A chain saw includes a guide bar. The guide bar includes a recess. A communication chip or other onboard circuitry is positioned in the recess of the guide bar.

A spindle condition detection device for a machine tool includes: bearing load detecting means for detecting a load on a bearing that rotatably supports a spindle of a machine tool; and present usage ratio calculating means for calculating, based on the load detected by the bearing load detecting means, a present usage ratio that is a ratio of usage of the bearing with respect to a prescribed operating life of the bearing, which is achieved over a period until a present moment.

An air tool monitoring apparatus includes a housing having a hollow chamber formed therein, and also having an inlet and an outlet formed therein, each of the inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber. The apparatus also includes a first sensor for sensing a condition indicative of tool usage, a battery disposed in the housing, and a microprocessor operatively connected to the housing and including a timer, a memory storage module, and a unique identifier. The apparatus further includes a switch for starting and stopping the timer, and a communication device for sending data from the microprocessor to a data collection device. The apparatus may additionally include a second sensor for sensing a condition indicative of tool wear. Methods of using the apparatus, along with systems for monitoring and reporting on usage of multiple air tools equipped with the apparatus, are also described.

Device for detecting highly stressed positions in a machining tool with a spindle head and a spindle motor, the device comprising: a measuring unit adapted to acquire measurement values of the spindle head during operation of the spindle unit, the measurement values having a current position of the spindle head; a memory unit adapted to store the measurement values acquired; a stress determining unit adapted to determine an associated stress value for each of the detected positions taking into account the measurement values; and an output unit adapted to at least one of outputting the detected positions with the respective associated stress value, and determining from a total number of the determined stress values at least one high stress value which is greater than the other stress values of the total number, and then outputting the at least one determined high stress value with the position assigned to it.

A machining dimension prediction apparatus includes a trend acquirer that acquires, for each workpiece, trend information indicating a trend of a state of a machining tool during a machining period of machining performed by the machining tool, a feature calculator that calculates, based on the trend information, a feature using the trend of the state in each of sections included in the machining period, a measurement value acquirer that acquires a measurement value of a dimension of each workpiece after being machined, a section specifier that specifies, as a specific section of the sections, a section including a calculated feature having a greatest degree of relevance to the measurement value, and a predictor that predicts, when a new-target workpiece is machined, a dimension of the new-target workpiece after being machined based on the feature calculated using the trend of the state in the specific section.

In order to make it possible to inspect a deteriorated state of a spindle incorporated in a machine tool without disassembling the machine tool, a command for speed V0 is output to the spindle and, when the rotating speed of the spindle reaches V0, power of a spindle motor is interrupted and a timer is started. The spindle continues to rotate with inertia while decelerating. Time T clocked by the timer when the spindle speed decreases to zero is read. When time T is outside a range between the upper and lower limits, the spindle is in the deteriorated state, and an alarm is output. When time T is not greater than the lower limit, the spindle and a bearing of the spindle are deteriorated and friction resistance increases. When time T is larger than the upper limit, oil holding force of grease of the bearing is deteriorated.

A main spindle failure detection device for a machine tool includes a rotation speed detection unit, a reach time estimation unit, and a determining unit. The reach time estimation unit is configured to estimate a reach time in which the rotation speed of the main spindle reaches a predetermined rotation speed threshold using a non-linear model based on a rotation speed of the main spindle detected at a start of an inertia operation and a rotation speed of the main spindle detected after an elapse of preset measurement time from the start of the inertia operation. The determining unit is configured to compare the reach time estimated by the reach time estimation unit with a preset reach time in which the rotation speed reaches the rotation speed threshold, so as to determine a failure in the main spindle based on a result of the comparison.

A machining dimension prediction apparatus includes a trend acquirer that acquires, for each workpiece, trend information indicating a trend of a state of a machining tool during a machining period of machining performed by the machining tool, a feature calculator that calculates, based on the trend information, a feature using the trend of the state in each of sections included in the machining period, a measurement value acquirer that acquires a measurement value of a dimension of each workpiece after being machined, a section specifier that specifies, as a specific section of the sections, a section including a calculated feature having a greatest degree of relevance to the measurement value, and a predictor that predicts, when a new-target workpiece is machined, a dimension of the new-target workpiece after being machined based on the feature calculated using the trend of the state in the specific section.

Methods and systems for facilitating manufacturing and, in particular, methods and systems that run at least one driver on at least one containerized processing unit to provide communication with at least one piece of machinery. By interfacing with existing machinery and running the driver(s) on a containerized processing unit, an operator is able to modify at least one operational parameter related to the at least one piece of machinery without risk of affecting the stability of other parts of the system.

An abnormality detecting device and method for detecting a symptom of a failure of a spindle of a machine tool before the spindle malfunctions. The abnormality detecting device for detecting an abnormality or malfunction includes a spindle motor and a motor controller. The motor controller includes a time measuring part which measures a spindle stopping time from when a free-run of the spindle motor accelerated to a predetermined number of rotations is started to when the spindle motor is stopped, a storing part which stores the spindle stopping time measured by the time measuring part, and a comparing part which compares a plurality of data with respect to the spindle stopping time stored in the storing part, and judges as to whether or not an abnormality exists in the spindle or the spindle motor.