Abstract: A numerical controller includes a coordinate management unit that updates machine origin offset data indicating a positional relationship between a machine origin of a machine tool and a machine origin of a robot depending on movement of the machine origin of the machine tool or the machine origin of the robot; and an interference check processing unit that detects interference between the machine tool and the robot on the basis of a position of a first interference definition area and a position of a second interference definition area, and the updated machine origin offset data.

Abstract: A method for predicting collision of a machining path includes: a step of reading an NC program; a step of translating a plurality of block information in the NC program; a step of, prior to perform interpolation upon each of the plurality of block information, calculating a safety distance of a next block information with respect to a block information to be interpolated; a step of searching a number of individual block information having an accumulated distance greater than or equal to the safety distance; and a step of performing an anti-collision detection upon each of the individual block information contributing the accumulated distance. In addition, a system for predicting collision of a machining path is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a controller for controlling a gear cutting machine having a plurality of axes, the controller including an axis information storage unit configured to store data related to control of the plurality of axes during machining, and a disturbance component identification unit configured to identify a component of disturbance with respect to the plurality of axes using the data stored by the axis information storage unit and measurement results of machining accuracy of a workpiece machined by the cutting machine.

Abstract: A control unit for an articulated robot has a memory unit which accumulates, when a safety stop function operates by contact or proximity between the articulated robot in operation and at least one of the human and an object, information of occurrence positions in each of which the contact or the proximity occurs or information detected by a sensor which can be used to derive the occurrence positions, the contact and the adjacent are causes of the operation of the safety stop function, and a display device which displays the occurrence positions on a predetermined display based on the information of the occurrence positions or the information detected by the sensor accumulated by the memory unit.

Abstract: A numerical controller performs control to rotate a turret, which holds a plurality of tools on the outer peripheral portion thereof, thereby moving one (selected tool) of the tools selected by a command to a predetermined position (selected position). The numerical controller sets and holds a partial area of the outer peripheral portion of the turret as an area (passage-prohibited area) prohibited from passing through the selected position and determines whether or not the selected tool is present in the passage-prohibited area or whether or not the passage-prohibited area passes through the selected position as the selected tool is moved to the selected position.

Abstract: A display device for punching and/or pressing machines. The display device can be constructed to be modular and of compact size so as to be positioned as desired on new and existing machine designs. The display device is formed with displays, which are configurable to provide a plurality of qualitative and quantitative information. The display device can be configured to be function with consoles of punching and pressing machines so as to be one or more of a supplemental device, an interfacing device, and an interactive device.

Abstract: A highly scalable cluster of computing nodes simulates large numbers of objects interacting in a space defined by an octree of cubical elements. Each cube of the octree is enclosed within a corresponding padding sphere. Interacting objects are quickly identified by determining which of the padding spheres are candidate spheres that satisfy an interaction criterion, considering candidate objects located in the cubes that correspond to the candidate spheres, and determining which of the candidate objects meet the interaction criterion. The computing workload can be efficiently parallelized among nodes of the cluster by assigning the objects to the nodes in approximately equal numbers, each node being responsible for managing the objects assigned thereto. Inter-node data traffic can be minimized by reassigning frequently interacting objects to the same node. The cluster can be scaled simply by adding more nodes to the cluster, and redistributing the objects equally among the nodes.

Abstract: A numerical controller controls driving of an axis installed in a machine based on an instruction of a program, and when predictive detection of occurrence of interference between a movable part which moves by the driving of the axis and another object is made, the numerical controller decelerates and stops movement of the movable part. Further, the numerical controller changes a display attribute of information display relating to the axis based on an operation state of the axis which is being driven when predictive detection of occurrence of interference is made, and displays a coordinate value according to the display attribute that is changed by the attribute change processing part.

Abstract: A system for identifying and tracking performance of operators in a warehouse. The system comprises at least one robot configured to interact with the operators in the warehouse. The at least one robot includes a first transceiver, a proximity detector, and a memory. The first transceiver defines a zone surrounding the robot and the proximity detector is coupled to the first transceiver. The proximity detector is configured to detect entry, into the zone, of an operator and to detect exit of the operator from the zone. The memory contains information identifying said operators who have entered and exited the zone.

