Abstract: An upper die holder apparatus having a holder body has an upper die clamp supported to the holder body with a supporting point supporting the upper die clamp in a vicinity of a center in a vertical direction of the holder body. A clamping force applier is provided to the holder body for pressing an upper portion of the upper die clamp so that the upper die clamp clamps the upper die. A pressure receiver is provided to an upper portion of the upper die clamp. The pressure receiver, having a pressure sensing surface, is provided so that its advancing and retreating are adjusted to a pressing direction by the clamping force applier and the pressure receiver is provided so that an opening amount of the upper die clamp at the time of unclamping is freely selected between a plurality of stages.

Abstract: A method for processing sheet metal includes processing and forming a sample and a blank on a work while leaving a microjoint part in a blanking process. The method also includes detecting at least one of a plate thickness of the work in an optional position and a spring-back amount of the sample during bending. Information of at least one of the plate thickness and the spring-back amount is transmitted to a controller of a bending machine in a bending process after the blanking process. Bending is performed by calculating a ram control value in bending using data of at least one of the transmitted plate thickness and the spring-back amount.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing an estimate for sheet metal working. Data of bending lines and data of an associated processing time for the bending lines is stored. Data of holes and data of an associated processing time for the holes is stored. A three-dimensional view and a development drawing which realizes the three-dimensional view are prepared based on an orthographic drawing. A bending line and a hole on a product are detected based on at least one of data of the three-dimensional view and data of the development drawing. A processing time of the specified bending line is calculated based on the associated data of the bending lines. A processing time of the specified hole on the product is calculated based on the associated data of the holes. The processing time of the bending line and the processing time of the hole are stored in a processing time memory. A total processing time necessary to process the product is calculated by adding up the processing times stored in the processing time memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a factory in order to facilitate the production of components, such as bent sheet metal components. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the management and distribution of critical design and manufacturing information is achieved by storing and distributing the design and manufacturing information associated with each job. By replacing the traditional paper job set-up or work sheet with, for example, an electronically stored job sheet that can be accessed instantaneously from any location in the factory, the present invention improves the overall efficiency of the factory. In addition, through the various aspects and features of the invention, the organization and accessibility of part information and stored expert knowledge is improved.

Abstract: An actual plate thickness and actual material constants are measured during punching before bending. The measured information is reflected on the bending, so that the bending is performed efficiently and accurately. Punching is carried out for each blank developed based on a nominal plate thickness and nominal material constants in blanking before the bending of a work W. Then, an actual plate thickness distribution and an actual material constant distribution of the work W are calculated based on various data containing a ram stroke and a pressure detected in the punching.

Abstract: A band saw blade includes a plurality of set teeth which are formed in a variable pitch. In that construction, a bending lengths of each of the set teeth at a setting and bending position or at a bendingly setting position are substantially equal to each other.

Abstract: A vertical position of a ram is directly detected by a ram position detector. A first speed arithmetic operating portion determines a first ram moving speed on the basis of a change of the detected position. A second speed arithmetic operating portion determines a second ram moving speed on the basis of a rotational number of a servo motor which is determined by a servo motor rotational number detector. A comparing portion compares the first ram speed with the second ram speed, and when a difference is equal to or more than a predetermined amount, a judging portion judges that an abnormality exists so as to immediately stop the servo motor and stop an operation.

Abstract: Analysis is performed on sheet metal products to determine characteristics (or feature vectors) of the sheet metal products. Multiple feature vectors can be obtained for each sheet metal product. Exemplary analyses include a first order moment and a second order moment. The characteristics can be compared with characteristics of other sheet metal part shapes to determine how similar the shapes are.

Abstract: A method is provided for guaranteeing generation of 2D sketches based upon a 3D sheet metal part shape created by any type of sheet metal feature operation. The method includes performing a sheet metal feature operation to create the 3D sheet metal shape. The 3D sheet metal shape will have multiple flanges. Then an editable 2D sketch is created for each flange by obtaining geometric parameters of the 3D sheet metal shape, and linking the parameters with the appropriate generated sketch. The constraint parameters can include line segment lengths and angles between selected adjoining two line segments of the 3D sheet metal shape.

Abstract: When a retainer collar 77 is rotated with respect to a punch guide 29 in a turnable manner, an upper punch driver 49 which pierces the retainer collar 77 so as to be movable up and down is rotated with respect to the punch guide 29. As a result, since the upper punch driver 49 is screwed into a lower punch driver 37 and is rotated with respect to the lower punch driver 37 provided on the punch guide 29 movablly up and down, an up-down positional relationship between the upper punch driver 49 and the lower punch driver 37 can be adjusted.

