Development of CNC machine code and user interface for a 3-axis pneumatically configurable polishing machine

Abstract

The polishing of freeform surfaces finds applications in a variety of niche areas where the surface characteristics have a defining impact on functional capabilities of the product. Pneumatically Configurable Polishing (PCP) is a recent addition to the available technologies which can generate surface finish of nanometric scales on freeform surfaces. The manipulative ease and determinism in polishing force control offered by the PCP process allow it to finish complex surface profiles in a highly repeatable way. The automation code for a CNC PCP machine-tool is developed to ensure the accuracy in the finished parts being produced. The machine code for CNC interpolation and the parametric process control have been carried out in the Parker Automation Manager software. The user interface has been designed and deployed using the JMobile HMI software. The PAM Visualization allows the user defined part program to be loaded in the controller from an external removable disk. The exchange of tags and process variables between the controller and HMI has been done using the OPC UA platform. A part program created using a CAM software is employed to finish a sample workpiece. The developed CNC machine code is successfully tested and evaluated for its functional performance and process repeatability.