Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for laser-supported plasma cutting or plasma welding of a workpiece. In one aspect, a method includes producing a plasma beam which extends in an expansion direction between an electrode and a processing location on the workpiece, the plasma beam having, with respect to a center axis of the plasma beam that extends in the expansion direction, an inner central region and an outer edge region, and supplying laser radiation to the outer edge region of the plasma beam. The laser radiation supplied to the outer edge region extends parallel with the center axis of the plasma beam.

Abstract: A tool includes first and second tool parts that move toward one another, at least one processing device provided on the first tool part, and at least two counter devices provided on the second tool part. The processing device and the counter devices are rotatable relative to one another about at least one positioning axis, and the counter devices are aligned relative to one another along a direction of relative rotational movement of the processing device and the counter devices. The processing device and a first counter device are allocated to one another by at least a first defined processing parameter, and the processing device and a second counter device are allocated to one another by at least a second defined processing parameter. The first processing parameter is different than the second processing parameter.

Abstract: A laser processing machine arrangement includes a laser processing head for laser processing a workpiece, the workpiece comprising a processing zone from which laser radiation is emitted radially during operation of the laser processing head, a laser protection wall that surrounds the laser processing head and a danger region disposed around the laser processing head, the laser protection wall shielding the laser radiation that is emitted radially from the processing, and at least one opening in the laser protection wall, through which the danger region can be entered, wherein the laser protection wall and the at least one in the laser protection wall are arranged in such a manner that the at least one opening is completely shadowed by the laser protection wall or is completely shadowed with cooperation of the laser protection wall from the laser radiation during operation of the laser processing head.

Abstract: An integrated sealing device of a laser machining head for sealing between a hollow cage member and a conduit of the laser machining head is described. The hollow cage member includes a first contact surface and a first opening therethrough. The first contact surface includes a substantially planar portion and an elastically deformable sealing lip extending therefrom. The conduit includes a second contact surface and a second opening therethrough. The sealing lip of the first contact surface is configured to contact the second contact surface to form a seal between the hollow cage member and the conduit.

Abstract: A gear or profile grinding machine and a method for operating such a machine, especially for grinding of pre-geared or pre-profiled workpieces, wherein the machine includes at least one tool spindle which can receive at least one grinding tool, and at least one workpiece spindle which is movably arranged at a carrier element and which can be driven up to the tool spindle for an at least temporary cooperation of the workpiece with the grinding tool by at least one drive. To enhance the precision of the machine at growing workpieces with simple measures, at least one mass is arranged at or in the carrier element, which is arranged movable at or on a guiding element by a drive element, wherein the mass is permanently free from any contact with another machine part and/or workpiece part and/or tool part.

Abstract: A machine tool for processing plate-like workpieces, in particular metal sheets, has a machine frame with a lower frame arm, an upper frame arm and a frame compartment or throat defined between the upper and lower arms. A first tool magazine, close to the station, has storage places for processing tools is arranged at least partially within the frame compartment. The processing tools, such as punch/die sets, can be interchanged at a processing station of the machine tool. By means of a tool transfer device, processing tools can be transferred between the first tool and a second tool magazine, remote from the station.

Abstract: An electroadhesion gripper for retaining workpieces includes a first spiral electrode having a plurality of turns and a second spiral electrode having a plurality of turns, the two spiral electrodes being arranged so as to be at least partially bifilar. The electroadhesion gripper has a diode by which the first and second spiral electrodes are connected to each other. Portions of the first and second spiral electrodes are connected in series by the diode, and an entirety of the connected portions of the first and second spiral electrodes has a perceptible inductivity. The gripper is driven with an alternating-current (AC) voltage and an occupation state and wear degree of the gripper can be determined during the AC voltage cycle.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for producing composite fiber/metal workpieces. In one aspect, a method includes locating a metal workpiece on a workpiece support of a machine tool, processing the metal workpiece located on the workpiece support to produce one or more shaped features on the metal workpiece, fitting a fiber fabric to the metal workpiece in a region of the shaped features, and connecting the fiber fabric to the metal workpiece in at least one of a non-positive-locking connection or a positive-locking connection to produce a composite fiber/metal workpiece.

Abstract: A method of detecting an overall dimension of a plate-shaped workpiece to be processed on a processing machine by a contactless-acting sensor includes moving the workpiece by a motion device of the processing machine in a predetermined direction until the sensor detects a first workpiece edge by a first change of state, detecting a first position of the workpiece where the first change of state happens by an evaluation device connected to the sensor, moving the workpiece by the motion device in a direction toward a second workpiece edge until the sensor detects the second workpiece edge by a second change of state, detecting a second position of the workpiece where the second change of state happens by the evaluation device, and determining an overall dimension of the workpiece by a determination of a distance between the first position and the second position of the workpiece.

Abstract: A profile carrier includes a base profile of metal and a reinforcement member of fiber-reinforced plastic material that reinforces the base profile. The reinforcement member and the base profile are connected to each other by at least one wall-side positive-locking element that is provided on a profile wall of the base profile and that extends in a transverse direction of the profile wall. The at least one wall-side positive-locking element and the reinforcement member engage one inside of the other in the transverse direction of the profile wall with a positive-locking connection between the reinforcement member and the base profile formed substantially parallel to the profile wall.

