Advanced Management and Diagnostics

Advanced Management

In addition to the basic functions as described earlier, it is more important for the newer controllers to provide additional facilities. Some typical possibilities are outlined below :

1. Axis calibration

2. Adaptive control

3. Thermal compensation

4. Pitch error compensation

Diagnostics

To keep the machine utilisation high, it is necessary to check the health of the machine tool continuously. For this purpose a number of sensors are normally built into the machine tools. The control therefore should have the necessary ability to get the information from these sensors, analyse and then diagnose any faults already present or likely to come in future. Such diagnosis can be immediately communicated as alarms to the operator through the VDU. Alternatively with a built-in modem and a connected telephone line such information can be sent to the manufacturer or service facility for proper attention.