Abstract: There is described an engineering systems and generating projects. The projects are used by runtime systems for the control of device and machine modular arrangements. The projects are not completely unmodifiable, instead an individualization layer is provided: particular data input possibilities for base data used by the runtime system are provided with an attribute, which gives whether the data entry in the project shall be unmodifiable or whether said entry may be optionally modifiable by the runtime system. A change is correspondingly optionally carried out with the runtime system. The actual core of the project, however does not need to be re-programmed such that a reversion to the engineering system is not necessary.

Abstract: A production machine can be controlled by a control device in accordance with a control program which is stored in the control device. The production machine has at least two elements having interfaces, which are connected to one another at the interfaces. The control device stores element descriptions of possible elements, which respectively comprise at least one list of the existing interfaces, such that the control device can determine which elements can be connected to one another. The control device also stores a desired expansion description which at least comprises which elements the production machine has and which interfaces are said to connect the elements to one another. The control device has an operator interface which an operator of the production machine can use to request the desired expansion description which can be output to the operator on the basis of the request and can be changed by the operator.

Abstract: Modular production machines with appliances and components, controlled by means of projects. A project is the establishment of an arrangement of appliances and modules. A plurality of machine objects is associated with the determined arrangement locations in the project. In this way, the projects have a variability in terms of different machine objects, which is enabled by an engineering system. A control system (a run-time system) can affect a corresponding selection from the options. To enable an economical control of production machines some appliances or components can be selectively replaced by other appliances or modules.

Abstract: A method for controlling several master axes in a machine, for example a production machine includes the steps of defining profiles of desired values for a plurality of master axes, determining for each master axis a current desired value and also a current desired value for a slave axis using a logic combination rule, controlling a first drive in accordance with the current desired value of the slave axis, and if the dynamics controlling the first drive exceeds an upper dynamics limit, starting at the next clock pulse to modify determination of the current desired values for at least one of the master axes, and controlling the first drive with a reduced dynamics until the reduced dynamics falls below a lower dynamics limit.

Abstract: A machine tool or a production machine, such as e.g. a multispindle machine, or a robot, is described, wherein a liquid metal lubricated slide bearing is not only used to transmit feed currents for electrical consumers but also to transmit currents for producing control signals. Accordingly, it is possible to apply via the liquid metal lubricated slide bearings a voltage of 600 volts in order to produce feed currents and a voltage of 24 volts in order to produce control signals.

Abstract: A machine tool or a production machine, such as e.g. a multispindle machine, or a robot, is described, wherein a liquid metal lubricated slide bearing is not only used to transmit feed currents for electrical consumers but also to transmit currents for producing control signals. Accordingly, it is possible to apply via the liquid metal lubricated slide bearings a voltage of 600 volts in order to produce feed currents and a voltage of 24 volts in order to produce control signals.

Abstract: A control device and a method for controlling several master axes in a machine, for example a production machine, is disclosed. The disclosed method includes the steps of defining profiles of desired values for a plurality of master axes, determining for each master axis a current desired value and also a current desired value for a slave axis using a logic combination rule, controlling a first drive in accordance with the current desired value of the slave axis, and if the dynamics controlling the first drive exceeds an upper dynamics limit, starting at the next clock pulse to modify determination of the current desired values for at least one of the master axes, and controlling the first drive with a reduced dynamics until the reduced dynamics falls below a lower dynamics limit.

Abstract: A production machine can be controlled by a control device in accordance with a control program which is stored in the control device. The production machine has at least two elements having interfaces, which are connected to one another at the interfaces. The control device stores element descriptions of possible elements, which respectively comprise at least one list of the existing interfaces, such that the control device can determine which elements can be connected to one another. The control device also stores a desired expansion description which at least comprises which elements the production machine has and which interfaces are said to connect the elements to one another. The control device has an operator interface which an operator of the production machine can use to request the desired expansion description which can be output to the operator on the basis of the request and can be changed by the operator.

Abstract: An operating device for operating a machine tool, a production machine and/or a machine in the form of a robot, includes a screen which is able to simultaneously display a first operating window and a second operating window. A first application for operating the machine can be displayed in the first operating window, and a second application for operating the machine can be displayed in the second operating window. The first application is operated using first operating buttons which are associated with the first operating window, and the second application is operated using second operating buttons which are associated with the second operating window. The first operating buttons are arranged along an individual side or a plurality of sides of the first operating window, and the second operating buttons are arranged along an individual side or a plurality of sides of the second operating window.

