A blast gate for a vacuum system includes a chassis connectable to a duct and defining a flow passage therethrough, and a gate connected to the chassis and rotatable about a central axis. The gate includes a first portion, an intermediate portion and a second portion spaced apart circumferentially about the central axis. The first portion defines a flow aperture, the intermediate portion defines an auxiliary flow aperture, and the second portion includes a partition. Each of the first portion, second portion and third portion is selectively rotatable into fluid alignment with the flow passage. The blast gate further includes a motor connected to the gate and selectively operable to rotate the gate about the central axis.

A machine tool system includes a schedule storage unit that stores machining schedule information containing a machining sequence of a plurality of workpieces, and a priority-level setting unit that allows a user to designate any of the workpieces in the machining schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit and to set a priority level for the designated workpiece. The workpiece for which the priority level is set by the priority-level setting unit is machined in accordance with the priority level, and the workpiece for which the priority level is not set is machined in accordance with the machining sequence after the workpiece for which the priority level is set is machined.

An unloading device and an unloading method for a gantry-type machining center beam guide rail is disclosed, which is used to be installed on a sliding plate assembly, comprising a first booster mechanism and a second booster mechanism. When a worm rotates and drives a worm gear to rotate, an axial displacement can be generated by the worm gear along a worm gear shaft to push the retaining sleeve assembly, and an unloading force generated acts on a first mounting bracket. An unloading bolt of the second booster mechanism is connected with a press plate through threads, the unloading bolt is rotated to generate an axial displacement, and a second sliding block is pressed tightly against an unloading guide rail vertical surface by a second mounting bracket to generate an unloading force.

An unloading device and an unloading method for a gantry-type machining center beam guide rail is disclosed, which is used to be installed on a sliding plate assembly, comprising a first booster mechanism and a second booster mechanism. When a worm rotates and drives a worm gear to rotate, an axial displacement can be generated by the worm gear along a worm gear shaft to push the retaining sleeve assembly, and an unloading force generated acts on a first mounting bracket. An unloading bolt of the second booster mechanism is connected with a press plate through threads, the unloading bolt is rotated to generate an axial displacement, and a second sliding block is pressed tightly against an unloading guide rail vertical surface by a second mounting bracket to generate an unloading force.

The method includes providing a computer model for producing the desired metal workpiece from the flat metal product in a processing procedure, the processing procedure including processing step on the flat metal product by a processing device, receiving technical data record characterizing the flat metal product, at least part of the data of the technical data record having been recorded during the production of the flat metal product, passing the technical data record to the input of the computer model, based on the passing of the technical data record, receiving a model value for an operating parameter of the processing device from the output of the computer model, producing the desired metal workpiece by controlling the processing procedure, the control of the processing procedure including a controlling of the processing device to perform the processing step on the flat metal product using the operating parameter set to the model value.

The method includes providing a computer model for producing the desired metal workpiece from the flat metal product in a processing procedure, the processing procedure including processing step on the flat metal product by a processing device, receiving technical data record characterizing the flat metal product, at least part of the data of the technical data record having been recorded during the production of the flat metal product, passing the technical data record to the input of the computer model, based on the passing of the technical data record, receiving a model value for an operating parameter of the processing device from the output of the computer model, producing the desired metal workpiece by controlling the processing procedure, the control of the processing procedure including a controlling of the processing device to perform the processing step on the flat metal product using the operating parameter set to the model value.

This machine tool is provided with: a sensor (30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-4) which is disposed in the vicinity of an opening for loading a workpiece and which measures the motion of an object approaching the opening; a storage unit (18) storing a rule for classifying non-processing time into setup time and non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object relative to the sensor; a determination unit (14) which, when a processing program is not being executed, determines whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object and the rule stored in the storage unit; and an output unit (20) which produces an output indicating whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time.

This machine tool is provided with: a sensor (30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-4) which is disposed in the vicinity of an opening for loading a workpiece and which measures the motion of an object approaching the opening; a storage unit (18) storing a rule for classifying non-processing time into setup time and non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object relative to the sensor; a determination unit (14) which, when a processing program is not being executed, determines whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object and the rule stored in the storage unit; and an output unit (20) which produces an output indicating whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time.

This machine tool is provided with: a sensor (30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-4) which is disposed in the vicinity of an opening for loading a workpiece and which measures the motion of an object approaching the opening; a storage unit (18) storing a rule for classifying non-processing time into setup time and non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object relative to the sensor; a determination unit (14) which, when a processing program is not being executed, determines whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object and the rule stored in the storage unit; and an output unit (20) which produces an output indicating whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time.

This machine tool is provided with: a sensor (30-1, 30-2, 30-3, 30-4) which is disposed in the vicinity of an opening for loading a workpiece and which measures the motion of an object approaching the opening; a storage unit (18) storing a rule for classifying non-processing time into setup time and non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object relative to the sensor; a determination unit (14) which, when a processing program is not being executed, determines whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time on the basis of the motion of the object and the rule stored in the storage unit; and an output unit (20) which produces an output indicating whether the current state of the machine tool corresponds to setup time or non-setup time.