Method and machine system for controlling an industrial operation

Abstract

A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process. The method includes the step of developing a process model relating process parameters for the operation with performance variables for said operation, wherein the process parameters and performance variables are retrievable via integrated multiple data sources, and selecting at least one optimization technique to define a function, said function including process parameters. Moreover, the method includes generating the function for optimization by using acceptable tolerances of a product to be machined as a basis to define ranges for performance variables along with ranges for process parameters, and applying the at least one optimization technique to said function, whereby optimum operation performance criteria are calculated for the process model including process parameters and performance variables to obtain a set of requirements to be used for controlling the metal working process.

1 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process, said method comprising the steps of:
 retrieving process parameters from multiple sources relating to the metal working process;   retrieving performance variables from different sources relating to the metal working process;   providing a process model that relates process parameters for the operation with performance variables for said operation;   selecting at least one optimization technique to define a function, said function comprising the process parameters;   generating the function for optimization by using acceptable tolerances of a product to be machined as a basis to define ranges for performance variables along with ranges for process parameters; and   applying the at least one optimization technique to said function, whereby optimum operation performance criteria are determined for the process model including process parameters and performance variables to obtain a set of requirements to be used for controlling the metal working process,   wherein (i) the process parameters comprise process parameters for previous operations and/or (ii) the performance variables comprise performance variable data for previous operations.   
     
     
         2 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 1 , the metal working process being any industrially applicable cutting technology based on laser, flames, plasma, water jet, ion, air, bending, pressing, punch pressing, press-braking, milling, drilling and turning. 
     
     
         3 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 1 , wherein the process model is dynamically monitored and controlled. 
     
     
         4 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of requirements to be used for controlling the metal working process can be provided as recommendations to an operator or alternatively can be applied with partial or no operator involvement. 
     
     
         5 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the process parameters comprise one or more of a production order, product geometry and predefined tolerances, required metal working operations, required tooling configuration, stacking pattern of produced items, and process parameter data from previous operations,   wherein the performance variables comprise one or more of determined tolerances of produced items, process time, tooling availability, tooling lifetime, material removal rate, operator working environment, order stock, delivery time, required pressing position, and performance variable data from previous operations,   the method further comprising the steps of:   storing the process parameters and performance variables in a consolidated memory in association with a computer system; and   making the process parameters and/or performance variables available for a machine controller or the computing system for applying the at least one optimization technique to select the optimum operation performance criteria.   
     
     
         6 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
 comparing retrieved process parameters relating to the metal working process from previous operations with a current machine configuration comprising parameters relating to tooling,   determining if the current machine configuration enables production of an item according to its process parameters,   evaluating the applicability of the tooling configuration, which when required, in a first optional step results in adjustments to the product geometry within acceptable tolerances, and in a second step results in adjustments to the tooling configuration, and   whereby any adjustments made result in a new current machine configuration to be compared with parameters from previous operations.   
     
     
         7 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:
 comparing retrieved process parameters relating to the metal working process from previous operations with a current machine configuration comprising parameters relating to clamping mechanism and/or gripping configuration,   determining if the current machine configuration enables production of an item according to its process parameters,   evaluating the applicability of the clamping mechanism, which when required results in adjustments to the clamping mechanism, and/or   evaluating the applicability of the gripping configuration, which when required results in adjustments to the gripping configuration, and   whereby any adjustments made result in a new current machine configuration to be compared with parameters from previous operations.   
     
     
         8 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 5 , wherein tools and/or produced items are embedded with electronics, software, sensors and/or network connectivity, which enables these objects to exchange process parameters and/or performance variables with the computer system. 
     
     
         9 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 5 , wherein predefined and/or determined tolerances of produced items include any of the following performance variables:
 material properties,   product geometries, and   production defects.   
     
     
         10 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 5 , wherein the product geometry includes data on bending curves, compensation factors and tooling preferences. 
     
     
         11 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 5 , wherein identification of defects or visual attributes on produced items are taken into consideration when stacking of workpieces following machining operations. 
     
     
         12 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 1 , wherein the determination of whether the current machine configuration enables production of an item according to its process parameters in addition to the tooling configuration also includes determination of other enabling requirements, whereby corresponding process parameters and/or performance variables are stored. 
     
     
         13 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 12 , further comprising responding to stored process parameters and/or performance variables. 
     
     
         14 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is adapted to be used in a computer numerical control (CNC/NC) or programmable logic controller (PLC) system. 
     
     
         15 . An industrial machine system comprising:
 a machine comprising an actuator system for performing an industrial operation, and   a computing system in connection with the machine, the computing system comprising a machine controller, and the machine controller being adapted to carry out the method according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         16 . An industrial machine system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a surveillance unit in connection with the computing system, the surveillance unit for capturing image information related to process parameters and performance variables of the industrial operation. 
     
     
         17 . The industrial machine system according to  claim 16 , wherein the surveillance unit comprises an image, image sequence or video capturing means to identify part geometries in combination with any visual attribute created by the machining operation. 
     
     
         18 . The industrial machine system according to  claim 15 , wherein the computing system is configured to collect data and use the data for data analysis and/or optimization and/or transfer the data to another system for data analysis and/or optimization. 
     
     
         20 . The industrial machine system according to  claim 16 , wherein the machine system is a press-brake or bending machine. 
     
     
         21 . A non-transient computer-readable medium or media comprising data representing coded instruction sets configured for execution by a processor in a computer, the instructions comprising the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process, said method comprising the steps of:
 retrieving process parameters from multiple sources relating to the metal working process;   retrieving performance variables from different sources relating to the metal working process, the performance variables comprising performance variable data for previous operations;   providing a process model that relates process parameters for the operation with performance variables for said operation;   selecting at least one optimization technique to define a function, said function comprising the process parameters;   generating the function for optimization by using acceptable tolerances of a product to be machined as a basis to define ranges for performance variables along with ranges for process parameters; and   applying the at least one optimization technique to said function, whereby optimum operation performance criteria are determined for the process model including process parameters and performance variables to obtain a set of requirements to be used for controlling the metal working process.   
     
     
         23 . A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process, said method comprising the steps of:
 retrieving process parameters from a first plurality of end points, the process parameters relating to the metal working process;   retrieving performance variables from a second plurality of end points different from the first plurality of end points, the performance variables relating to the metal working process;   providing a process model that relates process parameters for the operation with performance variables for said operation;   selecting at least one optimization technique to define a function, said function comprising the process parameters;   generating the function for optimization by using acceptable tolerances of a product to be machined as a basis to define ranges for performance variables along with ranges for process parameters; and   applying the at least one optimization technique to said function, whereby optimum operation performance criteria are determined for the process model including process parameters and performance variables to obtain a set of requirements to be used for controlling the metal working process.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the first plurality of end points comprise two or more of an enterprise resource planning system, a manufacturing execution system, a computer-aided design application, a computer-aided manufacturing application, a content resource management system, one or more internet of things information sources, and a surveillance unit.