Abstract: Laser cutting a dieboard using a laser cutting system, including: setting a width of material to be removed from the dieboard using the laser cutting system; capturing an image of the width of the material removed by the laser cutting system using at least one image capture unit; measuring the captured width of the material captured on the image using the at least one image capture unit; and comparing the measured width of the material to the set width of the material, and moving a laser head of the laser cutting system up and down to adjust a focal length of the laser cutting system and moving the laser head of the laser cutting system sideways to adjust a speed of the laser head, until the measured width and the set width are substantially similar.

Abstract: A rule to be inserted into a die-board that is pressed onto a plate matter, the rule including: a multi-edge cutting blade having a cutting blade edge, the cutting blade edge divided into multiple sections with multiple spacings between the multiple sections; and a plurality of connecting pieces configured to fit into the multiple spacings and to provide support for the multiple sections of the cutting blade edge when the rule is pressed onto the plate matter.

Abstract: An apparatus to produce a letterbox using a strip of material includes: a bender to receive and bend the strip of material into a desired shape of a letterbox including flanges and notches, and the bender to bend at least one end of the strip of material slightly to produce a slight bent; a processor to measure a first plurality of hole positions on a first end of the strip of material and a second plurality of hole positions on flanges of the strip of material, wherein the first plurality of hole positions on the first end are measured to match a first plurality of holes on a second end of the strip of material, wherein the second plurality of hole positions on the flanges are measured to match a second plurality of holes on a base plate; and a puncher to punch the first plurality of holes on at least one of the first end and the second end of the strip of material according to the first plurality of hole positions, and the puncher to punch the second plurality of holes on the flanges according to the second

Abstract: Applying padding material around shaped cutting blades includes: receiving a blade shape diagram and a rule of blade; bending the rule of blade according to the blade shape diagram to produce the shaped cutting blades; and applying the padding material around the shaped cutting blades using the blade shape diagram to produce a padded shaped cutting blade, wherein the padding material provides a spring action to quickly detach the shaped cutting blades from a plate matter.

Abstract: A system for generating rules inserted into at least one pattern board including: a controller configured to generate at least one shape diagram, the controller also configured to determine number and measurement of crease rules to be generated based on the at least one shape diagram; a cutting station configured to receive and cut a first crease rule into the number and measurement of the crease rules; and a sorter configured to receive the crease rules from the cutting station and sort the crease rules according to the measurement of the crease rules, wherein the sorted crease rules are inserted into each of the at least one pattern board along with a cutting rule shaped by each of at least one bender.

Abstract: Method and system, including: a strip of metallic material used by a bender to produce the 3-D signage; a sanding unit coupled to the bender and configured to sand away any dirt, oil, or other undesirable material attaching to the strip of metallic material; and a controller configured to make a measurement of how fast the strip of metallic material is feeding into the bender, and to control an operating speed of the sanding unit based on the measurement.

Abstract: Laser cutting a dieboard using a laser cutting system, including: setting a width of material to be removed from the dieboard using the laser cutting system; capturing an image of the width of the material removed by the laser cutting system using at least one image capture unit; measuring the captured width of the material captured on the image using the at least one image capture unit; and comparing the measured width of the material to the set width of the material, and moving a laser head of the laser cutting system up and down to adjust a focal length of the laser cutting system and moving the laser head of the laser cutting system sideways to adjust a speed of the laser head, until the measured width and the set width are substantially similar.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and apparatus for processing a strip of material including: measuring and feeding the strip of material to a predetermined length; and making broaching cuts on the strip of material using a plurality of cutting tools configured to make a plurality of angled cuts.

Abstract: An auto brushing device for brushing a rule, including: at least one brushing roller configured to rotate to brush against the rule to remove various impurities; a first unit configured to control rotational speeds of the at least one brushing roller; and a second unit configured to control distances of the at least one brushing roller from the rule.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to produce a letterbox using a strip of material including: a processor configured to measure a first plurality of hole positions on a first end of the strip of material and a second plurality of hole positions on flanges of the strip of material; a puncher configured to punch the first plurality of holes on at least one of the first end and the second end of the strip of material according to the first plurality of hole positions, the puncher configured to punch the second plurality of holes on the flanges according to the second plurality of hole positions; a support structure; an auto rivet machine coupled to the support structure, the support structure configured to support and hold the auto rivet machine such that the auto rivet machine can be moved above the first and second plurality of holes on the letterbox to be riveted.

