Abstract: A system for remote maintenance for a machine. Using an imaging device, such as a digital camera, the customer can transmit images of the machine to an off-site expert and receive real-time information related to the assembly, installation, repair or maintenance of the machine.

Abstract: A method of predicting wear of a die surface. The method calculates a wear depth value based on a set of die characteristic values, a set of sheet material characteristic values, a coefficient of friction value, and material draw-in distance.

Abstract: A method includes storing data associated with a plurality of reticles. Reticle history information is received. The reticle history information is linked to a selected reticle. The linked reticle history information is stored. A reticle information system includes a reticle database and a loader. The reticle database is operable to store data associated with a plurality of reticles. The loader is operable to receive reticle history information, link the reticle history information to a selected reticle, and store the linked reticle history information in the reticle database.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a gravure engraving machine includes the steps of providing an engraving signal to the engraving machine to cause production of a cell, measuring the volume of the cell, comparing the measured cell value to a predetermined cell volume and adjusting the engraving cell in accordance with the comparison.

Abstract: Information of a machine control means to be selected for each system is inputted through a manual input unit and then stored in a storage unit for storing a selection state of the machine control means through a machine control means selecting unit. A machine control means execution unit executes the machine control means for each control system independently according to the selection state stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing, using a riveting system, is operable to join two or more workpieces with a rivet. In another aspect of the present invention, a self-piercing rivet is employed. Still another aspect of the present invention employs an electronic control unit and one or more sensors to determine a riveting characteristic and/or an actuator characteristic.

Abstract: The invention makes a contribution in order that machines and installations are better utilized, their service life is extended, reliability is improved, the loss of valuable materials is avoided, test results are optimized, and energy consumption is diminished. It is an expert system that acquires and assesses the condition of installations, machines and apparatuses. The mechanism proceeds from a normal condition and permanently observes short-term, medium-term and long-term changes. If variations in the normal condition are detected promptly, major instances of damage can be avoided by promptly performing corrective actions before major instances of damage associated with prolonged downtimes occur.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing a gas injection plate comprising a number of shaped orifices (e.g., sonic and simple orifices, and divergent nozzles) in the gas inject system as part of a plasma processing system. By utilizing the shaped orifices, directionality of gas flow can be improved. This improvement is especially beneficial in high aspect ratio processing.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for engraving printing cylinders in an electronic engraving machine, an engraving control signal is formed from an image signal, which represents the tonal values of the cups to be engraved, and from a raster signal for generating a printing raster. An engraving stylus of an engraving element controlled by the engraving control signal engraves a printing form engraving line by engraving line in the form of cups arranged in the printing raster in a rotating printing cylinder. Functionability of the engraving stylus is continuously checked during engraving of the printing cylinder by a digital filtering of the engraving control signal in an engraving stylus monitoring device. When damage is found, a control signal is generated that aborts the engraving, or acoustically or optically signals the identified damage to the engraving stylus.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for engraving printing cylinders in an electronic engraving machine, an engraving control signal is formed from an image signal that represents tonal values of cups to be engraved and from a periodic raster signal for generating a printing raster. An engraving stylus of an engraving element controlled by the engraving control signal engraves a printing form in the form of cups arranged in the printing raster in a rotating printing cylinder. For checking of the functionability of the engraving stylus, test cups are engraved simultaneously when engraving the printing form. A respective measurement interval is defined for selected test cups. The raster signal is respectively eliminated from the engraving control signal for the duration of the measurement interval, and the remaining engraving control signal is investigated for harmonics characteristic of damage to the engraving stylus.

Abstract: A method for initializing process controllers based on tool event data includes providing a tool having a process controller adapted to employ a control model to control an operating recipe of the tool; receiving a tool event notification; and initializing the control model in response to receiving the tool event notification. A manufacturing system includes a tool and a process controller. The tool is adapted to process wafers in accordance with an operating recipe. The process controller is adapted to employ a control model to control the operating recipe in accordance with a control algorithm. The process controller is further adapted to receive a tool event notification and initialize the control model in response to receiving the tool event notification.

