US 6,397,122 B1 · Apparatus and method therefor of maximizing the production run speed of a sheet fabrication machine

Abstract

To maximize the production run speed of a sheet fabrication machine such as a turret punch press, and yet at the same time maintaining the requisite accuracy for each part produced from the production run, historical data pertaining to the various parameters for effecting the positioning moves of a worksheet are measured and collected using a reference machine or a prototype machine. For each positioning move to be effected, the CNC controller of the system retrieves the historical data from a database and, using that historical data, calculates the various parameters that affect the positioning move. By using fuzzy logic, the controller becomes, in a sense, self teaching, especially if updated historical data are provided to its database store to enhance the accuracy for later positioning moves. In addition to measuring and collecting historical data from reference or prototype machines, static process control (SPC) tests may be performed for different types of worksheets under different loads. The data collected from the SPC tests are stored and can be used as the historical data. Using historical data to calculate the next positioning move, i.e., by using the past to forecast or predict the future, the maximum allowable speed is obtained for each positioning move. At the same time moves that will produce parts that have dimensions that are within the predetermined required accuracy threshold are ensured.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method of producing parts from a worksheet in at least one sheet fabrication machine comprising the steps of:

(a) determining a number of parameters which affect each positioning move by said machine to produce parts from said worksheet;
(b) storing in a memory means of said machine historical data indicative of how each of said parameters affects the accuracy of parts produced from said worksheet by said machine;
(c) inputting parameter values based on said stored historical data to a processor means of said machine to calculate maximum allowable speed for said each positioning move by said machine to produce parts from said worksheet;
(d) utilizing said calculated maximum allowable speed for said each positioning move to optimize the minimum safe positioning time for said each positioning move so that parts having the requisite accuracy are produced from said worksheet at the fastest allowable production speed;
(e) running at least one static process control (SPC) test to produce data from different loads in different conditions for different sheet fabrication machines;
and
(f) using said date from said SPC test to eliminate the differences between said different sheet fabrication machines due to tolerances in the manufacturing of said different sheet fabrication machines to optimize individual positioning moves of each of said different sheet fabrication machines.

4 more elements

A method of maximizing the production speed of a sheet fabrication machine for producing parts from a worksheet, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing in a memory means of said machine historical data obtained from a sample production run performed on a sample worksheet that has substantially the same dimensions and weight as said worksheet by a reference sheet fabrication machine that is substantially identical to said fabrication machine, said historical data representative of parameters that affect the accuracy of parts produced from said worksheet;
(b) utilizing said historical data to calculate values of said parameters representative of respective maximum productivity positioning speeds allowed for positioning various portions of said worksheet throughout a work area of said fabrication machine and punching holes at said various portions of said worksheet without any degradation of the accuracy of parts to be produced from said worksheet;
and
(c) converting said calculated parameter values into respective commands for instructing moving means and punch means of said fabrication machine to position said worksheet and punch holes at various portions thereof at maximized production speed for producing parts from said worksheet each having the requisite accuracy.

1 more element

Apparatus for maximizing the production speed of a sheet fabrication machine for producing parts from a worksheet, comprising:

memory means for storing historical data collected from a sample production run performed on a sample worksheet that has substantially the same dimensions and weight as said worksheet by a reference sheet fabrication machine that is substantially identical to said fabrication machine, said historical data representative of parameters that affect the accuracy of parts produced from said worksheet;
and
processor means for utilizing said historical data to calculate values of said parameters representative of respective maximum production speeds allowed for positioning various portions of said worksheet throughout a work area of said fabrication machine and punching holes at said various portions of said worksheet without any degradation of the accuracy of parts to be produced from said worksheet, said processor means further converting said calculated parameter values into respective commands for instructing moving means and punch means of said fabrication machine to position said worksheet and punch holes at various portions thereof at maximized production speed for producing parts from said worksheet each having the requisite accuracy.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method therefor of maximizing the production run speed of a sheet fabrication machine

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method therefor of maximizing the production run speed of a sheet fabrication machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31