CNC Interface Puts More Information in Front of Operators

Soraluce’s Smart HMI, an intelligent human-machine interface, offers functions said to increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes, improved ergonomics and greater ease of use. The interface is presented on a 24" wide touch screen and is based on a new display compatible with the Heidenhain TNC 640 control. The system allows additional information to be displayed in an area of the screen adjacent to the control panel, increasing the information available to the operator at a given time. The display of this adjacent area can be alternated with the full-screen option.

In this new display area, the company has incorporated different applications aimed at making the machine operator’s task easier. These include applications for the display of plans, documentation relating to the machining process, calculation of working conditions, access to user manuals or display of the work area through fixed cameras operated by users themselves, all visible in parallel with the program in execution. The main advantage of this development is that users can see the operations the machine is performing at the same time and in the same environment in which they are typically viewing 3D plan viewers, alarm management or the level of energy consumption, the company says.

According to Soraluce, one of the most notable applications within the Smart HMI is the function of editing programs simultaneously with the manufacturing process. This application makes it possible to execute a manufacturing program in the control area at the same time as editing another program in the new enlarged section. Until now, the screen for editing programs alternated with the screen for displaying the process being executed. It was not possible to view both screens simultaneously, which restricted functionality for the user. This new feature provides users with the potential for added agility and process efficiency.