COMPUTER CONTROL-SYSTEM FOR A METAL-CUTTING MACHINE

This paper reviews the work carried out by the Industrial Research Laboratory in cooperation with the Machine Tool Laboratory at the University of Florida to design and build a Supervision System for Machining Centers. The objective of the Supervision System is to perform three main functions: Chatter Detection and Control, Cutter Breakage Detection, and Adaptive Feed Control [1], [2]. Our contribution to this project consists of providing low-level intelligence to the machine tool controller and high-level user-friendly operator interface (monitoring screen), so that the machine tool, as a unit will be more robust and efficient, thus more economical to operate. A simple PC based embedded control system for chatter and tool breakage detection as well as a user-friendly operator interface unit will be discussed.