Abstract: A pre-process simulation may calculate operating conditions of a machine tool by simulating a NC program and calculate predicted values indicative of the operating conditions. A real time monitoring system may compare actual values from the actual operation of a machine tool actually executing the NC program to the predicted values and determine whether to initiate a response. The operating conditions may be machine tool operating conditions. The comparison of actual values to predicted values may be based on a dynamic limit within which the predicted values fall which may vary based on the tool position, and the dynamic limit may include upper and lower limit boundaries.

Abstract: A numerical controller sequentially reads blocks contained in a machining program, analyzes the read blocks to identify a block that causes an alarm based on mismatch criterion information stored in advance, and generates alarm cause data. The numerical controller then generates, based on the generated alarm cause data, at least one set of proposal patch data for correcting the machining program in such a way that the cause of the alarm is solved and generates a corrected machining program that is the machining program to which the generated proposal patch data is applied.

Abstract: A numerical controller calculates a tool path and a tool feed rate based on a cutting point path and a cutting point feed rate instructed by a skiving instruction when a block read from a machining program is the skiving instruction and controls a machining tool based on the calculated tool path and the tool feed rate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of assessing a test of a solenoid valve via a positioner are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a solenoid valve to enable an actuator to close an emergency valve and a valve positioner fluidly and communicatively coupled to the solenoid valve. The valve positioner is to instruct the solenoid valve to transition the solenoid valve from a first state to a second state. The valve positioner is to monitor a pressure change of a pressure chamber of the actuator in fluid communication with the solenoid valve relative to an initial pressure for a monitoring duration. The valve positioner is to identify a maximum pressure change during the monitoring duration and determine a ready state of the solenoid valve when the maximum pressure change is greater than a minimum trip value and the pressure change at a monitoring end time is less than a maximum reset value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a regulation speed display apparatus of a vehicle. The apparatus causes a display device to display a detected regulation speed as a standard regulation speed when a traffic sign in a shot landscape is not a traffic sign with an auxiliary sign. The apparatus causes the display device to display the detected regulation speed as the standard regulation speed when the traffic sign in the shot landscape is the traffic sign with the auxiliary sign and the detected regulation speed is larger than an already displayed standard regulation speed. The apparatus causes the display device to maintain the display of the already displayed standard regulation speed when the traffic sign in the shot landscape is the traffic sign with the auxiliary sign and the detected regulation speed is equal to or smaller than the already displayed standard regulation speed.

Abstract: A system and method for mapping the cutting of a plurality of features in a three dimensional workpiece with a plurality of cutting tools controlled by a plurality of cutting tool machines according to process information is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the process information describing cutting parameters the plurality of features from the plurality of cutting tool machines, parsing the process information to extract the cutting parameters, transforming each feature location in the workpiece from a three dimensional space to a two dimensional space, initiating a call to retrieve cutting tool tracking information from each cutting machine for each of the plurality of cutting tools while cutting the plurality of features in the three dimensional workpiece and providing cutting status associated with each feature at the coordinate transformed location of each feature for presentation in the two dimensional space.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for operating a process plant include multiple user interface devices, each accessing process control data for display in dynamically generated user interfaces, and each operable to transfer device state directly to another device. A first user interface device stores instructions operable to cause a processor of the first user interface device to dynamically generate a user interface for displaying process data. Process data are provided to the first user interface device by a server coupled to a unitary, logical data storage area. When a second user interface device receives from a first user interface device data indicative of the state of the first user interface device, the second user interface device dynamically generates a user interface for displaying data on the second user interface device according to the received data indicative of the state of the first user interface device.

Abstract: An operation limiting device applicable to a wide variety of machine tools and which improves the freedom of setting an operation limiting area. Two or three drive axes (Xa, Za) in different directions are designated from among a plurality of drive axes in the machine tool and the designated drive axes (Xa, Za) form the two or three dimensional coordinate system. An area (Ar) for limiting the operation of the mobile body is set in the two or three dimensional coordinate system. A drive axis (Xa) which is in operation is determined, and in the two or three coordinate system including the drive axis which is in operation the operation of the mobile body is limited when the mobile body enters into the limiting area (Ar).