Abstract: Optimized positioning paths for multi-axis CNC machining can be generated based on the machine tool kinematics, machine axes travel limits, machine axis velocity and acceleration limits, and machine positioning methodologies. Machine axes travel limits and machine positioning methodologies are incorporated in order to ensure that the developed positioning paths do not violate machine axes travel limitations. Multi-axis positioning paths are developed to avoid collisions with dynamically changing in-process stock and other surroundings, including fixtures and both moving and non-moving components of the machine. Positioning tool path customizations give the user the flexibility to apply safety based constraints to the automatically generated tool paths. The disclosed automatic positioning path planning and optimization methods are used to develop a process for part manufacturing using CNC machining in order to reduce the manufacturing cycle time.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments allow a user to create configurations for use in distributed computing environments. Configurations can be arranged in hierarchies in which elements of the hierarchy can inherit characteristics from elements in other layers of the hierarchy. Embodiments also allow a user to flatten a hierarchical configuration to remove hierarchical dependencies and/or inheriting capabilities of elements in the hierarchy. Exemplary embodiments further allow users to deploy a distributed computing configuration on their desktop to evaluate performance of the configuration and then deploy the configuration in a distributed computing environment without having to change programming code run on the desktop/distributed computing environment.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for determining a positioning movement of a cutting tool based on a received virtual model, a determined start position and a determined end position, and a set of objects of a machining setup, where the set of objects may represent a current state of the set of objects. Optionally, the determining of the positioning movement may be based on user input parameters.

Abstract: A method of producing a flow field plate for a fuel cell comprises over-profiling relief features in a die set to more accurately reproduce the intended flow channel features in the pressed plate. The process includes determining a target relief profile of features extending across the plate along at least a first dimension of the plate, modulating the relief profile with an over-profiling parameter, as a function of the first dimension; forming a die with the modulated relief profile; and pressing a flow field plate using the die with modulated relief profile to thereby produce the unmodulated, target relief profile in the flow field plate.

Abstract: An interference checking device 1 checks, during machining using an NC machine tool 20, interference between structures of the NC machine tool 20, a tool and a workpiece, and includes an interference check processing unit 2 virtually moving models and checking the occurrence of interference based on a position control signal from a numerical controller 30, and an operation effect degree evaluating unit 6 evaluating the degree of an effect of an operation on a possibility of the occurrence of interference. When a predetermined operation is performed during machining of a workpiece following a first workpiece, the interference check processing unit 2 moves the models at intervals determined based on the degree of the effect evaluated by the operation effect degree evaluating unit 6.

Abstract: A human-collaborative robot system includes a detection unit that directly or indirectly detects a physical quantity which is changed in response to contact force applied to a robot when the robot comes in contact with an external environment, and a stop command unit that compares the physical quantity detected by the detection unit with a first threshold value and a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value, stops the robot according to a predetermined stop method when the physical quantity is equal to or greater than the first threshold value and is smaller than the second threshold value, and stops the robot in a shorter period of time as compared with the predetermined stop method when the physical quantity is equal to or greater than the second threshold value.

Abstract: Optimized positioning paths for multi-axis CNC machining can be generated based on the machine tool kinematics, machine axes travel limits, machine axis velocity and acceleration limits, and machine positioning methodologies. Machine axes travel limits and machine positioning methodologies are incorporated in order to ensure that the developed positioning paths do not violate machine axes travel limitations. Multi-axis positioning paths are developed to avoid collisions with dynamically changing in-process stock and other surroundings, including fixtures and both moving and non-moving components of the machine. Positioning tool path customizations give the user the flexibility to apply safety based constraints to the automatically generated tool paths. The disclosed automatic positioning path planning and optimization methods are used to develop a process for part manufacturing using CNC machining in order to reduce the manufacturing cycle time.