Abstract: An apparatus to produce a letterbox using a strip of material includes: a bender to receive and bend the strip of material into a desired shape of a letterbox including flanges and notches, and the bender to bend at least one end of the strip of material slightly to produce a slight bent; a processor to measure a first plurality of hole positions on a first end of the strip of material and a second plurality of hole positions on flanges of the strip of material, wherein the first plurality of hole positions on the first end are measured to match a first plurality of holes on a second end of the strip of material, wherein the second plurality of hole positions on the flanges are measured to match a second plurality of holes on a base plate; and a puncher to punch the first plurality of holes on at least one of the first end and the second end of the strip of material according to the first plurality of hole positions, and the puncher to punch the second plurality of holes on the flanges according to the second

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for forming a channel letter box using a profile. The method can include determining an incision position on one surface of the profile where at least one surface incision is to be made. The profile can be surface incised at the determined position. The profile can be folded at the incision position to form the channel letter box. The profile can have at least one rib on one surface. The method can also include cutting and attaching a top plate to the channel letter box, wherein a thickness of the top plate is substantially close to a distance from the top of the profile to the top of a top rib of the at least one rib.

Abstract: A system for generating rules inserted into at least one pattern board including: a controller configured to generate at least one shape diagram, the controller also configured to determine number and measurement of crease rules to be generated based on the at least one shape diagram; a cutting station configured to receive and cut a first crease rule into the number and measurement of the crease rules; and a sorter configured to receive the crease rules from the cutting station and sort the crease rules according to the measurement of the crease rules, wherein the sorted crease rules are inserted into each of the at least one pattern board along with a cutting rule shaped by each of at least one bender.

Abstract: Applying padding material around shaped cutting blades includes: receiving a blade shape diagram and a rule of blade; bending the rule of blade according to the blade shape diagram to produce the shaped cutting blades; and applying the padding material around the shaped cutting blades using the blade shape diagram to produce a padded shaped cutting blade, wherein the padding material provides a spring action to quickly detach the shaped cutting blades from a plate matter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for substantially reducing dark spots on a front surface of a channel letter, including: forming a channel letter using a profile with at least one rib, the profile having a top and a bottom; coupling a face plate to the at least one rib; and filling a space between the face plate and the top of the profile with a resin material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing a light beam to shine through top front and top sides of a channel letter while substantially reducing dark spots on a front surface of the channel letter, including: forming the channel letter using a profile with at least one rib; coupling a face plate to a position above the at least one rib, wherein the face plate is formed to allow the light beam to shine through the top front and the top sides; and filling a space above the face plate with a resin material after the channel letter including the face plate is flipped over.

Abstract: A rule to be inserted into a die-board that is pressed onto a plate matter, the rule including: a multi-edge cutting blade having a cutting blade edge, the cutting blade edge divided into multiple sections with multiple spacings between the multiple sections; and a plurality of connecting pieces configured to fit into the multiple spacings and to provide support for the multiple sections of the cutting blade edge when the rule is pressed onto the plate matter.

Abstract: Preparing holes on rules or profiles used for a channel letter includes: determining a type of the holes to be prepared on the rules or profiles, wherein the type of holes determines a placement of the holes along at least a vertical direction of the rules or profiles; determining and measuring positions along a longitudinal direction for the holes to be prepared on the rules or profiles; making the holes at the positions along the longitudinal direction; and bending the rules or profiles into the channel letter.

Abstract: Making a plurality of notching marks on flanges of a rule to enable bending of the rule, including: punching the plurality of notching marks on the flanges of the rule to enable shaping of the rule into a channel letter; and tapering the flanges positioned around sharp notching angles made on the channel letter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for making multiple broaching marks on the rules.