Universal bridge controller for machine language interpretive collaborative robot and machine interface

A method of interconnecting a CNC machine and an industrial robot, the method comprising:

• providing a universal bridge controller configured to receive operational state information in a first format and translate the operational state information into a second format;
• coupling the universal bridge controller to a CNC machine via a first data connection and to an industrial robot via a second data connection;
• receiving at the universal bridge controller via a first data connection, data in the first format corresponding to a first operational state of the CNC machine;
• translating, at the universal bridge controller, the first operational state received from the CNC machine into the second format;
• transmitting the first operational state in the second format to the industrial robot via the second data connection;
• receiving at the universal bridge controller via the second data connection, data in the second format corresponding to a second operational state of the industrial robot;
• translating, at the universal bridge controller, the second operational state received from the industrial robot into the first format;
• and
• transmitting the second operational state in the first format to the CNC machine via the first data connection.

A method of interfacing a CNC machine and a collaborative robot, the method comprising:

• coupling a universal bridge controller to a CNC machine, the universal bridge controller being capable of translating data from a plurality of data protocols;
• receiving data in a first format from the CNC machine;
• processing the received data with the universal bridge controller to generate a first set of common commands;
• processing the first set of common commands with the universal bridge controller to generate a first set of robot codes;
• providing the first set of robot codes to a collaborative robot to indicate to the collaborative robot to begin a first process;
• receiving an indication from the collaborative robot that the first process is finished, wherein the received data includes a second set of robot codes;
• processing the second set of robot codes with the universal bridge controller to generate a second set of common commands;
• processing the second set of common commands with the universal bridge controller to generate a second set of G-codes;
• and
• providing the second set of G-codes to the CNC machine to indicate to the CNC machine to begin a second process.