An automated guided vehicle travels in a sheet metal processing facility in which a plurality of sheet metal processing machines are installed. The automated guided vehicle includes an abnormality detection sensor for detecting an abnormality that has occurred while the automated guided vehicle is traveling, a notification destination specifying unit for specifying a sheet metal processing machine as a notification destination of a state of the abnormality, from the plurality of sheet metal processing machines when the abnormality detection sensor detects the abnormality, and a notification information transmission control unit for wirelessly transmitting information for notifying the state of the abnormality, to the sheet metal processing machine as the notification destination specified by the notification destination specifying unit.

A control system employs a model-based multi-variable predictive control for cold rolling mills to improve sheet thickness uniformity to meet or exceed specifications in flatness. Sheet metal thickness and flatness deviations from standard requirements are significantly reduced with attendant improved control accuracy as compared to traditional control approaches that use PID based closed loop controls. The control system is particularly suited for control of 4-hi non-reversible single-stand metal rolling mills. The mill stand has a first work roll and a second work roll respectively positioned between a first back up roll and a second back up roll. A plurality of sensors measures and acquires property data of the sheet of material. A model predictive controller manipulates actuators to regulate thickness and flatness. The controller executes automatic gauge control, which is machine direction metal control, and automatic flatness control, which is cross direction metal sheet control, as metal sheet is rolled.

A sorting method automatically sorts workpieces produced in a flatbed machine tool according to a scheduled sorting process by a sorting device. The method includes: providing at least one piece of process information created as a result of manufacturing of the workpieces; analyzing the at least one piece of process information, such that it is determined whether there is a sorting disruption; and upon determining that there is the sorting disruption, automatically modifying the sorting process.

The present disclosure relates to forming a metallic part to decrease residual stress and reduce springback behavior in the metallic part after forming. Target locations in the metallic part for excess material are determined based on electronic modelling prior to forming. The excess material in the target locations is configured to decrease residual stress in the metallic part after forming. The metallic part is contacted for forming at one or more contact locations away from as-cut end surfaces of the metallic part, such that the as-cut end surfaces are unconstrained during forming. The excess material is caused, based on the one or more contact locations and the excess material at the one or more target locations, to flow in one or more specific directions during forming to decrease the residual stress in the metallic part and reduce springback behavior in the metallic part after forming.

An incremental sheet forming system and method are configured to form a structure through an incremental sheet forming process. The incremental sheet forming system and method include a forming control unit that compensates for spring back of a structure to be formed through the incremental sheet forming process.

Techniques are described for machining flat workpieces, such as metal sheets, or three-dimensional workpieces on a processing machine, such as a machine tool or laser cutting machine, including capturing a live image of a workpiece to be machined with an image capturing device for capturing two-dimensional images; displaying at least one workpiece machining operation to be performed in the live image of the workpiece by a predetermined forward transformation of the workpiece machining operation from the three-dimensional machine coordinate system into the two-dimensional live-image coordinate system; repositioning the workpiece machining operation to be performed in the live image of the workpiece; and performing the workpiece machining operation on the workpiece by a predetermined inverse transformation of the repositioned workpiece machining operation from the two-dimensional live-image coordinate system into the three-dimensional machine coordinate system.

A process for separating, collecting and storing pieces cut from one or more metal sheets and resulting from at least one cutting step, during which one or more pieces, variously arranged and configured, have been cut on the metal sheet. The present invention concerns also the system implementing this process.

Disclosed is a method for aiding in manual handling of a work piece during machining, which method comprises the steps of: reading a predetermined work plan, comprising a required orientation of the work piece for each machining step of the work plan; detecting the orientation of the work piece; comparing the detected orientation of the work piece with the required orientation; and projecting an indication on the work piece for aiding to manually orient the work piece to the required orientation for the machining step to be performed. Al disclosed is a device for performing the method.

An optimum scattering angle calculator calculates an optimum scattering angle at which molten metal is most desirably scattered at a time of piercing processing of opening a pierced hole in a sheet metal to fabricate a first product, the molten metal being not adhered to an approach path and not adhered to a processing path for a second product positioned within a search region centered on a center of the pierced hole at the optimum scattering angle. A program creator creates a processing program by adding an auxiliary code to a code for fabricating the first product, the auxiliary code indicating that, at a time of the piercing processing on the first product, a position of a laser beam in an opening of a nozzle is displaced in an angle direction of the optimum scattering angle from a center of the opening, the laser beam being emitted from the opening.

A position sensing tool for enabling topographical measurements of a working surface is provided. The tool includes sensors for mapping the tool environment and for positioning of the tool within the environment. The tool enables tracking of tool activity within the environment. The tool enables design and fabrication collaboration with other computer systems. The tool enables user and tool environment safety using tool positional, user position and tool environment awareness. Certain embodiments of the tool permit automated guidance of tasks in the tool environment.