System Overview

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Introduction to TMAC

The TMAC system services the expanding industry of multi-function machines that run multiple processes simultaneously. Machines like Swiss-type lathes and mill turn lathes often have several tools cutting simultaneously on different features of a part. The tools on these multi-path machines need to be monitored and possibly adaptively controlled at the same time. TMAC can monitor several tools simultaneously, while controlling feedrate and providing alarm status indications for each tool.

TMAC runs on a Linux operating system, which provides real time control as well as virtually unlimited expansion capability. It allows for developing newer, faster, and more complex applications as machines change and user requirements become more sophisticated.

Modes of Operation

TMAC offers the following modes of operation:

• Cutting Mode: Monitor power, vibration, strain, coolant flow, coolant pressure, spindle speed, and various other important machine factors. Multiple channels can be monitored simultaneously while monitored channels are tested against user-programmed limits to alert the operator of machining anomalies.
• Bearing Health Mode: TMAC can perform a bearing analysis on machine bearings to aid in diagnosing bearing conditions.
• Millivolt Mode: TMAC allows passing limits through commands without utilizing the job structure

CNC/TMAC Interface

TMAC can receive commands from the CNC through an RS232, parallel input/output, file-drop, or Ethernet connection (if available).

Each type of interface provides direct communication between CNC macro routines, part programs, and TMAC. The programmed limits, along with their associated alarms, may be interfaced to the CNC in a variety of ways depending on system requirements.

Primary TMAC Functions

TMAC has a wealth of powerful features available.

Learning Operations

In order to establish a monitoring baseline, TMAC captures each sensor's value as a machining operation is performed. TMAC then stores the associated value as the nominal for the designated tool in that operation.

This operation is referred to as “learning” a tool, where each new tool and/or monitoring operation must be learned separately. Once TMAC learns the tools and/or monitoring operations, limits can be programmed that trigger a CNC alarm.

This feature can also be used to automatically create jobs and operations.

Time Increment Editor

The Time Increment Editor allows the user to create time increments for each phase of an operation.

Each time increment allows different limits to be programmed for each phase of an operation. The program can then start the monitoring process for the operation and use specific job parameters.

Data Viewer

The Data Viewer is a diagnostics tool for analyzing historical data (recordings). The Data Viewer has a wealth of features that allow exploration of recordings from completed operations. While displaying data for an operation, the viewer allows the following:

• Mark a point of interest on the recording
• View any events that occurred during the operation, such as alarms, start and stop events, and time increments.
• Calculate the difference between two data points of the recording. l Observe data at specific moments in during the operation.
• View bearing health results
• Overlay recordings for easy comparison of operations

Monitor Multiple Channels

TMAC can accept commands for multi-channel starts, allowing monitoring of multiple sensors simultaneously.