摘要:
To determine whether a tool may be used successfully to fabricate a worksheet in a sheet fabrication machine, data relating to all tools that may be used for the machine as provided by the manufacturers of those tools'are stored in a tool database. Dimensional data and characteristics of the worksheets that may be used by the machine are stored in a worksheet database. When a given worksheet is to be fabricated, a determination is made on whether a tool is usable for fabricating that worksheet without causing possible damage to the worksheet, the tool and its die, and/or the machine. The grind life remaining for the tool is used to determine whether the proper clearance between the tool and its die is obtainable by using the tool on the given worksheet. If it is determined that the tool is not usable for a given worksheet, the tool is flagged and reserved for use on worksheets that have. a material thickness that is thinner than that of the given worksheet. An appropriate tool that does provide the proper clearance and has the appropriate grind life remaining is then selected for working on the given worksheet.
摘要:
In a manufacturing system that has a plurality of sheet fabrication machines, to enhance the efficiency of the system, there are provided a plurality of databases each for storing particular data relating to the machines, the types of materials to be used, the tooling of the machines, etc. of the system. When a multi-dimensional model of a component part to be produced by the system is input to the system, selective data is retrieved from the various databases so that at least one machine of the plurality of machines of, the system is selected to produce the part from a worksheet of a chosen material. Concurrently, or shortly thereafter, a NC part program for programming the selected machine to execute the necessary operations in accordance with a flat drawing generated from the multi-dimensional model to fabricate the component part is generated based on selective data retrieved from the databases. With the NC part program, the selected machine performs the operations necessary for producing the component part from the sheet stock material chosen for the component part. If there are multiple component parts to be produced in the same production run, the system would sort the different parts and arrange for the ordered fabrication of the different parts by respective selected machines equipped with corresponding appropriate NC programs to eliminate any potential bottleneck or conflicts that may arise due to the fabrication of multiple parts by multiple machines during the same production run.