Abstract: A sheet metal component bent from a sheet metal blank having a triangular corner comprises a first and a second sheet metal member bent along bending lines from a base member to form two edges of the triangular corner. Two outer edges are weldable to each other to form a third edge. A recess extends into the base member, formed by a curved and/or polygonal first and second edge which protrudes towards the first edge. The second edge extends with a projection beyond a straight line defined by the bending line of the first sheet metal member. A projection tip is spaced from the first edge at least by a thickness of the sheet metal. When the sheet metal members are bent the projection is surrounded by the first edge and the recess is at least substantially closed by the projection.

Abstract: A method for processing a workpiece with a processing device which has a processing head which can be moved at a defined speed and distance from a surface of the workpiece, the method comprising at least partially detecting a surface topography of the workpiece to be processed, determining a minimum desired operating distance of the processing head from the workpiece with reference to the detected surface topography of the workpiece and a trailing spacing of the processing head associated with the defined speed, and processing the workpiece with the processing head at the established minimum desired operating distance of the processing head from the workpiece.

Abstract: A method includes removing material from a die and thereby changing a location of a cutting edge of the die in a punch entry direction and changing a cutting edge cross-section of the die; and assigning a punch and/or a workpiece thickness to the die based, at least in part, on the change in the cutting edge cross-section of the die.

Abstract: A machine tool for processing workpieces comprises a stroke drive device with a pressing tool, with a motorized drive including two motorized drive units which are controlled independently and wedge gear elements between the motorized drive and the pressing tool. The wedge gear elements comprise two drive-side wedge gear elements, each one being associated with a motorized drive unit, and two output-side wedge gear elements attached to the pressing tool, with each output-side wedge gear element opposite to an associated respective drive-side wedge gear element and forming a gear element pair. The wedge gear elements of each gear element pair are opposite each other inclined at a wedge angle with respect to a positioning axis and inclined in opposing directions with respect to the positioning axis. The motorized drive is configured to move the pressing tool along a stroke axis and position the stroke drive device along the positioning axis.

Abstract: A method of discharging workpieces cut from a planar material on a processing machine. A workpiece discharge device has several holding elements to receive and carry respective workpieces. After receiving a cut workpiece, the discharge device is moved to a waiting position outside and adjacent a processing region of the machine, and may then be moved back into the processing region to receive a subsequently cut workpiece before being moved to an unloading station.

Abstract: A drive system for a machine tool comprises two, at least equally long drive spindles, extending parallel to each other and being structurally identical with regard to their torsional rigidity and their axial rigidity, which are each supported to rotate about a spindle axis, and which can be driven about the spindle axis concerned. Each of the drive spindles has a fixed bearing at one end, acting in its longitudinal direction. Spindle nuts, which are seated on the drive spindles can be moved simultaneously with longitudinal movements in the longitudinal direction of the drive spindles.

Abstract: A drive device for a movement unit of a machine tool includes a first toothed element driven by a drive motor and provided as a drive pinion including a first tooth arrangement and a second toothed element provided as a toothed rack including a second tooth arrangement. One of the first and second toothed elements is connected to a machine frame, and the other of the first and second toothed elements is connected to the movement unit. The first and second toothed elements are moved relative to each other along a movement axis of the first and second toothed elements by the drive motor via a meshing between the first and second tooth arrangements and via an engagement between the first and second tooth arrangements along an engagement axis that extends perpendicularly to the movement axis.

Abstract: A dialog system for examining a processing operation carried out on a machine tool and establishing a proposal for improving at least one quality feature of a subsequent processing operation, the dialog system having input means to predetermine the quality feature to be improved and a proposal module which, by accessing stored expert knowledge, can establish at least one proposal for improving the quality feature. In some implementations, the proposal module is operable to read data established by one or more of a machine tool sensor system and image data of a processed workpiece together with associated material and processing data to provide the proposal.

Abstract: An apparatus for focusing a laser beam on a workpiece includes at least one transmissive optical element which is arranged at a tilting angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to a beam axis of the laser beam, the transmissive optical element comprising a first side and a second side through which the laser beam passes, a spatially-resolving detector configured to detect laser radiation reflected from the transmissive optical element, and an image evaluation device coupled to the detector, the image evaluation device configured to distinguish laser radiation reflected from the first side of the optical element from laser radiation reflected from the second side of the optical element.

Abstract: Machine tool for the production of profiles, such as gearing systems on a workpiece, by means of a rotoncally driven machining tool by generating grinding, profile grinding, generating milling and/or profile milling, having at least one workpiece receiving device, a workpiece machining device and an optional machining tool profiling device. According to the invention, the workpiece machining device is borne by a machine base that has a tangential carriage, a radial carriage, a lifting carriage and a rotational carriage. With this specific construction, the workpiece machining device is guided moveably in all spatial directions with respect to the workpiece receiving device and also, if available, with respect to the machining tool profiling device.