Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting a target object influenced by a process or formed in the process includes a sensor unit and an evaluation device. The sensor unit detects the target object in a detection zone of the sensor unit and generates a sensor signal that can be influenced by the target object. The evaluation device processes the sensor signal as a first input variable and generates an output signal, which indicates the detection of the target object, in dependence on the sensor signal. The evaluation device further processes a process parameter of the process, which acts on the target object, or a target object parameter, which characterizes the target object and is influenced by the process, as a respective further input variable and to generate the output signal in dependence on the process parameter and/or the target object parameter.

Abstract: A method for assigning a processing plan to a mobile unit data set of a mobile unit of an indoor location system of a manufacturing hall is provided. The method includes: providing a manufacturing control system for industrial processing of workpieces with a machine tool in accordance with workpiece-specific processing plans, each processing plan storing order information for a workpiece to be processed, providing a mobile unit with an image acquisition unit for acquiring image data, mobile unit data set belonging to the mobile unit and position data of the mobile unit acquired with the indoor location system being stored in the manufacturing control system, acquiring image data of a processing plan-specific object for identifying the processing plan to be assigned with the manufacturing control system, and assigning the identified processing plan to the mobile unit data set of the mobile unit in the manufacturing control system.

Abstract: A method for optimizing production of sheet-metal parts, the production comprising cutting out and singularizing the sheet-metal parts and bending the sheet-metal parts, wherein the method includes: (A) training a neural network, which is executed on a Monte Carlo tree search framework, by means of supervised learning and self-play with reinforcement learning; (B) recording constraints for the sheet-metal parts, the constraints comprising geometric data of the sheet-metal parts; (C) creating an optimized production schedule by way of the neural network; and (D) outputting the production schedule.

Abstract: A machine for separative machining of a plate-shaped workpiece that has: a first movement unit for moving the workpiece in a first direction (X); a second movement unit for moving a machining head for the separative machining in a second direction (Y); and two workpiece bearing faces for bearing the workpiece. A gap that extends along the second direction (Y) is formed between the workpiece bearing faces. The machine has a push-out unit having a push-out element, wherein the push-out element is movable at least in the second direction (Y) within the gap so as to press, at a predefined push-out position (AP), against a workpiece part that was cut free from the workpiece during separative machining. The disclosure further relates to methods for pushing out a workpiece part which, in particular, was cut free on such a machine.

Abstract: A method for optimizing production of sheet-metal parts, the production comprising cutting out and singularizing the sheet-metal parts and bending the sheet-metal parts, wherein the method includes: (A) training a neural network, which is executed on a Monte Carlo tree search framework, by means of supervised learning and self-play with reinforcement learning; (B) recording constraints for the sheet-metal parts, the constraints comprising geometric data of the sheet-metal parts; (C) creating an optimized production schedule by way of the neural network; and (D) outputting the production schedule.

Abstract: A method determines an actual state of a supporting bar for supporting a plate-like workpiece on a machine tool for a cutting the workpiece. The method includes: determining a geometry of supporting projections on the supporting bar by a light section method, which includes: projecting a longitudinal line of light onto a longitudinal side of the supporting bar; with the line of light, scanning the longitudinal side over a height region assigned to the supporting projections in the direction of the height of the supporting bar, detecting the scanned extent of the longitudinal side of the supporting bar to generate an image of the longitudinal side of the supporting bar, and determining the geometry of the supporting projections based on the generated image; and comparing the determined geometry of the supporting projections with the defined intended geometry of the supporting projections.

Abstract: Disclosed is an interior tracking system for manufacturing control. The interior tracking system has multiple, fixedly installed transceivers for determining the position of multiple mobile units, the position being determined in particular by evaluating the propagation time of electromagnetic (radio) signals. The interior tracking system is used to assign one of the mobile units to one or more workpieces in an industrial manufacturing plant that processes steel and/or sheet metal, to determine the position of the assigned workpieces by localizing the assigned mobile unit using the interior tracking system and to integrate the interior tracking system into a manufacturing control system of the industrial manufacturing plant.

Abstract: A method for determining cutting parameters for a laser cutting machine includes the following steps: Receiving at least one machine parameter, at least one process parameter and/or at least one material parameter; outputting properties that can be influenced by the cutting parameters, of a laser-cut edge to be cut by the laser cutting machine; receiving a weighting of the properties; and determining the cutting parameters using the at least one machine parameter, the at least one process parameter, and/or the at least one material parameter and also using the weighted properties. There is also described an apparatus for carrying out the method, in particular an apparatus for machining a workpiece and/or an apparatus which is designed to simulate a production process.

Abstract: A system for the early detection of and response to faults in a machine includes a machine having at least one furst capture device for capturing first signals inside the machine and a first data transmission interface for the broadband transmission of the captured signals inside the machine, at least one second capture device disposed outside the machine for capturing at least one second signal outside the machine, wherein the second capture device has a second data transmission interface for the broadband transmission of the at least one second signal, a data processing system having a broadband data transmission interface, a broadband data transmission channel for transmitting signals between the data transmission interfaces, wherein the data processing system is configured to detect faults using the signals inside the machine and outside the machine based on a common time base and to directly act on the machine.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining and correcting the defective machine state and/or at least one defective component state of a machine tool includes ascertaining the state using imaging and analysis of a cut edge produced and comparing with selected machine parameters and making the correction by way of a maintenance instruction based on the machine state for maintaining the machine tool.