Abstract: A method for measuring geometric surface characteristics of a flange surface positioned at an end of a tubular object, such as sections of a wind power generation tower. Also, a corresponding system. The method includes optically measuring, in each of a plurality of rotational positions of the tubular object, a set of measurement points at the surface of the flange, each set of measurement points being arranged in a sector along an arc at a first distance from the central axis of the tubular object, and being separated in a circumference direction of the flange, wherein said sectors are at least partly overlapping, so that at least two measurement points of each set essentially correspond to measurement points of at least one other set of measurement points, and wherein the arcs together extend over the entire circumference of the flange.

Abstract: A method for measuring the position of a mobile structure in a set of reference axes, the structure comprising a plurality of intrinsic recurrent structural elements, comprising the following steps undertaken by a processor. Acquiring simultaneous images of the structure from a plurality of optical devices, each recurrent element being in a field of view of at least three separate optical devices. Extracting the recurrent elements from each image and determining their position in the image. Computing at least one indicator for each recurrent element detected in each image. Identifying each recurrent element by associating a unique identifier with each element, the identifier being related to the position of each optical device in the set of reference axes, and to at least one indicator associated with each element in each image. Determining the position, by implementing a photogrammetric algorithm, of each recurrent element in the set of reference axes.

Abstract: The invention is a workpiece machining surface display method by means of which a machining mark generated when a workpiece machining surface is machined by a rotary tool comprising a cutting edge is displayed on a display device. Said workpiece machining surface display method contains: a first step in which the shape and position of an indentation generated by the cutting edge shaving the workpiece machining surface are predicted; and a second step in which an indentation image representing the shape of the indentation that has been predicted in the first step is displayed in association with the predicted position.

Abstract: A common parameter interface generation program being configured to cause a processor to execute a method, including: assigning identification information for identifying a control device, acquiring a list of parameters of a selected control device from a design information storage unit, associating the acquired list with the identification information and the names of the selected control device in each of the design information to generate a common parameter and of registering the common parameter in a common parameter storage unit, and generating, in each of design tools, a common parameter interface that acquires the value of the parameter of the control device from the common parameter storage unit and reads out the value to the design information in a data format in data format definition information which defines the data format required when the parameter is treated in the design tools.

Abstract: A chatter database system, which includes a central chatter database, which is fed with data corresponding to the machining and chatter conditions of machining tools, particularly a milling, turning, drilling or boring machine. The data fed to the central chatter database is obtained and collected from at least two individual machining tools included in the chatter database system. The data is sent to the central chatter database via a data connection, preferably via a secured network, to generate chatter stability maps based on real encountered conditions.

Abstract: Data acquisition and automatic diagnosis is performed at test points by respective wireless monitoring units (WMU). Each WMU tests a first indicator periodically at a first rate to determine whether to test a full set of indicators. Evolution of the first indicator determines the pass/fail result of a reduced assessment of the corresponding test point. The pass/fail result is automatically sent off-site to a central database. When a fail occurs, a full assessment is performed, which includes monitoring the full set of indicators. Automatic diagnosis is performed based on the full set of indicators. The reduced assessment does not include automatic diagnosis of a test point, but is used to decide whether to perform the full assessment and automatic diagnosis. Results of the automatic diagnosis are sent to the central database. Raw data is not sent automatically.

Abstract: An interference determination method for machine tools which determines whether or not there will be interference between elements that move relative to each other, the method including: a setting procedure for setting a machine tool model obtained by combining the shape model of each of the elements including a work model corresponding to the work; a measurement procedure for measuring the position of the work attached to the work attachment part; a correction procedure for acquiring, at a predetermined timing, the position of the work measured in the measurement procedure, and correcting the machine tool model set in the setting procedure; and a determination procedure for determining whether or not there will be interference between the elements on the basis of the machine tool model corrected in the correction procedure.

