A tool welding system is disclosed that includes a table that heats a tool. A multi-axis robot includes a welding head that is moved relative to the table in response to a command. A controller is in communication with the robot and generates the command in response to welding parameters. The weld parameters are based upon a difference between an initial tool shape and a desired tool shape. The difference between the initial tool shape and the desired tool shape corresponds to a desired weld shape. The desired weld shape is adjusted based upon initial tool shape variations, which includes thermal growth of the tool. The tool is welded to provide the desired weld shape to achieve a desired tool shape.

A gantry-type positioning device includes first and second cross members. Two linear guides are disposed parallel to each other on a base and support the first and second cross members such that the cross members are movable in a first direction. A Y-carriage has a functional element and is supported on the first cross member such that the Y-carriage and the functional element are movable in a second direction. A position-measuring device is disposed on the second cross member and the Y-carriage such that a position of the Y-carriage relative to the second cross member is detectable. A Z-carriage supports the functional element such that the functional element is movable relative to the Y-carriage in a third direction. A further position-measuring device is disposed on the Y-carriage and the functional element such that a position of the functional element relative to the Y-carriage is detectable.

The present invention relates to a robot comprising a horizontal or horizontally slanted transparent experiment layer being adapted to support items at arbitrary positions on or in the experiment layer, and a moveable sensor arranged below the transparent experimental layer said sensor being configured for providing a sensor signal indicative of item(s)' location on the experiment layer, an actuator arranged for being moved into different positions above the horizontal transparent layer a display device being configured for visually representing located item(s) a user input device configured for receiving information as to operation of the actuator.

An apparatus includes a rigid frame or girder system, a first computer controlled motion system associated with the rigid frame or girder system and configured to move in coordinated positions, a second computer controlled motion system associated with a part to be worked on and configured to move in coordinated positions, and a plurality of sensors associated with the first motion system and the second motion system. The first computer controlled motion system and the second computer controlled motion system use information from the plurality of sensors to assist in coordination between the first computer controlled motion system and the second computer controlled motion system.

The invention is an in-process calibration system. It is not an open loop system or a closed loop system, but a hybrid system that retains both the low propensity for error of the closed loop system and the simplicity of the open loop system. The invention comprises a housing, one or more robots that move in up to three axes mounted to the housing, at least one sensor for each axis of the robots' movement, and a microcontroller. The sensors are fixed to the housing at known locations, and the microcontroller instructs end effectors of the robots through a sequence of moves that intermittently trigger the sensors. When the sensors are triggered, the microcontroller corrects the idealized location of the end effectors in the microcontroller's calculations to the actual location of the end effectors, which is, at the moment that the sensors are triggered, the known location of the sensors.

The present invention is directed to a method for the material-removing machining of a component for a turbomachine that includes the steps of i) recording a distance image by contact-free measurement of at least one surface of the component that is to be machined; ii) comparing the distance image to a computer model of the component and determining the sites of the component that are to be machined based on deviations between the distance image and the computer model; iii) generating a tool path for the sites of the component that are to be machined; and iv) material-removing machining of the component on the basis of the tool path by spark erosion, laser drilling, or conventional drilling.

The invention is an in-process calibration system. It is not an open loop system or a closed loop system, but a hybrid system that retains both the low propensity for error of the closed loop system and the simplicity of the open loop system. The invention comprises a housing, one or more robots that move in up to three axes mounted to the housing, at least one sensor for each axis of the robots' movement, and a microcontroller. The sensors are fixed to the housing at known locations, and the microcontroller instructs end effectors of the robots through a sequence of moves that intermittently trigger the sensors. When the sensors are triggered, the microcontroller corrects the idealized location of the end effectors in the microcontroller's calculations to the actual location of the end effectors, which is, at the moment that the sensors are triggered, the known location of the sensors.

A numerical controller performs cross-rail axis control that distributes moving amount to a first and second axes based on a command to a virtual axis. If a block of a program that is read out contains a fast feed command to the virtual axis for moving a tool to a cutting feed start point, the numerical controller distributes a moving amount commanded by the fast feed command to the first axis and the second axis. Further, the moving amount commanded by the fast feed command is distributed to the first axis and the second axis so that movement of the virtual axis commanded by a cutting feed command that follows the fast feed command in the program can be achieved by movement of only the first axis.

A method and apparatus for dispensing and retrieving products is provided. A system may include: a grasping head; first and second grasping members, each grasping member comprising: a top member; a post member; and first and second grasping fingers, where the first and second grasping fingers extend from the post member and are spaced apart from the top member by a predetermined distance, where the first and second grasping members are connected to the grasping head, where at least one of the first and second grasping members is movably connected to the grasping head, where the at least one of the first and second grasping members is movable relative to the other of the first and second grasping members.

A gantry drive system includes: a first motor configured to drive a driving object along a first axis; a second motor configured to drive the driving object along a second axis parallel with the first axis; and a motor control system configured to control the first and second motors. The motor control system includes a mode switch that performs a switching between a first control mode in which a position of the driving object on each of the first and second axes is individually controlled while reducing an inter-axis positional deviation between the first and second axes, and a second control mode in which a rotational state of the driving object is controlled while controlling a position of the driving object, based on detected positions of the driving object on the first and second axes.