Abstract: A display device for punching and/or pressing machines. The display device can be constructed to be modular and of compact size so as to be positioned as desired on new and existing machine designs. The display device is formed with displays, which are configurable to provide a plurality of qualitative and quantitative information. The display device can be configured to be function with consoles of punching and pressing machines so as to be one or more of a supplemental device, an interfacing device, and an interactive device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a sanitary sewer infrastructure. In an embodiment, a plurality of representations of infrastructure assets are re-projected from a plane coordinate system into a geospatial coordinate system, such that each of the re-projected plurality of representations of infrastructure assets is associated with a geospatial coordinate. Each of the re-projected plurality of representations of infrastructure assets and its associated geospatial coordinate is stored in one or more databases. Subsequently, geospatial coordinates, collected in the field, may be received from one or more user devices, wherein each geospatial coordinate corresponds to a geospatial location of an infrastructure asset. A stored geospatial coordinate associated with one or more of the stored re-projected plurality of representations of infrastructure assets may then be adjusted based on the received geospatial coordinates.

Abstract: A nesting data generation device generates nesting data for cutting off a part from a work supported by plural support projections. The nesting data generation device includes a nesting data generating unit that generates the nesting data by arranging a geometry of the part on the work. The nesting data generating unit performs, upon arranging the geometry of the part on the work, an avoidance process for avoiding an impediment due to the support projections. According to the nesting data generation device, the part can be prevented from welding on the support projections and the support projections can be prevented from welding upon arranging the geometry on the work by considering positions of the support projections, so that a drop-off and an inclination of the cut part can be prevented.

Abstract: A servo transfer press system generates a press phase signal and a transfer phase signal that are synchronized with a master phase signal, performs a press operation according to a reference press motion based on the press phase signal, and performs a transfer operation according to a reference transfer motion based on the transfer phase signal. The servo transfer press system includes a reference interference diagram generation section, a reference interference diagram storage section, an operation interference diagram generation section, an interference presence/absence comparison-determination section, and a phase signal relative relationship adjustment section, and performs a transfer press operation while avoiding interference by performing an automatic phase signal adjustment when a motion has been changed.

Abstract: A numerical control device including a collision determining unit that detects a possibility of collision between a machine and an area set as an entry prohibited area; an operation-continuation instructing unit that instructs whether to continue an operation when the collision determining unit detects the possibility of collision and shaft movement is temporarily stopped; a machining-information storage unit that stores internal operation information of the numerical control device regarding the temporary stop when the operation-continuation instructing unit instructs continuation of the operation; and a collision-determination processing unit that invalidates a collision determination on the basis of the operation information stored in the machining-information storage unit when executing the same machining program the next and subsequent times.

Abstract: An interference checking device 1 checks, during machining using an NC machine tool 20, interference between structures of the NC machine tool 20, a tool and a workpiece, and includes an interference check processing unit 2 virtually moving models and checking the occurrence of interference based on a position control signal from a numerical controller 30, and an operation effect degree evaluating unit 6 evaluating the degree of an effect of an operation on a possibility of the occurrence of interference. When a predetermined operation is performed during machining of a workpiece following a first workpiece, the interference check processing unit 2 moves the models at intervals determined based on the degree of the effect evaluated by the operation effect degree evaluating unit 6.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool path forming method in a milling processing system, the method including: (A) a shape offset step; (B) a virtual wall forming step; (C) an interference region forming and shape revising step; (D) a closed shape forming step; (E) a cutting surface forming step; (F) tool path forming steps; (G) an unprocessed region detecting step; and (H) an uncut region tool path forming step.

Abstract: An interference preventing method applied on a machining machine includes the following steps. Firstly, a control command is provided in response to an operation event. Next, protection information corresponding to a protection target component is provided. Then basic envelop of the protection target component is obtained. Then the basic envelop is segmented into a number of sub protection blocks according to a multi-hierarchical protection parameter and sub protection blocks not linked with the protection target component are removed, so as to determine a multi-hierarchical interference protection area. Next, whether an interference event of the multi-hierarchical interference protection area and other components occurs, so as to determine whether interference event of the protection target component occurs; if so, control signal is provided to control the processing operation of the machining machine.

