2015 AASRI International Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (IEA 2015)

Application of PLC in Computer Numerical Control Machine

Shuqin Xu
Department of Transmission and Transformation Technology,
Northeast Dianli University,
Jilin, Jilin 132012, China

AbstractAt present, in the industrial production, have a to meet the requirements of the PLC sequence control,
high request for the reliability of the control equipment, to saving some digital operation function of the
be able to in the electromagnetic interference, power voltage microcomputer, and strengthen the logic control function.
fluctuation, mechanical vibration and so on under the harsh To realize the automatic control device of PLC between
environment and reliable work, and has strong the relay control and computer control, but also
anti-jamming ability. PLC is designed for applications in overcomes some disadvantages of microcomputer, can be
industrial environments designed electronic digital used in harsh industrial environments, has strong anti
computing system operations, and take a multi-level interference ability. In addition to input/output part adopts
hardware and software anti-jamming measures in the design
photoelectric isolation measures, to power, computing,
and manufacturing process. PLC is widely used in CNC
machine and other industrial control, including the
controllers, memory, also set a wide variety of protection
continuous control of each axis position, control of spindle and shielding. PLC uses software to realize the user
positive inversion and spindle rotation on/off, tool changer, control logic, compact structure, small volume, easy to
clamping and loosening, cooling, chip and other auxiliary load the machine internal or electrical box, easy to
action. Modern CNC machine adopts PLC instead of relay mechanical and electrical integration of action to achieve
control to complete logic control, make the CNC machine complex control logic and CNC machine. At present,
tool structure is more compact, more feature-rich, greatly most of the PLC adopts and relay logic control circuit
improve the response speed and reliability. diagram is very similar to the ladder diagram of program
design, working principle of the graphic symbol image
Keywords-PLC; computer numerical control machine; intuitive and easy to understand and master, programming
CNC; ladder diagram is simple, convenient operation, flexible change
procedures. PLC can also be connected to programmer,
I. INTRODUCTION personal computer, etc, and easily implement program of
PLC is short for programmable logic controller, display, edit, diagnosis, storage and delivery etc. Its
which combines computer technology, automatic control working principle is shown in figure 1.
technology and communication techniques, is made
especially for industrial control computer system. In order

2015. The authors - Published by Atlantis Press 197

 Programmer

Input Programmer External

Memory Extended
signal interface interface Interface load

Button
Memory
Contactor

Output unit
Input unit
Contactor
CPU
LEDs

Travel switch Power

PLC

Figure 1. PLC basic composition and working principle

hydraulic or pneumatic solenoid valve, control knife

library manipulator and rotary center workbench, etc.
II. PLC IS COMMONLY USED IN CNC MACHINE TOOL (3) PLC collects all kinds of fault signal, the warning
PLC in NC machine comes in two forms: built-in type signs in the appropriate position, issued by the CNC
and independent type. system alarm or alarm text signal.
(1) Built-in type: Built in type PLC belongs to the (4) PLC is to achieve CNC machine tools (MT) of
CNC device, signal between PLC and CNC device to switch control through the communication between the
transmit on CNC device. Between PLC and CNC machine CNC system(CNC) and the machine tool (MT), namely
tool through the CNC input / output interface circuit for the exchange of information between PLC and CNC, PLC
signal transmission. and MT.
(2) Independent type: Independent PLC is also called
external or general PLC. On the NC machine tool, the IV. INFORMATION INTERCHANGE FOR CNC MACHINE
TOOLS
independent type PLC is independent of the CNC device,
with the hardware structure and the software functions, Information interchange for CNC machine tool as
can complete the control by independent. shown in Figure 2, and mainly consists of the following
four parts:
III. CNC MACHINE TOOL, THE PLC CAN REALIZE THE (1) MTPLC, mainly a variety of switches, buttons
FUNCTION and other information on the machine operator's panel,
CNC machine tools in the design of PLC system and Including the machine start and stop, work mode, rate,
the design of the CNC system is inseparable, the machine spindle positive inversion and stop cutting fluid, the
numerical control system is generally take or provide the opening and closing, chuck and loosen, each coordinate
function of PLC. point control, ATC instructions, the over travel limit,
(1) CNC machine tools using a variety of switch spindle servo protection monitoring signal, feed system
quantity control the movement of the machine tool, for signal switch signal. Switch signal machine side can
including the control switch, trip switch, close to switch, be entered into the PLC by switch of PLC input interface,
pressure switch, temperature switch, etc., through all the X signal in Figure 2, except for a handful of signal,
kinds of switch signal to the PLC, and after PLC logic the meaning of the vast majority of the signal and the PLC
operations, to control the signal output to the object. occupied address can be defined by the PLC program
(2) PLC output signal via the relay, contactor, design.

