Control system for controlling operation of a numerically controlled machine tool, and back-end and front-end control devices for use in such system

A control system for controlling operation of a numerically controlled machine tool, the system comprising:

• a back-end control device;
• and
• a front-end control device communicably connected to the back-end control device,
• wherein the back-end control device comprises:
• a numerical controller (“NC”),
• a programmable logic controller (“PLC”),
• a first memory for storing data, the first memory comprising one or more PLC registers of the programmable logic controller and one or more NC registers of the numerical controller,
• at least one first processor for executing a first operating system on the basis of data stored in the first memory, and
• a first communication interface (i) utilizing a first interface language protocol and an internal NC/PLC communication protocol, (ii) being communicably connected directly to the numerical controller, (iii) being communicably connected directly to the programmable logic controller, (iv) being communicably connected to the first memory by way of the internal NC/PLC communication protocol, and (v) being configured to convert between the internal NC/PLC communication protocol and the first interface language protocol which is utilized by the first communication interface;
• wherein the back-end control device or the front-end control device comprises:
• an interface server module of a second communication interface utilizing a plurality of interface language protocols, including the first interface language protocol and a second interface language protocol, and being communicably connected to the first communication interface by way of the first interface language protocol,
• the interface server module being configured to convert between the first interface language protocol and one or more other interface language protocols of the plurality of interface language protocols, including interface language conversion from the first interface language protocol to the second interface language protocol and from the second interface language protocol to the first interface language protocol;
• and
• wherein the front-end control device comprises:
• one or more interface client modules of the second communication interface utilizing the second interface language protocol and/or a second internal communication protocol, and being adapted to communicably connect to the interface server module of the second communication interface by way of the second interface language protocol,
• at least one second processor for executing a second operating system, a basic module application, and a plurality of control applications,
• the at least one second processor, by executing the basic module application, being adapted to access data stored in the first memory via the one or more interface client modules of the second communication interface, the interface server module of the second communication interface and the first communication interface,
• a second memory for storing data received from the numerical controller, the programmable logic controller and the first memory via the first communication interface, the interface server module of the second communication interface and the one or more interface client modules of the second communication interface,
• a display for displaying one or more control screens to a user, and
• a first human-machine interface being communicably connected to the display, and including a first graphical user interface for controlling the one or more control screens displayed on the display and for processing control input operations of the user.