Abstract: In a motor control device, a velocity feed-forward control portion includes a velocity-side acceleration input portion that outputs received high-order command acceleration as a velocity-side acceleration output; a velocity-side velocity input portion that outputs a received high-order command velocity as a velocity-side velocity output; velocity-side boundary-velocity input portions which are prepared so as to respectively correspond to boundary velocities, and to output velocity-side boundary velocity outputs from the velocity-side boundary-velocity input portions corresponding to the high-order command velocity, the boundary velocities being velocities at boundaries of preset adjacent velocity ranges obtained by dividing a limited velocity range; a velocity-side first weight learning portion that changes velocity-side first learning weights in accordance with a velocity deviation, the velocity-side first learning weights respectively corresponding to velocity-side first outputs; and a velocity-side output

Abstract: A motion controller is provided which allows a program to be executed in a specified time. The program is executed, and the execution time of each of the blocks of the program and the execution time of the entire program are measured. Then, a predicted time until an in-position state is established is loaded. The execution time of the entire specified program is loaded. The execution time of each bock and a moving speed for each block are calculated, then a speed for each block is substituted with the calculated moving speed.

Abstract: In a wire electric discharge machine that machines a blade section of a cutting tool, in a state in which a rod-shaped reference jig is fixed to a rotary axis, a position on an outer circumferential surface of the reference jig is measured at each rotation position and stored. A rotational run-out error is calculated based on the stored rotational run-out position information, and a machining program is corrected to cancel the rotational run-out error.

Abstract: Positions to be synchronized with a reference value are stored as command data in table format. Velocity changing points of a tool path designated by the table format data are calculated. Two intersection points between the tool path and a circle or a sphere having a designated radius and centered on the velocity changing point are connected by a smooth curved tool path according to a multidimensional function or the like. In this way, the table format data is corrected.

Abstract: A machining curve creating apparatus create curve of a tool used to machine a workpiece by repeating a procedure of taking, as a partial point sequence, a part of a point sequence expressing the tool path and generating a partial curve. The machining curve creating apparatus includes stored-information-utilized curve generating unit for generating a partial curve utilizing segmented curve information. When curve information utilization determining unit determines to utilize the stored information, the stored-information-utilized curve generating unit generates a partial curve.

Abstract: A microscopic geometry cutting device includes: a controller that outputs a timer count start command in starting a driving program which controls a drive of an X-axis or a Y-axis moving mechanism; an arrival time calculator that calculates an arrival time from when the timer count start command is output till when the cutter arrives at a machining start position in accordance with relative moving speed information of the moving mechanisms and machining start position information of a workpiece W; an elapsed time determiner that determines whether an elapsed time from when the timer count start command is output is coincident with the arrival time and outputs a trigger signal when the elapsed time is coincident with the arrival time; and a reciprocating stage driver that drives the reciprocating stage in a manner that the cutter advances and retracts in a predetermined cutting depth in response to the trigger signal.

Abstract: A cluster mill blank includes a framework constructed to cooperate with a blank holder of an existing CAD/CAM system, and a plurality of sub-blanks attached to the framework forming an addressable matrix or cluster blank. CAD/CAM systems including such a framework, as well as associated methods are described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are provided for assessing manufacturing errors of a prosthetic socket to facilitate a clinical assessment of the socket. The embodiments disclosed herein may align and compare a manufactured socket shape to a desired socket shape to determine whether clinically significant errors are present in the manufactured socket. A mean radial error (MRE) may be calculated and compared to a set threshold. If the MRE falls below the threshold an interquartile range (IQR) may be calculated and compared to an IQR threshold. If the IQR falls below the IQR threshold, surface normal angle errors (SNAE) may be calculated and plotted to the surface model. If the SNAE plot does not include closed contour regions, the socket may proceed to patient fitting. If the MRE or IQR thresholds are exceeded, or if the SNAE plot indicates closed contour regions, the socket may be reshaped accordingly, prior to fitting.

Abstract: In a numerical controller for controlling acceleration and deceleration on the basis of a stopping distance, a stopping distance calculation module calculates an acceleration for stopping a drive axis with a probe on the basis of a distance that the drive axis with the probe moves from a current velocity to a stopped state when stopping at a maximum acceleration at which a machine tool does not receive shock, and on the basis of a stopping distance at which the probe is not be damaged. An acceleration and deceleration control module calculates a velocity of the drive axis for each of interpolation periods on the basis of the acceleration calculated by the stopping distance calculation module. An interpolating module outputs data that controls the drive axis, on the basis of the interpolation data and the velocity of the drive axis calculated by the acceleration and deceleration control module.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus controls a machine tool including an X axis for moving a turret to which a plurality of tools are attached, a H axis for rotating the turret, and a C axis for rotating a work and not including a Y axis orthogonal to the X axis. The numerical control apparatus includes a unit configured to independently rotate the H axis according to an independent rotation command for the H axis and perform tool replacement during an imaginary Y-axis control mode, the imaginary Y-axis control mode being a mode for converting an X-Y axes movement command in a machining program into a command in an X-H-C coordinate system and for driving the X axis, the H axis, and the C axis in association with one another according to the converted command.

