A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.

The invention relates to a device for managing the movements of a robot configured to treat a surface, said device including: acquisition means for acquiring a three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated; and determination means for determining a sequence of movements on the basis of said three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated; said determination means comprising at least one three-dimensional generic model (m1-m3) for which a plurality of sequences of movements (Tx) are known; said device including adjustment means for adjusting said generic model (m1-m3) with said three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated that are able to deform said generic model (m1-m3) and known sequences of movements (Tx) so as to correspond to said three-dimensional representation (Re) of said surface to be treated.

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

A manufacturing control system for an additive, subtractive, or hybrid machining system implements a morphic manufacturing approach that integrates in situ inspection and related decision-making into the manufacturing process. After execution of a machining or deposition operation, the system performs a sensor scan to collect sensor measurement data for the resulting part while the part remains in the manufacturing work cell. The measurement data is compared with an as-designed digital model of the part to determine whether further machining or deposition is necessary to bring the finished part into tolerance with the model. If necessary, the system performs another additive and/or subtractive manufacturing operation on the part based on analysis of the measurement data to bring the part into tolerance. The measured inspection data can be stored in association with each manufactured part for auditing purposes or for creation of part-specific digital twins.

A system and method for manufacturing a component is provided that includes a CNC machine tool, a correction module, and a system controller. The CMM module is controllable to determine a set of multi-axis coordinates surface points on the component. The correction module is in communication with the CMM module and stored reference inspection data. The system controller is in communication with the CNC machine tool, the correction module, and stored instructions. The instructions when executed cause the system controller to: a) control the CNC machine tool to modify a surface of the component; b) control the CMM module to determine multi-axis coordinates for surface points; c) determine surface position variances using the reference inspection data and the multi-axis coordinates; d) determine if surface position variances exceed a threshold; and e) create correction action instructions for controlling the CNC machine if surface position variances exceed the threshold.

A system and method are described for post-processing a 3D printed component. For example, support structures for the 3D printed component may be removed during post-processing. In the system and method, a marker is placed on the 3D printed component or on a support structure attached to the 3D printed component. The marker may be printed while the 3D printed component and the support structures are printed by a 3D printer. After printing, the marker may then be sensed to determine one or more cutting paths between the 3D printed component and the support structures. The 3D printed component may then be autonomously separated from the support structures by cutting through the cutting path.

An example method of correcting a defect in a seat comprises the steps of: (a) imaging a seat to obtain an image of the seat, a portion of the seat having a defect; (b) applying a localized boundary around the portion of the seat having the defect within the image of the seat; (c) translating the localized boundary into a seat specific map of a baseline model of the seat such that a portion of the baseline model of the seat that corresponds to the portion of the seat having the defect within the image of the seat is disposed within a translated localized boundary; (d) selecting a predetermined path for an automated device to correct the portion of the seat having the defect based on the portion of the baseline model of the seat; and (e) correcting the portion of the seat having the defect.

Manufacturing of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated in an automated manner.

A component machining apparatus includes a measurement result acquiring unit and a machining data generator. The measurement result acquiring unit is configured to acquire a measurement result obtained by a measurer configured to measure a three-dimensional shape of a manufactured component among components of a structure. The manufactured component is manufactured earlier than a component of interest. The machining data generator is configured to generate machining data of the component of interest based on the measurement result of the manufactured component that has been acquired by the measurement result acquiring unit.

A tool path for treating a shoe upper may be generated to treat substantially only the surface of the shoe bounded by a bite line. The bite line may be defined to correspond to the junction of the shoe upper and a shoe bottom unit. Bite line data and three-dimensional profile data representing at least a portion of a surface of a shoe upper bounded by a bite line may be utilized in combination to generate a tool path for processing the surface of the upper, such as automated application of adhesive to the surface of a lasted upper bounded by a bite line.