Abstract: Systems and methods control abrading operations of an abrading machine by sensing characteristics of an abrading article installed on the abrading machine. When a problem is discovered by sensing the article, appropriate actions may be taken. As one example, the abrading article may be sensed to determine whether the abrading article has been installed with an abrasive side facing the wrong direction. An alert allows an operator to reinstall the article. As another example, the abrading article may be sensed to determine whether splicing tape is present to hold two pieces of abrading tape together. The article may be advanced until the splicing tape is beyond an abrading zone. As another example, the abrading article may be sensed to determine whether the abrading article has stopped moving while the article drive is advancing because the article has broken. An alert allows an operator to repair the break.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described that allow an abrasive manufacturing process to achieve a controlled performance parameter, e.g., an amount of material removal, without requiring the use of feedback controls within the abrasive manufacturing process. For example, a system includes a machine to abrade a workpiece with an abrasive article, and a controller to control the application of the abrasive article to the workpiece by the machine to achieve a substantially constant cut rate for the abrasive article. The controller controls one or more process variables in accordance with an open-loop mathematical model that relates the cut rate of the abrasive article to an application force of the abrasive article to achieve controlled material removal. For example, a constant rate of cut can be achieved or a fixed amount of material can be removed while abrading one or more workpiece in accordance with the model.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and automatically identifying defects in technical equipment, is disclosed. Measurement signals varying in time are downloaded as spectrograms to a computer memory. Using a predetermined criteria a set of designated peak values is created. Using another predetermined criteria the set of designated peak values is divided into two subsets. Then in one of the subsets, peak groups differing from each other by the basic frequency values are distinguished. The second subset, created from the set of designated peak values, is searched for the presence of sidebands for peaks from each specified peak group and if the sidebands are present the basic frequency of the sidebands is calculated. Then the existence of a defect in the technical equipment is detected, and identified by comparing the basic frequencies and the basic frequencies of the sidebands with the frequency values collected in the computer memory.

Abstract: A method of controlling a relative movement of a cutting blade and a workpiece which are moved relative to each other by a movement device in an operation with a machine tool. The method includes a step of bringing the cutting blade and an object into contact with each other, by moving at least one of the cutting blade and the object toward each other by the movement device, and a step of controlling the relative movement on the basis of a relative position of the cutting blade and the object which is detected by the movement device upon the contact of the cutting blade and the object with each other.

Abstract: A control structure for the active damping of low-frequency oscillations in numerically-controlled machine tools. The control structure includes an rpm regulator having a proportional component and an integral component. The control structure further includes an active damping element that forms a low-frequency correction signal, which is phase-shifted with respect to an interfering low-frequency oscillation and free of d.c. components, and a summing point that is upstream or downstream of the integral component and receives the low-frequency correction signal.

Abstract: Elongation in the circumferential direction of a rotary formed body is produced only within a model zone, and the approximate toric plate shape is maintained as the overall shape of the body, and the rotation axis of the body is positioned on a straight line connecting axes of rotation of a main roll and a mandrel roll. Moreover, the velocity of each nodal point and on imaginary cutting planes, that is a velocity boundary condition is expressed by a linear combination of coefficients comprising a radius of the imaginary cutting planes, and angles made by the imaginary cutting planes, with respect to three variables comprising an increasing rate of the radius of the body, an angular velocity for rotation about the rotation axis of the body, and a correction value for the traverse velocity of the rotation axis of the body.

Abstract: Computer software for controlling a riveting system is operable to join two or more workpieces with a rivet. In another aspect of the present invention, a self-piercing rivet is employed. Still another aspect of the present invention employs an electronic control unit and one or more sensors to determine a riveting characteristic and/or an actuator characteristic.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for feedback controlled polishing. A computer program product for generating feedback for chemical mechanical polishing. The product includes instructions operable to cause a processor to receive monitoring information during a current polishing cycle in which a first polishing process is performed on a substrate that includes a metal layer. The first polishing process clears the metal layer from the substrate during the current polishing cycle. The product includes instructions to calculate a representation of a clearing profile of the first polishing process. The calculation is based on the monitoring information received during the current polishing cycle. The product includes instructions to detect non-uniformity in the representation. The product includes instructions to generate, from the non-uniformity detected, feedback information for improving the uniformity of a clearing profile of the first polishing process for a subsequent polishing cycle.

