Abstract: A welding system is capable of shortening length of connection lines and of effectively utilizing devices as a whole. The system includes a welding controller provided with an I/O interface, a controller unit provided with a programmable logic controller and connected to the I/O interface of the welding controller through a field bus interface serving as a communication link, a welding machine and general-purpose peripheral equipment. The welding controller controls the welding machine and the general-purpose peripheral equipment upon receipt of instructions from the programmable logic controller through the field bus interface.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for product configuration. Order information is received for a product. Based on the received order information, configuration information for the product is generated via a simulator to simulate the product. The configuration information is sent, wherein the configuration information is used to configure the product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus able to quickly and accurately automatically produce machining programs for complicated shapes of products without being affected by the level of knowledge or experience of the operator. A cutting-condition determination processing unit (20) of an automatic programming apparatus (10) specifies required standard cutting condition data from the type of material and the types of processes designated by an input unit (12) in a cutting condition data table (24) stored in a storage unit (18), specifies the tool data corresponding to the types of tools designated by the input unit in the tool data table (26) stored in the storage unit, and determines the cutting conditions relating to the type of material and the tools from the standard cutting condition data and the tool data.

Abstract: In an injection molding machine utilizing a setting method of the present invention, there is substantially no limitation in the numbers of steps of an injection speed and a holding pressure, and in addition to rectangle, slope, polygonal line and flat, an arc can be designated as a shape mode. Because of using codes to define the shape mode, the setting operation becomes easy. In order to form one injection speed control pattern, a mix of shape modes may be utilized. Also, in the present setting method, a plurality of code data predeterminedly defined are input sequentially in time, thereby setting the injection speed control pattern or pressure holding control pattern. The code defines a kind of function which figures out an injection speed command data or a holding pressure command data corresponding to each stroke position or time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the drying process taking place in the dryer section of a paper machine or the like. The total drying efficiency required in the dryer section is first calculated by means of a method known as such, and an optimal drying efficiency distribution is compiled. Using the optimal drying efficiency distribution, the dryer section is divided into two or more imaginary drying segments which differ in their drying action, in at least one of which segments there are at least two dryer units using different forms of energy and/or at least two separately adjustable dryer units using the same form of energy. The total drying efficiency obtained is divided, by means of an optimization method known as such, between the said different drying segments in such a way that a good drying efficiency distribution is achieved in terms of the quality of the web being dried.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for acquiring pre-process and post-process integrated metrology data. A lot of semiconductor wafers is provided. A pre-process integrated metrology data acquisition from a first semiconductor wafer within the lot of semiconductor wafers is performed. A process operation on the first semiconductor wafer is performed at least partially during the process of acquiring pre-process metrology data from a second semiconductor wafer within the lot of semiconductor wafers. Post-process integrated metrology data is acquired from the first semiconductor wafer in response to processing of the first semiconductor wafer. The pre-process and the post-process metrology data is analyzed for evaluation of the process operation performed on the first semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A system for determining dry cleaning timing, includes: a manufacturing apparatus configured to process materials assigned by a sequence of lots; an apparatus controller configured to control the manufacturing apparatus and obtaining operational conditions of the manufacturing apparatus as apparatus information; a lot information input terminal configured to obtain process conditions of one of the lots as lot information; an apparatus information storage unit configured to store the apparatus information from the apparatus controller as an apparatus information database; a lot information storage unit configured to store the lot information from the lot information input terminal as a lot information database; and a cleaning determination unit configured to determine timing to perform a dry cleaning of the manufacturing apparatus based on the apparatus information database and the lot information database.

Abstract: A system and method for inscribing a bullion article, including a first processor having a display terminal and a mouse controller. A drawing program generates and displays a selected font illustration. The processor incorporates a program for rendering a single line art representation of the displayed font, typically through the use of the mouse to retrace a center line of the font. The manual redrawing is then saved as a file in a first format and converted to a second format for subsequent transmission and execution by a numerical controller. A milling tool is instructed by the controller to inscribe, to a selected depth, the surface of the bullion article in single pass fashion. A CNC Mill, sander, polish and polishing cloths, and sealant for treating and finishing the inscribed articles are provided, such articles typically including both minted and milled/inscribed faces.

Abstract: A site management system (11) is provided for a power system (8) at site in a utility distribution grid (10). The power system (8) includes multiple fuel cell power plants (18) and one or more loads (14), for selective connection/disconnection with the grid (10) The site management system (11) controls the power plants (18) in an integrated manner, alternatively in a grid connected mode and a grid independent mode. The multiple power plants (18) at the site may be viewed and operated as a unified distributed resource on the grid (10). The site management system (11) provides signals representative of the present power capability (Kw Capacity—88) of each of the power plants (18), and a signal (Total Kw Capacity—95) representative of the total present power capability at the site. These power representations are used to appropriately assign power dispatch loadings to the respective fuel cells (18) in the grid connected mode and in the grid independent mode, and may also be used for load shedding.