Abstract: An image identifying method for a manufacturing process which is implemented by an image identifying system. The image identifying system is applied on a mold which ejects finished products. A retrieval mechanism takes out the ejected product. An image-capturing unit captures an image of the retrieval mechanism after the retrieval mechanism has taken out the finished product. The storage unit stores a predetermined image of a complete and successful retrieval of retrieval mechanism a finished product. If the acquired image is not the same with the predetermined image in the storage unit; all actions on the mold are suspended.

Abstract: A controller for a machine tool has a program storage section in which an NC program is stored, a program analyzing section analyzing the NC program block by block in sequence and extracts operation commands for a feed mechanism, an execution control section executing the extracted operation commands and thereby controlling the feed mechanism, e program editing section changing the NC program, and a change information storage section in which change information relating to the changed portion of the NC program is stored. The execution control section, when executing the operation commands, checks whether the block of each operation command is the block immediately preceding a block relating to the changed portion, and when judging that it is the immediately preceding block, temporarily stops the operation of the feed mechanism before or after the execution of the operation command.

Abstract: A detecting device for preventing a substrate from being scratched by an apparatus and a detecting method using the same is provided. The device comprises a detecting substrate, a controlling module, a transmitting module and a monitoring module. The controlling module detects a position information of a contact point between the apparatus and the detecting substrate and transmits the position information to the transmitting module. The transmitting module transmits the position information received from the controlling module to the monitoring module. The monitoring module determines the coordinates of the contact point between the apparatus and the detecting substrate according to the position information. The detecting substrate can be employed to simulate the substrate used in the real manufacture process of the TFT-LCD so that the apparatus in each step can be detected before the real manufacture process is performed.

Abstract: A method for avoiding an unwanted collision between a tool and a workpiece in a machine tool is disclosed, wherein when a parts program starts to run, the determination of setpoint movement values for controlling a relative movement between tool and workpiece is started based on the parts program and a determination of the material removal at the workpiece by the tool is started based on the determined setpoint movement values. It is then checked whether a tool model overlaps with a workpiece model. When an overlap is detected, the relative movement between tool and workpiece is slowed down until the relative movement stops. A related facility employing the method for controlling a machine tool is also disclosed. Unwanted collisions between a tool and a workpiece in a machine tool can thus be avoided, while attaining short machining times for the workpiece.

Abstract: A numerical control device including a collision determining unit that detects a possibility of collision between a machine and an area set as an entry prohibited area; an operation-continuation instructing unit that instructs whether to continue an operation when the collision determining unit detects the possibility of collision and shaft movement is temporarily stopped; a machining-information storage unit that stores internal operation information of the numerical control device regarding the temporary stop when the operation-continuation instructing unit instructs continuation of the operation; and a collision-determination processing unit that invalidates a collision determination on the basis of the operation information stored in the machining-information storage unit when executing the same machining program the next and subsequent times

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the targeted reaction in the event of contact between an element (4, 6) pertaining to a machine and an object (5, 7), and a corresponding control device (14). Upon identification of contact between the machine element (4, 6) and the object (5, 7), if the machine axle is shifted into rapid displacement mode in an automated manner during the contact by means of a control device (14), further displacement of the machine axle (3, 41, 42, 43) is stopped by the drive (42, 43) of the machine (3, 41, 42, 43) being immediately cut off. Upon identification of contact, if the machine axle is shifted into slow displacement mode in an automated manner during the contact by means of a control device (14), collision detection is carried out, further displacement of the machine axle (3, 41, 42, 43) being stopped if a collision is detected.

