System for monitoring CNC machine controllers

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In large operations, a number of CNC machine controllers may be located within a facility or in a number of related facilities.
In order to monitor operations for an entire plant or operation, it would be beneficial to have the capability of communicating with each of these controllers to gather and monitor status information at a single, remotely located computer.
The present invention takes advantage of the multi-processor, multi-tasking capability of the Thermwood 9100A SuperControl to provide this capability.
As each CNC machine controller, with a multi-tasking capability (e.
g.
Thermwood 91000 SuperControl) is running a production program on a part or workpiece, it gathers and stores status information in a status file.
Then, on a periodic basis or whenever a plant manager elects, a central computer requests the contents of the status file from a selected controller.
Such status files can then be analyzed, combined, compiled, printed, etc.
at the off-line remote computer while the CNC machine controllers continue to run their production programs.