Abstract: A work item warning system includes a database (6) storing a plurality of work item information lists (66) recording relevant information on work items, a web server (4), a number of browsers (8), and an application server (2). The application server includes: an expected completion ratio calculating sub-module (261) for calculating an expected completion ratio as at a current time for each work item; a priority index calculating sub-module (262) for calculating a priority index for each work item; a warning determining sub-module (263) for determining whether the priority index of any work item is greater than or equal to a predefined warning index of the work item; and a warning generating sub-module (264) for generating a warning if the priority index of a work item is greater than or equal to its warning index. A related work item warning method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A real-time monitoring system and method for processes or tools. Historical data for processes or tools is first collected and abnormal data then analyzed using statistical analysis. At least one control chart model is designated according to the analysis result, and model parameters and linking settings related to control chart models are stored in a database. Next, a real-time monitoring model is created by merging control chart models, using model-creating technologies, according to abnormal-state causes, the model parameters, and the linking settings, and several monitoring models are then merged as a real-time monitoring model. Finally, operating states of the processes or tools are displayed using the real-time monitoring model according to real-time data or the historical data stored in the database.

Abstract: A stock preparation system includes a stock preparation apparatus and a sensor coupled with the stock preparation apparatus. The sensor is configured for sensing a physical parameter associated with the stock preparation apparatus, and includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting an air-borne wireless output signal corresponding to the sensed physical parameter. A remote unit includes a receiver for receiving the wireless output signal and a first data link for transmitting a remote output signal corresponding to the wireless output signal. A base unit includes a second data link at least intermittently coupled with the first data link for receiving the remote output signal.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for monitoring one or more manufacturing machines having a plurality of component tools and engaged in repetitive machining of a part is provided. An input device detects occurrence of a machine cycle. A counter stores the number of detected machine cycles as a count value. A machine speed processor estimates a temporal rate at which the machine cycles occur. A data storage device stores a maintenance schedule indicating the number of machine cycles between recommended replacements for each tool. A tools processor estimates a remaining operating time for each tool before scheduled replacement. A machine viability processor estimates a remaining operating time for the machine before schedule replacement of each of the component tools. A display device displays the operating time for the machine before scheduled replacement of each of the component tools.

Abstract: Upon analyzing a processing program (5) in an analyzer (11, 31), a numerical control apparatus extracts information about a contact position between a tool and a workpiece, and based on the information, it calculates a main spindle revolution instruction value in a main spindle revolution calculator 14, 38). In a CAM system, information about the contact position between the tool and the workpiece to be supplied to the numerical control apparatus is calculated and added to the processing program.

Abstract: A lifetime evaluating system includes a digitalizing unit, an acquiring unit and a determining unit. The digitalizing unit digitizes an original metallographic image of a mechanical element to form a digital image. The acquiring unit acquires a plurality of labels from the digital image. Here, each of the plurality of labels is a set of pixels with a predetermined property. The determining unit classifies the plurality of labels into a class of voids and a class of non-voids based on evaluation data. A lifetime of the mechanical element is determined based on a number of labels in the void class and a size of each of the labels in the void class.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to detect a change in a work tool with an engaging portion. A control system senses a change in the relationship between the engaging portion of the work tool and at least one of the work tool and another engaging portion of the work tool. If the change is greater than a predetermined value, the control system produces an error signal.

