# US 12,007,756 B2 · Machining assist system and cutting apparatus

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- Number: US 12,007,756 B2
- Document ID: US12007756B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/579,982
- Filed: 2019-09-24
- Published: 2020-04-02
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-27
- Assignees: Jtekt Corporation
- Applicants: JTEKT Corporation
- Inventors: Hiroshi Kojima; Yoshihiko Yamada; Takayuki Azuma; Toshiki Sakai; Shigetoshi Noritake; Kazunari Teramoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007756B2

## CPC

- G05B 19/409: characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters (G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence)
- G05B 19/4187: {by tool management}
- G05B 13/028: {using expert systems only}
- G05B 19/4065: Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
- B23Q 17/0995: {Tool life management}
- G05B 2219/32001: Computer assisted machining, signals guide operator to manual machine object
- G05B 2219/32128: Gui graphical user interface
- G05B 2219/35494: Online documentation, manual, procedures, operator, user guidance, assistance
- G05B 2219/37355: Cutting, milling, machining force
- G06F 16/90: Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A machining assist system includes a knowledge database, a receiver, a control unit, and a display. The knowledge database stores various pieces of information indicative of know-how concerning a machining method and a machining facility. The receiver receives a question. The control unit executes a driving solver and a solution-providing solver so as to search the knowledge database using a search condition based on the question and derive a response. The display presents the response. The response includes a plurality of measures, priorities assigned to the measures, and progress information indicative of a search process and a search route. The search process includes a plurality of factors to be used to derive the measures. The search route is a link between the factors. The search process and the search route are visually presented on the display.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A machining assist system comprising:
a knowledge database configured to store various pieces of information indicative of know-how concerning a machining method and a machining facility, the various pieces of information being stored in a searchable and updatable manner, the various pieces of information including a link between a problem and factors that caused the problem and a link between the factors, and the link between the problem and the factors and the link between the factors being set using granularity;
a display; and
at least one processor configured to:
receive an initial condition indicative of a machining requirement for a workpiece;
execute a solver so as to search the database using, as a first search condition, the initial condition to extract factors from the database related to the initial condition;
generate a recommended machining condition for machining the workpiece using the machining method and the machining facility in a form of a solution responsive to the first search condition based upon the factors from the database related to the initial condition;
control the display to present a response related to the solution responsive to the first search condition, the response related to the solution responsive to the first search condition including first progress information indicative of a first search process and a first search route, the first search process including a plurality of the factors from the database related to the initial condition, the first search route indicating a correlation between the factors included in the first search process, and the first search process and the first search route being visually presented;
acquire machining result information indicative of a machining result of machining performed on the workpiece;
receive a question about the machining method and the machining facility in accordance with the machining result information;
execute the solver to search the database by setting a second search condition based on at least the question to acquire factors and measures related to the question;
derive a solution responsive to the second search condition, set based upon at least the question, based upon the factors and measures related to the question, the solution responsive to the second search condition being a response to the question; and
control the display to present the response to the question, wherein
the response presented on the display includes:
a plurality of the measures each related to an answer to the question,
a certainty factor of each of the measures, the certainty factor being indicative of a likelihood of providing the answer to the question, and
second progress information indicative of a second search process and a second search route, the second search process including a plurality of the factors related to the question for which the solver searches the database so as to derive the measures related to the question in a form of the solution responsive to the second search condition, the second search route indicating a correlation between the factors included in the second search process, and the second search process and the second search route being visually presented in a manner that is visually distinguished from the factors, of the factors related to the question other than those that form the solution including the plurality of the factors, and their corresponding correlations.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The machining assist system according to claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store at least the recommended machining condition and various pieces of preset information related to the machining method and the machining facility.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The machining assist system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to acquire a state of machining performed on the workpiece by the machining method or measurement information obtained by measuring an operating state of the machining facility.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The machining assist system according to claim 1, wherein
the solver includes a first solver and a second solver,
the first solver searches the database in accordance with the first search condition received and derives a first solution responsive to the first search condition, and
the second solver sets the second search condition in accordance with at least the question and the machining result information and cooperates with the first solver so as to derive the response in a form of a second solution.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The machining assist system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to update the various pieces of information stored in the database based on the machining result information.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The machining assist system according to claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to update the various pieces of information stored in the database based on at least the machining result information on machining performed in accordance with the response to the question.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The machining assist system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to learn a training data set that includes a machining condition for machining the workpiece, a state of machining on the workpiece, an operating state of the machining facility to machine the workpiece, and the machining result information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The machining assist system according to claim 1, wherein the measures included in the response to the question are presented on the display, with priorities assigned to the measures such that the measures are prioritized in descending order of the certainty factor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A cutting apparatus comprising:
the machining assist system according to claim 1;
a tool retainer to retain a tool including a cutting edge;
a workpiece retainer to retain the workpiece;
a workpiece conveyor to convey the workpiece retained by the workpiece retainer in a predetermined direction;
a tool mover to move the tool relative to the workpiece; and
a controller to control operation of the tool mover.