A computerized method of machining a workpiece including, prior to machining the workpiece, establishing, based on empirical data obtained from machining activity at an earlier time, an historical mapping indicating pairings of depth of cut and rpm at which undesirable chatter (UDC) did not occur during machining activity at an earlier time using at least one given type of milling machine, at least one given type of cutting tool and at least one given type of workpiece material, prior to commencing machining of the workpiece, programming a machine tool to machine the workpiece using a given type of milling machine, a given type of cutting tool and a given type of workpiece material at at least one depth of cut and rpm, which, based on the historical mapping, avoid UDC and operating the machine tool in accordance with the programming to machine the workpiece.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium has instructions executed by a processor to compute an x-axis axial position based upon a first host border measurement signal, a second host border measurement signal, first x-axis axial measurement signals and second x-axis axial measurement signals. A y-axis axial position is computed based upon the first host border measurement signal, the second host border measurement signal, first y-axis axial measurement signals and second y-axis axial measurement signals. A z-axis axial position is computed based upon the first host border measurement signal, the second host border measurement signal, first z-axis axial measurement signals and second z-axis axial measurement signals. The operation of a computer numerical control milling machine is coordinated based upon the x-axis axial position, the y-axis axial position and the z-axis axial position.

A debris control apparatus is provided for selective assembly and disassembly with a cutting tool. The debris control apparatus includes a debris control enclosure and a mounting assembly for mounting the enclosure to the cutting tool. The enclosure comprises a vacuum opening assembled and in fluid communication with a vacuum conduit, the vacuum conduit connected to a vacuum source, for extracting the debris from the enclosure. The enclosure and vacuum conduit may be sized, shaped, and contoured to reduce recirculation of debris within the enclosure.

The machining station can include a table; at least three robots each having a multi-axis mover secured to the table, and a gripper opposite the table, the robots being interspaced from one another on the table; and a controller. The controller controls the robots to hold a workpiece in a coordinated manner. The computer numerical command (CNC) machine-tool system machines the workpiece while the workpiece is held by the robots. The workpiece can be moved into and out from the machining station with a trolley which slidingly engages a trolley path formed within the table.

A method for numerical control milling, forming and polishing of a large-diameter aspheric lens to solve the problems of long time-consuming and severe tool wear in the machining of a meter-scale large-diameter aspheric surface is disclosed. An aspheric surface is discretized into a series of rings with different radii, and the rings are sequentially machined through generating cutting by using an annular grinding wheel tool; the rings are equally spaced, there are a total of N rings, and the width of any ring is jointly determined by the N.sup.th ring, the (N?1).sup.th ring, positioning accuracy, and a generatrix equation of the aspheric lens, and the n.sup.th ring has a curvature radius of Rn=sqrt(R0.sup.2?k*(n*dx).sup.2); and the aspheric surface is enveloped by a large number of rings.

In a normal operation of a roll stand (e.g. 4) of a roll train, working rolls (10) of the roll stand (4) are adjusted to a roll gap (s4) by adjusting a control element position (p4) of a control element (14) of the roll stand (4), such that the working rolls (10) roll the metal band (5). To determine the control element position (p4) to be adjusted, a calibration value (sC4) of the respective roll stand (4), further status parameters (P4) of the roll stand (4) and a target roll gap (s4*) are specified to a model (15) of the roll stand (4). The model (15) determines the control element position (p4) to be adjusted therefrom. In the calibration operation, a control element position (p4) is initially adjusted such that the metal band (5) passes through the roll stand (4) without being rolled. The control element position (p4) is varied such that the working rolls (10) roll the metal band (5). A thickness (d) of the metal band (5) is detected by a downstream thickness-measuring device (9). The thickness (d), further status parameters (P4) and the control element position (p4) are supplied to the model (15), which determines the calibration value (sC4) of the respective roll stand (4) therefrom. Subsequently, normal operation is resumed and the previously determined calibration value (sC4) is used to determine control element positions (p4) to be adjusted as the calibration value (sC4) of the respective roll stand (4).

An estimated force applied by a milling tool at a surface point of a component is determined during milling operations of the component. An estimated deflection of the component associated with the estimated force is determined using the estimated force and a compliance tensor of the component corresponding to the surface point of the component. The estimated deflection of the component is compared to one or more deflection criteria. A feed rate of the milling tool is adjusted during the milling operations of the component based on results of the comparing.

Production plant (1) for producing at least one end product (3) from at least one primary starting material (2), comprising at least one processing station (41-43) which processes at least one starting material (21-23) to form at least one product (31, 32, 33), and a process controller (51-53) which can control at least one variable (71-73), which is a measure of a quality feature of the product (31-33) and/or is correlated with a quality feature of the product (31-33), by influencing at least one manipulated variable (61-63) acting on the processing station (41-43), wherein the process controller (51-53) is additionally designed to control the production rate (31a-33a) of the processing station (41-43) for the product (31-33) and/or the consumption rate (21a-23a) of the processing station (41-43) with regard to starting material (21-23) by acting on the manipulated variable (61-63).

Disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing a dental device, the method comprising: obtaining a set of clinical options for the dental device from a health care provider; creating a first data set from the set of clinical options; communicating the data set to a computer aided design (CAD) software; preparing a digital design for the dental device using the CAD software; communicating the digital design to an automated milling apparatus; and automatedly milling a block of polymer to obtain the dental device. Also disclosed are dental devices manufactured by the above method. Further disclosed are methods of treating or ameliorating apnea jaw-related disorder in a patient, the method comprising obtaining a dental device manufactured by the above method and positioning the dental device over the dentition prior to sleep, whereby the mandible is advanced forward relative to the maxilla, thereby ameliorating the symptoms of sleep apnea or the jaw-related disorder.

A method includes: selecting a movement path for a moving component of a machine tool; either before or after the movement path, causing the moving component to make a first predefined movement; before the movement path, causing the moving component to make a second predefined movement; after the movement path, causing the moving component to make a third predefined movement; recording, using a computing device including one or more accelerometers, movement data resulting from the first, second and third predefined movements, and from the movement path; analyzing the movement data by finding waveforms to identify a start point, a finish point, and which one of the predefined movement paths in the set was selected; calculating timing information based on the identified start and end points, and the identified one of the predefined movement paths in the set; and determining performance limits of the machine tool based on the timing information.