Master interface unit

A method for interfacing a computer numerical control (CNC) machine and a robot using a master interface unit, comprising:

• communicatively coupling a robot communication interface of the master interface unit with the robot via a wired robot communication cable by making electrical connections between the robot communication interface and the wired robot communication cable;
• communicatively coupling a CNC communication interface of the master interface unit with the CNC machine by connecting a wired machine communication cable between the CNC communication interface and the CNC machine;
• coordinating communication between the robot and the CNC machine using processor circuitry of the master interface unit by:
• receiving incoming CNC communication signals from the CNC machine via;
• determining a CNC communication protocol based on the received incoming CNC communication signals;
• receiving from the robot communication interface incoming robot communication signals having a robot communication protocol;
• generating outgoing CNC communication signals based on the received incoming robot communication signals, wherein the generated outgoing CNC communication signals have the determined CNC communication protocol;
• sending the generated outgoing CNC communication signals to the CNC machine via the CNC communication interface;
• receiving from the CNC communication interface incoming CNC communication signals having the CNC communication protocol;
• generating outgoing robot communication signals based on the received incoming CNC communication signals, wherein the generated outgoing robot communication signals have a robot communication protocol;
• and
• send the generated outgoing robot communication signals to the robot via the robot communication interface;
• programming the CNC machine using the processor circuitry by:
• receiving CNC code from the CNC machine via the CNC communication interface;
• outputting the received CNC code;
• receiving updated CNC code;
• and
• causing the CNC machine to implement the received updated CNC code by sending the updated CNC code to the CNC machine via the CNC communication interface.

A system for interfacing a computer numerical control (CNC) machine and a robot using a master interface unit, comprising:

• the CNC machine comprising a communication interface for communicating with the master interface unit and outputting CNC code, and a CNC controller for controlling operations of the CNC machine;
• the robot comprising a data interface for communicating with the master interface unit;
• the master interface unit comprising:
• a robot communication interface configured to communicatively connect with the robot via a wired robot communication cable, wherein the robot communication interface includes electrical connections for electrically interfacing with the wired robot communication cable;
• a CNC communication interface configured to communicatively connect with the CNC machine via a wired machine communication cable;
• processor circuitry configured to:
• receive incoming CNC communication signals from the CNC machine via the CNC communication interface;
• determine a CNC communication protocol based on the received incoming CNC communication signals;
• coordinate communication between the robot and the CNC machine by:
• receiving from the robot communication interface incoming robot communication signals having a robot communication protocol;
• generating outgoing CNC communication signals based on the received incoming robot communication signals, wherein the generated outgoing CNC communication signals have the determined CNC communication protocol;
• sending the generated outgoing CNC communication signals to the CNC machine via the CNC communication interface;
• receiving from the CNC communication interface incoming CNC communication signals having the CNC communication protocol;
• generating outgoing robot communication signals based on the received incoming CNC communication signals, wherein the generated outgoing robot communication signals have a robot communication protocol;
• and
• sending the generated outgoing robot communication signals to the robot via the robot communication interface;
• programming the CNC machine by:
• receiving the CNC code from the CNC machine via the CNC communication interface;
• outputting the received CNC code to;
• receiving updated CNC code;
• and
• causing the CNC machine to implement the received updated CNC code by sending the updated CNC code to the CNC machine via the CNC communication interface;
• wherein the communication interface of the CNC machine is configured to receive the updated CNC code and the CNC controller is configured to execute the received updated CNC code.