Dynamic Reconfigurable Machine Tool Controller

This paper presents a dynamic reconfigurable control strategy based on the Direct Machining And Control (DMAC) research at Brigham Young University. We propose a reconfigurable framework which will allow a DMAC compliant machine to be controlled by a variety of applications and control laws. This Reconfigurable Mechanism for Application Control (RMAC) paradigm uses a hierarchical architecture to configure a mechanism into a device driver for direct control by an application like CAD/CAM. The paradigm is one of a mechanism device driver assigned to each mechanism class or model, and uses only the master model to control the mechanism. The traditional M&G code language is no longer necessary since motion entities (NURBS, lines, arcs, etc) are passed directly to the mechanism. The design strategy of using dynamic-link libraries (DLL) to form a mechanism device driver permits a mechanism to assume different operating configurations, depending on the number of axes and machine resolution. For example, the machine can perform as a material removal machine in one instant, and then, by loading a new device driver, act as a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). This strategy is possible because DMAC is a software and networked-based control architecture. Both the CAD/CAM planning software and the real-time control software reside on the same PC. The CAM process plan can thus directly control the machine without need for process plan decomposition into the forms supported by the native controller. The architectural framework is explained in detail and the methodology for control software reconfiguration into a device driver is presented. For demonstration purposes three device drivers will be implemented on one machine to demonstrate feasibility and usefulness.Copyright © 2004 by ASME

[1]  William J. Schonlau,et al.  MMS: a modular robotic system and model-based control architecture , 1999, Optics East.

[2]  S. Schofield,et al.  Open Architecture Controllers for Machine Tools, Part 1: Design Principles , 1998 .

[3]  Pradeep K. Khosla,et al.  Design of Dynamically Reconfigurable Real-Time Software Using Port-Based Objects , 1997, IEEE Trans. Software Eng..

[4]  Elena R. Messina,et al.  An Open Architecture Inspection System , 2000 .

[5]  Mikel Zatarain,et al.  Modular Synthesis of Machine Tools , 1998 .

[6]  John L. Michaloski,et al.  Analysis of behavioral requirements for component-based machine controllers , 2001, SPIE Optics East.

[7]  G. Pritschow,et al.  Open System Controllers – A Challenge for the Future of the Machine Tool Industry , 1993 .

[8]  Keum-Shik Hong,et al.  A PC-based open robot control system: PC-ORC , 2001 .

[9]  Sushil Kumar Birla.  Software modeling for reconfigurable machine tool controllers , 1997 .

[10]  William G. Rippey,et al.  Evaluation of component-based reconfigurable machine controllers , 2002, Proceedings of the 5th Biannual World Automation Congress.

[11]  Fu-Chung Wang,et al.  Open Architecture Controllers for Machine Tools, Part 2: A Real Time Quintic Spline Interpolator , 1998 .

[12]  I-Ming Chen,et al.  Rapid response manufacturing through a rapidly recon"gurable robotic workcell , 2001 .

[13]  Suk-Hwan Suh,et al.  Developing an integrated STEP-compliant CNC prototype , 2002 .

[14]  Stephen T. Newman,et al.  Future Issues for CAD/CAM and Intelligent Manufacture , 2002 .

[15]  John Peterson,et al.  Open architecture CMM motion controller , 2001, Optics East.

[16]  Tyler Davis,et al.  Rapid and Flexible Prototyping Through Direct Machining , 2004 .

[17]  Kang G. Shin,et al.  Constructing reconfigurable software for machine control systems , 2002, IEEE Trans. Robotics Autom..

[18]  K. D. Oldknow,et al.  Design, implementation and validation of a system for the dynamic reconfiguration of open architecture machine tool controls , 2001 .

[19]  Pramod P. Khargonekar,et al.  Formal verification for analysis and design of logic controllers for reconfigurable machining systems , 2002, IEEE Trans. Robotics Autom..