Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus (10) for recognizing an article. This involves at least one shot (14), in particular in the form of a photograph, of the article being produced. The shot (14) is used to ascertain shot features (22) by means of a shot extraction algorithm (20). Stored article data (12) are used to ascertain article features (28) and to compare them with the shot features (22) in order to output association information (36). There is in particular provision according to the invention for a user rating (42) to be provided to improve both the shot extraction algorithm (20) and the article extraction algorithm (26). Alternatively or additionally, there is in particular provision according to the invention for both the shot extraction algorithm (20) and the article extraction algorithm (26) to be produced on the basis of interconnected, preferably weighted, data aggregation routines.

Abstract: A method for displaying a sequence of workpiece-illustrations and/or order information for supporting a sorting process during manufacturing of workpieces with a manufacturing system includes transporting manufactured workpieces with the conveyor system to the sorting point according to a sequence and arrangement specified by the processing plan. The method further includes receiving, in the processor of the display unit, workpiece image data and/or order data provided by the machine tool control system for the workpieces transported to the sorting point. The method additionally includes displaying the workpiece image data and/or the order data on the monitor of the display unit in a sequence and/or an arrangement such that the sequence and/or the arrangement of the workpiece image data and/or the order data corresponds to the sequence and/or the arrangement of the workpieces transported from the conveyor system to the sorting point.

Abstract: A machine tool arrangement includes a machine tool having a sensor device for monitoring at least one part of the machine tool, and a control arrangement for receiving data of the sensor device and controlling at least one part of the machine tool. The machine tool arrangement includes a mobile communication device having an application. The control arrangement is connectable to the mobile communication device, such that the data of the sensor device is representable in the application and at least one part of the machine tool is controllable by way of the application. The machine tool arrangement includes a further mobile communication device having a further application. The control arrangement is connectable to the further mobile communication device, such that the data of the sensor device is representable in the further application and at least one part of the machine tool is controllable by way of the further application.

Abstract: A method identifies an article by associating an image of the article with stored article data. The method includes: A) creating the image of the article; B) extracting image features from the image; and C) extracting article features from the stored article data. The method step C) are configured to be carried out before, during, or after method steps A) and B). The following method steps are then carried out: D) comparing the image features to the article features; E) output of association information of the image with the stored article data.

Abstract: A production system, the production system comprising the following: a loading zone for loading and/or unloading at least one collection carrier, a locating system for locating a collection carrier in the loading zone, the locating system being designed to determine the location of a mobile unit arranged on the collection carrier and/or to capture identification information stored on the mobile unit, an image-capturing unit, which is designed to capture image information of the loading zone, an image evaluation unit, which is designed to determine the position of the collection carrier and/or a state of the collection carrier by the image information. A production control method for controlling a production system. The production system and the production control method enable improved order processing. Preparatory and/or follow-up tasks can be automated in a simpler and easier manner.

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 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 manufacturing control of machining of workpieces in a manufacturing hall that includes providing a plurality of image acquisition devices configured to acquire image sequences of allocated observation areas, identifying an object to be tracked in a first image of a first image sequence using at least one object feature, determining positions of the object feature in images of subsequent image sequences, determining a current position of the object by localizing the object feature in a temporally current image of one of the image sequences, and assigning the position of the object feature in the temporally current image to a current position in the observation area of the image sequence that includes the temporally current image, and integrating the determined current position of the object into the manufacturing control of the hall.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing signals which are related to a machine and/or a machining process, including recording data of a first data source to obtain a first signal track, recording data of at least one second data source, which is independent of the first data source, to obtain at least one second signal track, analyzing the first and second signal tracks based on previously known domain knowledge, and temporally connecting the first and second signal tracks.

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: 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: 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: 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: The disclosure provides methods for providing panel planning geometry data for planning a laser cutting process. The methods include producing an image recording of a remaining panel-shaped material, e.g., wherein the remaining panel was processed by a laser flatbed machine and has inner cutout regions, evaluating the image recording to determine a remaining panel outer contour, evaluating the image recording to determine an inner cutout region, wherein the inner cutout region is determined by an inner cutout contour identified in the image recording, deriving a remaining area of the remaining panel using the outer contour and the inner cutout region, wherein a laser cutting process can be based on the remaining area, and outputting panel planning geometry data, which define the geometry of the remaining area. Laser flatbed machines for cutting workpieces out of panel-shaped materials using a laser beam and the methods disclosed herein are also described.

Abstract: A method for processing a workpiece with a laser cutting machine includes reading out a machine parameter and a material parameter and outputting a process parameter recommendation. The process parameter recommendation is created by a process parameter algorithm with at least one data aggregation routine based on a plurality of cut edge quality features. The method further includes generating a cut edge by laser processing the workpiece.

Abstract: A method for displaying a sequence of workpiece-illustrations and/or order information for supporting a sorting process during manufacturing of workpieces with a manufacturing system includes transporting manufactured workpieces with the conveyor system to the sorting point according to a sequence and arrangement specified by the processing plan. The method further includes receiving, in the processor of the display unit, workpiece image data and/or order data provided by the machine tool control system for the workpieces transported to the sorting point. The method additionally includes displaying the workpiece image data and/or the order data on the monitor of the display unit in a sequence and/or an arrangement such that the sequence and/or the arrangement of the workpiece image data and/or the order data corresponds to the sequence and/or the arrangement of the workpieces transported from the conveyor system to the sorting point.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a position of a selected sub-space of a nesting plan is provided. The nesting plan is provided for controlling a cutting process of a flatbed machine tool for cutting out workpieces from a material sheet and includes an overlap-free arrangement of respective sub-spaces, the respective sub-spaces corresponding to the workpieces. The method includes providing contour data specifying a cutting contour that delimits the selected sub-space in the position to be evaluated within the planning space, and providing position data indicating respective positions in the planning space of spaces to be considered in the evaluation. The spaces include a group of supported spaces and a group of support surrounding spaces. The method includes providing cutting operation data for at least one section and determining an evaluation value for the position to be evaluated of the selected sub-space using the calculated damage rate of the cutting contour.

Abstract: A method visualizes manufacturing process information during manufacturing of workpieces with a flatbed machine tool. The workpieces are output as cut material on a pallet of the flatbed machine tool, a sorting table, or a conveyor belt. Workpiece image data is provided in a control system. The image data is associated with a workpiece and is for display on a display unit. Workpiece-specific manufacturing process information is provided in the manufacturing control system, and is acquired during manufacturing of the workpieces and includes features of cutting processes. A database of illustration options is provided in the manufacturing control system, the options are associated with a specific manufacturing feature and are applicable to the workpiece image data to cause an illustration of the respective workpiece image data on the display unit. The workpiece image data is displayed on the display unit, while taking into account illustration options in the workpiece-specific manner.