Fieldbus and CNC architecture: towards a CNC software factory

The paper explains the needs for introducing fieldbuses in machine-tools, a design choice whose economic benefits may not be apparent. We first explain the general trends of the factory of the future and its impact on the machine-tools characteristics and hence on computerised numerical controllers (CNC). We then show how the requirements can be fulfilled and the resulting architecture that opens the road to CNC software factory. One distinctive aspect of this architecture is the concept services, or vertical reusable components. Distributed interpolation that we briefly describe play an important role in designing good components. We describe the different architectural levels inside the CNC and we explain the reasons why a fieldbus should be introduced to link field devices to the CNC and at which level. Finally, we present an example of fieldbus use in a milling machine and the resulting performances.<>