Abstract: A plunge milling method includes: a) the area of material that is to be removed is enclosed by a plurality of milling paths, each milling path defining end positions of a milling head during the formation of plunge milling bores; b) to each milling path there is allocated a guide curve for the tool axis, each guide curve defining initial positions of the milling head during the formation of plunge milling bores; c) during the formation of plunge milling bores, the tool axis is oriented, as a function of a milling path and the respective guide curve, so that there is no danger of collision of the milling tool with a contour formed by plunge milling; d) for each milling path, bore axes for plunge milling bores are determined as a function of the respective guide curve, corresponding to a prespecified overlap of milling bores formed along the milling paths.

Abstract: A preceding-check processing sequence is provided separately from a machine-control processing sequence for an actual machine control, to make it possible to perform a collision check at an accurate position from an operation restart time of a machining program even when an operator interrupts an operation in the middle of the machining program or when the operator interrupts the operation as having detected a collision. This preceding-check processing sequence performs a collision possibility check ahead of an actual machine control. In this arrangement, there is provided a control-state synchronizing unit that matches a state of the preceding-check processing sequence with a state of the machine-control processing sequence during a period from when a machine stops until when the machine restarts an operation.

Abstract: A machining status monitoring apparatus is provided on a machine tool, and has a plurality of actual CCD cameras for imaging the tool and workpiece from different view points and generating actual two-dimensional image data thereof, a virtual image generating section having a plurality of virtual CCD cameras corresponding to the actual CCD cameras, in which the tool and workpiece of three-dimensional model are imaged by the virtual CCD cameras from each point and virtual two-dimensional image data thereof are generated, and a display control section for selecting one virtual CCD camera corresponding to the virtual two-dimensional image data in which the distal end of the tool is not hidden by the workpiece among the generated two-dimensional image data, and displaying the actual two-dimensional image data generated by the actual CCD camera corresponding to the selected virtual CCD camera on a display device.

Abstract: In a device for monitoring the position of a tool or machine element on or in a work spindle or tool chuck, in particular, in a machining apparatus, the work spindle or tool chuck has at least one channel that defines a waveguide, which is suitable for propagating electromagnetic waves, that leads from an external surface of the work spindle or tool chuck to the tool or machine element. At least one radar system is provided and arranged outside the work spindle or tool chuck in such a manner that it is capable of irradiating a radar signal from the outer surface into the channel and or receiving a radar signal reflected back from the channel. The radar signal is connected to a signal-processing device that determines a measure of the position of the tool or machine element relative to the work spindle or tool chuck based on at least one radar signal irradiated into the channel and reflected back from the channel.

Abstract: A control system is provided for each pair of a work fixing part and a work machining part. In each control system, a work receiving program block, a work machining program block and a work discharge program block are provided, and the work machining program block starts on the condition that the work receiving program block ends and the work discharge block program starts on the condition that the work machining program block ends. The work receiving program block is associated with the work supply program of the work supply apparatus, or the work discharge program block is associated with a work transfer program of a work transfer apparatus so that a command is issued to the work receiving program block or the work discharge program block, and a command to perform a cue of the head of the program of each control system is provided at the last part of the control system.

Abstract: An interference preventing method applied on a machining machine includes the following steps. Firstly, a control command is provided in response to an operation event. Next, protection information corresponding to a protection target component is provided. Then basic envelop of the protection target component is obtained. Then the basic envelop is segmented into a number of sub protection blocks according to a multi-hierarchical protection parameter and sub protection blocks not linked with the protection target component are removed, so as to determine a multi-hierarchical interference protection area. Next, whether an interference event of the multi-hierarchical interference protection area and other components occurs, so as to determine whether interference event of the protection target component occurs; if so, control signal is provided to control the processing operation of the machining machine.

