A measurement system includes a multi-axis robot, a measurement unit coupled to the multi-axis robot, and a data processing apparatus, wherein the measurement unit includes one or more imaging devices movable with respect to a reference position of the multi-axis robot, and a position specification device for specifying a position of one or more of the imaging devices with respect to the reference position, wherein the data processing apparatus includes an acquisition part for acquiring a plurality of pieces of captured image data generated by having one or more of the imaging devices capture images at two or more positions, and a measurement part for measuring a distance between the plurality of feature points in a workpiece on the basis of a position of the feature point of the workpiece included in the plurality of pieces of captured image data.

A workpiece position determination device includes an imager, a driver to move the imager relative to a workpiece in a planar direction parallel to a planar surface of the imager, a controller to control the driver so that the imager moves along a prescribed trajectory that passes through locations in a boundary portion in the planar surface in a plan view, a storage to store image information captured by the imager while the imager moves along the prescribed trajectory, and coordinate information of the imager at a time of capturing each image information, a position determiner to determine the position of the workpiece in the planar direction corresponding to the boundary portion based on the image information and the coordinate information stored in the storage, and an offset determiner to determine an offset of the workpiece from a reference position based on a determination result from the position determiner.

There is provided a flexible manufacturing system that can reliably place a workpiece that isn't defective piece in a state where the workpiece will be machined again. After a pallet is conveyed to a standby position and before machining of the workpiece attached to the pallet is started, controllers determines whether machining of the workpiece with a corresponding machining device is possible. When it is determined that machining is possible, the controller starts machining with the machining device. When it is determined that machining is impossible, the controller make a conveyor convey the pallet from the standby position to a pallet storage room, and stores the machining status information on the conveyed pallet as the machining-waiting state.

In a molder, at least one rotatably driven tool (7, 8, 10, 11) is used to produce the structure (27) or contour on the workpiece (1) by workpiece removal. The workpiece positions along the workpiece (1) for producing the structure or contour are set depending on the data of the workpiece (1) and of the tool (7, 8, 10, 11). The data are transmitted to the machine controller which processes the CNC program based on the data during the passage of the workpiece (1) through the molder and moves the tool (7, 8, 10, 11) into the required positions via CNC drives depending on the workpiece position. The workpiece position is sensed during the passage of the workpiece (1) through the molder. In order to sense the workpiece position in the molder, at least one measuring element (18) is provided upstream and downstream of the tool (1), said measuring element (18) being connected to the machine controller and supplying signals that describe the advancing travel of the workpiece (1) to the machine controller. By way of the machine controller, the tool (7, 8, 10, 11) is moved into the respective tool positions in accordance with the signals.

In a method for machining a cutting tool and a machining device for carrying out the method, the cutting tool includes a cutting tool body and at least one cutting insert with at least one cutting edge attached to the cutting tool body. A three-dimensional surface of the cutting tool is predetermined. Cutting edge boundary surfaces are determined from this surface, which form a surface of the cutting insert and are located adjacent to a cutting edge of the cutting insert. The machining device is controlled on the basis of these cutting edge boundary surfaces and removes material from the cutting insert in a targeted manner, whereby a collision between the cutting tool and a material removal device of the machining device is prevented.