In an embodiment, a lifetime controller is configured to monitor operating conditions for a device, and to control operating conditions based on the previous conditions to improve the reliability characteristics of the device while permitting strenuous use as available. For example, the lifetime controller may permit strenuous use when the device is first powered on. Once a specified amount of strenuous use has occurred, the controller may cause the operating conditions to be reduced to reduce the wear on the device, and thus help to extend the lifetime of the device. Similarly, if a device is used in less strenuous conditions, the controller may accumulate credit which may be expended by permitting the device to operate in more strenuous conditions for a period of time.

An operational control method is provided for a machine tool that includes a plurality of tool holders with a cutting-tool. The machine tool relatively moves the tool holders with respect to a workpiece to process the workpiece. The operational control method includes determining whether an abnormality has occurred in the cutting-tool during a processing or not, determining whether a simultaneous processing in which at least two or more of the tool holders perform the processings to an identical workpiece is being performed or not and whether the cutting-tool having the detected abnormality is the cutting-tool that is performing the simultaneous processing or not when the abnormality is detected, and causing the tool holder with the cutting-tool having the detected abnormality to take an abnormality avoidance operation and another of the tool holders to take a response operation based on a determination result at the determining of the simultaneous processing.

A broken tool detection mechanism applied in a CNC machine includes a base support, a first conductive elastic sheet securely mounted on the base support, and a second conductive elastic sheet. The second conductive elastic sheet is mounted on the base support, at least partially located over the first conductive elastic sheet, and spaced apart from the second conductive elastic sheet by a predetermined distance. The second conductive elastic sheet is pushed towards the first conductive elastic sheet so that the first conductive elastic sheet and the second conductive elastic sheet make electrical contact.

A management system including a network, plural manufacturing cells connected to the network, and a management device that is connected to the network and manages the plurality of manufacturing cells, in which the manufacturing cell includes: a machine tool; and a control device that controls the machine tool, analyzes a vibration state of a spindle positioning shaft of the machine tool, and sends an analysis result via the network; in which the management device includes: a communication unit that receives the analysis result sent by the control device; and a detection unit that compares the analysis results thus received, and compares vibration states of the machine tool of each of the manufacturing cells, so as to detect spindle failure of any of the machine tools; and in which the communication unit, in a case of the detection unit detecting the spindle failure, sends a failure signal via the network.

Disclosed herein are methods for utilizing cutting impact force, bearing temperature, and vibration information of a chipper machine, which comprises monitoring cutting forces generated by the knives cutting logs and monitoring the temperature of the bearings and the knives in the chipper machine. The methods may further comprise identifying a series of cutting impact forces and temperatures to indicate the condition of the bearing, and repairing, replacing, or servicing the bearing or the knives based on the value of the impact forces and temperatures measurements.

To provide an arrangement capable of detecting spindle failure in a machine tool using an existing servo control device, without providing separate external sensors, a failure analysis device or the like. A servo control device (22), which detects failure of a spindle of a machine tool including the spindle, a feed shaft, and a positioning servomotor that is installed to the feed shaft and is for deciding the position of the spindle, includes: a feedback acquisition unit (222) that acquires a feedback signal of the positioning servomotor; and an analysis/detection unit 226 that analyzes the feedback signal acquired to detect failure of the spindle.

Method for determining chipper machine wear part replacement needs using cutting impact force, bearing temperature, and vibration information.

Systems and techniques to facilitate tool failure analysis associated with fabrication processes are presented. A monitoring component determines a candidate tool failure associated with one or more fabrication tools based on sensor data generated by a set of sensors associated with the one or more fabrication tools. A signature component generates a signature dataset for the candidate tool failure based on data associated with the one or more fabrication tools. A comparison component compares the candidate tool failure to at least one previously determined tool failure based on the signature dataset and at least one other signature dataset associated with the at least one previously determined tool failure.

A control device for a machine tool includes a tool mounted on a main spindle relatively movable with respect to a workpiece and machines the workpiece using the tool. The control device includes: a parameter preparing unit, an evacuation unit, and an evacuation diagnosing unit. The parameter preparing unit preliminarily stores a predetermined parameter relating to a control. The evacuation unit causes the tool to perform an evacuation operation from the workpiece. The evacuation diagnosing unit diagnoses whether the evacuation operation is normal. When the evacuation diagnosing unit diagnoses that the evacuation operation is abnormal, the evacuation operation is cancelled.

A diagnostic device includes a reception unit and a determination unit. The reception unit is configured to receive context information and sensing information. The context information corresponds to a certain operation of a target item that constitutes a target device. The context information is a piece of a plurality of pieces of context information each describing an operation of the target item determined depending on a type of operation of the target device. The sensing information is on a physical quantity that varies in accordance with the operation of the target item. The determination unit is configured to determine a state of the target item based on the sensing information detected while the target item is performing the certain operation, and based on a model corresponding to the received context information. The model is a model of one or more models respectively defined for one or more pieces of the context information.