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Accessible computer interface for a cnc machining center
1. ACCESSIBLE COMPUTER INTERFACE FOR A CNC
MACHINING CENTER
PROJECT REPORT TO
THE SEATTLE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND, INC.
November 25th
, 2003
Team ECE 04.7
Science and Engineering Project Center
School of Science and Engineering
Seattle University
2. 2
ACCESSIBLE COMPUTER INTERFACE FOR A CNC
MACHINING CENTER
Project Sponsor
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Liaison Engineers
Norm Slader
Ken Wolford
Doug Case
Don Swaney
Engineering Design Team EE4.7
Seattle University project Engineers
Shriram Reddy
Quyen Le
Rionald Soerjanto
Diana Bonilla
Mr. Ward Silver
Electrical Engineering Senior Design
Dr. Jeff Gilles, Director
Science and Engineering project Center
November 25, 2003
3. 3
Table of Contents
Letter of Transmittal………………………………………………………………………….…4
Introduction……….………………………………………………………………………….…..5
A. Background
B. Statement of the Problem
Scope of Work………………………………………………………………………………….6-8
A. Overview
B. Literature Review
C. Alternative Solutions and Evaluation
D. Decision
Plan of Implementation………………………………………………………………………9-10
A. Research
B. Design
C. Prototype Construction
D. Testing
E. Documentation
References……………………………………………………………………………………….11
Facilities…………………………………………………………………………………………12
Personnel and Organization Chart……………………………………………………………13
Schedule………………………………………………………………………………………....14
Budget…………………………………………………………………………………………...15
List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………………..16
Appendix A - Original Statement of Work………………………………………………….17
Appendix B - Student Resumes………………………………………………………………19
4. 4
Design Team EE 4.7 Seattle, WA 98122
November 25th
, 2003
Mr. Ken Wolford
Mr. Doug Case
Mr. Don Swaney
Mr. Norm Slader
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc
2501 South Plum Street
Seattle, WA 98144
RE: Accessible CNC Machining Center
Dear Mr. Ken Wolford, Mr. Doug Case, Mr. Don Swaney, and Mr. Norm Slader:
We are pleased to present to you our proposal for the Accessible Computer Interface for a
CNC Machining Center. We strongly believe that we have found an appropriate solution for the
project sponsored by The Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind. This report includes a detailed
process for the design of the interface as well as costs for the development of the project.
We are looking forward to working with all of you at the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind
on this challenging project.
Sincerely,
Seattle University Design Team EE 04.7:
Shriram Reddy Diana Bonilla
Quyen Le Rionald Soerjanto
Mr. Ward Silver, Faculty Advisor
5. 5
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Background
The ability to make any system accessible by a disabled individual has become a necessity in
today’s world. Providing such access to computer systems is especially important as they allow
the user to access limitless amounts of information and control from a single console.
An application developed by Freedom Scientific called JAWS (Job Access with Speech)
provides speech technology that works with Windows 95/98/XP operating systems to provide
access to software applications and the Internet. JAWS uses an integrated voice synthesizer and
the computer's sound card to output the content of the computer screen to speakers.
CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) milling machines are intended to be used with limited
interaction with the user which makes them accessible to a disabled individual with some minor
modifications and software applications such as JAWS. The CNC machines often use
proprietary software which is not included with accessibility features.
B. Statement of the Problem
The Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind (SLB) requires a user interface to operate one of its milling
CNC machines. At the moment, the machine requires a software interface, not accessible by the
disabled people, and an alarm system. This user interface will be operated mainly by the blind,
deaf or deaf/blind people. This software interface would make a CNC machine (milling)
accessible for them to set-up and operate. Since the SLB provides jobs for disabled people and
also an increasing demand in the industry, they need their CNC machine to be able to be
operated by disabled individuals as well.
II. SCOPE OF WORK
A. Overview
Before the initial design stage, the group has to acquire a fundamental knowledge of Job Access
with Speech (JAWS), DOS, Microsoft Windows 98, mechanical sensors, and data acquisition
cards. The SLB engineers suggested that the group should do some detailed research on
mechanical sensors and data acquisition cards to make the decision on a particular brand and
model adequate for the project.
