A numerical control device for performing movement control of a machining tool by a fixed cycle includes a main control unit that issues a machining command to a machining device based on a machining program, a machining program analysis unit that pre-reads and analyzes the machining program, a machining state measurement unit that measures a physical quantity indicating a machining state during machining, and a start position determination unit that determines an overlap control start position based on the measured physical quantity, and the main control unit executes overlap control when determining that the machining tool reaches the overlap control start position.

A control method includes: recording information of an operation target point that is a destination, each time an end effector of a robot moves to the operation target point on an operation path; acquiring a present position of the end effector upon receiving an origin return command; detecting information of a return target point on a return path for returning the end effector to an origin; detecting information of the operation target point already reached immediately before a kth return target point or having a distance closest to the kth return target point, as a (k+1)th return target point; repeating detection of the information of the return target point to detect information of second to (n+1)th return target points; and moving the end effector along the return path passing through the first to (n+1)th return target points and returning to the origin.

In a robot controller, return of a position (including posture) of a robot arm to an origin thereof is controlled along a searched return path, when there occurs an abnormality against the robot. It is determined whether there is a trajectory portion regarded as being a straight line on a motion trajectory of the arm, based on the operation log data recorded in a recording unit when it is determined that the arm should be returned to the origin. Operation log data of a node are decimated (i.e., downsampled), which are present between two nodes which are at both ends of a trajectory portion regarded as being a straight line when the trajectory portion is regarded as being the straight line. Then, the return path is calculated, along which the arm returns to the origin, based on remaining operation log data.

The present invention relates to a vision based inspection tool for setting of an initial origin of an automation machine tool, and more particularly, to a built-in type of vision based inspection tool for setting of an initial origin capable of improving setting precision of a current automation machine tool that depends on initial setting and increasing productivity depending on individual automatic setting by automatically sensing a machining origin in order to perform initial machining and re-machining of an existing workpiece using an automation machine tool and compensating for the machining origin to eliminate a time required for setting machining origins for various shapes in a jog mode.

A method for mounting an electronic component onto a circuit board. The method may include preparing a mounting device including a rotatable mounting head, a holding means to hold the electronic component, a component recognition camera, a memory device, and a microcomputer, the electronic component being mounted onto the circuit board based on a result of performing recognition processing with respect to an acquired image, determining a mid-operation instruction action mode at start of a production operation, executing an instruction of obtaining an offset value relative to a rotation center of the rotatable mounting head and storing the offset value in the memory device at a time interval according to the determined mid-operation instruction action mode, and executing the instruction at a longer time interval when the instruction has continuously met a required accuracy more than once.

A harsh environment camera system. The system can include an enclosure having an electronics compartment and a camera compartment with a camera opening. A camera module is disposed within the camera compartment and one or more electronic components capable of generating heat are positioned in the electronics compartment. A compressed gas connector, connectable to a gas source, can be mounted on the enclosure. A metering orifice having an inlet and an outlet is in fluid communication with the connector. The metering orifice is operative to cool a gas flowing therethrough, thereby condensing moisture from the gas. A gas conduit is in fluid communication with the outlet of the orifice and extends through the electronics compartment to the camera compartment. A portion of the gas conduit is positioned in close proximity to the one or more electronic components, whereby the gas is heated prior to entering the camera compartment.

A harsh environment enclosure for use with sensor systems, such as cameras. The enclosure can include a housing having an end wall, sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. A door is hinged to the top wall. The enclosure can have a linkage assembly including a door lever having an elongate first end portion connected to the door, a laterally extending second end portion, and an elbow positioned therebetween. A pivot arm having a proximal end is connected to an interior surface of the housing and a distal end of the pivot arm is connected to the elbow. An actuator can be connected between the housing and the laterally extending second end portion. The linear actuator can be positioned with respect to the door lever and pivot arm to move the door to an open position when extended and a closed position when retracted.

The disclosure provides methods for calibrating processing machines for the production of 3D components by irradiation of powder layers, wherein the processing machine includes a scanner device for positioning a laser beam in a processing field in which a height-adjustable construction platform for the application of the powder layers by sweeping at least two, e.g., three markings, e.g., in the form of spherical retroreflectors, which are applied on the construction platform and/or on a preform , by the laser beam, detecting laser radiation reflected back from the markings into the scanner device , determining actual positions of the markings , determining deviations of the actual positions of the markings from setpoint positions of the markings, and calibrating the processing machine by correcting the positioning of the laser beam and/or the position of the construction platform using the determined deviations. The disclosure also relates to associated processing machines.

A selectable symbol engraving tool for use with a CNC machine. The engraving tool includes a housing and an array of styluses supported in the housing. A pattern disk is rotatably supported in the housing and is connectable to a spindle of the CNC machine. The pattern disk includes a plurality of hole patterns, each selectable via rotation of the spindle and including one or more clearance holes corresponding to a symbol. The array of styluses is positioned to confront a selected one of the plurality of hole patterns such that styluses corresponding to the clearance holes are retracted and the remaining styluses are extended. The extended styluses are operative to engrave the symbol corresponding to the selected hole pattern in a work piece via orbiting about a virtual axis of rotation when the selectable character engraving tool is moved in a circular motion by the CNC machine.

A method and apparatus for encoding data on a work piece. The method includes engraving a plurality of first features (e.g., circular features) on the work piece, wherein the plurality of first features are arranged in a first pattern. The method also includes engraving a plurality of second features (e.g., rings) on the work piece within a selected one of the plurality of first features. The plurality of second features are arranged in a second pattern according to a data encoding schema such as binary code or code 39.