Software helps you add intelligent functions to machine tools

Higher productivity through intelligent functions is an increasingly critical factor in the competitive ability of machine tools. One option for adding new and unique functions is with the Open Core Engineering system.

Open Core Engineering enhances classic PLC programming by bridging the gap to IT automation. It increases engineering efficiency through its use of open standards, software tools and function toolkits. It lets you create individual software functions independently.

This is a new interface technology for Rexroth controls, allowing OEMs to develop individual functional capabilities. The Open Core Interface also enables seamless integration of smartphones and tablets into machine systems, enabling users to create useful mobile apps for machine functions, such as allowing service technicians to perform wireless, remote machine diagnostics from anywhere.

The software uses predefined function toolkits. Machinery manufacturers need only provide the desired parameters. For example, with the IndraMotion MTX vcp function toolkit for volumetric error compensation, a CNC can automatically compensate for mechanical inaccuracies in the entire machining area. The three-dimensional compensation of deviations in position, straightness, rotation, and perpendicularity are useful in the case of large-volume components because errors outside of the margins can be costly. The necessary compensation values are recorded with a laser interferometer and saved in tables that the control system offsets in the process without performance losses.

The growing importance of software functions in machine tools carries with it an increased need to protect the machine builder’s proprietary knowledge. With the IndraMotion MTX encrypt function toolkit, users have a way to protect user programs from unauthorized third party access. Users can select and run encrypted programs on the machine; the program code is saved on the control exclusively in an unreadable format. It is also possible to bind the encryption to a specific piece of control hardware, so that encrypted programs can run only on this one machine. The only requirement is to transfer the encrypted files to the machine. No interventions in parameters or software are necessary, giving machine users with a global production network an efficient way to protect their know-how.

In the field of machine safety, there are options for increasing economic efficiency and uptime. At the drive level, the safety certified IndraDrive options S3/S4 offers up to 16 modes using the CIP Safety on Sercos communication to the safety PLC over the Sercos automation bus Ethernet cable. For the distributed programmable safety PLC, the Safe Logic compact with CIP Safety on Sercos can provide the perfect solution. For centralized safety PLC within the CNC, the enhancement of the CNC system solution with a safety module for IndraMotion MTX is also available, using CIP Safety on sercos to the IndraDrives and PROFIsafe on Profibus to the IO. Here, the Open Core Engineering environment and the Safety PLC SafeLogic reduce programming time and effort, because process modifications have no feedback effects on the safety control.