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 method of bending extruded shapes of the present invention controls a bending radius and a bending angle in accordance with a moving distance of a movable bending die. In the bending process, hardness of an extruded shape to be processed is measured and converted into proof stress, and the bending condition for compensating the springback is determined. A correction coefficient C showing a ratio of a practical value of the moving distance and a theoretical value of the moving distance in a case of no spring-back occurring is defined by a function of Young's modulus E, geometrical coefficient Z, bending radius R and proof stress .sigma..sub.0.2 for the extruded shape to be processed. The correction coefficient C is obtained by measuring the hardness of the extruded shape to be processed, converting the measured hardness into the proof stress, and substituting the proof stress and a predetermined bending radius R into the function, and the practical value of the moving distance of the movable bending die is determined.
Abstract:
A method of permanently bending a first part of a subject body having non-linear elastic properties about a bending line to a desired angle relative to a second part of the body in which a first set of data is produced from similar bodies of the amount of permanent bending obtained as a function of different amounts of angular displacement of the first part, the first part of a subject body is permanently bent to a first angle different from said desired angle by angularly displacing the subject body's first part by an amount determined by the first set of data and thereafter the first part of the subject body is further angularly displaced from the first angle to permanently bend its first part to the desired angle.
Abstract:
A device and method for taking to account the elasticity of materials during bending operations to cause the proper amount of overbending such that after springback and while at rest, the material assumes its intended shape.
Abstract:
A straightening press of the type wherein a workpiece is supported for deflection in a given direction by an anvil engageable with the workpiece. A reference spring is supported for deflection with the reference spring supports being serially interconnected with the anvil. In a preferred embodiment, a floating bridge carries the anvil and reference spring supports. Deflecting force applied to the reference spring, as by a ram, is transmitted to the workpiece via the floating bridge. A change in the differential displacement of the ram and floating bridge is detected to determine the onset of plastic deformation of the workpiece.
Abstract:
Deviations from desired shape of plasticly deformable objects are corrected within narrow tolerances by a method wherein the real shape of the object is sensed, whereupon the deviation from the desired shape is determined and a correction length corresponding to the deviation is defined, after which the object in a straightening operation is subjected to a shape correction corresponding to the correction length. At least one measurement transmitter (4) is disposed to sense the real shape of the object (2) and deliver a corresponding output signal which is fed to a unit (6,8,9) for comparison with information about the desired shape of the object stored in the unit for determining the deviation, the unit delivering an output signal defining a correction length corresponding to the deviation, the output signal controlling a straightening device (12,14,16,18,20,22,24) to carry out a correction of the shape of the object corresponding to the correction length. The method and the apparatus are adaptive as the shape of the object (2) is sensed after the shape correction and the relationship between correction length and deviation in the shape is modified in response to a possibly remaining deviation in the shape.
Abstract:
A means and method is provided for reducing radius expansion of bent, elongated materials due to "spring-back" occurring after the material is released from the bender clamps of a hot bending apparatus, wherein the longitudinal axis of the unbent portion of the material is displaced by a small angle from a perpendicular to a line running through the center of the bend and the bender heating means.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for automatically straightening elongated and at least partly rotationally symmetrical workpieces by applying a sequence of straightening strokes to a workpiece at each of a plurality of straightening stations to counteract a deformation until the measured instantaneous values of the deformation fall within a predetermined deformation tolerance. The depth of the straightening strokes is determined by the difference between the measured instantaneous values of the deformation and the mean of the maximum and minimum values of the deformation.
Abstract:
A bending machine for elongated articles in which a rotatable bending platen supports bending tools, adjustable setting means control the rotation of the bending platen through predetermined principal bending angles, with an electrically operated control system continuining any bending operation through a predetermined supplementary angle after bending through the principal angle has been accomplished. An adjustable delay device is operably associated with each principal bending angle and is arranged to coact with a motor for driving the bending platen so that the motor remains activated for a further period of time after a given principal bending has been reached for effecting bending through the supplementary bending angle.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for automatically compensating specified tube bend data for angular, fixed and radial springback to generate commanded machine axis motions which will result in the specified bent tube. For a given tube material and bending machine configuration, a calibration run is performed with a test tube and, thereafter, for that material and machine configuration, a tube of any shape can be produced from the specified bend data alone. Bends of radius greater than the machine bend die radius can be produced by automatically calculating and executing the axis commands for a series of incremental bends. The system incorporates a control sequence using operator response to machine generated questions and statements as well as general input and output capabilities.