Abstract: A system and method for monitoring vibrations of a cutting tool uses a neural network for classifying signal features as break or non-break or, in another embodiment, as non-break or abnormal. A vibration signal is produced by an accelerometer, positioned to sense vibrations at the tool-workpiece interface. The signal is pre-processed to extract low frequency machining noise and detect the energy in a higher frequency band. The signal is then sampled and segments of the digitized signals are processed by digital logic into feature vectors for input to a trained neural net having two output nodes for classification. The use of a neural net provides performance improvement and economies over previously known heuristic methods of signal analysis.

Abstract: Breaking of a cutter insert in a multiple insert metal cutter is detected by selecting a periodic vibration generated electrical signal having components which track individual insert contribution. These components are filtered to provide RMS values whose predetermined ratio values indicate insert breakage.

Abstract: A composite low frequency high frequency electrical signal from a metal cutting tool in a metal cutting operation is processed through separate high frequency and low frequency systems and the resulting signals digitized and combined for analysis of a tool break event.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring material removal from a workpiece by a beam of energy during a material processing operation are disclosed. A detector is positioned for sensing optical emissions from the workpiece caused by removal of material when an energy beam pulse is incident upon the surface of the workpiece. A computing circuit, algorithm or artificial neural network is provided for determining a quantity of material removed from the sensed optical emissions in real-time during the material processing operation. Analysis of the optical emission pulses caused by the material removal provides an indication of the efficiency of the material processing system and provides feedback for manual or automatic adjustment of material processing parameters during the material processing operation.

Abstract: In a metal cutting tool wear indicator system, a ratio of an estimated ultrasonic emission signal from a metal cutting process to a measured ultrasonic emission signal, e.g. UE/UE is utilized in place of a prior ratio of horsepower to ultrasonic emission, e.g. HP/UE, together with a continuous revision of the estimator during the cutting process.

Abstract: A logging instrument is caused to traverse a cased earth borehole periodically emitting and receiving acoustic energies, such instrument generating an electrical signal containing one or more electrical alternations representative of the received acoustic energies, and such alternations having an amplitude generally functionally related to the attentuation of the acoustic energies as they traverse the casing within the borehole. A significant portion of these alternations is determined and digitized, and the individual digitized values therein summed together to yield a functional representation of the signal area of the alternations of a predetermined polarity within the significant portion. This signal area is then compared to the area which would be indicated if the casing were free of cement bonding, the comparison yielding an indication of the relative degree of bonding of cement to the casing within the borehole.