Abstract: An assembly information management apparatus includes a detection means for detecting an update of a selected part selected from a group of parts constituting any assembly information in the set, a first calculation means for calculating outline shape data of the selected part after being updated from the selected part detected by the detection means, an identification means for identifying a common assembly information group sharing the selected part from the set, a second calculation means for calculating outline shape data of common assembly information for each piece of common assembly information identified by the identification means based on outline shape data of remaining parts after excluding the selected part constituting the common assembly information and outline shape data of the selected part after being updated calculated by the first calculation means, and an association means for associating each piece of the common assembly information with outline shape data.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a machining parameter optimizing apparatus deciding a tool axis attitude and a machining zone and deciding a tooling having high stiffness for any profile of a finished workpiece. A tool axis attitude deciding member 21 decides one or plural tool axis attitude. An interference dangerous zone deciding member 23 decides as an interference dangerous zone a zone possible to interfere between a tool or a tool holder and a workpiece during machining by the decided tool axis attitude. A machining simulation member 25 executes a machining simulation based on the interference dangerous zone by the decided tool axis attitude and generates the virtual tool holder in which there is no any interference, and also decides a machining zone in a way of avoiding the interference dangerous zone.

Abstract: A measurement system that includes an industrial machine and an interferometer can detect when abnormality has occurred in measurement targeted at a reflector attached to a movable body, for example, in a case where the movable body has moved too close to the interferometer. A judging section of the interferometer judges that there is abnormality in measurement targeted at the reflector on the basis of a received-light signal. Upon such an abnormality judgment, a stop command outputting section of the interferometer outputs a stop command to the industrial machine. A stopping section of the industrial machine stops the driving operation of a moving mechanism upon receiving an input of the stop command, thereby stopping the movement of the movable body. The measurement system makes it possible to prevent the industrial machine, which includes the movable body and the moving mechanism, from colliding with the interferometer.

Abstract: A workpiece measuring device, a collision preventing device, and a machine tool acquires 3D data of the shape of a workpiece used to prevent a collision between the workpiece and part of the machine tool. A measuring section measures the distance to the workpiece through scanning in a non-contact manner; and a shape recognition section generates a 3D mesh structure. The coordinates of a measurement point on the workpiece based on distance information about the measured distance to the workpiece, and that generates a measurement geometry map such that, when the ratio of the number of times the calculated measurement point is included in one unit of the 3D mesh structure to the number of times a position of the workpiece corresponding to the one unit is scanned is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold, the one unit is regarded as part of the workpiece are included.

Abstract: An offline programming device for preparing an operation program for making a robot with a hand perform a handling operation for an object with respect to a machine tool.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for the automated adjustment of the position of a cutting tool when cutting dental aligner material includes using a computer for generating digital data that define (a) a first cutting angle in a labial cutting area along a dynamic cutting curve, (b) a second cutting angle in a lingual cutting area along the dynamic cutting curve, and (c) a third cutting angle in a back molar cutting area along the dynamic cutting curve. The cutting tool is automatically moved from the labial cutting area to the back molar cutting area while gradually increasing a cutting tool angle from the first cutting angle to the third cutting angle. The cutting tool is also automatically moved from the lingual cutting area to the back molar cutting area while gradually increasing the cutting tool angle from the second cutting angle to the third cutting angle.

Abstract: A numerical controller having an interference prevention function whereby calculation for preventing interference is reliably performed. The numerical controller has the function of defining interference regions corresponding to multiple machine structural objects, respectively, moving the interference regions in accordance with machine coordinate values of the machine structural objects updated by interpolation, and performing an interference check to determine whether or not the interference regions interfere with each other. Interference check computation period automatic adjusting means automatically adjusts an interference check computation period, based on the value obtained by dividing a computation time required for the interference check by time of occupancy of the interference check within one interpolation period. Interference region expanding means expands the interference regions, based on the highest of feed velocities of respective axes and the interference check computation period.

