Abstract
A concept has been developed which enables the virtualization and consolidation of NC controllers for machine tools. By decoupling control hardware and software, dynamic scaling of computing power depending on the complexity of the control functions becomes possible. The use of monolithic and over-dimensioned control systems, which are most often not fully exploited but no longer sufficient when new requirements arise, is avoided. Additionally, economic advantages might be exploited by consolidating multiple controllers in an edge cloud. Initial experiments have shown that purely software-based solutions on standard IT hardware are suitable for reliably achieving the required cycle times.
Zusammenfassung
Es wurde ein Konzept entwickelt, das die Virtualisierung und Konsolidierung von NC-Steuerungen für Werkzeugmaschinen ermöglicht. Durch die Entkopplung von Steuerungshardware und -software wird eine dynamische Skalierung der Rechenleistung in Abhängigkeit von der Komplexität der Steuerungsfunktionen möglich. Der Einsatz von monolithischen und überdimensionierten Steuerungen, die meist nicht voll ausgenutzt werden, aber bei neuen Anforderungen nicht mehr ausreichen, wird so vermieden. Zusätzlich können wirtschaftliche Vorteile durch die Konsolidierung mehrerer Steuerungen in einer Edge-Cloud genutzt werden. Erste Versuche haben gezeigt, dass rein Software-basierte Lösungen auf Standard-IT-Hardware geeignet sind, um die erforderlichen Zykluszeiten zuverlässig zu erreichen.
Funding source: IGF (Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung und -entwicklung) - 22716 N/2 (ViRTNC) FVP (Forschungsvereinigung Programmiersprachen für Fertigungseinrichtungen e. V.) AiF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen e. V.)
About the authors
Christoph Susen studied Mechanical Engineering (B. Sc.) and Simulation Engineering (M. Sc.) at RWTH Aachen University. After graduating, he joined the Department for Automation and Control Engineering of the Chair for Machine Tools at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) in 2021 as a research associate. His research interests include industrial communication technologies and real-time virtualization of programmable logic and numerical controllers.
Simon Storms, M. Sc. is head of the Department for Automation and Control Engineering of the Chair for Machine Tools at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of RWTH Aachen University. After completing his master’s degree in Automation Engineering at RWTH Aachen University, he worked at WZL as a research associate from 2014 to 2018. His research focus is human-robot collaboration.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Brecher is a full professor at RWTH Aachen University and has been head of the Chair for Machine Tools at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) since 2004. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) in Aachen.
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Author contribution: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
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Research funding: The IGF project 22716 N/2 (ViRTNC) of the research association FVP (Forschungsvereinigung Programmiersprachen für Fertigungseinrichtungen e. V.) was supported by the AiF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen e. V.) within the funding program IGF (Industrielle Gemeinschaftsforschung und -entwicklung) by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) due to a decision of the German Parliament.
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Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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