In recent years, networked manufacturing has emerged as a key research area in the field of advanced manufacturing technology. To meet the demands of modern teaching and practical training, several universities have established CAD/CAM laboratories and CNC machine tool labs. For example, the NC Technology Teaching Experimental Center in Jiangsu Province is equipped with LANs for designing NC programs, processing drawings, and 3D modeling, along with individual CNC machining equipment. However, students still rely on floppy disks to transfer NC programs to the machines, which is inefficient. Additionally, administrators lack visibility into the operations of the equipment, and there is no centralized control mechanism. This highlights the urgent need to integrate numerical control equipment with CAD/CAM systems using effective network technologies to create an experimental environment suitable for networked manufacturing.
This paper presents a networked manufacturing experiment system that explores the information interaction model and develops key technologies such as task management and equipment monitoring. The system structure consists of three parts: design subnets, servers, and device subnets. The design subnet includes the CAD/CAM lab, while the device subnet connects various CNC machines via Ethernet. These include flexible production lines (using Kingview 5.1 monitoring software), machining centers with PC-based controls, and CNC milling and lathe machines with Siemens 802D systems. A server acts as a gateway to link these subnets and form a functional networked manufacturing environment.
The workflow begins when the management department receives an order and assigns tasks to the design team through the network. After the design is completed and reviewed, it is sent to the device subnet. The server then distributes tasks to the appropriate equipment based on real-time workshop conditions. Key functions of the server include job scheduling, device monitoring, and communication services. Task scheduling and device monitoring are particularly crucial in this system.
The system’s information interaction model involves designers, the dispatcher (server), and the devices. When a designer completes a product design and generates an NC program, they specify the task status, processing time, completion time, and required equipment. They then use task sending software to transmit this data to the server. The server processes incoming tasks, creates a queue based on predefined scheduling rules (such as priority, arrival time, processing time, and deadline), and sends tasks to the relevant equipment. Once a task is completed, the device requests the next one, and the system confirms the delivery of the NC program.
Task scheduling and equipment monitoring are central to the system's development. These functions are implemented using VB6.0. The task scheduling module involves three phases: task sending, queuing, and acceptance. The designer’s software, known as the “task transmitter,†encapsulates task details and sends them to the dispatcher. The dispatcher manages communication with both the designer and the equipment, handles job sorting, and maintains the task queue.
On the equipment side, the software allows devices to request and accept tasks. The monitoring module uses a client/server model to remotely monitor CNC machines. Screen capture and coordinate conversion enable the server to view and control the client’s screen. Through Winsock control in VB6.0, the system establishes a TCP connection, allowing the server to receive screen images and send mouse commands back to the client.
In conclusion, the developed networked manufacturing experiment system integrates design and manufacturing aspects but does not yet cover enterprise management or market networking. It has been successfully applied in a hospital’s CNC practice center and meets the required performance standards. Further research and improvements are needed to expand its capabilities and adaptability in more complex industrial environments.
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