Workflow for efficient parameterization of a numerical control

A method for parameterizing a numerical control, comprising:

• in normal operation, iteratively accelerating with the numerical control by way of a spindle drive, which comprises a drive motor supplied with current from a converter and generating a torque, during an acceleration time a spindle of a machine tool controlled by the numerical control and machining a workpiece during a machining time by way of a tool held in the spindle, with the spindle drive during the machining time rotating the tool at an operating speed and applying a process torque;
• before implementing the normal operation, determining in a computing facility coupled to the numerical control limit values to be observed by the numerical control and the spindle drive while executing a workflow and transmitting the limit values from the computing facility to the numerical control and to the converter;
• and
• with the computing facility, when executing the workflow,
• transmitting a command to the numerical control to briefly actuate the spindle drive,
• during the brief actuation, receiving from the numerical control a drive torque applied to the spindle drive and data relating to an acceleration of the spindle caused by the brief actuation,
• determining from the data a moment of inertia of the spindle and of the spindle drive,
• retrieving from the converter either directly or via the numerical control parameters that describe maximum operating limits of the converter,
• retrieving from the converter either directly or via the numerical control motor data of the drive motor that allow determination of a maximum torque of the spindle drive as a function of the speed of the drive motor,
• receiving from an operator process data comprising at least the process torque,
• determining by considering the operating speed, a resulting moment of inertia determined from the moment of inertia of the spindle and of the spindle drive, the parameters and the motor data retrieved from the converter and the process data for possible acceleration times, required currents and torques and associated thermal losses in the spindle drive and thermal losses in the spindle drive associated with the process torque,
• determining combinations of the acceleration times, the process torque and machining times where average thermal losses do not exceed a predetermined loss limit,
• offering the operator as selections the determined combinations of the acceleration times, the process torque and the machining times and receiving from the operator a particular selection from the determined combinations, and
• based on the particular selection received from the operator, determining the limit values to be observed by the numerical control and the spindle drive.