Abstract: A setup planning technique is provided in which a family of parts to be manufactured is identified, and the setup constraints imposed by the various bending operations in the part family are determined. The setup constraints may define or describe spatial constraints on the sizes and locations of various tooling stages in the setup. After identifying setup constraints, setup plans are generated that satisfy all setup constraints. Any setup plan that satisfies all setup constraints may then be utilized to accommodate every part in the part family. Constraint propagation techniques may be utilized to identify compatible setup constraints and create setup plans. According to the various features and aspects of the invention, dissimilar sheet metal parts can share setups, and the need for extra tooling and fixturing may be minimized. Further, the present invention provides potential savings over state-of-the-art systems, and increases production capability and overall through-put of manufacturing facilities.

Abstract: A bending press system provided with a bending press with at least one bending station to mount a plurality of divided tools and, tool housing devices to house divided metals to be used on the bending press and, tool exchange devices which mount the divided tools on the bending station.

Abstract: Data for a 3D sheet metal part model is stored in a file. The stored data includes features of the part and manufacturing information. When different manufacturing processes are used, different geometry can be created. The file can store multiple processes for manufacturing the part and the geometry associated with each process. Thus, when manufacturing the part, the user can view information for multiple stored processes because all of the information is stored together. In addition, both 2D and 3D data is stored for the part.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for punching apertures into a workpiece. A press apparatus includes an inputting device, that enables a user of the press apparatus to input working pattern data representing the workpiece, and a display device, that displays a working pattern of the workpiece based on the inputted working pattern data. A tool selecting device selects a plurality of tools required for working the workpiece in accordance with the working pattern data. A calculator calculates a transferring pitch of the workpiece in order for parts of the workpiece to be sequentially arranged in predetermined positions in a feeding direction of the press apparatus with respect to the plurality of tools selected by the tool selecting device. In this regard, the calculator also determines which tool is to be operated in association with the transferring pitch. The press includes a controller that controls the transferring pitch calculated by the calculator.

Abstract: A method is provided for centrally monitoring machines running at remote customer sites and providing customers with adequate support. The method includes collecting machine operating data, including data for each process stage, at the customer sites, and analyzing, at a central location, the collected machine operating data for each machine. Subsequently, a solution based upon the analysis is proposed to the customer for each of the machines, and the solution is then implemented. The method also includes continuously collecting data to check effectiveness of the installed machines and to verify the solution works.

Abstract: A method is provided for centrally monitoring machines running at remote customer sites and providing customers with adequate support. The method includes collecting machine operating data, including data for each process stage, at the customer sites, and analyzing, at a central location, the collected machine operating data for each machine. Subsequently, a solution based upon the analysis is proposed to the customer for each of the machines, and the solution is then implemented. The method also includes continuously collecting data to check effectiveness of the installed machines and to verify the solution works.

Abstract: When a retainer collar 77 is rotated with respect to a punch guide 29 in a turnable manner, an upper punch driver 49 which pierces the retainer collar 77 so as to be movable up and down is rotated with respect to the punch guide 29. As a result, since the upper punch driver 49 is screwed into a lower punch driver 37 and is rotated with respect to the lower punch driver 37 provided on the punch guide 29 movably up and down, an up-down positional relationship between the upper punch driver 49 and the lower punch driver 37 can be adjusted.

Abstract: In bending a workpiece, a position of the workpiece relatively pressed down by a punch is directly detected by a plurality of position detectors provided in a V-groove of a die, and a bending speed calculation section obtains a bending speed from a change in this position. If bending speeds at position of the respective position detectors differ, a uniform speed arithmetic operation section calculates a bending speed to make the bending speeds at the positions of all of the position detectors, and a driving shaft instruction section controls driving shafts to bend the workpiece at the uniform bending speed.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method, which assist CAD data to be usable by supplier's own CAD and automatic programming tool no matter how a format of the CAD data from an orderer may be. Electronic drawing data Dx prepared in an orderer 11 is received in an outsourcing service center 14, the received electronic drawing data Dx is subjected to data conversion into electronic drawing data Dc in a format designated by the supplier 12, and the electronic drawing data Dc having been subjected to the data conversion is transmitted to the supplier 12 or a designated destination.