Abstract: A kind of membrane valve controller of a dust-collecting device, mainly comprises a count conduction control template and a extending template so as to provide a applied structure which can realize modular extending unlimitedly, and accurate count control of the conduction time and the interval jump time of various sets of switches, and an enhancive differentia pressure and subsection design, which can alter the conduction time of control switch connected behind based on the measured value to, and continuing to execute repeating several spouting cleaning, which can facilitate the effect of cleanout.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production system (1) for the series manufacture of products, comprising a processing device (2) which, as a function of control commands, actuates a tool for processing one of the products, a measuring device (3) for the automatic measuring of a geometric actual dimension at one of the processed products, a correcting device (4) which is coupled to the processing device (2) and to the measuring device (3) and which compares the actual dimension with a preset target dimension which lies within a tolerance interval. The correcting device intervenes in a corrective manner in the control commands of the tool if the actual dimension lies outside an intervention interval which lies within the tolerance interval.

Abstract: A method for dispatching based on metrology tool performance includes determining a precision metric associated with each of a plurality of metrology tools. A metrology request including context information is generated. A precision requirement for the metrology request is identified based on the context information. A set of the metrology tools capable of satisfying the metrology request is identified based on the precision requirement and the precision metrics. A manufacturing system includes a manufacturing execution system server and a metrology monitor. The manufacturing execution system server is configured to generate a metrology request including context information.

Abstract: A device and a method are provided for controlling a machine tool, at least one arbitrarily organized database having supplementary data being used for workpiece machining. During the execution of a machining program using a processing unit, the database commands are processed by an interpreter unit in the processing unit such that the required data are retrieved from the database and are further processed in the machining program.

Abstract: In order to improve the reliability of a system, sub-system or component, a method for controlling the operation of a system, sub-system or component, comprises the steps of a) repeatedly recording an operation time of said system, sub-system or component and at least one further parameter relevant to system, sub-system or component aging b) evaluating a usage profile based on said recorded operation time and said at least one further parameter, said usage profile being indicative of the accumulated stress at the time of the evaluation, and c) if a difference between said evaluated usage profile and a nominal usage value at the time of the evaluation exceeds a predetermined threshold value, adjusting an operation parameter of said system, sub-system or component.

Abstract: An electrical discharge machining apparatus includes a simulator. The simulator calculates machining information relating to machining shape at each of several simulated machining depths, when the electrode is moved into a workpiece, until an input machining depth is obtained, based on the shape of the electrode input, the shape of the workpiece, and the machining depth of the workpiece, and determines a shape obtained by subtracting the machining shape from the shape of the workpiece, as a new shape of the workpiece, at each simulated machining depth.

