Abstract: A method for cutting a window in a sheet of material that is held in a vertical plane. The cut is obtained by moving a cutting head that emits a fluid along a closed cutting run (14) that defines the outline of a piece of waste material (18). The run (14) returns to its starting point situated above a horizontal axis (22) passing through the barycenter (20) of the piece of waste material (18) and preferably situated in the vicinity of a vertical (24) passing through the barycenter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of bent sheet metal pieces (12) is disclosed. In the method or apparatus, a cut (14) is made in a sheet of sheet metal (10) that defines the perimeter of piece (12) to be obtained. The cut (14) is interrupted at preselected points to form a series of microjoints (16) that keep the plan development of the piece (12) united with the stiffening frame (18) constituted by the remaining part of the metal sheet (10). At least one window (36, 38) is formed in the stiffening frame (18) in order to allow a pair of bending tools having a length greater than the length of the bend to form a bend (20, 22) on the piece (12) without interfering the stiffening frame (18) while the bend is being formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of bent sheet metal pieces (12) is disclosed. In the method or apparatus, a cut (14) is made in a sheet of sheet metal (10) that defines the perimeter of piece (12) to be obtained. The cut (14) is interrupted at preselected points to form a series of microjoints (16) that keep the plan development of the piece (12) united with the stiffening frame (18) constituted by the remaining part of the metal sheet (10). At least one window (36, 38) is formed in the stiffening frame (18) in order to allow a pair of bending tools having a length greater than the length of the bend to form a bend (20, 22) on the piece (12) without interfering the stiffening frame (18) while the bend is being formed.

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: The system for producing bent sheet-metal articles comprises a bending machine (80) having a punch (84) and a die (86) which cooperate with each other and define a bending space, and a manipulator (64) having a movable head (76) which can grip a piece of sheet metal and place it in the bending space. Each piece to be bent has its own gripper and the head (76) of the manipulator (64) has rapid-attachment means for gripping and releasing the gripper associated with each piece. A table for defining the position of a piece to be bent, a manipulator for gripping and moving a piece of sheet metal by means of a floating head, a bending machine comprising an auxiliary structure for measuring the relative displacement of the punch and the die, and a device for automatically replacing tools of the bending machine are also described.

Abstract: In order to load and discharge pieces of sheet metal automatically onto and from a machine tool having a horizontal table movable along a first horizontal axis, a horizontal discharge table and a horizontal loading table are provided in positions in which the tables are side by side and substantially aligned with the horizontal plane of the table of the machine tool. An unprocessed piece of sheet metal to be supplied to the machine tool is placed on the loading table. Initially, the piece-holding table of the machine tool is positioned beside the discharge table. The piece of sheet metal on the piece-holding table is transferred to the discharge table by being slid on the bearing surfaces of the tables in the direction of a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first axis. The table of the machine tool is then moved to a position in which it is beside the loading table.