After the research stage, we will develop the graphical user interface (GUI) using Visual Basic
software to accept inputs for part dimensions, which would feed directly to the Bridgeport
system for the CNC machine. This GUI will have to be compatible with JAWS, which will be
easily tested by using the free demo version via the Internet.
The second half of the software stage is to have the machining parameters, which will be in
Windows 98 format, saved in a permanent file and then transferred to the Bridgeport, which will
be operating as a DOS platform.
6. 6
Finally, we have to decide which mechanical sensors and data acquisition card are reliable and
cost efficient for the project while keeping in mind that this hardware will possibly be upgraded
in the future.
B. Literature Review
One of the most important components of this project is the software JAWS (Job Access with
Speech). This program allows someone who is visually impaired to access a computer using
Windows by reading the on-screen text.1
The advantage to a program such as this is that it can
be used to understand almost anything text-based which is on the screen.1,2
This allows one to
design a custom interface which displays detailed alerts and confirmations as text on the screen
and have JAWS read it to the user.6
Another advantage JAWS has as a screen reading tool in a
corporate environment is its price. A professional license typically being priced at around $1000,
the software is fare less expensive than Braille displays.7
Braille displays are hardware devices
that use rounded retractable pins to translate on-screen text into Braille symbols which a blind
user can read by touch. Although typically Braille can be read much faster than having to
actually listen to the computer speak through JAWS, the price difference and the fact that a user
has to be touching the Braille display at all times to be kept informed at all times makes the latter
a better choice.7
CNC machines are one of the most common types of automated systems used in manufacturing.
Evidence of this can be seen at such operations such as Boeing’s fabrication facilities and in
vehicle manufacturing plants. CNC milling machines use a computer controller to guide a motor
controlled armature or stand for the purpose of manufacturing specific parts.4
The system is
designed to be fully automated requiring numerical input from the user which increases precision
and speed of manufacturing. Typically, in addition to coordinate information, the computer
controller uses a script written in a language called G-Code. These custom scripts can be used to
guide the CNC milling machine to perform an almost limitless combination of tasks.4
C. Alternative Solutions and Evaluation
The GUI will be programmed in Visual Basic as it is the best solution for the software part of the
project. This is because Visual Basic provides an effective solution to the software interface
problem without all the complexities that go with other languages such as C++. Since all of the
group members have general knowledge of Visual Basic (VB), and this software language has a
powerful system that handles the GUI well, VB will be the platform to execute this task.
The sensors to be used are Honeywell silicon pressure sensors. These sensors have features such
as small size, low cost, excellent repeatability, high accuracy and reliability under different
environmental conditions. All these features are important in an environment like a machining
center where the sensors will have to endure a great deal of vibration from the machine and
where device failure could result in damage to machinery or personal injury.
7. 7
Since we have selected a specific kind of sensors and programming language, the only item that
can be varied is the data acquisition card. This component will be key to combining the
hardware alert system to the accessible software interface.
Solution 1:
Omega has a large variety of data acquisition cards such as the OME-PCI-1002 series, which is a
family of PCI bus A/D boards. They feature a 110 kHz data acquisition rate under DOS and
Windows. The boards provide 32 single-ended or 16 differential inputs, 16 digital input and 16
digital output channels. All boards are supplied with a standard software development kit for
Windows 98/NT/2000/XP. The software development kit includes DLL files for programming in
C, C++ or other high level languages such as Visual Basic.
Solution 2:
Another solution is to use Adlink Technology’s cPCI-7300 High Speed Digital I/O data
acquisition card. The 7300A performs high-speed data transfers using bus mastering DMA and
scatter/gather via 32-bit PCI bus architecture. The 7300A is configured as two ports, PORTA and
PORTB, each port controls 16 digital I/O lines. The I/O can be configured as either input or
output, and 8-bit or 16-bit. Users can configure the 7300A to meet high speed digital I/O data
transfer according to the outside device environment.
