Open Architecture Controllers for Machine Tools, Part 1: Design Principles

Abstract

In Part 1 of this two-part paper, we review the development of open architecture controllers for machine tools. General design principles are described, followed by specific hardware and, software recommendations. These specific recommendations are then used for the construction of an open architecture device, MOSAIC-PM, (Machine tool Open System Advanced Intelligent Controller for Precision Machining). The machine has now been used in a wide variety of experiments to demonstrate open architecture control. These experiments include sensor based machining, rapid prototyping and manufacturing over the Internet. In Part 1, a specific application on feature based precision machining with on-machine acceptance is described. A more specific implementation of a quintic spline interpolation method is described in Part 2.