Modern Applied Science October, 2009 101Study on the Design of the Digital Control Machine-tool Operating System Ye Tian Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin 300160, China E-mail: 1983tianyesina.com Abstract The ergonomics is an independent subject developed from the beginning of the 20th century, and it is the frontier applied science which studies the comprehensive performances such as comfort ability, production efficiency and safety under various conditions. In the article, a series of human oriented designs were studied for the software and hardware interfaces of the digital control machine-tool based on the theory of the ergonomics and the human-oriented principle. Keywords: Ergonomics, Human-oriented, User, Digital control machine-tool, Design The digital control machine-tool is the machine-tool which uses the information with the form of code (program instruction) to control the cutter to automatic machining according to appointed work program, sports speed and track. It can be extensively applied in many industries, and when the machining objects change, only the input program instructions need to be changed. Its machining performance is better than general automatic machine, and it can exactly machine complex profile parts, so it is fitter to machine work pieces with middle and small batches, frequent performance change, high precision requirements and complex forms, and acquire better economic effects. With the development of the digital control technology, the varieties of the machine-tool with the digital control system become more and more, and they include lathe, milling machine, boring lathe, drill press, grinding machine, gear cutting machine and electric spark machine tool, and the machining center and turning center which can change the tool automatically and implement multiple working procedures once. The operating system design of digital control machine-tool can directly influence users work efficiency and operating comfort level, because good human-machine interface operates simply and effectively, and its guidance function will make users feel comfort and interesting and enhance the using efficiency. 1. Foreign and domestic actualities and levels of the digital control machine-tool operating system With the development of the manufacturing, the tendency of the middle and small lot manufacture is increasingly strengthened, which induces the large potential of the market development of the digital control machine-tool which integrates many specialties such as electron, numerical control and hydraulic pressure automatization. The form of the digital control machine-tool gradually goes to the integration from original dispersedness, and the functions are more complete, and the color and the human-machine interface could more embody the human-computer-environment, and relative technologies and forms all be developed quickly. For the machine-tool itself, its functions and the characters reflected by the function are the first factors what the designers should consider. The function of the machine-tool means that the machine-tool possesses special purpose and functions which are designed by human demands. The machine-tool is the carrier of the functions, and its financial intention is to realize the functions. The machine-tool design and all measures and methods in the manufacturing process are based on the actual functions of the machine-tool in practice. The intention that users purchase it is to enjoy the advantages that it can bring to them. As viewed from users, the design should be human-oriented, and the machine-tool designed by the designers must harmonize human physiology and psychology, i.e. accord with users ergonomic characteristics. In the design process, the designers decide the proper modeling scheme or the evaluation of the modeling scheme through human-machine experiment and the computer simulation of human-machine relationship. Whether for domestic machine-tool or foreign machine-tool, the modelings of machine tool goes to the integration and uniformity, and embody the advancement of the modern manufacturing technology. The modeling of the machine-tool also reflects the technical level of each manufacturer. Comparing with foreign level, the digital control machine-tool of China is less than foreign machine tool not only for the variety but for the quality, and the modeling also lacks in more researches. The modeling of most Chinese machine-tools is simple and dispersed. Because the Eleven Five-year Development Program extends the demands of Chinese digital control machine-tool, so the modeling design of the digital control machine-tool requires more safe creative performance, novel style and practical purpose. Vol. 3, No. 10 Modern Applied Science 102 2. Problems in the existing digital control machine-tool o