Abstract: A method of routing a probe of a digitizing system on the surface of a model object for the purpose of copying that model object as a part are disclosed. When a tolerance number is given, model surface data can be collected so that the geometrical difference between the model and the part is within the given tolerance for all touchable points on the model surface.

Abstract: A method for systematically assessing the quality of medical appliances (11, 21, 31, 41) of a generic type that are in operation, in the case of which method data acquired during a regular inspection of the medical appliances (11, 21, 31, 41) are transmitted to a central database (51) and are evaluated by an evaluation device (52) assigned to the database (51).

Abstract: A lens layout display apparatus for lens grinding processing apparatus having a display screen on which is displayed data of eyeglass lens shape for an eyeglass frame, and data of eyeglass lens grinding process to grind the eyeglass lens based on the data of eyeglass lens shape for an eyeglass frame, the display means also displaying various icons which show a state of measuring an edge thickness of the eyeglass lens, a state of simulation of the shape of a V-shaped protrusion formed on an edge of the eyeglass lens, a state processing the edge portion of the eyeglass lens, and a completion of the grinding process of an eyeglass lens.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a neutral event specification file for manufacturing line analysis. The method includes the steps of constructing a neutral event specification file having a specification format including at least one event, wherein each event has a name, description, at least one signal, and at least one action. The method also includes the step of executing a manufacturing line analysis model using the neutral event specification file.

Abstract: The product management system for sputtering targets is configured between a target manufacturer and target customers via a computer network. The customer and the manufacturer share the various information relating to the product management, such as hysteresis information of the backing plates, product information of the sputtering targets, use information of the sputtering targets, or the like with each other.

Abstract: A method is provided of using a neutral event file for manufacturing line analysis. The method includes the steps of constructing a neutral event file and executing a manufacturing line analysis model using the neutral event file. The method also includes the steps of determining whether a good manufacturing line exists based on the manufacturing line analysis model and using the manufacturing line analysis model to build the manufacturing line if a good manufacturing line exists.

Abstract: In an electro-mechanical distribution system having plural units each comprising a valve/switch and dual sensors, a computer is associated with each unit so as to process sensor information and control the valve/switch. According to the control logic, a unit is either in normal mode or fault mode. The fault mode begins with a transient waiting period and may continue on to a series of steps. A step waiting period (wherein the valve is closed) may be followed by the step testing period (wherein the valve is closed) of the same step; a step testing period may be followed by the step waiting period of the next step. Fault mode is triggered if at any time during normal mode either sensor detects a fault condition. Normal mode is triggered if at any time during fault mode both sensors concurrently detect a normal condition.

Abstract: A method for processing an interrupted workpiece includes providing a dynamic control model defining the processing characteristics of a processing tool throughout a processing run; providing a partially processed workpiece; determining an extent of processing metric for the partially processed workpiece; and determining at least one operating recipe parameter of the processing tool based on the dynamic control model and the extent of processing metric. A manufacturing system includes a processing tool and a process controller. The processing tool is adapted to process a partially processed workpiece in accordance with an operating recipe. The process controller is adapted to determine an extent of processing metric for the partially processed workpiece and determine at least one parameter of the operating recipe based on a dynamic control model defining the processing characteristics of the processing tool throughout a processing run and the extent of processing metric.

Abstract: A method for scheduling to design and manufacture a multi-component assembly includes identifying a project completion date, determining a tooling lead time for each of the plurality of components, determining a design completion date for each of the plurality of subassemblies, the design completion date being a function of the project completion date and the tooling lead times for each of the plurality of components, determining a design lead time for each of the plurality of components, and determining a design start date for each of the plurality of components.

Abstract: A wireless access subsystem is first attached to a peripheral port of a computing product. The computing product is further assembled with other components and goes through various testing processes while being tracked and monitored by a manufacturing control server through wireless communications with the wireless access subsystem. The wireless access subsystem has a separate power supplier incorporated therein and operates independently from the computing product.

Abstract: A checking method is described for a wiring harness having first sub-harnesses and second sub-harnesses in which the first sub-harness has a first press-fit terminal joined to each end of a first electrical cable, and the first sub-harness has a first isolator holding the first press-fit terminal and the second sub-harness has a second press-fit terminal, a crimp terminal, a connector housing for accommodating the crimp terminal, a second isolator supporting the second press-fit terminal and wherein a second electrical cable connects the second press fit terminal and the crimp terminal at opposite ends. The checking method, which is effective upon layering of the first and second isolators includes the conduct of decision steps for determining acceptance or rejection of the individual sub-harnesses after assembly thereof and a final decision step for determining acceptance or rejection of the completed wiring harness layering following of the isolators of the first and second sub-harness.