Abstract: A manufacturing system for dental products (P, P?) operates with coordinating units (9) which receive and register orders from customers (1, 2 and 3). The coordinating units distribute the order to production units (11, 12 and 13). The various units include database whose contents are updated by data replications in conjunction with changes to system functions, system application, system structure, etc. The data contained in the databases of the production units are entered in memory elements which are arranged for accessing program contents when executing data replications via one or more interfaces via which the function for data replications in the system has access or is effected.

Abstract: A method generally includes electronically accessing positional data defining a defect location on a composite structure, and automatically causing a material placement machine to return to the defect location as defined by the positional data. The method can also include automatically causing the material placement machine to place or lay down material sufficient for repairing a defect at the defect location. Alternatively, the material placement machine may automatically return to a defect location, and then an operator may manually repair the defect at the defect location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the performance of a process, especially where the process is performed at several different locations. In one embodiment, one or more experts produce a decision tree for use in determining a recommended sequence of steps for the process. A computer network, such as the World Wide Web, is used to convey a request to a computer that has access to the decision tree for a recommended sequence of steps. The request includes any information that is needed by the decision tree to determine the recommended sequence of steps. In response to the request, the computer uses the information in the request and the decision tree to produce the recommended sequence of steps. The recommended sequence of steps is then directed over the network to the user.

Abstract: A method for registering machine tool and profilometer coordinates, wherein the machine tool defines a C-axis having a zero position, C=0, comprises loading a sacrificial workpiece into the machine tool; cutting several first features in a surface of the sacrificial workpiece and producing a linear machine tool motion across the workpiece; determining the centroid of each first cut feature; fitting a line to the centroids of the first cut features; and measuring angle ?0 of the line relative to the C-axis zero position. The angle ?0 is the departure in profilometer coordinates from the C=0 line. The method includes moving the machine tool to a fixed radius; cutting several second features in a surface of the sacrificial workpiece and producing a circular machine tool motion across the workpiece; determining the centroid of each second cut feature; fitting a circle to the centroids of the second cut features; and determining a center of the circle.

Abstract: A feedback controlled tension applying system includes a corrugated fin processing device that processes a fin material in continuous sheet form while applying a tension to the fin material. A tension applying device applies the tension to the fin material. An encoder measures a moving amount of the fin material, and a control device that feedback-controls the tension applying device based on a measurement result of the encoder so that the moving length amount per predetermined time of the material becomes a set value that is set in advance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a remote maintenance method, a remote maintenance system, and an industrial device for enabling control and thorough services and billing according to the contents of the remote maintenance operation and the request destination of maintenance and enabling access limit according to the attribute of a service person, access limit according to the device state, and output limit according to the output mode. The industrial device 123 installed at the factory 120 and the operation device 113 installed in the maintenance center 110 are connected via the network 100.

Abstract: The invention includes computer instructions that operate to receive an indication of a modification of a geometry piece in a computer aided design (CAD) application. The geometry piece being of at least two segments and each of the two segments having a first length substantially equal to each other. The instructions further operate to automatically modify the two segments into at least two modified segments, where each of the two modified segments having a second length substantially equal to each other. The second length is based at least in part on the received indication of the modification of the geometry piece. As a result, maintaining segmentation of a geometry piece of a mechanical design is facilitated.

Abstract: A computer integrated manufacturing system executes a program process that performs a capacity planning method that allocates usage of a plurality of manufacturing elements of a manufacturing enterprise by major and minor apparatus, squeezing for overhead cost consideration, and site balance for maintain basic operation. The program process begins by receiving at least one fabrication forecast describing scheduling and types of product lots that are predicted to be fabricated within a first period of time by the manufacturing enterprise from at least one order management system of the manufacturing enterprise. Rolling statistics of products lots fabricated during a second period of time are retrieved from a data retention device of the computer integrated manufacturing system. Capacity planning for the allocation of the product lot predicted to be fabricated by the manufacturing elements is performed.

Abstract: A position transducer is connected to merely one input circuit. The outputs of the input circuit are connected, transmitted or routed, in part, to a first and to a second counter circuit. For the counting process, the first counter circuit uses the digital signals of the input circuit, while the second counter circuit generates digital signals from the analog signals and uses them for the counting process. It is, thus, possible, in spite of a not fully two-channel processing of the signals of a position transducer, to set up a reliable position monitoring using only one position transducer.

Abstract: A method, as well as a controller, for controlling room temperature with a variable air volume system having a plurality of zones wherein the thermal transfer rate with respect to each of such zones is maintained at a substantially constant value notwithstanding changes in the temperature of the supply air thereby providing improved efficiency and environmental comfort.

Abstract: With the aid of the method for fault analysis according to the invention, a wide variety of chips are mapped by means of a transformation onto at least one uniform comparable wafer map. This transformation or resealing enables a chip-area-independent assessment of the products or the fabrication processes. The method for fault analysis according to the invention furthermore has the advantage that the information thus obtained can be stored very compactly in corresponding wafer databases and is thus available for further evaluations.

Abstract: Core data required to manufacture rolls in a film processing and cutting machine are obtained, and core data of cores supplied by a core supply apparatus are also obtained. These core data are compared with each other, and cores having the conforming core data are selected and supplied to the film processing and cutting machine. When supplied with the cores, the film processing and cutting machine winds films cut to a given length and width around respective cores, and then supplies obtained products to a main feed unit according to the sequence of address information established on a film roll.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the optimum control parameter values for a screw joint tightening process carried out by a power wrench which is controlled by a programmable control system utilizing the determined parameter values. The control system is provided with screw joint tightening characteristic parameter values and operation parameter values characteristic of the actually used power wrench. The tightening process is mathematically simulated by using the screw joint and power wrench characteristic parameter values as well as pre-chosen operation control parameter values. And the result of the simulated tightening process is evaluated in view of predetermined evaluation criteria, thereby determining the suitable operation control parameter values to be used during production tightening of the actual type of screw joint.

Abstract: A method for a run-to-run (R2R) control system includes processing materials using a process input and producing a process output, storing the process input in a database, the storing including using a timestamp, and storing at least one measurement of the process output in the database aligned with each process input using the timestamp. The method further includes iterating over the data in the database to estimate one or more coefficients for a model, and, if one or more measurements is missing, replacing the missing measurements based on a prediction from said model. The model is updated with said coefficient estimates. The method additionally includes iterating over the data from the database to estimate a process state, and, if one or more of the measurements is missing from the database, replacing the missing measurements based on prediction from the model. The model is updated with said process state estimate.

Abstract: A methodology that provides for control of lot release control in a production environment. The method provides a start-order release system to achieve output maximization and cycle time minimization. This is accomplished using a lot release method that allows for multiple products that have different due dates and different process flows. Linear programming techniques are used to provide optimum start and customer delivery dates and maintain high resource utilization.