Abstract: A method for linking information with a workpiece data record of a workpiece includes registering a selection time relating to a first action of a user that has a spatial relationship with a workpiece, determining a position of a hand of the user in a space at the selection time using a locating system, deriving a selection position in a support plane from the determined position of the hand, selecting a workpiece data record from the workpiece data records by comparing the selection position with relative positions and contours of the workpieces, registering a second action in which the user carries out a gesture movement, wherein an information item to be logged in a database is assigned to the gesture movement, reading the information item from the database, and linking the information item with the selected workpiece data record.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for predicting the tilt inclination of a workpiece part that is being cut free from a remaining workpiece using a machine tool during a machining process, and that rests on one or more supports, said method comprising the following steps: determining one or more possible tilt edges about which the workpiece part being cut free might tilt. For at least one potential tilt edge, particularly for each potential tilt edge, determining tilt moments that act on the workpiece part in different states of the machine tool, and on the basis of the determined tilt moments, determining whether the workpiece part would tilt about a tilt edge.

Abstract: A method for assigning a workpiece to be processed to a mobile unit of an indoor location system used in a manufacturing hall in industrial processing of workpieces is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for loading a sheet placement device of a flat bed machine tool with a material sheet, wherein the material sheet is supplied to the machining operation carried out by the flat bed machine tool, starting from a target position assigned to the machining operation in a machine coordinate system, and the flat bed machine tool comprises a camera system having at least one camera. The camera system is designed to produce captured images of the sheet placement device, which are calibrated three-dimensionally in relation to the machine coordinate system of the flat bed machine tool. The method comprises the steps: producing a captured image of the material sheet in the region of the sheet placement device; evaluating the captured image to determine an actual sheet position in the machine coordinate system; measuring a deviation of the determined actual sheet position from the target position; and using the measured deviation to align and position the material sheet.

Abstract: An interior localization system for manufacturing control, with multiple, fixedly installed transceivers for determining the position of multiple mobile units, the position being determined in particular by evaluating the runtime of electromagnetic (radio) signals. The interior localization system is used to associate one of the mobile units to a person in an industrial manufacturing plant that processes steel and/or sheet metal, to determine the position of the associated person by localizing the associated mobile unit using the interior localization system and to integrate the interior localization system into a manufacturing control system of the industrial manufacturing plant.

Abstract: A workpiece collecting point unit for a machine tool, in particular for a flatbed machine tool, such as a laser cutting or punching flatbed machine tool, has a placing area for workpieces produced by the machine tool within the framework of a processing plan, a display unit adapted to display information about the workpieces, which are to be further processed and were placed on the placing area, to an operator, and a signal device adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator the location of the selected workpiece collecting point unit for placing the workpiece, which is to be further processed, on the placing area. The workpiece collecting point unit can be used inter alia in a process to support a sequence of processing steps for processing workpieces.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for production controls of process sequences in industrial processing of workpieces supported by indoor localization are provided. In one aspect, an indoor location system includes a plurality of mobile transceivers and an analyzer. At least one mobile transceiver is configured to determine a position of a selected mobile transceiver in a three-dimensional space. Each mobile transceiver is spatially assignable to a corresponding object from a group of objects within a framework of process sequences. Each object is movable in one or more dimensions in the three-dimensional space. The analyzer is configured to determine the position of the selected mobile transceiver based at least on run times of electromagnetic signals between the mobile transceivers in a position determination process and to perform tracking of a movement of a target object assigned to the selected mobile transceiver based on the position of the selected mobile transceiver.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a laser cut edge of a workpiece includes capturing image data of the laser cut edge and its surroundings, segmenting the image data, and identifying a segment of interest of the image data. The segment of interest comprises image data of the laser cut edge. The method further includes carrying out an image quality detection for the segment of interest and generating, based on the image quality detection, an output for a user.

Abstract: An indoor location system includes mobile transceiver units to support a manufacturing control of process courses in an industrial manufacturing of workpieces in a manufacturing plant. The indoor location system includes an analysis unit configured to determine a position of a mobile transceiver unit to be localized from runtimes of electromagnetic signals between transceiver units, and an energy consumption control unit configured to output a control signal for deactivating a localizing mode of a position signal module of at least one of the mobile transceiver units if participation of the at least one mobile transceiver unit in position determination operations is not required and to output a control signal for activating the localizing mode of the position signal module of the at least one of the mobile transceiver units from a deactivated state when participation of the at least one mobile transceiver unit in a position determination operation is required.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus for detecting a target object influenced by a process or formed in the process includes a sensor unit and an evaluation device. The sensor unit detects the target object in a detection zone of the sensor unit and generates a sensor signal that can be influenced by the target object. The evaluation device processes the sensor signal as a first input variable and generates an output signal, which indicates the detection of the target object, in dependence on the sensor signal. The evaluation device further processes a process parameter of the process, which acts on the target object, or a target object parameter, which characterizes the target object and is influenced by the process, as a respective further input variable and to generate the output signal in dependence on the process parameter and/or the target object parameter.