Abstract: A network node in a mobile network monitors vehicle speed based on the registered User Equipments (UEs)/Vehicles. The network node receives information of the moving UE/Vehicle from other network nodes in the mobile network, and determines the corresponding UE/Vehicle moving speed information based on the collected information. For each UE/Vehicle, the network node creates a speed information record indicating the UE/Vehicle moving speed information. The network node then transmits the speed information record to other messaging nodes in order to (i) send warning message to the moving UE/Vehicle when the speed is about to exceed or has exceeded the speed limit, and (ii) to deliver the speed information record to the responsible/ticketing authorities/entities when the moving UE/Vehicle has violated the speed limitation in a certain area.

Abstract: A machining condition estimating apparatus, and method, for estimating a machining condition to suppress a wear volume of a tool when conducting cutting work in a work machine are provided. For example, an analysis model presenting shapes of a tool and cutting material, may be defined, to be a target of analysis, and an initial value for use of analysis and change volume of the machining condition parameter as analysis parameters may be set up. Coordinates for tool and cutting material contact may be calculated. Moreover, a boundary movement rate, a maximum contact length, and a contact angle are calculated. A machining condition presented by the analysis parameter may also be searched and outputted.

Abstract: Methods and devices for milling a channel-shaped cavity by a five-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine by selecting a workpiece to be machined, determining cutting tool flow along the channel-shaped cavity, determining cutting tool in-depth penetration, determining a trochoid path, and determining auxiliary movements.

Abstract: A system and method for error compensation in positioning a complex-shaped gas turbine engine part during manufacturing thereof with a machine. Theoretical measurements for a plurality of control points on the part are first retrieved. Actual measurements for the control points are then acquired in a coordinate system of the machine. If an error between the actual and theoretical measurements is beyond a tolerance, a transformation matrix is computed. The transformation matrix represents a transformation to be applied to the coordinate system to adjust a pose thereof for compensating the error. The transformation matrix may be computed and applied to the coordinate system iteratively until the actual measurements are brought within tolerance. A machining program may then be generated for manufacturing the part accordingly.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a controller including a storage unit that stores correction history data including correction amounts of the positions of tools input from a worker and time when the correction amounts are input, in association with the tools; and a display device that can display a time-based graph showing a relationship between the time and the correction amount for each tool.

Abstract: A numerical controller that controls a multi-axis machine tool performs speed control based on an instructed path allowable acceleration and an instructed path allowable jerk in a relative path (instructed path) of a tool with respect to a workpiece, and performs speed control based on a tool reference point path allowable speed, a tool reference point path allowable acceleration and a tool reference point path allowable jerk in a tool reference point path being a relative path, with respect to the workpiece, of a point in the tool (tool reference point) that is different from a tool center point. As a result, it is possible to prevent occurrence of large acceleration and jerk in a path of the tool center point with respect to the workpiece, as well as occurrence of large speed, acceleration and jerk in the path of the tool reference point with respect to the workpiece.

Abstract: Methods and systems for gathering, deriving, and displaying the azimuthal brittleness index of a borehole. At least some embodiments include various methods for calculating and displaying borehole measurements in real-time for geosteering and drilling operations. At least one disclosed method embodiment for calculating and displaying azimuthal brittleness includes taking measurements of compressional and shear wave velocities as a function of position and orientation from inside the borehole. These velocity measurements are taken by a azimuthal sonic tool. Azimuthal brittleness is then derived based at least in part on the compressional and shear wave velocities.

