5 Use cases

This section introduces the use cases for the OPC UA for Wireless Machine Tool Peripherals specification.

5.1 Conformity with the Industrial Measurement Devices standard for WMTP

The information model should map the entire scope of the Industrial Measurement Devices Bluetooth standard for WMTP.

5.2 Identify Wireless Machine Tool Peripherals in a standardized way

The WMTP of different manufacturers shall be identifiable in a standardized manner. To realize this, a number of basic and static information like manufacturer name and serial number are offered on the WMTP interface.

5.3 Status of the battery level

Usually a WMTP has an integrated battery. The status of the battery charge level indicates how much energy is currently in the battery in relation to the total capacity of the battery. It should be ensured that the filling level of the battery is made available.

5.4 Condition monitoring of the WMTP

To ensure a high level of process reliability, the operating status of the device must be monitored permanently and unmanned. For this purpose, data is permanently recorded during use on the device using sensors and transmitted to a gateway. The data may include e.g., operating hours, temperature, humidity, forces.

5.5 Writing the current date and time to the WMTP

In order to be able to track events, the current date and time can be written to the device for logging. When troubleshooting or performing maintenance, it is helpful to know the exact time of a particular event.

5.6 Possibility to update the firmware

To ensure functionality, security and performance, it should be possible to distribute a firmware update to the device. This should be done by transferring a byte stream.

5.7 Licensing of the WMTP

A licence is issued for the use of a software product. It should be possible to store license information permanently on the device with the possibility to verify its validity. Licence information can be, for example product name, licence number, delivery note number, hardware serial number.

5.8 Harmonization with existing standards such as OPC UA for Machinery

Where possible and appropriate, the modeled information model should be based on preliminary work by other standards. For example, the OPC UA for Machinery specification maps different structures that are relevant for the entire mechanical engineering sector. It is useful to promote harmonization by referencing such building blocks.