Evaluation of Solutions:
Solution 1 provides the best PCI data acquisition card for this project as it allows one to use the
inputs as 32 single-ended or 16 differential. This provides us with the greatest compatibility with
sensors of varying types and also allows room for expansion. Since one may wish to add to the
system in the future, providing more inputs would be a prudent thing to do.
D. Decision
With the equipment currently available (Windows 98 PC, sensors, etc.) the decision is to use any
one of the Omega data acquisition cards and use sensors that are compatible with it. The best
choice is the OME-PCI-1002 series which provides a large number of single input or differential
inputs. We will have to make sure that the sensors already available from the Seattle Lighthouse
for the Blind are compatible with the card or perhaps modify them so that they are. This would
reduce cost and also allow us to use sensors that have already been tested and approved by the
Lighthouse engineers. Since we will only have to outfit a single machine, it might be prudent to
simply purchase the entire array of desired sensors from a single manufacturer and connect them
to the DAQ which could very well decrease compatibility problems for a minimal extra cost.
The software portion of the project will definitely be designed in Visual Basic and tested on a
Windows 98 platform. This will allow the interface to perhaps be used on other CNC milling
machines without having to spend a great deal on licensing since Windows 98 is a now an
inexpensive operating system. The finished product including the hardware and software
deliverables is outlined in figure 1 below.
8. 8
Figure 1 - Outline of the finished CNC milling machine with accessibility features added.
9. 9
III. Plan of Implementation
The following task listed below is an overview for Design Team EE 04.7 to fulfill the request to
make a CNC milling machine fully accessible to a blind or deaf operator.
A. Research
For this particular project, we divided the deliverables into two parts, the software and hardware
components. First, we came to a decision to use Visual Basic to design the GUI (Graphical User
Interface) with.
Then we thoroughly researched the different types of data acquisition cards (DAQs), which
would be most appropriate for the project. Currently, the CNC milling machine has only one
sensor, the door position detector that is operating with the Bridgeport computer. During the
initial phase of the research, we have found many compatible DAQs that would be ideal for this
project at a particular company called Omega (www.omega.com). And it has been suggested
that the sensors should also be ordered from the same company that the DAQ will be purchased
from to eliminate compatibility problems.
A list of remaining research topics is as follows:
• Approve choice of an adequate DAQ for project
• Select sensors that are compatible
• Bridgeport operating under DOS and MS Windows 98 operation of PC
• Consider alternatives method of approach
B. Design
Once the team has decided on the DAQ to implement, the design process can proceed. The
group needs to be aware of all possible scenarios that can arise during an operation of the CNC
milling machine. Since the team is responsible for the alert system, we need special precaution
during the system design because the SLB’s main concern is safety. As a team, we will have to
consistently meet with our facility advisor (Prof. Silver) and our liaisons (Ken Wolford, Doug
Case, and Don Swaney) to double check the safety system for dependability.
We intend on using the layout in Figure 1 to begin the design and then create diagrams that show
the details of each component and how it should work. Once that is complete, we may begin
coding and building the new accessibility features piece by piece as well as test them
individually and together to make sure that each part will work together.
C. Prototype Construction
The software section is straightforward; we will design the GUI using VB.NET. However, the
most important requirement of the program is having JAWS fully operational with our software
interface.
10. 10
The hardware section will have more flexibility, since the requirements state that the DAQ
would handle more than 8 digital or analog inputs and that the sensors are completely compatible
with the chosen DAQ. Ken Wolford and Doug Case from the SLB will assist us in the assembly
and simulation of the alert system.
D. Testing
After the initial design and build process is complete, the team will test and debug the entire
prototype. First, the software component of the project is tested by running the program in
Microsoft Windows 98; in addition, the program will also have JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
operating simultaneously with our software.
The difficult part of this testing assignment is that the tester will be blindfolded, to represent a
blind operator, to prove that the software is user friendly to visually impaired individuals. We
will use a number of different volunteers not involved with the project to validate that the
software design is acceptable.
