A system and method for bending a surgical rod using an automated bending system includes receiving an indication of a plurality of line segments defined on the rod and an indication of an angle measurement to be formed between at least two adjacent ones of the plurality of line segments. Bending parameters to perform on the rod to form the angle measurement between the at least two adjacent ones of the plurality of line segments are determined and operation of the automated bending system is controlled using the bending parameters to create an angle having the angle measurement between the at least two adjacent ones of the plurality of line segments.

A metal extrusion and nodes based structure is provided. The structure comprises one or more arc members connected by one or more node members, wherein the arc comprises (i) a wing feature which is configured to mate with one or more non-structural components, (ii) an internal passage feature which is configured to be inserted into a connecting feature of the corresponding node member, and (iii) one or more keying features formed from a mating interface with the corresponding node member.

A metal extrusion and nodes based structure is provided. The structure comprises one or more arc members connected by one or more node members, wherein the arc comprises (i) a wing feature which is configured to mate with one or more non-structural components, (ii) an internal passage feature which is configured to be inserted into a connecting feature of the corresponding node member, and (iii) one or more keying features formed from a mating interface with the corresponding node member.

A wire forming machine with a plurality of tools, a wire fed in a wire feeding direction including a supporting base, a main tool holder rotatably supported by the base holding one of the plurality of tools, a first control drive source configured to control a position of the main tool holder at an arbitrary rotation position; a holder supporting table rotatably supported by the supporting base, a second control drive source to control a position of the holder supporting table at an arbitrary rotation, a first sub tool holder rotatably supported by the holder supporting table about a first sub rotation axis, the sub tool holder holding one of the plurality of tools, and a first interlock mechanism including a gear group or a belt coupling interlockingly rotatably the sub tool holder to the main tool holder to transfer drive force of the first control drive source and holder.

A method for the bending of a tubular metal article comprising at least the following steps a) determining a bending sequence of the tubular metal article by means of a calculating unit, and b) bending the tubular metal article according to the bending sequence determined during the execution of the step a) is described. During the step a) at least the following sub-steps are performed by the calculating unit: a1) defining an initial configuration and a final configuration of the tubular metal article which differs from the initial configuration by a number N of bends, a2) determining one or more explorative bending sequences as a function of the initial configuration and the final configuration, each explorative bending sequence having a cost and a3) proposing at least one or more explorative bending sequences having minimal costs as the determined bending sequence.

A method for the bending of a tubular metal article comprising at least the following steps a) determining a bending sequence of the tubular metal article by means of a calculating unit, and b) bending the tubular metal article according to the bending sequence determined during the execution of the step a) is described. During the step a) at least the following sub-steps are performed by the calculating unit: a1) defining an initial configuration and a final configuration of the tubular metal article which differs from the initial configuration by a number N of bends, a2) determining one or more explorative bending sequences as a function of the initial configuration and the final configuration, each explorative bending sequence having a cost and a3) proposing at least one or more explorative bending sequences having minimal costs as the determined bending sequence.

A method for forming a metal beam may comprise: clamping first and second portions of the metal beam in a substantially fixed and in a position whereat the metal beam is rotatable about three axes; applying a net bending force to the clamped second portion of the metal beam at a predetermined angle; sensing twisting of the second portion of the metal beam resulting from the net bending force; and modulating the angle at which the net force is applied to reduce the twisting of the metal beam. As a result, the net bending force is moved toward the shear center and toward being along the principal axis of the metal beam.

Systems and methods for enhanced pipe-bending are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, via a processor, a piping CAD model. One or more bends of the piping CAD model are identified. Relevant bending information for each bend of the one or more bends is calculated. The relevant bending information is aggregated as relevant bending information is calculated for each bend. The relevant information is formatted into a readable format and is provided to a pipe-bending manufacturer.

Systems and methods for enhanced pipe-bending are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, via a processor, a piping CAD model. One or more bends of the piping CAD model are identified. Relevant bending information for each bend of the one or more bends is calculated. The relevant bending information is aggregated as relevant bending information is calculated for each bend. The relevant information is formatted into a readable format and is provided to a pipe-bending manufacturer.

A surgical instrument comprising an implant bending device including a mating part such that the implant bending device is interchangeable with a bending module and a cutting module. The bending module having work surfaces engageable with a spinal implant to manipulate the spinal implant to a selected implant configuration. The cutting module is engageable with the spinal implant having the selected implant configuration. Systems, surgical instruments, spinal constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.