Abstract: The invention relates to machines for the separative machining of plate-shaped workpieces using a machining tool. The machines include two workpiece support surfaces for supporting the workpiece, between which a gap is formed, and at least one carriage that is movable in or along the gap, and is connected to at least one covering element. The covering element at least partially covers the gap and includes a chain with a plurality of chain links. The chain links can have a brush support on an upper side and are designed to pivot with respect to one another, wherein at least two mutually adjacent chain links have a pivot-limiting angle (?) with respect to the longitudinal axis of each of the chain links such that, with a rectilinear orientation to one another and without exposure to force, the chain links assume a non-planar profile.

Abstract: A system for transmitting data between laser apparatuses or machine tool apparatuses that have communication devices. The system includes a first laser or machine tool apparatus with a first communication device for setting up a first connection that is a local wireless point-to-point connection, and a second laser or machine tool apparatus including a second communication device for setting up a second connection that is a local wireless point-to-point connection, and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a terminal data memory, and a terminal communication device for setting up local wireless point-to-point connections to the first apparatus and the second apparatus. The system is configured to transmit data of the first apparatus through the first connection to the mobile terminal, buffer-store the data in the terminal data memory, and, after the first connection terminates, transmit the data from the mobile terminal through the second connection to the second apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and systems are implemented for forming a through hole in a workpiece using a laser beam and a process gas, such as oxygen or nitrogen, coming from a gas nozzle. A hole is formed in the workpiece using the laser beam and a process gas emerging from a gas nozzle, such that the formed hole extends only partially through the workpiece. A bulge deposited while forming the hole partially through the workpiece is removed from the workpiece surface by directing a flow of gas through the nozzle toward the workpiece surface as the nozzle is moved with the laser beam switched off, the flow of gas being delivered to the nozzle at a higher pressure than the process gas is delivered to the nozzle during forming the hole partially through the workpiece. Then, the hole is fully pierced through the workpiece by the laser beam using the process gas.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of energy from a laser machining system and a device for performing the same, in which the method includes operating the laser machining system and generating thermal energy having a maximum temperature Tmax, removing at least a portion of the thermal energy, and recirculating the at least a portion of the thermal energy to the laser machining system.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for remotely operating machine tools that include a stationary operating device that can operate in a control mode for controlling the machine tool or in a mode without control authorization. The methods include activating a first communication connection between a mobile communication device and the stationary operating device. The methods also include configuring the stationary operating device to operate in a mode without control authorization. The methods further include transferring control authorization from the stationary operating device to the mobile communication device by configuring the mobile communication device to operate in a remote control mode for controlling the machine tool based on transferred control authorization.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for automatically detecting three-dimensional shaping in a three-dimensional model of a sheet-metal part. Therein, data of a three-dimensional model of the sheet-metal part, which extends in a plane spanned by a first direction and a second direction, is detected, wherein the sheet-metal part comprises a bulge in a third direction which is different from the first and the second directions. Then, a horizontal cut is made through the bulge, as well as a vertical cut perpendicular to the plane spanned by the directions, so that closed cross-sectional contours of the bulge are formed. After a transformation, e.g., a Fourier transformation, of the cross-sectional contours, a tool that produces the bulge can be allocated to the Fourier coefficients.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for producing a foil slitting cut in a foil of a foiled metal sheet. A foil slitting tool is moved along a predetermined path with a tool tip resting on the metal sheet and thereby mechanically produces the foil slitting cut by displacing foil material along the path. The foil slitting cut has at least one acute-angled tooth for forming at least one foil corner detached from the metal sheet.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for determining a material type and/or a surface condition of a workpiece. A surface of the workpiece is illuminated with illuminating radiation. At least one image of the illuminated surface is recorded. The material type and/or the surface condition of the workpiece is determined on the basis of a statistical analysis of the at least one image converted into a spatial frequency domain.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for monitoring and for controlling a laser cutting process on a workpiece, and a method of using the same. The device includes an image capturing apparatus for capturing an image of a region of the workpiece to be monitored, in which the region of the workpiece to be monitored includes a region of interaction of a laser beam with the workpiece, and an evaluation apparatus for detecting material boundaries of the workpiece using the captured image. The evaluation apparatus is configured to determine at least one characteristic value of the laser cutting process based on a geometric relationship between at least two of the detected material boundaries, the region of interaction, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A forming tool for pressure forming a connecting web between incompletely separated workpiece parts of a plate-like workpiece from a cutting operation, in particular a metal sheet, comprises two tool parts, of which each is provided with a forming unit. The tool parts are able to move towards each other along a stroke axis with a processing stroke to a stroke end position. Each of the forming units has a forming surface on a web side facing away from the respective workpiece part, wherein the said forming surface, starting from a front face of the forming unit extends along the stroke axis away from a workpiece side facing the respective workpiece part.

Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, tool components for processing of plate-like workpieces, the tool component include an end face adjoined by a tool region provided for regrinding, the tool region being configured to undergo regrinding as a result of wear; and at least one identification mark located on the tool component to indicate the amount of shortening of the tool region as a result of regrinding.

Abstract: A device, system, method, business method, and process of monitoring at least one machine tool including: determining a target signal of a component of the machine tool when performing a work step on the basis of at least one pre-definable or predefined reference number; detecting a current signal of the component of the machine tool when performing the work step; detecting a deviation of the target signal from the current signal; and generating a deviation signal. The deviation signal includes a piece of information about the component, the machine tool, and/or the deviation. The device, system, method, business method, and process of monitoring at least one machine tool further includes transferring the deviation signal as a new data set to an externally accessible storage unit that is separate or separable from the machine tool.

Abstract: In some aspects, an unloading device for a pipe processing system includes a depositing carriage having a depositing surface for depositing a pipe during and/or after a pipe processing operation, the depositing carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, and a supporting carriage having a supporting member for the pipe, the supporting member having a wall for radially supporting the pipe, and the supporting carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, where the depositing surface of the depositing carriage and/or the supporting member of the supporting carriage is configured to move in at least one other direction in addition to the longitudinal direction of the pipe so that the depositing carriage and the supporting carriage can be at least partially moved past each other along the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for positioning workpieces for processing. In one aspect, a clamping device includes two clamping elements and a servo drive provided for the clamping elements. The servo drive is operable to first move at least one of the clamping elements toward the other of the clamping elements such that the clamping elements are transferred into a clamping start position in which the clamping elements are positioned on opposite sides of a workpiece arranged therebetween and in which the clamping elements do not apply a force to the workpiece or apply a force to the workpiece that is smaller than a clamping force, and subsequently urge the clamping elements toward one another from the clamping start position to an operational state, in which the clamping elements apply the clamping force to the workpiece.

Abstract: A machine tool for machining workpieces comprising a support structure, a punching device mounted on the support structure, and a laser machining device mounted on the support structure. The machine tool includes a suspension device provided between the punching device and the laser machining device to reduce the laser machining device from being stimulated to move unintentionally due to the operation of the punching device. The suspension device has a spring rate which can be adjusted by a laser positioning device. The laser positioning device can move the laser machining device relative to the workpiece into a functional position and also into a position remote from the functional position. The spring rate of the suspension device is adjusted such that the functional position of the laser machining device is assigned a higher spring rate than that assigned to the position of the laser machining device remote from the functional position.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for marking a data matrix code in the form of an n*m cell matrix of light and dark cells, which respectively consist of a light or dark s*t pixel matrix, on a workpiece by a laser beam, wherein a laser processing unit directs the laser beam onto the workpiece, scans, pixel row by pixel row, the workpiece region to be marked, respectively with a constant marking speed and alternately in opposite directions, and wherein the light pixels and/or the dark pixels are marked on the workpiece during the scan by temporarily switching on the laser beam, wherein the laser processing unit is guided from an already scanned pixel row along a curve having a diameter of which is at least two times the pixel row spacing, to the next pixel row to be scanned.

Abstract: Methods and systems are implemented for piercing a metal workpiece by means of a laser beam and a process gas The methods and systems form a hole in the workpiece using the laser beam and using an inert gas as the process gas, such that the formed hole extends only partially through the workpiece, widen the upper part of the hole into a trough that surrounds the hole on the top side of the workpiece using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas, and fully pierce the hole using the laser beam and using oxygen as the process gas.

Abstract: A tool system is provided that has a stamp or punch adapter including eccentrically positioned stamp receptacles. This system permits a simple exchange of tool inserts in the stamp adapter. These tool inserts are also usable in another tool system. The system also permits combining the stamp adapter with a stamp shaft, which can also be used in another tool system. These features permit stamping (and punching) with minimal tooling and retooling efforts.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for file transmission. In one aspect, a system includes at least one machine control system, having access to a first data storage; at least one service computer, having access to a second data storage; and a central computer having at least one virtual machine. The machine control system is connectable to the virtual machine via a first communication connection in a manner that files between the first data storage and a data storage, to which the virtual machine has access, are transmissible. The service computer is connectable to the virtual machine via a second communication connection, in a manner that the virtual machine can access the second data storage and can store there files of a transmission via the first communication connection or can read files for a transmission via the first communication connection.

Abstract: A machine tool for processing a workpiece comprises a processing station which has a tool receiving member in which a processing tool for processing the workpiece can be introduced and replaced, a tool store which has at least one storage space for a processing tool, a tool handling device which can be moved by a controlled drive into a tool-transfer position, a movement unit which can move the workpiece and the tool store and which can be moved by a controlled drive into any of a setup position, a processing position, and a tool changing position, a control device for the drive of the tool handling device which can define the tool-transfer position of the tool handling device, and a control device for the drive of the movement unit which can define the setup position, the processing position, and the tool changing position of the movement unit.