The second half of the testing procedure is the alert system testing, which will be more
challenging than the software testing. This test includes a complete assembly of the DAQ with
all of the sensors connected to the DAQ. We will create manual switches to simulate the on/off
sensors that are detecting.
The pressure sensors are more challenging than the other switches to simulate during the testing.
However, Ken Wolford and Doug Case from the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind suggested
using sensors already on site at the SLB which need to be simulated for the testing phase.
E. Documentation
Every aspect of the research process, design, and testing of both software and hardware
deliverables will be documented. Each person from the team will have their own notes recorded
in their individual notebooks. The project completion report, notebooks, and both deliverables
will be available by Project Day on June 4, 2004.
11. 11
IV. References:
1) Minnesota WorkForce Center. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS.
< http://www.mnwfc.org/eo/atmanual/atm1h.htm>. Accessed 2003 October 11.
2) Kathy Plett, 2003. College of New Caledonia Library Facilities and Services for
Learners with Disabilities.
< http://www.cnc.bc.ca/library/disabilities.html>. Accessed 2003 October 11.
3) Bridgeport Corporation, 2003.
< http://www.bpt.com/products.html >. Accessed 2003 October 11.
4) Efunda Engineering Reference, 2003.
<http://www.efunda.com/processes/machining/mill_cnc.cfm>. Accessed 2003 October 11.
5) Techno-Vision Systems Ltd, 2003. JAWS Screen Reader.
<http://www.techno-vision.co.uk/JAWS.htm >. Accessed 2003 October 12.
6) The Canadian National Institute for the Blind, 2002. Screen Reading Software.
<http://www.cnib.ca/tech_aids/screenreaders/>. Accessed 2003 October 12.
7) Freedom Scientific, 2003. JAWS for Windows.
<http://www.freedomscientific.com/fresci/showdetl.cfm?&DID=9&Product_ID=262&CATI
D=40>. Accessed 2003 October 12.
8) Freedom Scientific, 2003. Braille Displays.
<http://www.freedomscientific.com/fresci/showdetl.cfm?&DID=9&Product_ID=399&CATI
D=42>. Accessed 2003 October 13.
12. 12
V. FACILITIES:
The facilities to be used for the Accessible Computer Interface for a CNC Machining Center
project will be mainly the Lighthouse for the blind, the Computer laboratory (room 210) and
room 216 located in the Bannan building at Seattle University. The equipment that will be
mainly used to develop this project will be the M6 CNC machine, which is located at the Seattle
Lighthouse for the Blind. In addition, the use of software such as Visual basic, JAWS and
Windows 98 will need to be accessible for Team 4.7 in the room 210 located in the Bannan
building at Seattle University. Although, the Bridgeport controlling system and Vocal-eyes are
also needed to develop this project, they could be used in the testing process at the Seattle
Lighthouse for the Blind.
13. 13
VI. PERSONNEL/ORGANIZATION CHART
Figure 2 - Project organization chart
Shriram Reddy
Shriram is an Electrical Engineering student who is currently the team leader and point-of-
contact for group ECE 04.7. He has a great deal of software and computer hardware experience
and will working on the design and implementation of the software interface.
Quyen Le
Quyen is a Computer Engineering student and is involved with implementation planning and will
assist Shriram Reddy with the design of the custom software interface. His experience with
getting software and hardware systems to communicate with one another will be extremely
important for this project.
Diana Bonilla
Diana is an Electrical Engineering student who will primarily be working on the sensor alert
system that will connected to the software interface. Her experience with logic circuits and other
hardware based design will be invaluable for this part of the project.
Rionald Soerjanto
Rionald is a Computer Engineering student who will be assisting Diana in with the hardware
alert system. His interest in software/hardware interfacing will be very useful when it becomes
time to test the hardware alert system with the software interface.