Abstract: A collision preventing device includes an acceleration/deceleration simulating unit 30 that performs acceleration/deceleration processing based on a moving command generated by a function generation unit 16 according to a method similar to that used by acceleration/deceleration units 18x and 18z and obtains a moving path resulting from the acceleration/deceleration processing, an interference check unit 34 that performs interference check between a mobile member and an interfering object along the moving path generated by the acceleration/deceleration simulating unit 30 and determines whether any interference may occur, a delay unit 32 that successively stores moving commands generated by the function generation unit 16 and successively outputs a moving command having been stored a predetermined time before, and a moving command blocking unit 36 that sends the moving command output from the delay unit 32 to the acceleration/deceleration units 18x and 18z if the interference check unit 34 determines that there

Abstract: A control system for use with a machine having a moving tool arranged to move through a known path of movement. The control system includes a means for detecting the location of objects in or adjacent the path of the tool (12) and a processing and control means arranged to determine the distance between the objects in or adjacent the path of the tool and a leading edge (22) of the tool (12). The control system includes at least one mode of operation in which the processing and control means controls movement of the tool (12) such that the distance between the objects in or adjacent the path of the tool and the leading edge (22) of the tool (12) is maintained within minimum and maximum values.

Abstract: In a position control apparatus that drives a feed-axis with a servomotor of a machine tool, the machine tool may be quickly accelerated or decelerated in a state where a machine structural member that supports and fixes a structural member including a driving system has a lower rigidity, or in a state where an element having a lower rigidity is present beyond a load position where the detection by a linear scale is performed. In such cases, a generated deflection may induce a displacement in a mechanical system. A relative locus error may be generated between a workpiece to be processed and a front end portion of the tool. Further, a mechanism rigidity generally changes according to a machine posture. The generated deflection amount changes in magnitude. The present embodiment estimates and compensates a displacement amount of the front end portion of the tool that may be caused by the deflection of the mechanical system.

Abstract: In a device for protecting a work spindle (2) that is rotatably supported in a spindle head (4A, 4B) of a processing machine and/or a tool (3) clamped in the work spindle (2) from collisions with obstacles in the processing chamber (1) of the processing machine, a plurality of distance sensor modules (6) are arranged on or in a spindle nose (4B) that forms the termination of the spindle head (4A, 4B) toward the processing chamber (1) such that they point toward the processing chamber (1) and are connected to a common signal processing unit (8). When an obstacle is present in a predetermined area of the processing chamber (1), this signal processing unit generates a warning signal based on the measuring signals delivered by the individual distance sensor modules (6). An output (15) of the signal processing unit, at which the warning signal is generated, is connected to the machine control (16) of the processing machine. The distance sensor modules (6) preferably consist of radar or ultrasonic sensor modules.

Abstract: A method of controlling a multiple spindle machine includes measuring the motor currents provided to a first spindle and a second spindle over a period of time, establishing an amount of time between impacts on a workpiece of a cutting tooth of the first spindle relative to a cutting tooth of the second spindle based on the measured motor currents of the first spindle and the second spindle, determining an angle to shift the second spindle relative to the first spindle, and increasing or decreasing the amount of time between impacts to obtain the determined shift angle for the second spindle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for managing active safety for an automatically operating machine comprising a work surface and a work tool displaced according to a pre-established work program. The method consists of dividing (100) the work surface into several zones and, during the work program cycle and in response to detection (200) of an operator's intrusion into a first zone when the tool is active in a second zone, also consists of carrying out at least one of the following actions: keeping (210) the tool's programmed displacement at the normal speed if the tool's displacement is programmed in a zone not adjacent to the first one, keeping (220) the tool's programmed displacement at reduced speed if the tool's displacement is programmed in a zone adjacent to the first one and modifying (230) the work program if the tool's displacement is programmed in the first zone so that the tool's work can be continued in a zone other than the first one.

Abstract: A numerical controller having a function-generating unit which executes function generation for shaft movement according to a machining program is provided, the numerical controller further comprising a unit which stores shape data of the movable unit and shape data of an interfering structure; a retracting direction determining unit which determines a retracting direction; an interference checking position calculating unit which successively calculates, as an interference checking position, a position in which a desired distance is added to the current position of the movable unit according to the determined retracting direction; an interference confirming unit which confirms presence or absence of interference between the shape data of the movable unit and the shape data of the interfering structure by virtually moving the shape data of the movable unit; and a power outage detecting unit which sends a power outage signal to a DC power supply unit and the function-generating unit during power outage, wherein