Abstract: Painting robots processing a part moving on a conveyor are synchronized by creating for each of the robots a master sequence of computer program instructions for a collision-free movement of robots along associated master sequence paths relative to the moving part, each of the master sequence paths including positions of the associated robot and the conveyor at pre-defined synchronization points, and running each of the master sequences on a controller connected to the associated robot to move the associated robot and comparing a current path of the associated robot and the conveyor against the master sequence path. The method further includes operating the controllers to adjust the current paths based on the comparison between the master sequence path and the current path, and operating the controllers to request a conveyor motion hold as necessary to facilitate synchronization between movement of the robots and the conveyor.

Abstract: A method of determining a center hole of a material crankshaft, which is obtained through molding with first and second molds, includes: obtaining first shape data of a first portion of the material crankshaft molded by the first mold and second shape data of a second portion of the material crankshaft molded by the second mold; comparing the first and second shape data respectively with first and second designed data corresponding to the first and second molds, respectively, for computing a misalignment amount of each of the first and second portions due to misalignment between the first and second molds; adjusting, based on the misalignment amount, data corresponding to the misalignment amount to reproduce actual shape data; and determining, based on the actual shape data, a position of the center hole in the material crankshaft such that a rotation balance of the material crankshaft is within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A system for maintaining medical devices includes: a computing device including memory and a processor that, when executing instructions stored on the memory, creates a user interface including: a health module providing a summary of a maintenance status of the medical devices; a location module providing a summary of a location of the medical devices; and a maintenance alert module providing a list of the medical devices needing maintenance, the list including a type of maintenance needed for each of the medical devices in the list.

Abstract: There is provided a production management method for steel tubes and pipes produced through a plurality of production processes, including: a step of machining a matrix code, which encodes tube or pipe information, in a tube or pipe end by a laser beam so that the central angle of width of the matrix code in a circumferential direction of the tube or pipe is 30° or smaller; and a step of reading the matrix code automatically by using a linear sensor type camera, wherein through reading the matrix code, the production history is managed by identifying and recording the production information and quality information corresponding to each steel tube or pipe for each tube or pipe number, and the tube or pipe information is retrievable as necessary.

Abstract: A numerical control device of a machine tool capable of controlling its spindle rotating speed includes: a program analyzing unit that reads ahead a machining program by one block or more and analyses a command for the machine tool; and a command determining unit that determines, based on a result analyzed by the program analyzing unit, whether a command posterior to a spindle control command causes any machining problem when the command is executed during a spindle rotating speed change, outputs a first command, in which some problem occurs in the machining, after the spindle rotating speed reaches the commanded rotating speed, and output a second command, which is other than the first command, before the spindle rotating speed reaches the commanded rotating speed.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method of Advanced Process Control for optimal operation of multi-unit plants in large scale processing and power generation industries. The invention framework includes the following components: continuous real time dynamic process simulation, automatic coefficient adjustment of dynamic and static process models, automatic construction of transfer functions, determination of globally optimal operating point specific to current conditions, provision of additional optimal operating scenarios through a variety of unit combinations, and calculation of operational forecasts in accordance with planned production.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stamped part, such as a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, includes the steps of: providing an original model of the bipolar plate; and performing a compensation process on the original model, the compensation process including a two step morphing process based upon a prediction of spring back. The two step morphing process provides a compensated model of the stamped part. A compensated die face may be created based on the compensated model of the stamped part. The stamped part manufactured with the compensated die face has spring back compensation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a bevel gear wheel, in particular for rudder propellers, the teeth of which have a macro geometry specific to the gear wheels, the teeth of which can be described by flank and profile lines, the flanks of which have a tooth flank micro topography and the bearing surface of which represents the contact region of the inter-meshing teeth. The crown of a tooth flank corresponds to the elevation of the tooth flank center with respect to the tooth flank edge, wherein the course of the height and width crowns of the flank surface is substantially shaped like a circular arc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and the like that are capable of calculating a correction value for a rotational axis and make it possible to correct an error in position or position and posture of a tool, which results from a geometric error, correct an error in posture of the tool, and also enhance the accuracy in machining by preventing a translational axis from operating in an infinitesimal manner due to a correction command. In a machine tool having two or more translational axes and one or more rotational axes, a correction value for each of the translational axes is calculated using a command position of each of the rotational axes, a coordinate value of a correction reference point as one point designated in advance in a command position space of each of the translational axes, and a geometric parameter representing the geometrical error.