15. 15
VII. BUDGET
BUDGET FOR GROUP ECE 04.7
References materials $150
Visual Basic reference manuals
JAWS reference manuals
Sensor Documentation
Administrative supplies $320
Travel, # trips to sponsor office/quarter or # miles @ $0.36/mile $50
Parking permits for client on-campus visits, # times $50
Long distance telephone / Fax $40
Postage & Shipping $75
Photocopying # @ $0.05 $20
Printing supplies $20
# zip disks, # CDs $10
Office supplies (notebooks, paper, pens, etc.) $55
Expendable supplies $100
Solder, Wire, Plastic enclosures, comparators
Capital equipment $2,000
Visual Basic .NET or 98 (development software) $290
Windows 98 (software upgrade) $10
JAWS (software upgrade) $100
Bridgeport (software upgrade) $100
Data Acquisition Card (hardware) $500
Sensors (pressure, temperature, touch, etc.) (hardware) $1000
Team building $200
Maximum is # of team members @ $50/team member
Staffing
Sponsor liaison $0
Students $0
Faculty advisor $0
TOTAL: $2770
16. 16
VIII. List of Figures
1. Outline of the finished CNC milling machine with accessibility features added (p. 8)
2. Project organization chart (p. 13)
18. 18
First Priority
Development of a custom computer control for a CNC Machining Center – Develop a
custom software application that would make a CNC machining center accessible for a blind
person to set-up and operate. Software would also facilitate the set-up and operation of the
machining center that has been modified to produce a specific family of machined parts.
Development of additional software/hardware systems to make machines accessible to people
who are blind or Deaf Blind could be included in the project.
Development and Implementation of the following Databases and Reporting Systems:
• Fixture Tracking Database & Reporting System
• Interpreting Services Database & Reporting System
• Machine Proficiency Training Database & Reporting System
Second Priority
Assembly Process Improvement – Opportunities to improve assembly processes for mops and
other products. Consideration and evaluation of usual factors, plus additional consideration of
need for flexible production systems that accommodate a work force with a wide range of skills.
Material Handling Improvement – Opportunity to focus on material handling improvement.
Typically would be considered in conjunction with “Assembly Process Improvement,” but
possible opportunities to focus on this.
Product Development and Improvement – Possible opportunities for design using Solidworks
(3D CAD), production of prototype and evaluation of prototypes. No good candidate items at
present.
Packaging and packing improvement – Opportunity for analysis of current product packaging
and packing with goal of the development of alternative approaches for packaging and packing
that offer greater value for the lighthouse.
20. 20
Quyen Van Le
30028 128th Ct SE, Auburn, WA 98092
Leq1@seattleu.edu
(206) 850-8293
SKILLS
Computer Skills: * Visual Basic * C/C++
*Scheme *PSpice
*MS Office and Project *All of MS Operating Systems
*MATLAB
EDUCATION
June 2004 SEATTLE UNIVERSITY Seattle, WA
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Major: Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Computer Engineering
• Vietnamese Student Association: Web Master
Dec 2000 GREEN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Auburn, WA Associate of Science Cumulative GPA: 3.33/4.0
EXPERIENCE
2000-Present SEATTLE LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND Seattle, WA
Project Title: Accessible Computer Interface for a CNC Machining Center
with visual and audio alert system.
Description: Designing a software interface for the visually impaired individual
that allows him/her to transfer instructions to a CNC machine.
Personal
• Music, football, baseball, bowling, US citizen, fluent in Vietnamese
21. 21
Shriram Reddy
8037 NE 112th
St, Kirkland, WA 98034
reddys1@seattleu.edu
(425) 891-9939
SKILLS
Windows 9x/NT/2000, UNIX, Mathematica, MATLAB, Cadence Orcad, PSPICE, MS Office, C++, gCC, C#, SQL,
Visual Basic, Macromedia Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Coldfusion. Tektronix and Hewlett-Packard
Oscilloscopes, Agilent Arbitrary Waveform Generators, and Spectrum Analyzers.
