Method of determining compatibility of tool and worksheet in a sheet fabrication machine and system therefor

In a processor controlled sheet fabrication machine, a method of picking an appropriate tool to work on a worksheet without causing damage to either the tool or the worksheet, comprising the steps of:

• a) storing in a tool database the respective manufacturer designated grind lives for the tools to be used by the machine;
• b) updating the grind life remaining on each tool in the tool database by directly monitoring at least the portion of said each tool that actually comes into contact with worksheets after usage of said each tool;
• c) wherein when a worksheet of a given material thickness is to be fabricated, retrieving data relating to the respective grind lives of the tools from said tool database and determining from the retrieved data whether there is at least one tool having a grind life remaining that would successfully fabricate said worksheet without causing damage to either said one tool or said worksheet;
• and
• d) selecting said one tool to fabricate said worksheet if said one tool is available.

A sheet fabrication machine, comprising:

• a plurality of worksheets;
• a plurality of tools each adapted to be used by the machine to fabricate selected worksheets;
• a tool database for storing grind lives for the tools, said grind lives corresponding at least to the portion of each of said tools that interacts with worksheets, the grind life of the portion of each of said tools being measured after each usage and updated in said tool database;
• a worksheet database for storing at least the respective material thicknesses of the worksheets;
• and
• a processor for determining from data stored in said worksheet and tool databases if a tool chosen to work on a worksheet of a given material thickness has a remaining grind life that enables it to successfully fabricate said worksheet.

In a processor controlled sheet fabrication machine having a plurality of worksheets and a plurality of tools to work on the worksheets, a method of matching a tool with a worksheet for fabricating the worksheet, comprising the steps of:

• a) storing in a tool database the respective manufacturer designated grind lives for the plurality of tools;
• b) updating the grind life remaining on each of the plurality of tools in the tool database by directly monitoring at least the portion of said each tool that actually comes into contact with worksheets after usage of said each tool;
• and
• c) wherein when a worksheet of a given material thickness is to be fabricated, reviewing the data relating to the respective grind lives of said plurality of tools from said tool database and selecting one tool from among the plurality of tools having a grind life remaining that allows said one tool to fabricate said worksheet without causing damage to either said one tool or said worksheet.