Abstract: A computer program is provided for developing a bend model of a part to be produced at an intelligent production facility. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosed program, faces of the part are detected based on initial part information, and bendlines of the part are identified based on the detected faces of the part. Further, additional part information is generated by performing a predetermined operation (e.g., a folding operation or an unfolding operation) on the detected faces of the part. The disclosed program also includes other capabilities, such as the capability to perform clean-up operations on initial, 2-D part information and to selectively eliminate part thickness representations in order to facilitate the preparation of a 3-D representation of the part from the modified 2-D part information.

Abstract: A method of generating a robotic process plan for performing a process on a work structure includes a step of receiving input identifying a template corresponding to a plurality of geometric features of the work structure, each geometric feature associated with one or more robotic process elements. The method further includes a step of receiving input associating work structure data with the identified template. The method also includes a step of generating the robotic process plan based on the associated work structure data and the robotic process elements associate with the template.

Abstract: Process for the automatic generation of a sequence of controls for a bending machine for metal sheets, characterized in that: it provides for a first plurality of configuration files of a respective plurality of bending machines, each file containing information on the configuration of the respective bending machine; it provides for a second plurality of files each referring to a respective bending machine and constituting a library of controls for the bending machine; it provides for a first database of geometrical shapes of mechanical organs, containing a geometrical representation of mechanical organs of the bending machines; it provides for a second database containing information on the behavior of a plurality of materials when these are submitted to bending.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for integrating an intelligent manufacturing system with an expert sheet metal planning and bending system. The intelligent manufacturing system manages and distributes part design and manufacturing information throughout the locations of a production facility. The expert planning system includes a plurality of expert modules for proposing a bending plan, including bend sequence and tooling selections, and robot motion planning and repositioning. Through the various features and aspects of the present invention, an operator can selectively modify and adapt these integrated systems for particular bend applications, including robot-based and human assisted bending operations.

Abstract: A process of fabricating a durable data storage medium is disclosed, the durable data storage medium capable of storing, digital or alphanumeric characters as well as graphical shapes or characters. Additionally, a durable data storage medium including a substrate having etched characters therein is disclosed, the substrate characterized as containing detectable residual amounts of ions used in the preparation process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a factory in order to facilitate the production of components, such as bent sheet metal components. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the management and distribution of critical design and manufacturing information is achieved by storing and distributing the design and manufacturing information associated with each job. By replacing the traditional paper job set-up or work sheet with, for example, an electronically stored job sheet that can be accessed instantaneously from any location in the factory, the present invention improves the overall efficiency of the factory. In addition, through the various aspects and features of the invention, the organization and accessibility of part information and stored expert knowledge is improved.

Abstract: A method for moving metal sheets of a working area by an antropomorphous robot comprises a) taking of preselected fixed input data that identify the geometry in the space of components of a working island; b) taking, comprising from a machine tool, preselected variable input data comprising dimensions and shape of a preselected metal sheet to be handled and a sequence of working preselected metal sheets; c) processing the fixed and variable input data on a processing unit in order to generate automatically output data that identify a preselected trajectory of the metal sheet to be handled and d) transfer the output data to a control unit of the robot in order to drive said robot to move the metal sheet along the preselected trajectory so as to handle said metal sheets selected by type.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a factory in order to facilitate the production of components, such as bent sheet metal components. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the management and distribution of critical design and manufacturing information is achieved by storing and distributing the design and manufacturing information associated with each job. By replacing the traditional paper job set-up or work sheet with, for example, an electronically stored job sheet that can be accessed instantaneously from any location in the factory, the present invention improves the overall efficiency of the factory. In addition, through the various aspects and features of the invention, the organization and accessibility of part information and stored expert knowledge is improved.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for resolving a collision between a first face and a second face of a sheet metal part represented by a 3-D model. The faces collide with one another when a 2-D model of a flat sheet metal part, designed on a CAD system, is folded into the 3-D model displayed on the CAD system. The apparatus comprises a detecting means, an analyzing means and an eliminating means. The detecting means is for detecting each collision between the faces which become adjacent in association with folding the 2-D model into the 3-D model. The eliminating means is for eliminating the collision by designing a 2-D model of a modified flat sheet metal part which can be folded without causing the collision.

Abstract: A system combines an open control interface workstation, e.g., a properly configured personal computer, with a networked computer numerical control. The personal computer and CNC are preferably linked to a local area network such as an Ethernet network. The open control interface is configured to utilize Windows DDE, or other protocol, to accomplish process-to-process communications with other DDE-compliant Windows applications. Additionally, the open control interface is designed to allow DDE-compliant Windows applications to communicate with one or more networked computer numerical controls while minimizing data flow over the network.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a coordinate data converting method, which is adaptable to any coordinate data in different data formats, for converting coordinate data into predetermined coordinate data, and a device thereof. A conversion parameter master table (conversion PMT) is generated in a memory with a maintenance process (process ST1) in advance. In each conversion parameter table (conversion PT) of the conversion PMT, the data of 9 items such as a code format, data format, coordinate system, unit system, offset, flow direction, PCB size, data item, and special command specification are set in correspondence with diversified coordinate data of a CAD system, an NC system, etc. A suitable conversion PT is selected with a process S1; a conversion source file of CAD data, etc.

Abstract: A system combines multiple man-machine interfaces with multiple computer numerical controls over a network. Typically, each man-machine interface comprises a personal computer with a Windows-based operating system utilizing a standard process-to-process communication protocol, such as Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). This type of system allows a wide variety of M-to-N topologies in CNC environments. Further, the use of standard personal computer operating systems and common process-to-process communication protocols permits the networking of other types of devices and the use of other third party applications.

Abstract: A computer-controllable bending machine is connected to a computer via its conventional control unit. The computer is equipped with an input keyboard adapted to the properties of a bending machine and a screen display for displaying a graphical surface which is capable of displaying the bending operation true to scale both in a programming mode and in an operating mode.

Abstract: In a machine tool, a component such as a grinding wheel acts on a workpiece to form the latter into a circularly asymmetric shape, for example, a crankpin. Movement of the grinding wheel is controlled by a control signal which is derived from theoretical relative positions and positional velocities of the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece. In the course of at least one revolution of the workpiece, the respective positions of the grinding wheel relative to the workpiece are measured for each of a succession of angular positions of the workpiece. The measured positions are compared with corresponding theoretical positions and data indicative of any differences are stored, and then used to modify the control signal during a subsequent revolution of the workpiece so as to compensate for any of said differences and thereby reduce the magnitude of any error which would have resulted from the measured positional differences.

Abstract: The target stroke amount calculation portion obtains an initial value of the target stroke amount of a punch according to bending information including workpiece condition of a workpiece to be bent, tool condition, target folding angle, and the like. The bending information setting portion sets the bending information in the workpiece bending simulation processing portion, in a specified form. The element breakdown calculation portion divides workpiece sectional image according to the bending information to a plurality of major portions and further divides these portions to detailed portions. The workpiece bending simulation processing portion virtually deforms the workpiece according to elastoplasticity finite element method corresponding to a virtual descent of the punch by the target stroke amount and obtains workpiece deformation image after a spring-back.