back to the controller for cutting condition monitoring. A laboratory scale three-axis CNC milling machine is developed to test the performance of the newly developed controller. The accuracy of positioning, perpendicularity of axes and linearity of this machine are experimentally verified through standard tests. The STEP-NC compliance of the controller is tested and verified, using a STEP-NC program derived based on a sample program given in ISO 14649 standard.

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