Power tool methods and systems are provided for aligning a power tool to implement an angled cut in a workpiece. The power tool includes a first distance sensor and a second distance sensor. The power tool measures a first distance to the workpiece with the first distance sensor and a second distance to the workpiece with the second distance sensor. The power tool calculates an angle between the power tool and the workpiece based on the first and second distances, and indicates the angle via an angle output indicator of the power tool. The power tool may measure an angle between the power tool and the workpiece using a proximate edge and a distal edge of the workpiece, and indicate whether the power tool maintains a correct angle as it traverses a cut through the workpiece from the proximate edge to the distal edge.

A direct pose feedback (DPF) control method applied to a DPF controlled machine is provided. The DPF control method includes a pose compensation control in addition to the position feedback control. The pose compensation control includes an initiation step, a reference system step, an actual pose calculation step and a position compensation step. The sum of the primary driving value and the compensation driving value is output to the driver of each of the motors. The advantage of the DPF control method is that the existing real-time position control loop in the controller can remain unchanged, while the pose compensation control is added to eliminate tool pose error resulted from geometric errors in the machine. The DPF controlled machine uses a pose measuring mechanism to measure the actual pose of the tool and to compensate the tool pose error. Hence, the DPF controlled machine is free of geometric errors.

A universal tram is provided for aligning machine tools. The universal tram includes a slide rail, featuring a rail along its length, to which a clamping coupler attaches. In turn, the clamping coupler attaches to the indicator holder. The indicator holder is configured to hold an indicator. The slide rail is configured for direct attachment to horizontal and vertical milling machines, for example. Optionally, the universal tram also includes a machine adapter and adapter plate. The machine adapter serves as a base block for positioning a measurement or tramming device on a machine tool to which the slide rail does not directly attach—a horizontal or vertical lathe, for example. The adapter plate allows for the height of the machine adapter to be adjusted by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the adapter plate. Further, a method of using the universal tram is also provided.

A method of machining an elongate workpiece extending along a longitudinal axis and shaped to be supported rotationally instably about the longitudinal axis includes sensing a rotation of the workpiece about the longitudinal axis, thereby yielding a sensing result; and machining the workpiece at the machining station at least partly in dependence of the sensing result.

A method of machining an elongate workpiece extending along a longitudinal axis and shaped to be supported rotationally instably about the longitudinal axis includes sensing a rotation of the workpiece about the longitudinal axis, thereby yielding a sensing result; and machining the workpiece at the machining station at least partly in dependence of the sensing result.

A machine integrated positioning system shows an operator where to place a raw part in the press brake or other machinery. Further, the operator is informed if the dimensions associated with the raw part are, or are not, correct to produce the planned finished part. The operator is visually shown how the raw part is to be oriented. The operator is informed if the raw part is right-side-up, along with other pre-final placement information. If these and other conditions are not met, the machine integrated positioning system may prevent the press brake and other machinery from cycling.

A workpiece exchange device, including: a workpiece spindle; and a workpiece library, wherein: the workpiece spindle is arranged on a pallet, the pallet is arranged on a slide table, the pallet can move along a Z axis of a machine tool, and the slide table can move along an X axis of the machine tool; and the workpiece library is used to store workpieces, and the workpiece spindle can move along the X-axis and Z-axis of the machine tool and grab a workpiece. The present invention also discloses a method for exchanging workpieces. Through the coordinated movement of the slide table and the pallet, the workpiece spindle can take out a workpiece to be machined from the workpiece library or return a machined workpiece into the workpiece library. The present invention uses a machine tool coordinate system to grab the workpiece with high precision and high speed, and does not need to add an auxiliary mechanism, and has the advantages of simple structure, high stability and good reliability.

A workpiece exchange device, including: a workpiece spindle; and a workpiece library, wherein: the workpiece spindle is arranged on a pallet, the pallet is arranged on a slide table, the pallet can move along a Z axis of a machine tool, and the slide table can move along an X axis of the machine tool; and the workpiece library is used to store workpieces, and the workpiece spindle can move along the X-axis and Z-axis of the machine tool and grab a workpiece. The present invention also discloses a method for exchanging workpieces. Through the coordinated movement of the slide table and the pallet, the workpiece spindle can take out a workpiece to be machined from the workpiece library or return a machined workpiece into the workpiece library. The present invention uses a machine tool coordinate system to grab the workpiece with high precision and high speed, and does not need to add an auxiliary mechanism, and has the advantages of simple structure, high stability and good reliability.

The method can include measuring the tridimensional positions of a reference feature for a first at least three different angular positions of the reference feature around the first rotation axis and a same first reference angular position around the second rotation axis, the reference feature being fixed relative to the component; and measuring the tridimensional positions of the reference feature for a second at least three different angular positions of the reference feature around the first rotation axis and a same second reference angular position around the second rotation axis.

An on-machine measurement device that locates a tip position of a blade of a machining tool provided on a machining device includes: a measurement unit configured to measure, in a workpiece that has been machined by the machining tool, a height of a reference plane not machined by the machining tool and a height of a machined surface machined by the machining tool; and a locating unit configured to locate the tip position of the blade of the machining tool based on information on a machining depth specified at the time of machining of the workpiece, and the height of the reference plane and the height of the machined surface that are measured by the measurement unit.