Software CNCs offer potential savings

Software-based CNC provides shops and plants more options and choices. It is attractive to OEMs for many of the same reasons that it appeals to end users. Machine tool builders that do not use open-architecture CNCs become hostage to the control provider. Software-based CNC is an economical alternative, not only because the hardware and software costs are lower, but also because these PC-based controls are likely to be less expensive to maintain in the field-customers can troubleshoot and make repairs easily on their own. More important, the flexibility of modular, open-architecture CNC allows the builder to create control features that differentiate the product from the competition without compromising the end user's interest in maintaining a familiar interface across a variety of machine types from this or other builders. At the same time, customers do not have to worry that their new machine will be rendered obsolete by the controller if something happens to the OEM or the control builder. New era of maintenance CNC software can be configured to send e-mails to specific individuals based on certain events. If a particular machine requires more coolant, for example, or is due for its monthly preventive maintenance, an e-mail can be sent. No action by the machine's operator at that time is required. By connecting the PC-based CNC to the department network (or perhaps the plant network), the CNC can send messages to those users that its Windows account can access. These messages can include a pager, which is useful for bringing attention to urgent problems. The CNC operator-interface using Web-browser technology lets the maintenance supervisor connect to the CNC and view the interface directly from an office PC. The CNC will have a fault history log so the supervisor (or anyone involved in the machine's maintenance) can view operator and error messages sent in the past few days. This reading might reveal that too many tool-changer mechanical hang-ups were reported yesterday. Maintenance personnel can then be scheduled for this machine to make the necessary mechanical adjustments. Additional data such as down time, chip time and part count could also be available to the appropriate personnel. Remote access could even be used by maintenance personnel to view the actual machine input and output conditions at the moment of a reported mechanical problem. The maintenance person might be able to determine the cause of the problem even before arriving at the machine. PC-based CNC architecture allows a wealth of opportunity for data management in the factory. Part programs and production information can be moved via network (such as Ethernet). If file archival is required, the common USB or built-in (IDE) technologies can be used to write a CD, which requires little time. The PC-based CNC has a large data-storage capacity with its internal hard disk. Even if a factory has minimal automation overhead (in other words, no network), the PC provides the floppy disk, serial interface (COM port), USB and parallel interface (LPT port) to move data. During machine installation, the CNC OEM can record the initial machine configuration with a network connection or even a dial-up modem connection (factory-to-customer). Some PC-based CNCs can record CNC performance data. A CNC with a software oscilloscope can save its accumulated data for later reference. This multi-channel oscilloscope can be configured to record the benchmark with performance data for certain features, including axis performance or mechanical timing. Later a comparison (with the same benchmark testing configuration) can reveal changes in timing. With that remote connection, the OEM could check the machine for these differences many months or years later, revealing performance issues that might be addressed with preventive maintenance before those issues become problems. PC-based CNC tAir Jordan II High