Development of a direct numerical control (DNC) for machining cell

• Main Author: Lau, Choon Mun.
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Production Engineering
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Control engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/42728
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The project is involved with the development of a modular, flexible and reconfigurable Direct Numerical Control system for the Flexible Machining Cell in the CIM Centre of German-Singapore Institute, to co-ordinate information flow within a machining cell. The main task to be satisfied by the system is the provision of decisive information paths to ensure efficient supply of information to machines and the removal of such information when needed. The DNC system comprises of two basic elements, i.e. DNC server and Machine Interface Unit (MIU). The DNC server is concerned with storing and dispatching relevant information such as NC programs, tooling data and job information to the respective MIUs on the shop floor. The MIU is a generic and re-configurable PCbased controller, which connects devices in the shop floor, such as CNC machines, robots, etc., with the DNC server via an ethernet-based network. It is designed to support a wide range of shop floor devices, such as, different types of machine tools, robots, data acquisition equipment, assembly and material handling equipment. It communicates with and controls the tasks of the equipment via RS- 232.