Figure-2.0.1 Usual NC construction
Making to the opening is to be opened all functions to compose the system, the connection methods, and the operation procedures to the public. An undermentioned condition is necessary for open NC.
Moreover, the form which does not depend on specific hardware and the OS to follow to the progress of the information processor in the future is preferable in the platform. Unlike the general information processor, old NC is opened only input and the output to the public, and is closed (black box) the method of internal processing.
Needs for opening NC and the condition to achieve this are discussed below.
The purpose of a first NC machine is to process complex shape, the idea of a high function and a multi function is succeeded, and the function of NC increases. Recently it is given priority in the interface with the operator, and the rate which the software of MMI (Man Machine Interface) occupies is large.
It is an inside processing of roughness for which 80% does not need high accuracy in the line by which the cylinder block of the car is processed. Its processing is simply a hole and plane cutting, and does not need NC with a high function. As for these machines, a NC with small capacity, that is, a simple NC which only necessary function is built in is demanded.
Though MMI with a good use selfish is necessary in JOB SHOP which processes many kinds of products, MMI with a high function is unnecessary in the processing line because it is a direction of the labor saving and automating. According to the environment used and the user who uses it, the composition of the NC whose function can be expanded and reduced freely is necessary.
Various optional functions should be able to be added easily later based on the specification which builds in only a basic function of NC. NC has a large capacity because it is a lot of situations of "Put optional function which is not need now, in preparation for time when a product changed in future". It is necessary to become independent of each function as a module to be able to build in an addition of control axes and a special cycle, etc. at needing, and to delete the function at unneeding.
The demand by which the hardware component of the NC device can be freely selected is strong. For instance, a machine which processes rough planing which needs high torque but does not need high processing accuracy, is wanted to use a product with high torque of motor special maker. The storage capacity of the NC data increases in proportion to the machine used period. The demand for the free increase of the user of the storage device is strong. Each function is independent and making to modular which can be freely detached by the user is necessary for software and hardware which composes NC.
NC has become one applier machine of COMPUTER by which the function of MMI processes the increasing data though it was existence of special device which controls the machine. Therefore, when processing speed and the memory are increased, CPUs of the NC main body have come to be compared with the personal computer. When a new function is made, the software cost would rather be compared than develop software with the personal-computer to which the software tool such as GUI develops. At this time in which the performance can improve rapidly, a low-priced general personal computer be obtained easily, if this will be used for NC , the expectation which becomes cheap compared with NC now at the time of be composed of a special equipment is great.
The NC format is an expression method concise for ISO to be able to provide and to drive the machine. However, the NC format of present is made a macro because the input data amount is reduced and a complex function to put out the characteristic to each NC maker has been added. There are a lot of something wrong when inputting from the host such as CAM when the NC data is made with the manual though it is convenient. CAM should prepare postprocessor of each machine because the specification of the machine and the NC device is different and there is not interchangeability of the output either. Something wrong appears remarkably when connecting with other systems though a convenient, easy-to-use function is included when only NC is individually used like a Japanese word processor.
There are still a lot of demands in a peculiar field though various functions are developed, have been commercialized by the advancement of NC. In the metal mold processing, a basic function of NC is interpolation of the line of the tool and the processing in smooth respect is difficult though it is wanted to raise curved surface side accuracy by the machine processing to omit polishing. A curved surface interpolation function is demanded. Feedback with the sensor is needed for making of the machine highly accurate. It is necessary to make an architecture to the composition in which third party who is the expert in a peculiar field can participate.
The demand of the interchangeable NC data between machines is strong on the site which make it actually. The specification method is different in each machine maker though the tool exchange is specified by the secondary function of the NC data. There is something that it is not possible to use the processing cycle with the NC device. The cutting condition is not common to any machine. The cutting condition is different in the machine with the rigidity and the machine which not is. An intelligent function of the NC to process the same operation even if the machine is different, is hoped for to give interchangeability by same NC data.