Patent Publication Number: US-2015066194-A1

Title: Host device and method for optimizing machining process of product

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a host device and method for optimizing a machining process of a product. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Nowadays, products are usually machined by blades on a computer numerical control (CNC) tool. However, the blades are switched manually more than once, which wastes a lot of time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a host device including a product machining optimization system. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of one embodiment of function modules of the product machining optimization system in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for optimizing machining of a product using the host device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for correcting a position deviation between each blades and its corresponding blade hole. 
         FIG. 5  is an example of a blade holder. 
         FIG. 6  is an example of a computer numerical control (CNC) tool. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
     In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language. In one embodiment, the program language may be Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an EPROM. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CDs, DVDs, flash memory, and hard disk drives. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a host device  1  including a product machining optimization system  10 . The host device  1  comprises a storage device  12  and at least one processor  14 . In the embodiment, the host device  1  connects to a computer numerical control (CNC) tool as shown in  FIG. 6 . The CNC tool is an automated machining device that is operated by abstractly programmed commands and includes a principal axis and a platform. In one embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5 , the product is machined by a plurality of blades  20  controlled by the CNC tool, and each blade  20  is installed in a corresponding blade hole  40  of a blade holder  30 . The blade holder  30  further has a location pole  50 . 
     In one embodiment, the storage device  12  (non-transitory storage device) may be an internal storage system, such as a random access memory (RAM) for the temporary storage of information, and/or a read only memory (ROM) for the permanent storage of information. In some embodiments, the storage device  12  may be an external storage system, such as an external hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium. 
     The at least one processor  14  may include a processor unit, a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit, and a field programmable gate array, for example. 
     In one embodiment, the product machining optimization system  10  includes a plurality of function modules which include computerized codes or instructions that can be stored in the storage device  12  and executed by the at least one processor  14  to provide a method for optimizing machining of a product. 
     In one embodiment, the product machining optimization system  10  includes a correction module  100 , an installation module  102 , a numbering module  104 , a returning module  106 , and an equipment module  108 . The modules may comprise computerized codes in the form of one or more programs that are stored in the storage device  12  and executed by the at least one processor  14  to provide functions for implementing the machining process optimization system  10 . The functions of the function modules are illustrated in  FIG. 3  and described below. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for optimizing machining of a product using the host device  1  of  FIG. 1 . Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps may be changed. 
     In step S 10 , the correction module  100  controls the CNC tool to adjust a position of each blade  20  to correct a position deviation between each blade  20  and the corresponding blade hole  40 . 
     In step S 11 , the installation module  102  controls the CNC tool to install each blade  20  in the corresponding blade hole  40 . In the embodiment, the installation module  102  controls the CNC tool to install several blades  20  in a predetermined order and in a same direction to make it convenient to switch the blades  20  from the blade holder  30  during the machining process. In the embodiment, each blade  20  is installed in the blade holder  30 , such that an axle direction of the blade  20  is substantially perpendicular to a platform of the CNC tool. 
     In step S 12 , the numbering module  104  assigns one serial number (1, 2, 3 . . . ) to each blade  20  and each corresponding blade hole  40 . 
     In step S 13 , the returning module  106  controls the principal axis of the CNC tool to return the currently used blade  20  to the corresponding blade hole  40 . 
     In step S 14 , the equipment module  108  controls the principal axis of the CNC tool to equip another blade  20  onto the CNC tool for a next step of the machining process. For example, the CNC tool is controlled to move to a side of the blade holder  30 , and the principal axis of the CNC tool is controlled to return the currently used second blade  20  to the second blade hole  40  and equip the third blade  20  onto the CNC tool for a next step of the machining process. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for correcting a position deviation between each blade  20  and the corresponding blade hole  40 . Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps may be changed. 
     In step S 101 , the correction module  100  establishes a coordinate system having an origin at a central position of the location pole  50  of the blade holder  30 . In the embodiment, the coordinate system is a three-dimensional coordinate system as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     In step S 102 , the correction module  100  obtains coordinates of each blade  20  and the corresponding blade hole  40  according to the coordinate system. 
     In step S 103 , the correction module  100  computes the position deviation between each blade  20  and the corresponding blade hole  40  according to the obtained coordinates. 
     In step S 104 , the correction module  100  controls the CNC tool to adjust a position of each blade  20  to reduce the position deviation between each blade  20  and the corresponding blade hole  40  if the position deviation is greater than a predefined value. In the embodiment, the predefined value is 0.002 millimeters (mm). 
     Although certain disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure have been specifically described, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.