Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures include: obtaining a density-based representation of a modeled object and data specifying a starting element for each of multiple different subsets of elements; processing starting elements having milling depths associated with layers below a top most layer, the processing including, for a current starting element for a current layer, identifying other starting elements that have milling depths associated with a layer above the current layer and are closer to the current starting element than an amount at least equal to a radius of a smallest available milling tool, calculating a maximum angular difference, and moving the milling depth for the element subset of the current starting element to a layer above the current layer, responsive to the maximum angular difference being greater than a threshold, to remove a non-manufacturable corner.

A toolpath topology design method based on vector field in sub-regional processing for the curved surface is disclosed which comprising: finding the functional relationships in feeding direction between the chord error and the normal curvature and between the scallop-height error and the normal curvature; establishing the bi-objective optimization model and calculating the optimal feeding direction at each cutting contact point within the surface through the constructed evaluation function, the space vector field is built; calculating divergence and rotation of the projected vector field and according to whether them are zeros or not to classify different sub-regions, the primary surface segmentation is achieved, etc. The method is applied for the complex curved surface processing, which can reduce the machining error and enhance the feed motion stability.

A smart tool system may include at least one assembly of a tool holder and a tool, and a tooling machine configured to rotate the at least one assembly to cut a workpiece. The tooling machine may have a spindle to which the tool holder may be selectively attachable, and a controller configured to rotate the spindle at a spindle speed. The smart tool system may also include at least one database configured to store vibrational data relating to at least one of the at least one assembly and the tooling machine. The smart tool system may further be configured to determine an optimum operating value and/or range of optimum operating values of at least one parameter for the tooling machine based on the vibrational data. The optimum operating value(s) provide for minimized or no chatter when cutting the workpiece.

A numeric-control work centre can be used for carrying out cutting operations or grinding and/or milling operations on plates of stone, marble, or, in general, natural or synthetic stone material, or ceramic material. The work centre comprises at least one working head movable along at least two mutually orthogonal horizontal axes on a work surface. The work surface includes a rigid supporting board, which defines a first planar supporting surface, and a series of sacrificial elements rigidly connected to the rigid supporting board. The sacrificial elements are arranged in positions spaced apart from each other and define a second supporting surface located at a higher level than the first planar supporting surface, so that a cutting tool coupled to the working head engraves the sacrificial elements, without interfering with the supporting board during a cutting operation on a plate resting on the sacrificial elements, whichever is the path followed by the cutting tool. Between the sacrificial elements there remain free portions of the planar surface of the supporting board, so that they can be removably engaged by one or more blocks for supporting and holding the plate. These blocks project above the sacrificial elements and are adapted to define a third supporting surface, located at a higher level than the second supporting surface, for supporting and holding a plate during a milling or grinding operation on the plate.

The disclosed technology relates to an intelligent motion control system that utilizes onboard sensors and processing to guide a surface manipulation machine along a path of travel on a surface, confirm a position of the machine with respect to the surface, and actuate a surface manipulation tool to achieve a desired surface profile or locate a point of interest. The system may include a first and second surface profiler that is configured to scan a surface on which the system travels and a positional sensor configured to generate positional data representing a position of the machine. The processor is configured to generate topography data based on output received from the first surface profiler, generate intermediate data based on output received from the second profiler, compare the intermediate data with the topography data to calculate an offset; and control motion of the system based on the offset.

A method for sensing a cutting-edge load in a motor-driven machine-tool unit having a stator unit and a rotor unit that is rotatable at least about an axis of rotation. The rotor unit includes a tool receiving unit that is adjustable along the axis of rotation and to which a clamping force can be applied, for fixing and clamping a releasably fixable tool shank of a tool. A tool head of the tool includes at least one individual cutting edge. A tool sensor is provided for sensing the load on the tool, the tool sensor being realized as an individual-cutting-edge sensor for sensing a cutting-edge load on the individual cutting edge.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of physical structures include: obtaining a density-based representation of a modeled object and data specifying a starting element for each of multiple different subsets of elements; processing starting elements having milling depths associated with layers below a top most layer, the processing including, for a current starting element for a current layer, identifying other starting elements that have milling depths associated with a layer above the current layer and are closer to the current starting element than an amount at least equal to a radius of a smallest available milling tool, calculating a maximum angular difference, and moving the milling depth for the element subset of the current starting element to a layer above the current layer, responsive to the maximum angular difference being greater than a threshold, to remove a non-manufacturable corner.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for operating a machine tool comprising: during a machining process in which a first workpiece of a first batch is machined using the machine tool, detecting a measured variable using a detection device of the machine tool; determining a measured value characterizing the machining process as a function of the measured variable using an electronic computing device; and comparing the determined measured value with a reference function determined before the machining process using a reference machining process carried out before the machining process using the machine tool and/or by a further machine tool and stored in an electronic memory device, the reference function characterizing the reference machining process to machine a second workpiece of a second batch.

A cavity is cut into a wooden structure (e.g., stringer, block, or deckboard) of a wood pallet such that an electronic tracking device can be embedded into the wooden structure for tracking the pallet. The cavity is shaped to allow for a sufficient thickness of remaining wood material surrounding the cavity to remain strong and also to allow for sufficient thinness so wireless signals can be reliably transmitted to/from electronics within the cavity. The remaining space within the cavity around the embedded tracking device is filled with a potting material to secure and protect the tracking device within the cavity. The tracking device monitors the location of the pallet and provides location data to a back-end system over a communication channel either directly or via a local hub. The back-end system performs analytics on the location data.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of cutting machining, and discloses a cross-scale structure feature surface machining method based on a multi-component collaborative vibration. A vibration in a z-axis direction is applied to a servo movement mechanism to realize the cutting of a micron-scale structure and the adjustment of the cutting depth; and the vibration in the z-axis direction is applied to a three-axis movement platform to realize the cutting of a millimeter-scale structure and the adjustment of the cutting depth. A required cross-scale structure feature surface can be machined and formed at one time through a collaborative vibration among a vibrating tool, a servo movement mechanism, and/or a three-axis movement platform according to the structure type contained in the required cross-scale structure, which can simplify a process flow and improve the machining efficiency, and has high economic efficiency.