Abstract: A numerical control unit having a load monitoring function for monitoring a load on a tool drive source during a machining operation. The numerical control unit includes a load monitoring section for monitoring the load on an electric motor; a wear recognizing section for recognizing the current extent of tool wear; a storing section for storing a plurality of preset limit load values corresponding individually to predetermined various extents of tool wear; a calculating section for calculating the current limit load value corresponding to the current extent of tool wear recognized in the wear recognizing section, based on the plurality of preset limit load values stored in the storing section; and a comparing section for comparing the load on the electric motor, monitored in the load monitoring section, to the current limit load value calculated in the calculating section, and for judging on the abnormality of the load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of contactlessly ascertaining chatter marks in finely-machined workpiece surfaces, with the following steps: a contactlessly operating, high-resolution surface-measuring method is used to generate from the workpiece surface a data record representing the actual microtopography of the workpiece surface, to take away from this a data record representing the idealized macroform of the workpiece surface, and in this way to generate a data record representing the flat-extended form of the microtopography of the workpiece surface. This data record is subjected to a digital in-phase bandpass filtering with respect to its circumferential waviness, the waviness of interest here of the chatter marks preferably being allowed through. The data record formed in this way is for its part subjected to a stationary multiple cross correlation with respect to the transverse direction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting a process controller based upon a fault detection analysis. A process step upon a workpiece is performed using a processing tool. Manufacturing data relating to processing of the workpiece is acquired. The manufacturing data may include metrology data relating to the processed workpiece and/or tool state data relating to the tool state of a processing tool. A metrology/tool state data integration process is performed based upon the acquired manufacturing data. The metrology/tool state data integration process includes performing an assessment of a tool health related to the processing tool and adjusting an emphasis of the metrology data based upon the assessment of the tool health.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus for machine tool, includes an NC program storage portion for storing an NC program; a transformer means for performing an optimizing process for analyzing the NC program and parameters in the machine tool and transforming the NC program in an optimum condition; an optimized program generated by said transformer means and containing an optimized main program, and optimized data; first and second optimized data storage portions for storing and holding the optimized data. While the machine tool is operated according to the optimized program on the basis of the optimized data stored in the first optimized data storage portion, the transformer means can generate new optimized data on the basis of the NC program and can write a transformed data in the second optimized data storage portions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for machining glass-lenses using a glass-lens machining apparatus with computerized numerical control. The method of the present invention comprises the following steps: introducing opto-metrical data relating to the glasses support into the computer of the apparatus control device which is provided with a host connection; introducing into the computer the data corresponding to the shape of a selected rim for glasses; introducing into the computer data about the material of the non-machined lens; calculating the required diameter of the glass-lens and displaying the result; introducing a non-machined lens into the apparatus; optionally calculating, e.g. in the host computer, the gradient of a bevel, groove or bezel on the shaped glass-lens according to the data introduced or to the front or back curves which are inherent to the existence of surfaces; and carrying out the computerized numerical-control machining of the non-machined lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a performance evaluation system constructed to efficiently collect and accumulate analysis conditions for use in three dimensional model analysis. The performance evaluation system 50 is constructed by connecting a plurality of performance evaluation apparatuses 1 provided in each machine tool to a management apparatus 52 via a network 51. Each performance evaluation apparatus 1 comprises an analysis data storing section 12 in which model data and condition data are stored, a detecting device 4 which detects actual performance, an analyzing section 13 which analyzes the performance, an evaluation determining section 15 which evaluates the correctness of the analyzed performance data, and a data updating section 16 which changes and updates the model data and the condition data. The management apparatus 52 comprises an analysis data accumulating section 61 which accumulates the model data and condition data received from the performance evaluation apparatus 1.

Abstract: The invention relates to a maintenance system for machine tool. In the maintenance system 1, a user management apparatus 10 connected to a numerical control section of a machine tool 15, and a manufacturer management apparatus 20 disposed on a side of a manufacturer are connected to each other via Internet 5. The user management apparatus 10 collects data relating to an operating condition of each driving mechanism of the machine tool 15, and accumulates the data. When a predetermined transmission condition is satisfied, the user management apparatus 10 transmits the accumulated operating condition data to the manufacturer management apparatus 20 in the form of an electronic mail. The manufacturer management apparatus 20 evaluates the consumption degree of each driving mechanism based on the received operating condition data, and outputs an alarm when the consumption degree exceeds a reference value.

Abstract: A self-piercing type rivet setting system 30 comprises: a rivet swaging assembly 35; a robot 6 which moves the rivet swaging assembly 35 to put it in position relative to a predetermined site on a workpiece to be riveted; a single integrated controller 31 made up by an integration of a controller for controlling a riveting operation of the rivet swaging assembly and a controller for controlling the motion of the robot; and a rivet feeder 9 for automatically feeding a self-piercing type rivet to the rivet swaging assembly. From the integrated controller 31, a interface cable 33 extends to the robot 6 and another interface cable 34 extends to the rivet feeder 9, and the rivet swaging assembly 35 is integrally incorporated into the robot 6.

Abstract: An operation management system 1 according to the present invention is configured so as to connect an operation data accumulation and transmission device 10 connected to an NC unit 16 to an operation management device via telecommunication circuits 20. The operation data collection and transmission device 10 collects data on an operating condition of a machine tool 15 to store the same in an operation data storage section 12, and based on the accumulated operating condition data, generates transmit data with a configuration for associating a data-element identifier which defines an item concerning operating condition with operating condition data corresponding to this item to transmit the same to the operation management device. The operation management device analyzes the data-element identifier of the received data, recognizes the operating condition item and updates the operating condition data in databases corresponding to the recognized item by the received operating condition data.

