The development of intelligent service system for machine tool industry

Developing efficient services for Taiwan´s machine-tool industry is important because of the intelligent service enhancement for industrial networks and systems integration. The purpose of this study is to provide innovative service via remote cloud computing for machine tool solutions. The intelligent system integrates both hardware and software functions of five modules of machine tools (axes, controller, PLC, machine tools, sensors). A platform was developed for machinery information convergence and intelligent service system. In order to complete the standards for the proposed intelligent service system, the Taiwan Machine Tool Connect (TMTC) standards for precision machinery industry was developed to provide over 80% data acquisition support for current CNC machines and PLC controllers. Compare the TMTC standard with the MTConnect standard, the TMTC can provide faster and lower traffic on multi-trip data exchange to accelerate the interpretation and increase 50% transmission speed. The proposed system was demonstrated by applying it to the aerospace and automotive industries. The system performance was verified by proximal system functional test, platform functional verification, work and service process feasibility assessment, and key performance evaluation for machine tool solutions. The outcomes include three major results: (1) Successfully connect 302 machines with ServBox to achieve real-time machine monitoring and enhance productivity. (2) Establish a spin-off company to create machinery adaptive lease through its new business model by providing machinery data analysis, intelligent service, and applications for complementing the value chain of the overall machine tool solutions. (3) Improve industrial profits and increase production values for Taiwan´s machine-tool industry.