An elongated bending beam for a swivel bending machine has an approximately C-shaped beam cross section and two bending tools, which are opposite one another relative to a preferably horizontal central plane), and which run facing one another in the longitudinal direction of the bending beam, between which a workpiece portion of a workpiece to be bent can be introduced. An angle-measuring system for contactlessly measuring a bending angle is arranged inside the C-shape beam cross section, with which a bending angle can be measured relative to a reference plane at a workpiece section bent by one of the bending tools. The angle-measuring system also includes a first angle-measuring unit arranged below the central plane and having a first measuring region positioned substantially above the central plane, and a second angle-measuring unit arranged above the central plane and having a second measuring region positioned substantially below the central plane.

A distortion correction tool corrects distortion in a workpiece held by a fixture. Sensors in the fixture determine the existence, extent, and location of distortions in the workpiece and a controller directs the application of the distortion correction tool to the workpiece based on the information received from the sensors. Particularly, a ram mounted to a quick-change tool head for a robotic arm is used as a distortion correction tool to correct distortions in a workpiece by inducing plastic deformation through use of compressive force, the extent and location of which is determined by a controller based on sensor measurements.

A detection unit for detecting a press position and a load at the press position; an input/storage unit for inputting and storing a value serving as a reference for determining a bend point in a relation between the press position and the load at the press position; a slope calculation unit for calculating a slope of the load based on the press position and the load at the press position, which have been detected; and a bend-point determination unit for determining a point, at which the calculated slope of the load exceeds the value serving as the reference for determining the bend point, as the bend point are provided.

A detection unit for detecting a data row of a press position and a load at the press position; an input/storage unit for storing at least a load value serving as references for determining stop or judge; a calculation unit of the value of the slope of the load for calculating the value of the slope of the load based on the press position and the load at the press position detected; a calculation unit of the value of the slope of the slope of the load for calculating the value of the slope of the slope of the load based on the calculated value of the slope of the load; and a determination unit for comparing the calculated value of the slope of the slope of the load with the values serving as the references to determine stop or judge are provided.

A method for selecting optimum operation performance criteria for a metal working process. The method includes the step of developing a process model relating process parameters for the operation with performance variables for said operation, wherein the process parameters and performance variables are retrievable via integrated multiple data sources, and selecting at least one optimization technique to define a function, said function including process parameters. Moreover, the method includes generating the function for optimization by using acceptable tolerances of a product to be machined as a basis to define ranges for performance variables along with ranges for process parameters, and applying the at least one optimization technique to said function, whereby optimum operation performance criteria are calculated for the process model including process parameters and performance variables to obtain a set of requirements to be used for controlling the metal working process.

A detection unit for detecting a data row of a press position and a load at the press position; an input/storage unit for inputting and storing a value serving as a reference for determining a bend point in a relation between the press position and the load at the press position; a data-row calculation unit for calculating a data row of a press position and a load at a constant distance interval based on the data row of the press position and the load detected; a slope calculation unit for calculating a slope of the load based on the press position and the load at the press position detected; and a bend-point determination unit for determining a point, at which the calculated slope of the load exceeds the value serving as the reference for determining the bend point, as the bend point are provided.

A structure to apply flexing to an object to test resilience to being bent has a first portion and a second portion. The structure includes a base, a rotating member, a pressing plate, and an adjusting assembly. The base defines first and second receiving grooves, and the second receiving groove receives the first portion. The rotating member on the base is partially received in the first receiving groove. An abutting surface of the rotating member is recessed to form a third receiving groove which receives the second portion. The pressing plate on the base presses against the first portion. The adjusting assembly controls the rotating member to rotate towards the base about a desired angle, thereby causing the second portion to be bent with respect to the first portion.

An electronic angle measuring device for measuring the bending angle between the legs (4) of a metal sheet (5) having a sensor element (7) which delivers angle-equivalent signals in a contact-free manner to a signal processing device (9) comprising a microprocessor and a memory unit which is connected to a digital display (10) is described. In order to create advantageous measurement conditions, it is proposed that a sensor element (7) which deflects a laser beam through a rotating mirror onto the two legs (4) of the metal sheet (5) and which forms a measured value from the reflection beam received in the emission direction, the signal processing device (9) with the microprocessor and the memory unit as well as the digital display (10) form an angle measuring device (6) which can be fastened to an upper tool (1) of a bending machine and which can be used as a manual measuring device (6).

A bent member is a bent member including a metallic plate that is a main body, reinforcing plates provided to extend along bent portions formed by bending the metallic plate. The reinforcing plate is fitted in the opening formed in the metallic plate, and are welded to the metallic plate.

An electronic angle measuring device for a bending machine for measuring the bending angle between the legs (4) of a sheet (5) using a sensor element (7) is described, which supplies angle-equivalent signals in a contactless manner to a signal processing unit (9), which has a microprocessor and a memory unit and is connected to a digital display (10). To provide simple measuring conditions, it is proposed that the sensor element (7), the signal processing unit (9), and the display (10) form an angle measuring device (6) which is fastenable on the upper tool (1) of the bending machine and is usable as a handheld encoder, and which has a motion sensor (11), which is connected to the signal processing unit (9) and detects the lowering and/or raising movement of the upper tool (1), for triggering the measuring procedure