Patent ID: 6233538
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B25J,G05B

Abstract:
A method for multi-part setup planning for operations to be performed by a bending workstation on a plurality of sheet metal parts in accordance with a composite setup plan, said method comprising:identifying setup constraints for operations to be performed on each of said plurality of parts;determining, in accordance with the setup constraints that are identified, operations to be performed on said parts that have compatible setup constraints; andassigning operations that are determined to have compatible constraints to corresponding tooling stages of the bending workstation to develop a composite setup plan for said plurality of parts;wherein each of the setup constraints comprises a set of setup constraint parameters, said setup constraint parameters defining setup constraints relating to the positioning of the parts in the workstation to perform said operations; andwherein said setup constraint parameters for each part comprise: a gap length ""Gr"" on a right side of a bend position of the part, which denotes the distance by which a tooling stage can be extended towards the right side of the bend position; a gap length ""GI"" on a left side of the bend position of the part, which denotes the distance by which a tooling stage can be extended towards the left side of the bend; an obstruction length ""Or"" on the right side of the bend position, which denotes a space in which no tooling is allowed on the right side of the bend position; an obstruction length ""Ol"" on the left side of the bend position; which denotes a space in which no tooling is allowed on the left side of the bend position; a safety distance ""Sr"" on the right side of the bend position, which denotes a minimum distance between the bend position and a next tooling stage towards the right side of the bend position; and a safety distance ""Sl"" on the left side of the bend position, which denotes a minimum distance between the bend position and a next tooling stage towards the left side of the bend position.