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 F-- Y--
Machine(MT)
CNC signal PLC signal
signal
G-- X--

Figure 2. Information transmission between the CNC, PLC and MT

of the CNC to the PLC signal meaning and address

(2) PLCMT, PLC to machine signal control (switching address and register address) have been
machine actuator, such as solenoid valve, relay, contactor, determined by CNC manufacturers, PLC programmers
and ensure the machine all the moving parts of the signal can use, but can not be changed or deleted.
and fault indicator, etc. Signal PLC to control the machine (4) PLCCNC, Information of PLC to CNC mainly
are delivered through a PLC switch output interface to M, S, T, F functional response signals and the axis of
MT, the Y signal in Figure 2, all switch output signals reference signals, moving parts of machine tools status
and the meaning of the PLC address are occupied address and fault information. PLC to CNC information
can be defined by the PLC program design. completed by the switching input signals, the G signal in
(3) CNCPLC, mainly refers to the function code M, Figure 2, All of the PLC to the CNC signal meaning and
S, T, F etc. S-function by converting the output spindle address (switching address and register address) have
speed control instructions in PLC; T-function is managed been determined by CNC manufacturers, PLC
through the PLC tool storage, for automatic tool exchange; programmers can use, but can not be changed or deleted.
M-function depending on the m code control spindle, Different ways of information exchange between CNC
reverse, or stop, the gearshift of spindle gear box speed, and PLC functions are very different, but its most basic
opening and closing of the cutting fluids, chuck clamping, function is the CNC will be required for the
loosen the tool change manipulator and machining center implementation of the M, S, TF function codes sent to
tool and other actions; F-function to complete the output PLC, then PLC control to complete the corresponding
axis feed rate is controlled by PLC servo system. CNC to action, PLC signal flow diagram for CNC machine tools
the PLC information is available (for CNC side) done in Figure 3.
through the switch output signal, can also be delivered
directly to the PLC registers, the F signal in Figure 2, All

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 CNC PLC

DDB PLC
CMC
Internal Data program
Adjust the
handler
CNC
G signal
Input Signal Between PLC
and CNC, MT
Input/Output
CNC
Signals
Output Signal
XY Main
program

Machine Operation Panel For the main

program

X signal

Y signal

Between PLC PLC Internal

and MT Relays,
Input/Output Registers, etc.
X/Ysignal
Signals MFL
XY

Used for high-speed processing

program

Figure 3. PLC signal flow diagrams

and displays also judged most critical initial faults

V. LADDER DIAGRAM SETTING FAILURE DETECTION automatically. Figure 4 is a ladder diagram with 3 fault
Because the PLC has high reliability, so most of the detection as an example.
faults in the PLC control system is not from the PLC itself, The program is made up of 3 fault detection,
but rather caused by external components fault. Once the respectively R500.0,R510.0, R520.0; 3 initial fault
system detects a component failure, not only with sound detection for R500.2, R510.2, R520.2; F149.1 is a system
and light alarm function, and can immediately display the reset signal. The initial state, no alarm, fault detection are
fault code, so that users can quickly determine the cause "0", and the reset signal F149.1 is "0".
of the failure. PLC program not only can detect each fault

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 VI. CONCLUSION
With the development of automation technology, the
R500.0 R510.2 R520.0 R500.1 structure and properties of PLC are also constantly
improving, using range expanded rapidly, From the
overall structure to the development of small modular
R500.1 F149.1 R500.2 structure, increasing the flexibility of PLC configuration,
PLC computing, data processing, graphics display,
network communication and other functions greatly
R500.2 enhanced ,PLC programming and programming tools are
also constantly develop towards standardization and
senior, so it also can be used more widely in the
R510.0 R500.2 R520.2 R510.1 application of numerical control technology, control of
000000 machining center will be more flexible and more reliable.
R510.1 F149.1 R510.2
REFERENCES
[1] Luo Liangling, Liu xubo. Numerical control technology and its
R510.2 application. Beijing: Qinghua University Press, 2005
[2] Lian Yuanguo, Zhang Yonghong. Design and application of
machining center. Beijing: China machine press, 1995
R520.0 R500.2 R510.2 R520.1 [3] Liao Xiaoguo. CNC technology. Hubei science and technology
press,2000
[4] Zhang Yongle. Programmable controller application. China electric
R520.1 F149.1 power press, 2004
R520.2 [5] Gong Shuzhen, Wang dongqing, Xu Shi Xu. Principle and
application of programmable logic controller. Beijing posts and
telecommunications Publishing Press, 2003
R520.2
[6] Yu Hanqi, and Guo Jian. Principle and application of programmable
logic controller in Beijing: China electric power press, 2004

Figure 4. Initial faults of PLC program

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