Abstract: There is described an engineering systems and generating projects. The projects are used by runtime systems for the control of device and machine modular arrangements. The projects are not completely unmodifiable, instead an individualization layer is provided: particular data input possibilities for base data used by the runtime system are provided with an attribute, which gives whether the data entry in the project shall be unmodifiable or whether said entry may be optionally modifiable by the runtime system. A change is correspondingly optionally carried out with the runtime system. The actual core of the project, however does not need to be re-programmed such that a reversion to the engineering system is not necessary.

Abstract: A method and a device for numerical control of machine tools, robots, production machines and the like, is described, whereby complex and large task can be processed more easily. This is realized by a numerical controller which can generate a marker signal, in particular desired position values for system components, in particular drives, at a certain interpolation clock cycle or rate. A control axis provides in an interpolation clock cycle reference values for reading a table, whereby desired position values for asynchronous successor axis can be obtained. The tables can also store switching functions that define start and end points independent of the interpolation clock cycle. As soon as the integration clock cycle has reached or exceeded the point in time of a reference value, execution of the functions stored in the table can be triggered. The table can be stored in encoded and/or non-encoded form.

Abstract: A method for generating and visualizing a task-oriented step representation of one or more parts programs in machine tools or production machines is described. A syntax analyzer searches the parts program for key terms, whereafter a task-oriented step representation of the parts program(s) is generated based on the key terms found in the search. The task-oriented step representation can then be visualized to a user. The disclosed method can advantageously be used to visualize and display parts programs of machine tools or production machines, which are available in ASCII code, in form of a step representation or step diagram without necessitating changes in the parts programs.

Abstract: A programming platform for generating parts programs for a machine tool or production machine is described. A user inputs an instruction to an interpreter integrated in the programming platform, a simulator then simulates an effect of the instruction, and a display graphically displays to the user the effect of the instruction in the form of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation. A collision monitor monitors the effect of the instruction to determine if a collision between two or more machine elements and/or workpieces and/or tools can be expected. The programming platform hence represents a homogeneous integrated programming environment for generating, simulating and testing of parts programs for machine tools and production machines.

Abstract: One or more machine elements of a machine can be moved relative to a base by one or more position-controlled drives. The location of the machine element and control commands for the drives are transmitted to a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit determines based on the control commands a velocity profile for the machine element, wherein the magnitude of the velocity profile and its time derivative are limited. The monitoring device also determines based on the velocity profile a time dependence of the volumes that the machine elements and/or the base occupy before and during the execution of the control commands. Potential collisions between the machine element and at least the base are monitored based on the volumes.

Abstract: A method for generating and visualizing a task-oriented step representation of one or more parts programs in machine tools or production machines is described. A syntax analyzer searches the parts program for key terms, whereafter a task-oriented step representation of the parts program(s) is generated based on the key terms found in the search. The task-oriented step representation can then be visualized to a user. The disclosed method can advantageously be used to visualize and display parts programs of machine tools or production machines, which are available in ASCII code, in form of a step representation or step diagram without necessitating changes in the parts programs.

Abstract: Icons for graphic visualization of task-oriented steps in industrial control processes as well as a corresponding icon representation of process steps of parts program in machine tools and production machines are described. The icons are composed of at least one graphic symbol and at least one placeholder, wherein a size of the placeholder is representative of the duration of a task-oriented process step. The individual steps of parts programs of the machine can be visualized by arranging the icons in form of rows and columns and each icon graphically visualizes an individual task-oriented step of a parts program. Each row (column) is associated with a particular parts program and a column (row) width of an icon in said row (column) represents a duration of the task-oriented process step for said parts program. In this way, the structure of part programs and the associated process steps can be readily graphically visualized.

Abstract: A programming platform for generating parts programs for a machine tool or production machine is described. A user inputs an instruction to an interpreter integrated in the programming platform, a simulator then simulates an effect of the instruction, and a display graphically displays to the user the effect of the instruction in the form of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation. A collision monitor monitors the effect of the instruction to determine if a collision between two or more machine elements and/or workpieces and/or tools can be expected. The programming platform hence represents a homogeneous integrated programming environment for generating, simulating and testing of parts programs for machine tools and production machines.

Abstract: A method and a device for numerical control of machine tools, robots, production machines and the like, is described, whereby complex and large task can be processed more easily. This is realized by a numerical controller which can generate a marker signal, in particular desired position values for system components, in particular drives, at a certain interpolation clock cycle or rate. A control axis provides in an interpolation clock cycle reference values for reading a table, whereby desired position values for asynchronous successor axis can be obtained. The tables can also store switching functions that define start and end points independent of the interpolation clock cycle. As soon as the integration clock cycle has reached or exceeded the point in time of a reference value, execution of the functions stored in the table can be triggered. The table can be stored in encoded and/or non-encoded form.