Advanced Controls for New Machining Processes

Abstract

This chapter describes the basic concepts involved in advanced CNC systems for new machining processes. It begins with a description of some of the classic ideas about numerical control. Particular attention is paid to problems in state-of-the-art numerical control at the machine level, such as trajectory generation and servo control systems. There is a description of new concepts in advanced CNC systems involving multi-level hierarchical control architectures, which include not only the machine level, but also include a process level and a supervisory level. This is followed by a description of the sensory system for machining processes, which is essential for implementing the concept of the “ideal machining unit”. The chapter then goes on to offer an introduction to openarchitecture CNC systems. It describes communications in industrial environments and an architecture for networked control and supervision via the Internet. Finally, there is a brief summary of the systems available to assist in programming and the architectures of current CNC systems. There is also a description of the most recent developments in manual programming for current CNC systems and possible architectures for these systems, with the different uses of PCs and their various operating systems.