The University of Auckland

Project #48: MTConnect-based Cyber Physical Machine Tool

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Description:

Cyber-Physical Machine Tool (CPMT) is the integration of machine tool, machining processes, computation and networking, where embedded computers and networks can monitor and control the machining processes, with feedback loops in which machining processes can affect computations and vice versa. The core of the CPMT is the Machine Tool Cyber Twin (MTCT). MTCT is a digital abstraction of the physical machine tool with embedded computational capabilities. It represents the real-time status of the machine tool and its components, takes full advantage of the real-time data collected from the physical world and endows the physical machine tool with intelligent and autonomous functionalities.

MTConnect is a lightweight, open, and extensible protocol designed for the exchange of data between shop floor equipment and software applications. MTConnect provides a very detailed information model specifically designed for machine tools, enabling real-time manufacturing data collected from different data sources (e.g. CNC controller and various sensors) to be stored, transmitted and managed in the same format.

In previous work, an MTConnect communication environment has been developed for the Sherline 3-axis Milling machine. Various real-time machining data can be collected from the CNC controller and different sensors (e.g. dynamometer, accelerometer, power meter) and transmitted in MTConnect format. The aim of this project is to improve the current system and develop more intelligent functions for the CPMT. The main tasks include:

1) improve the real-time data acquisition system by deploying more sensors on the machine tool;

2) process sensor signals to extract meaningful information from machining processes;

3) develop intelligent process monitoring and decision-making functions for the MTConnect-based CPMT

Type:

Undergraduate

Outcome:

·         A comprehensive and efficient MTConnect-based machining data acquisition system

·         A web-based intelligent process monitoring system for MTConnect-based CPMT

Prerequisites

·         Sensor deployment and data acquisition skills (use of NI PXI, Raspberry PI, Arduino boards, etc.)

·         Signal processing and data analysis skills (use of LabView, Arduino, etc.)

·         C#, C++, and web-based programming skills

Specialisations

Categories

Supervisor

Team

Lab

Smart Manufacturing Systems Lab (201.439, Lab)