Bending machine and method for bending a workpiece out of a flat material The invention relates to a bending machine (10) for bending a workpiece (12) out of a flat material, such as a sheet for example. A section (14) to be bent may be reshaped relative to a clamped section (16) of the workpiece (12) about at least one bending axis (18), wherein the bending machine (10) comprises: a machine frame (20); a first side clamping wall (22); a second side clamping wall (24) which can be moved relative to the first side clamping wall (22); and at least one bending unit (26, 28) comprising at least one bending tool (30). The first side clamping wall (22) and the second side clamping wall (24) are designed to clamp the workpiece (12) on a clamping plane (32). Furthermore, the bending unit (26, 28) is arranged on at least one of the first and second side clamping walls (22, 24) and is designed to bend the workpiece (12) section (14) to be bent relative to the clamped workpiece (12) section (16) about the at least one bending axis (18). According to the invention, the bending unit (26) has at least one linear guide (34-46), by means of which the bending tool (30) is linearly guided in order to be moved on an advancement plane (48).

There are provided an evaluation method and a prediction method for a technology to be reflected in a press die designing method. A deformation limit evaluation method includes evaluating the deformation limit on a sheared surface of a metal sheet in press-forming the sheared metal sheet. The deformation limit is evaluated and a crack in the sheared surface is predicted based on the relationship between an index value determined from two surface strain distribution gradients of a surface strain distribution gradient in a sheet thickness direction in the sheared surface and a surface strain distribution gradient in a bending ridge line direction by bending in a direction away from the sheared surface at an evaluation position among distributions of strains generated near the boundary between a bending outside surface and the sheared surface of the metal sheet to be bent and a tension generated in the sheared surface.

A method for a robot to automatically find a bending position, including the following steps: step 1, establishing a gripper tool coordinate system (TX, TY, TZ); step 2, determining a user coordinate system (X.sub.A, Y.sub.A, Z.sub.A; X.sub.B, Y.sub.B, Z.sub.B) of rear blocking fingers (11, 21); step 3, a robot gripper moving horizontally, and detecting the state of sensors (12, 22); step 4, the robot gripper executing a rotational movement, detecting the state of the sensors (12, 22), and thereby obtaining a standard bending position. The robot automatically finds the bending position, the teaching difficulty is reduced, and the bending quality is increased. In the elevator industry, elevator door plate bending sizes are the same, but forming sizes are different. In the present invention, only one product process needs to be taught in order to satisfy elevator door plate processing with different specifications, thereby reducing maintenance costs and increasing production efficiency.

The disclosure relates to a method for material processing of a two-dimensional sheet like material. The method comprises: obtaining information related to a desired design of a three dimensional object; obtaining information related to material characteristics of the sheet like material; defining a primary surface and a secondary surface of the desired design; and defining a geometrical relationship between said primary surface and secondary surface, wherein the secondary surface is a reflection of the primary surface in a two dimensional plane, and wherein when said primary surface is concave said secondary surface is convex, or when said primary surface is convex said secondary surface is concave; and providing a digital instruction for a fully developed spreading and subsequent folding of a two dimensional sheet into the obtained desired design, wherein said digital instruction is based on the defined primary and secondary surfaces, respectively, and said obtained material characteristics.

A pattern matching unit carries out a pattern matching between a photographed image obtained by photographing a workpiece with a monocular camera and a first plurality of models having a plurality of sizes and a plurality of angles, and selects a model having a size and an angle with the highest degree of matching. A primary detection unit detects a position and an angle of an uppermost workpiece based on the selected model. An actual load height calculation unit calculates an actual load height of the uppermost workpiece based on a hand height. A secondary detection unit re-detects the position and the angle of the uppermost workpiece based on a model having a size and an angle with the highest degree of matching selected by carrying out a pattern matching between the photographed image and a second plurality of models selected or newly created based on the actual load height.

To a fulcrum roll unit portion in a workpiece, a corresponding initial curvature radius is applied, and to a bending roll unit portion in a workpiece, a corresponding design curvature radius is applied. To an intermediate unit portion in a workpiece, an intermediate curvature radius set so as to continuously change from the initial curvature radius to the design curvature radius is applied. At least one of the fulcrum roll and the bending roll is moved on the basis of an integrated value obtained by integrating the amount of change in bending position in each of the intermediate unit portion and the bending roll unit portion.

A press brake assembly including a crane system and press brake machine for processing a workpiece. The crane system having a workpiece handling mechanism configured to pick and store the workpiece. The crane system allows the crane to move along a plane via longitudinal and lateral rails. The crane also includes multiple swivel points to allow mobility to handle workpieces efficiently. The control system of the press brake machine may control the crane, allowing a single control system to control the press brake assembly.

A combination machine for folding and die bending a workpiece includes a lower tool holder configured to releasably receive at least one lower bending tool; an upper tool holder configured to releasably receive at least one upper bending tool and which can be advanced in a straight line in an advancing direction toward the lower tool holder; a pivotable tool holder configured to releasably receive at least one bending tool which is to be pivoted and which can be pivoted relative to the lower tool holder about a pivot axis running perpendicular to the advancing direction of the upper tool holder; and a machine body on which the upper tool holder is arranged. The machine body is configured to absorb bending forces occurring in the advancing direction of the upper tool holder and bending forces occurring during pivoting of the pivotable tool holder depending on the progress of the bending process.

An automatic tool changer includes first and second tool change units that is driven respectively by a pair of servo motors and move along an arrangement direction of a plurality of tools installed on a tool installation unit, a torque detection unit that detects a torque of each of the pair of servo motors, and a control device that controls operations of the first and second tool change units. The control device fixes the first tool change unit at a reference position, and moves the second tool change unit toward the first tool change unit. The control device determines, based on a torque change of each servo motor, that a plurality of upper tools are brought together at the first tool change unit as a result of a movement of the second tool change unit.

In a method for manufacturing a metal pipe from a metal plate using a forming tool, the position of the tool is optimized simply and correctly by incorporating individuality of the raw material plate into setting of the tool position.

As a preparatory stage, a forming process is analyzed by simulation for each plate. Based on result of the analysis, correlation between a deformed shape value of a raw pipe and tool position information is acquired. Then, the forming process for each plate is stored as correlation between the deformed shape value of the raw pipe and the tool position information. During pipe manufacturing, a deformed shape value of the raw pipe is measured actually while a plate is passed. On the basis of the actually measured deformed shape value, a forming process for the raw pipe is expected and assumed (by using the correlation). Tool position information necessary for implementing the expected and assumed forming process is retrieved from the stored correlation. The retrieved tool position information is realized at a stand array.