Method of emulating machine tool behavior for programmable logic controller logical verification system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph G. Walacavage, Jim D. Coburn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided of emulating and visualizing machine tool behavior for a programmable logic controller logical verification system for manufacturing a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of constructing a mechanical model. The method also includes the steps of viewing motion of the mechanical model in a motion viewer and determining whether the motion of the mechanical model is acceptable. The method further includes the steps of replicating the motion previously defined with PLC code if the motion of the mechanical model was acceptable and using the accepted motion of the mechanical model to compare the behavior of the PLC code relative to the accepted motion.
Claims19
A method of using transformational arrays to emulate model behavior for a programmable logic controller logical verification system, said method comprising the steps of:
- constructing a mechanical model using a computer;
- generating transformational arrays for the mechanical model by incrementally recording one position of each piece of geometry of the mechanical model moved through space over a period of time using the computer;
- viewing motion of the mechanical model in a motion viewer based on the transformational arrays using the computer;
- determining whether the motion of the mechanical model is acceptable;
- replicating the motion of the mechanical model by generating a PLC code for the motion of the mechanical model using the computer if the motion of the mechanical model was acceptable;
- and
- using the accepted motion of the mechanical model to compare the behavior of the PLC code relative to the accepted motion by playing the PLC code with a PLC emulator.
A method of using transformational arrays to emulate model behavior for a programmable logic controller logical verification system, said method comprising the steps of:
- constructing a mechanical model using a computer;
- generating CAD transformational arrays for motion in the mechanical model by incrementally recording one position of each piece of geometry of the mechanical model moved through space over a period of time using the computer;
- constructing a motion file based on the mechanical model and the CAD transformational arrays using the computer;
- viewing the motion of the motion file in a motion viewer using the computer;
- determining whether the motion of the mechanical model is acceptable;
- replicating the motion of the mechanical model with motion commands in a PLC code using the computer if the motion of the mechanical model was acceptable;
- and
- using the accepted motion of the mechanical model to compare the behavior of the PLC code to the accepted motion by playing the PLC code with a PLC emulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.