EDUCATION (List in chronological order starting with the last one)
June 2004 SEATTLE UNIVERSITY Seattle, WA
Batchelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
• Dean’s List
• Member of IEEE
• Currently Researching for CNC Interface Project
EXPERIENCE (List in chronological order starting with the last one)
Summer 2003 BAE Systems
Keyport, WA
Engineering Intern
• Built and maintained inventory databases using SQL and Access to aid Navy logistics
department.
• Repaired damaged training devices such as laptops and projectors for the Air Combat
Training Systems (ACTS) help desk.
• Edited technical documents for the Raytheon documentation team.
Fall 2000 VOLT
Everett, WA
Technician (as a contractor working for Boeing)
• Set up networks in classrooms and upgraded existing computers.
• Assisted in Windows 2000 deployment and upgrade, as well as assisting employees in
adjusting to the current Windows 2000 upgrade.
HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
• Web designer for IEEE club
22. 22
Diana Bonilla
14351 6th
St. S Apartment O-102, Bellevue, WA, 98007
bonilld@seattleu.edu
(206) 649-7364
SKILLS
• Assembly language, C, Matlab, Mathematica, Multislim, Pspice, Minitab, MS.
• Fluent Spanish.
• Oscilloscope, Function Generator, HP Spectrum Analyzer, Multimeter.
EDUCATION
June 2004 SEATTLE UNIVERSITY Seattle, WA
Batchelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Minor in mathematics
• Vice President, Society of Women Engineers.
• Member, IEEE.
June 2001 ARMY POLYTECNIC SCHOOL (ESPE) Quito, Ecuador
Associate of Science
• Social Activities Coordinator, ESPE Student Council .
EXPERIENCE (List in chronological order starting with the last one)
2003-Present The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc Seattle, WA
Senior Design Project: Accessible Computer Interface for a CNC
Machining Center
• Develop a custom software application that would make a CNC machining center
accessible for a blind person to set-up and operate.
• Project must include conditional input/output monitoring with alarm indicators.
1999-2000 ESPE (Polytechnic School in Ecuador) Quito, Ecuador
Real Application of C Language
• Develop different programs that could be used in fire stations, bus routes, parking
lots, and other.
• Graphics must be included.
• Teamwork and presentation skills developed.
Summer 03 Occidental Exploration and production Company. Quito, Ecuador
Volunteer Business Intern
• Assist Electrical Engineer Manager.
• Perform financial and environmental damage presentations.
2001-2002 Seattle University Learning Center Seattle, WA
HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
• Third place in Guayasamin Art Competition.
• Second place in the Art Competition of the Ecuadorian House of Art.
23. 23
Rionald Anggara Soerjanto
10337 Midvale Avenue N Suite 203, Seattle, WA 98133
soerjantor@seattleu.edu
(206) 778-8808
SKILLS
• A self-motivated, fast learner and highly energetic person with excellent management skills
• Consistently provide leadership, commitment, integrity, and innovative problem solving in a fast-
paced environment
• Responsible, detail oriented, and ability to manage multiple task with on the timely manner
• Computer: C/C++, Visual Basic, Java, MATLAB, Multisim Pspice, Assembly language (MC
68000), Unix, Windows, MS Word, Excel, Access, Power Point.
• Equipment: Oscilloscope, DMM, and Function Generator.
• Languages: Written and oral fluency in English and Indonesian
EDUCATION
June 2004 SEATTLE UNIVERSITY Seattle, WA
Batchelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with Specialization in Computer Engineering
June 2002 NORTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Associate of Science Degree
• Dean’s Academic List, 2001
EXPERIENCE
1998-2000 HARINDO PRIMA KREASI Cirebon, Indonesia
Foreign Representative
• Examined products trend that could be marketed in Indonesia
• Made first contact to potential suppliers and mediated company for decision making
• Provided assurance about products ordered from the ordering process to shipping
HONORS AND ACTIVITIES
IFGF, Seattle, Washington
Group Leader (2002-Present)
• Organized a group of 15 people to achieve group’s vision and mission
• Coordinated and planned group events
• Learned to identify member’s needs and accommodated to it
