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

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,
• a programmable logic controller,
• first storage means for storing data, the first storage means comprising one or more PLC registers of the programmable logic controller and one or more NC registers of the numerical controller,
• first processing means for executing a first operating system on the basis of data stored in the first storage means, and
• a first communication interface utilizing a first interface language protocol and an internal NC/PLC communication protocol, and being communicably connected to the numerical controller, the programmable logic controller and the first storage means by means of the internal NC/PLC communication protocol;
• 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 means 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 means of the second interface language protocol,
• second processing means for executing a second operating system, a basic module application, and a plurality of control application,
• the basic module application executed on the second processing means being adapted to access data stored in the first storage means 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,
• second storage means for storing data received from the numerical controller, the programmable logic controller and the first storage means 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 unit for displaying one or more control screens to a user,
• an input unit for receiving control input operations from the user, and
• a first human-machine interface being communicably connected to the display unit and the input unit, and including a first graphical user interface for controlling the one or more control screens displayed on the display unit and for processing control input operations of the user.