Coding an app that interfaces with a machine.

[Tweak]

Hello guys. I am interested in finding out, what will be needed to control a feed milling machine or similar factory equipment, and what programming language would be the best for this type of system? I heard that one might need some type of interface card for this project, but I was hoping for more self explanative detail.
Regards,
Tweak

 

[dequadin]

Hello guys. I am interested in finding out, what will be needed to control a feed milling machine or similar factory equipment, and what programming language would be the best for this type of system? I heard that one might need some type of interface card for this project, but I was hoping for more self explanative detail.
Regards,
Tweak

What interface does this "machine" have?

 

[MeisterLone]

Well, it depends heavily on how exactly you wish to implement your "machine interface". Interfacing with something small like a home-made controller or some other type of accessory would be your first step to learning how hardware and software communicate.

If your working with something that makes use of USB connectivity, then you have a choice between C# and C++, although C# is easier to learn, I would still recommend C++ for this type of thing.

Assuming you wish to control your milling machine with your own software, i'd say you would need a milling machine capable of doing this type of stuff. You cant control 1950's 100% mechanical milling machine because it has no controller board or governing piece of hardware. If you have a newer machine, it is bound to come with some documentation on how to control it over a serial connection or usb connection. (For example, it might tell you that sending a certain amount of bytes in a certain order will tell the controller board on the milling machine to move a certain component 10 inches to the left.)

Its not a do-it-yourself science, most people spend years at university or college to study this field.

Best of luck

 

[CrazYmonkeY159]

How specialised is this feed milling machine? how is it possible to physically interface with it? JTAG or some Parallel cable or USB? are you talking about a microcontroller?

Do you want it to be a self contained control system?

when you say "interface card" do you mean a system on chip? what sort of things must this control system be able to do?

usually programming on a SoC is hard, usually done in ANSI C or ASM, i use this

 

[Tweak]

Excellent. Thank you meisterlone for this reply. I am a first year student at unisa doing electrical engineering. Hopefully at the end of the course I could be on my way to building such a program. Though from what was mentioned about older types of machines having less managability, I recon newer milling machines would be even easier to operate, maybe even being released with some type of sdk to work with. Thanks again to everyone for trying to make this task more understandable. Kind regards,
Tweak

 

[<?php?>]

Automation should be done via a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), Varispeed drives, contactors, PEC's (Photo Electric Cells), Limit Switches etc. Various types and models exist, some you can program using the "Ladder" programming language via it's usually proprietary software loaded onto a notebook or desktop, whilst others can be programmed on the PLC itself. If you feel like building your own controller, you could look at a SBC (Single Board Computer) or the Arduino Uno microcontroller.

 

[kayvee]

NI LabVIEW is also an option here, but a lot depends on the hardware you wish to interface it with. If you are doing first year it's only a matter of time until you need to look at it, so I'd suggest a peek now.

AN alternative to the Adruino here

There are also a number of dedicated apps for this, such as Vectric Aspire, but I would suggest this is not what you are after as you need to get in at the ground floor.