Abstract: A method for adaptively scheduling tool maintenance includes controlling an operating recipe of a tool using a plurality of control actions, monitoring the control actions to identify a degraded tool condition, and automatically initiating a tool maintenance recommendation in response to identifying the degraded tool condition. A manufacturing system includes a tool, a process controller, and a tool health monitor. The tool is adapted to process a workpiece in accordance with an operating recipe. The process controller is adapted to control the operating recipe of the tool using a plurality of control actions. The tool health monitor is adapted to monitor the control actions to identify a degraded tool condition and automatically initiate a tool maintenance recommendation in response to identifying the degraded tool condition.

Abstract: A riveting system is operable to join two or more workpieces with a rivet. In another aspect of the present invention, a self-piercing rivet is employed. Still another aspect of the present invention employs an electronic control unit and one or more sensors to determine a riveting characteristic and/or an actuator characteristic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described which periodically sense environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, or voltage applied to a product, and apply these sensed measurements to models of ageing acceleration. Acceleration factors from the models are accumulated in nonvolatile storage. The accumulated effective aging of the product is displayed to the owner or prospective customer in various desired formats, such as effective age, current acceleration factor, estimate of effective life used, or estimate of remaining life left in the product. A warning can be sent to the user to indicate that the product's effective life is over or is nearly over.

Abstract: The invention features a centralized control architecture for a closely-coupled plasma arc system, in which the “intelligence” of the system is integrated into a single controller. The closely-coupled plasma arc system includes a power source, an automatic process controller and a torch-height controller, where each of these components individually has a closed-loop dynamic relationship with the controller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machining-related information generating apparatus, which speedily and correctly generates tool path data, and automatically generates operation information required for machining. The machining-related information generating apparatus comprises: a process/machining model data generating section (5) which extracts product characteristic data from CAD data, then generates process data, stock blank data and machining model data; a machining-related information generating section (10) which generates tool path data on the basis of the process data, the stock blank data, the machining model data and the like, then generates data of virtual workpiece configurations, and generates machining operation information data on the basis of the process data, the stock blank data, the tool path data and the virtual workpiece configuration data.

Abstract: A method of controlling a relative movement of a cutting blade and a workpiece which are moved relative to each other by a movement device in an operation with a machine tool. The method includes a step of bringing the cutting blade and an object into contact with each other, by moving at least one of the cutting blade and the object toward each other by the movement device, and a step of controlling the relative movement on the basis of a relative position of the cutting blade and the object which is detected by the movement device upon the contact of the cutting blade and the object with each other.

Abstract: An information transmission system according to the present invention is constructed by connecting a transmission device which transmits information to an NC machine tool 20 via a network 2. The NC machine tool 20 comprises an operating panel 25 including an operation key 22, a keyboard 23, and a screen display section 24, and a control device 29 consisting of an input/output control section 40 which has a display control section 42. The display control section 42 receives information transmitted from the transmission device via the network 2, and display the same on the screen display section 24. Since the received information is automatically displayed on the screen display section 24 of the operating panel 25 being frequently looked at while an operator operates the NC machine tool 20, and that makes it possible to certainly give information to be given to the operator quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: A method for identifying faulty wafers includes processing a set of wafers in a tool; collecting tool state information during the processing of the set of wafers; generating a tool state information baseline; comparing the tool state information for each wafer to the tool state information baseline to identify any wafers with outlying tool state information; and designating a particular wafer in the set as suspect in response to identifying outlying tool state information for the particular wafer. A processing line includes a tool adapted to process a set of wafers, and a process controller.

Abstract: Apparatus and method useful in the process of making a forming tool, such as metal stamping tool. The apparatus (20, 22) performs a method of scanning a working surface (18) of a tool part (14) with an optical shape measurement camera (22) to obtain electronic images from different views of the working surface, and then processing the electronic images to develop a first set of data defining the three-dimensional shape of the working surface. The first set of data is then processed with a second set of data having a correlation with the shape of the working surface to develop a third set of data defining differences between the first and second sets of data. The second set of data may define the shape of a part formed by the tool or the master shape of the part.