Machine Tool Controller Technology Opportunities

Date: January 1993

Source: National Reseach Council of Canada

MACHINE TOOL CONTROLLER TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES

Summary
The concept of Open Architecture Controllers (OAC) for machine tools is being explored in Canada and the US by a number of organizations. The goal is to develop a lower cost controller with more functionality. Once developed, OAC's will offer new business opportunities to providers of machine tool solutions. This will allow them to add their powerful capabilities to CNC machines equipped with OAC's.

NRC is in the process of building and installing a University of British Columbia designed DOS-based open architecture controller on a five axis machining centre in its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Institute. The purpose is to provide a centre where the potential for this rapidly developing technology can be explored especially in two fundamental areas described below.

Advanced Tool Planning
Open architecture control offers more powerful planning systems capability in the machine control. For instance, tool path planning and sequencing operations can be prepared and graphically simulated using standard hardware and DOS s oftware at the controller. Also, OAC's can be easily networked to each other as well as to business computers. This has productivity implications in prototype development, program development and machining of sculptured surface shapes.

Real Time Process Control
Machine tools can be equipped with sensors (eg force, temperature, vision) and process control systems (boards and software) to improve productivity, versatility and durability of the machine tool. The Open Architecture Controller enables this technology to be added to a variety of computers.

NRC's OAC-equipped machine lays the foundation for systematically improving the productivity of existing equipment. It provides Canadian designers and builders of specialty hardware, software, sensors and auxiliary systems with a low risk R&D capability. This R&D capability includes access to NRC's experienced researchers and to a platform to develop, test and demonstrate solutions for improving machine tool performance.

Information
To learn more about this and other technologies in order to incorporate NRC manufacturing R&D resources into your firm's manufacturing strategies, you are invited to contact:

Gerry Delval
Marketing Manager, Manufacturing Sector
National Research Council Canada
Montreal Road, Building M-58
Ottawa, K1A 0R6
Tel: (613) 993-4473
Fax: (613) 952-4569

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