Abstract: A method and system for automated repair of a machine component is provided. According to the proposed method, a first geometry of the component, including a damaged portion of the component, is digitalized. A trough is then machined over the damaged portion of the component. The machining is numerically controlled using digitalized geometrical data of the first geometry of the component. A second geometry of the component is then digitalized subsequent to the machining, the second geometry including the trough. Subsequently, a material is deposited over the trough. The deposition of the material is numerically controlled digitalized geometrical data of the second geometry of the component.

Abstract: A robotic end effector system and method having a plurality of end effectors which are selectively suitable for particular applications on a workpiece. The end effectors include a resident controller adapted to execute tasks specific to the end effector and are rapidly attachable and removable from the robot for easy change over to different workpieces.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a main axis 30 to which a touch probe 17 is attached, a motor 15 that rotationally drives the main axis 30, a rotation angle position detector 16 that detects a rotation angle position of the motor 15, and a control device 20. The control device, when a measurement mode command for performing measurement of a workpiece by the touch probe 17 is input, multiplies a d-axis current command value Idc by a d-axis current correction coefficient K that is less than 1 to reduce the d-axis current command value Idc to a d-axis current command correction value Idc?, using a d-axis current command correction section 4. Thus, in the machine tool, small rotation vibrations of the main axis, generated when rotating the main axis to which the probe is attached and performing measurements of a workpiece, can be suppressed to thereby increase the measurement accuracy.

Abstract: Provided are a control system and a control method by which a part of a continuously written machining program can be easily executed by a machine tool, and operation and the like of the machine tool can be checked. The control apparatus has an input device 102 which inputs a start instruction of a specific section of a machining program, and a partial executing device between the inputted start instruction of the specific section, and an end instruction that corresponds to the start instruction, to an operation executing device (101).

Abstract: A chuck or spindle mountable wireless vision system and method for use in harsh environments. The vision system includes a sealed housing. The sealed housing includes a tool holder interface to couple to the chuck or spindle of a machine. An optical system to acquire an image is positioned within the sealed housing, the optical system including a processor, memory, and machine vision software to perform at least a portion of image processing. A wireless communication module is operatively coupled to the optical system to wirelessly communicate image data. And, a power source, the power source operatively coupled to the optical system and the wireless communication module.

Abstract: A servo control device (20) includes a position feedback unit (21) that performs position feedback control for matching the position of a driven unit to the position command for each of X, Y, and Z axes and a speed feed forward unit (22) that performs speed feed forward control, which is for compensating a delay in the position control for the driven unit due to position feedback control, for each axis. The servo control device (20) changes the position loop gain for each axis to the same value set in advance when the speed feed forward control is OFF, and changes the position loop gain based on the position feedback control to the optimal gain corresponding to each axis when the speed feed forward control of the speed feed forward unit (22) is ON.

Abstract: There is described a method for operating an automation device and/or a programming system. When the automation device is in operation, a communication connection between: a) the automation device and a telecommunication device and/or b) the automation device and the internet and/or intranet can be established. The automation device is controlled and/or regulated by means of a program. The communication connection is used by means of at least one instruction in the program for the data communication during the execution of the program. It is also possible to establish a communication, in particular, within the teleprogram.

Abstract: A numerical control device inputs a machining program to control an operation of a machine tool and outputs feedback data obtained as a result of the operation of the machine tool. The numerical control device includes a machining-program analysis unit that analyzes the machining program having a machining shape command to which a mark or a specific program command is attached and that outputs a marking instruction; a delay unit that delays the marking instruction until the feedback data indicating a result of an operation of the machine tool based on the machining shape command is obtained; and a feedback-data output unit that, when having detected the feedback data and the delayed marking instruction, executes, onto the feedback data, marking corresponding to the mark or the specific program command attached to the machining shape command and outputs the feedback data.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for machine maintenance using a service computer, particularly using different maintenance applications feature at least one machine controller configured to control an associated machine and a computing system defining at least one virtual machine and comprising at least one application server on which is installed application software for at least one of the machine controller or the associated machine. The machine controller is connectable with the virtual machine via a first communication link so as to enable remote communication between the virtual machine of the computer and the machine controller. The virtual machine is connectable with the application server via a further communication link by a remote-desktop-protocol, such that at least one of the application server and the application software installed on the application server is operable via the virtual machine.