A method wherein by reducing the amount of current, and therefore torque, to the linear servo motor (50) and/or rotary servo motor (52) of a loader mechanism (9), the loader mechanism is operable for determining proper workpiece positioning in a machine tool such as a gear manufacturing machine, particularly a machine (4) for manufacturing bevel and hypoid gears

After a free-form surface is machined on an elongated material 1 with a projection 3 and a blade root 4 held, the holding of the projection 3 is released to release strain generated during machining. Upon release of the holding, the entire elongated material 1 deforms, and the projection 3 moves from a holding position A to a strain-released position B. A re-holding position C obtained by correcting the position B by the deformation amount of the elongated material 1 due to the weight of the elongated material 1 is determined, and the projection 3 is held again at the re-holding position C for further machining the free-form surface on the elongated material 1.

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.

In a method for automated positioning of a blank in a processing machine provided with a housing and a spindle unit with an electric motor, a control unit for control and electrical supply of the processing machine, a computer producing processing programs for manufacturing workpieces, a workpiece holder, and an image recording unit that optically records image data of a blank received in the workpiece holder, a blank is fixed in the processing machine and the image recording unit produces an image of the blank. A division of the blank into an already processed region and into an unprocessed region based on the image data of the image is performed. A workpiece geometry to be produced is assigned to the unprocessed region of the blank, and a milling operation is performed on the unprocessed region. In a variant of the method, the image recording unit is separate from the processing unit.

A method wherein by reducing the amount of current, and therefore torque, to the linear servo motor (50) and/or rotary servo motor (52) of a loader mechanism (9), the loader mechanism is operable for determining proper workpiece positioning in a machine tool such as a gear manufacturing machine, particularly a machine (4) for manufacturing bevel and hypoid gears.

A workpiece installation method includes obtaining a reference image that shows a reference workpiece whose posture has been adjusted, setting workpiece reference lines on a boundary of a first image area occupied by the reference workpiece in the reference image, obtaining a measurement image that shows a workpiece, generating, using a processor, a measurement combined image in which workpiece reference lines are superimposed on the measurement image and which shows the workpiece reference lines pass through positions respectively identical to workpiece reference line positions, and adjusting a posture of the workpiece such that a boundary of a second image area occupied by the workpiece in the measurement combined image is shown to be substantially parallel to or substantially coincident with the workpiece reference lines.

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 relative displacement-specifying unit specifies relative displacement between a jig and tool based on measurement values of displacements of the tool and jig. A position determination unit determines whether the jig and the tool are positioned at jig and tool calibration points based on the measurement values. A displacement correction unit corrects the measurement values based on captured images of the jig and tool calibration points when it is determined that the jig and the tool are positioned at the calibration points. A contact determination unit determines whether the tool contacts the workpiece based on a measurement value related to main shaft flexure. A tool data correction unit corrects tool data based on the relative displacement when it is determined that the tool contacts the workpiece. A control unit generates a control command to control the jig or the tool based on the relative displacement, workpiece shape, and tool data.

A machining jig for rotatably supporting a workpiece comprising: a rotary drive part which rotates a seating part about a rotation axis, a clamp arm which has a rotary type clamp member which cooperates with the seating part to fasten a workpiece at a position separated from the seating part in a direction along the rotation axis of the seating part, a linear drive part which moves the clamp arm in a direction along a rotation axis, a position adjusting part which adjusts a position of the clamp arm in a plane intersecting the rotation axis, and a tilt adjusting part which adjusts a tilt of the clamp member so that a rotation axis of the clamp member becomes parallel with the rotation axis of the seating part.

A system is provided for determining a loading location of a workpiece relative to a holding fixture, comprising: a robot including a sensor; and a controller coupled to the robot and configured to activate the robot to grip the workpiece; enable a free-drive mode to permit an operator to move the gripped workpiece to a starting location: execute a center location routine including causing the robot to: move in a first direction until the sensor senses contact with a first surface of the holding fixture; move in a second direction until the sensor senses contact with a second surface: move in a third direction until the sensor senses contact with a third surface; and compute a three-dimensional center point of the holding fixture representing the loading location of the workpiece using the first, second and third sensed positions of contact.