Industrial production facilities (such as can making factories) may tag with radio frequency near proximity devices their tooling (knockouts, dies, punches, etc) so that the tooling may be instantly located on any particular machine or location in the facility, by known critical characteristics of the tooling, particularly diameter. This is possible because each machine will also have a reader for the tags, and other areas such as inventory shelves, inspection stations, doors, loading docks, shipping departments and even vendors may also have the reading devices. Passive RFID tags and readers may be used for this purpose. The invention may be open to other businesses so inventory may be located across manufacturing systems and/or businesses.

The machine tool apparatus comprises: multiple work machine modules configured to sequentially perform a series of manufacturing-related operations on a workpiece; a robot configured to convey the workpiece between the multiple work machine modules; an individual information-providing device configured to provide an individual information to the workpiece conveyed into the multiple work machine modules and subjected to manufacturing-related operations; a storage device; and a control device configured to link the manufacturing history of manufacturing-related operations performed on the workpiece by the multiple work machine modules and store the information in the storage section, the workpiece being a workpiece to which the individual information was provided by the individual information-providing device.

A method of identifying dental consumables including at least one of a dental blank (2) and a dental tool (3) equipped into a dental tool machine (1). The method includes: a step of colliding the dental tool (3) with the dental blank (2) or a dental blank holder of the dental tool machine (1) and a step of detecting a signal indicative of the collision. The method also includes a step of analyzing the detected signal through trained artificial intelligence; and a step of identifying the type and/or condition of at least one of the dental consumables based on the analysis.

A tool insert for a machine, in particular a cutting, punching and/or folding machine, is disclosed. The tool insert (24) has an identification element (38) comprising tool information about the type of the tool insert (24) and/or about the area of application of the tool insert (24). The identification element (38) is machine-readable such that the tool information is transmitted to the machine when the machine reads out the identification element. Further, a machine, a machine system and a method for operating a machine are disclosed.

A system for assisting an operator in operations of assembling/disassembling and/or change of configuration of an operating machine including a plurality of first areas provided with respective first pieces to be dismounted from the operating machine or configured to receive respective second pieces to be mounted on the operating machine. The system includes a support structure having a plurality of second areas provided with the second pieces or configured to receive the first pieces; a plurality of warning devices, each being associated to a respective area of the first areas and/or second areas; and a control unit operatively connected to the warning devices and configured to perform a predetermined sequence of commands correlated to operations of a predetermined sequence of operations of assembling/disassembling and/or change of configuration of the operating machine. The control unit is configured to selectively activate and deactivate the warning devices according to the sequence of commands.

A tooling system that includes a drive unit configured to provide rotational force to a tool member. The tool member is attached at a mount on the drive unit. A camera associated with the drive unit is aligned to capture a target on the tool member. The data is sent to a controller that identifies the tool member based on the target. The controller determines whether the tool member is correct for performing an operation on a work piece. If the tool member is correct, the controller may set one or more operating parameters on the drive unit. If the controller determines that the tool member is not correct, the drive unit is disabled. Further, a signal may be sent to inform an operator of the issue.

Systems and methods for collecting and/or managing data are provided. The system includes a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags attached to a plurality of machines. Each of the plurality of RFID tags includes a tag ID. The system also includes a mobile data collector configured to take a measurement of one or more operating conditions of the plurality of machines and to read the tag ID from a proximal one of the plurality of RFID tags. The system also includes a computing device including a processor and a memory storing a database, the database associating the tag ID of each of the plurality of RFID tags with the one of the plurality of machines to which it is attached. Further, the computing device is configured to receive the measurement and the tag ID from the mobile data collector and analyze the one or more operating conditions.

An identifier management method is executed by a welding system. The identifier management method includes: acquiring information on identifiers of a plurality of original workpieces; selecting, according to a predetermined rule, any one of the identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces to be adopted based on completion of execution of a welding process using the plurality of original workpieces by the welding system; and setting the any one of identifiers of the plurality of original workpieces, which has been selected, as an identifier of the welded workpiece generated in the welding process.

Systems and methods for controlling chlorinators for pools and spas are provided. A controller communicates with a processor positioned within a replaceable cell cartridge of a chlorinator, to allow for remote control and diagnosis of the chlorinator and/or cell cartridge. The cell cartridge stores, in non-volatile memory on board the cartridge, one or more parameters associated with the cartridge. The controller can obtain this information from the processor of the cell cartridge, and can use same to configure operation of the chlorinator. Information relating to remaining cell life can be updated by the controller and stored in the non-volatile memory of the cell cartridge. Electrical and software-based mechanisms are provided for ensuring operation of only compatible cell cartridges with the chlorinator. A system for remotely diagnosing errors associated with the chlorinator is also provided.

A method for transmitting at least one tool presetting data set of a machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium, at least one tool measuring data set of the machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium and/or at least one tool processing data set of the machining tool that is stored on an, in particular electronic, storage medium to a machine tool that is controlled via Computerized Numerical Control [CNC machine tool], with a data communication unit, wherein in a tool delivery step at least the machining tool is delivered to the CNC machine tool and wherein in a tool identification step the delivered machining tool is identified via a tool identification unit, which is in particular allocated to the CNC machine tool, the method including a read-out step, which is in particular situated temporally after the tool identification step, in which at least the tool presetting data set of the machining tool, the tool measuring data set of the machining tool and/or the tool processing data set of the machining tool are/is read out of the storage medium by the data communication unit and is transmitted to a data processing unit that is allocated to the CNC machine tool, in particular to the CNC machine tool, wherein the storage medium is arranged apart from the machining tool, apart from a tool holder holding the machining tool and apart from the CNC machine tool.