CNC control system

A CNC machine tool control system for a CNC machine tool of the type comprising a controllable, movable tool for shaping a workpiece, means for receiving control instructions describing shaping functions to be performed on the workpiece, a processing unit and memory means, comprising:

• means for receiving and storing in the memory means workpiece shaping instructions;
• means for transmitting command signals to a movable tool to thereby cause the movable tool to move;
• and
• means for generating control signals, said generating means including an object oriented software program comprising a plurality of objects, each said object including a plurality of instructions and associated data, said generating means including message means for transmitting information between said objects, at least one of said objects including a model of a movable tool for use in connection with shaping a workpiece, said movable tool objects including instructions and data relating to functions of a movable tool, said generating means coupled to said message means, said generating means generating control signals responsive to messages from said movable tool objects, said generating means communicating said control signals to said transmitting means.

A CNC machine tool control system for a CNC machine tool of the type comprising a controllable, movable tool for shaping a workpiece, means for receiving control instructions describing shaping functions to be performed on the workpiece, a processing unit and memory means, comprising:

• means for receiving and storing in the memory means workpiece shaping instructions;
• means for transmitting command signals to a movable tool to thereby cause the movable tool to move;
• an object oriented software program comprising a plurality of objects, each said object including a plurality of instructions and associated data, each of said objects carrying out operations with respect to a corresponding concept and exchanging, with other said objects, messages indicative of what operation should be carried out or a status of said sending object;
• a motion controller software module for receiving messages from at least one of said plurality of objects, the received messages including commands indicating desired movements of a movable tool;
• and
• said motion controller software module further comprising means for sending command signals to said transmitting means to thereby cause the movable tool to move.

A CNC machine tool control system for a CNC machine tool of the type comprising a controllable, movable tool for shaping a workpiece, means for receiving control instructions describing shaping functions to be performed on the workpiece, a processing unit and memory means, comprising:

• means for receiving and storing in the memory means workpiece shaping instructions;
• means for transmitting command signals to a movable tool to thereby cause the movable tool to move;
• an object oriented software program comprising a plurality of objects, each said object including a plurality of instructions and associated data, each of said objects carrying out operations with respect to a corresponding concept and exchanging, with other of said objects, messages indicative of what operation should be carried out or a status of said sending object;
• a motion controller software module operatively associated with said transmitting means and comprising means for receiving from movable tools signals indicating faults with a movable tool;
• a device fault software module comprising:
• means for storing information regarding detected faults from movable tools;
• means for storing, for each detected fault, a sublist of said objects to which to send an object oriented message identifying the detected fault;
• and
• means for sending, upon receiving information regarding a movable tool fault, an object oriented message to each said object associated with the fault.

A method of operating a control system for a CNC machine tool control system of the type comprising a controllable, movable tool for shaping a workpiece, means for receiving control instructions describing shaping functions to be performed on the workpiece, a processing unit and memory means, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an object oriented software system comprised of a plurality of objects, each said object including a plurality of instructions and associated data, said objects being capable of receiving and transmitting messages to other of said objects in the system, and wherein:
• at least one of said objects comprises a shaping process object comprising a model of a process to be performed on a workpiece by a movable tool;
• at least one of said objects comprises a movable tool object comprising a model of a movable tool capable of shaping a workpiece;
• the object oriented software system includes motion control means for receiving an object oriented message containing movable tool motion information and transmitting motion commands to a movable tool to cause the movable tool to move in accordance with the motion information;
• receiving workpiece shaping information and storing the workpiece shaping information in one of said shaping process objects;
• transmitting an object oriented message from a shaping process object to a movable tool object;
• and
• transmitting an object oriented message from a movable tool object to the motion control means, to thereby send a command signal to a movable tool and cause a workpiece to be shaped by the movable tool.