A design of CNC architecture based on cloud computing

Abstract

Performance, functionality, and cost determine the competitiveness of CNC systems. These factors often conflict with each other. Cloud computing provides an enabling technology to meet the multidimensional challenges, potentially leading to CNC systems with both better performance and functionality, and lower cost. This article presents the architecture of a cloud-computing-based CNC system. This system locates its frontend in a cloud virtual machine and provides the frontend as a service. The frontend in cloud, otherwise known as a cloud-enabled frontend, remotely displays the interactive interface at a client device. The application program for interaction on the client is lightweight compared with the traditional CNC human machine interface and can be easily integrated into mobile devices, such as laptops. The cloud-enabled frontend communicates with an NC device (also known as the backend) on the shop floor via the Internet or an intranet. Only real-time tasks run on the backend, while other tasks (semi-real-time or non-real-time) are executed on the cloud-enabled frontend. Thus, the computing ability and intelligence of CNC systems can be improved by a switch to the cloud architecture. In the proposed solution, users can also launch third-party software (e.g. CAD, CAM, and CAE) on the cloud-enabled frontend, making it more versatile due to a rich application environment.

A study on a general cyber machine tools monitoring system in smart factories

“…With the help of cloud computing, the computing ability and intelligence of CNC systems have be improved. Hui et al 19 presented a cloud-computingbased CNC system which located its frontend in a cloud virtual machine and provided the frontend as a service. Zhang et al 20 investigated the big data collected from machine tools through sensor networks and developed a data-driven system to achieve intelligent control of the production process of CNC machine tools.…”

The Possibility of Creating a Low-Cost Laser Engraver CNC Machine Prototype with Platform Arduino

“…using the CNC with Cloud Computing. The study by Hui et al [16] proposed a system that locates its front end in a cloud virtual machine and provides the front end as a service. The application program for interaction with the client can be easily integrated into smartphones or tablets.…”

Critical Evaluation of the Cloud-Based Design and Manufacture

“…The physical distribution of engineering skills matter specialists within a group of separate businesses establishing strategic alliances and pooling resources to accomplish a shared goal, including the realization of products-is used to create a VIP family. The implementation of G3E products will need a change in current cross-disciplinary architectural layout and layout integration technology [4]. The initial cross-disciplinary designs integrated study questions, aims, goals, and assumptions will generate more sophisticated versions when cross-disciplinary design integration is required across organizational boundaries.…”