Patent ID: 12197182

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person.

Example tool parts for use in a machine operation will now be described for illustrative purpose, to visualize and exemplify the prior art and the aspects of the disclosure. It is understood that the aspects of the disclosure can be applied to any tool part in any machine operation.

In the example, and in the following description, tool parts for cutting are disclosed. Example machine operations are related to machines with cutting tools that are used to remove chips from a piece of material during the machine operation. Piece of material, as described herein, may typically comprise a work piece of metal to be processed, but the material may be any other material such as a plastic, stone or wood material. Machines, as described herein, may typically comprise a milling machine, a turning machine, a hole making machine, a threading machine or any other machine configured for processing a piece of material by a tool part.

FIG.1illustrates example tool parts20a,20b,20c,20dof a cutting tool18. In the example, as illustrated inFIG.1, the tool parts20a,20b,20care cutting inserts21a,21b,21cand the tool part20dis a tool holder22. In the example the tool holder22is arranged to receive the cutting inserts21a,21b,21c, at locations at the tool holder22illustrated as positions “A”, “B” and “C” respectively.

Further, in the example as illustrated inFIG.1each cutting insert21a,21b,21c, comprising at least one cutting edge.FIG.2illustrates an example tool part20cin form of a cutting insert21cwith at least one cutting edge. In the example, with reference toFIG.1andFIG.2, each cutting edge of each cutting insert21a,21b,21c, is configured to be used for removing chips from a piece of material.

Often an operator of a machine needs to locate the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dand verify that the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis at a desired location before the machine operation can start. In the example of a cutting tool18, as illustrated inFIG.1, the operator of a cutting machine therefore needs to verify that e.g. the cutting edge of a cutting insert21a,21b,21cis at a desired location. This is often done by visual inspection and sometimes by manual measurements by the operator of the machine, before the machine operation can be started by the operator.

Today e.g. the distance from the tool holder rotation axis, AXt, as illustrated inFIG.1, to each cutting edge of each cutting insert21a,21b,21cmay be determined by manual measurement by an operator of a machine. In another example an operator of a machine lets the cutting edge come in contact with the piece of material before starting the machine operation in order to locate the cutting edge at a certain position in relation to the piece of material and e.g. determine the distance from the tool holder rotation axis AXt to the cutting edge of the cutting insert21a,21b,21c.

As mentioned above, a first drawback of current approaches is that a cutting tool18can be erroneously positioned and therefore located at an undesirable location so that an incorrect distance from the piece of material to the cutting edge of the cutting insert21a,21b,21cis used during the machine operation with the cutting tool18, which in turn may cause severe damage to both the cutting tool18but also to the piece of material.

As mentioned above, a second drawback of current approaches is that even if the operator verifies that the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis located at a desirable location before the machine operation, the human error factor is one factor that can lead to an erroneously positioning of a tool part20a,20b,20c,20din a machine operation.

As mentioned above, a third drawback of the current approaches is that a lot of time is spent on localizing a tool part20a,20b,20c,20din relation to e.g. a machine and/or a material to be processed by the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dwhen the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis attached to the machine. This time is costly and adds time to total manufacturing process of a product.

It is an object of some embodiments to solve or mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate at least some of the above or other drawbacks.

Today a dimension of a specific tool part can be documented as a dimension value +/− a certain tolerance value. Often when manufacturing a specific tool part, the manufacturing process itself cannot be that precise, and therefore each manufactured tool part will have a true dimension that is within a certain tolerance, i.e. within the certain tolerance value, of the desired dimension value.

This means that all individuals of a specific tool part have a dimension that is the dimension value +/− a certain tolerance value. This means that the true dimension for each individual tool part differ between the different individual tool parts due to the tolerance value.

This documented dimension can hence be used to some extent, but still the tolerance value will have to be measured for each individual tool part before the individual tool part is used e.g. in a machine operation. This means that time needs to be spent on e.g. verifying the exact dimension of the individual tool part.

With the mentioned drawbacks above, there is therefore a demand for knowing the exact dimension of the specific individual tool part for minimizing time spent on e.g. localizing a tool part in relation to e.g. a machine and/or a material and for minimizing the risk of human errors when e.g. positioning a tool part at a certain location for processing in a machine operation.

Hence, there is a demand for alternative approaches for decreasing the risk of human errors and localizing a tool part in relation to e.g. a machine and/or a material. The inventors have come up with a solution that decreases the risk of human errors and that can also reduce the time needed for verifying that a desired tool part is located at a desired location in relation to e.g. a machine and/or a material. In the following, aspects and embodiments will be presented where alternative approaches for decreasing the risk of human errors and localizing a tool part in relation to e.g. a machine and/or a material are described.

Referring again toFIG.1which illustrates example tool parts20a,20b,20c,20daccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The first aspect of this disclosure shows a tool part20a,20b,20c,20dfor a cutting tool18. According to some embodiments the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis any of a cutting insert, a cutting edge, a milling tool part, a drilling tool part, a drill chuck, a milling cutter chuck or a tool holder. The tool part20a,20b,20c,20dcomprising an identification marker40a,40b,40c,40darranged at the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d.

According to some embodiments, the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dis at least any of, or a combination of at least any of, a proprietary machine readable code, an open source machine readable code, a two dimensional code, a three dimensional code, an image a Quick Response code, a High Capacity Colored Two Dimensional Code, a European Article Number code, a DataMatrix code or a MaxiCode.

According to some embodiments, the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dis etched at the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. According to some embodiments the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dis a sticker attached at the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. According to some embodiments the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dpainted at the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d.

The identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dis a unique machine readable code associated with individual dimension information data idID, wherein the individual dimension information data idID comprises at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. In other words, each identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dat each tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis unique so that no other tool part20a,20b,20c,20dwill have the very same identification marker40a,40b,40c,40d. This enables the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dto be associated with individual dimension information data idID.

According to some embodiments the individual dimension information data idID comprises at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured at a certain tool part temperature when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. According to some embodiments the individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis a dimension at a certain temperature. In an example, the dimension of the tool part may vary dependent on the temperature of the tool part, e.g. the tool part may expand at a higher temperature.

According to some embodiments, the individually measured dimension is measured automatically by a measuring machine and/or manually by a measuring tool by an operator.

Hence, with this embodiment each individual tool part is provided with a unique machine readable code which in turn can be associated with individual dimension information data idID for that specific individual tool part. This eliminates e.g. the need for measuring the dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dat a later point in time e.g. during usage of the tool part in a machine operation, which in turn saves time and reduces measurement errors caused by e.g. a human.

According to some embodiments, the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis a cutting insert21a,21b,21cand the individual dimension information data idID comprises at least one individually measured dimension of the cutting insert21a,21b,21cas measured when manufacturing the cutting insert21a,21b,21c.

FIG.2illustrates an example tool part20cin form of a cutting insert21cwith at least one cutting edge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.2, the example tool part20ccomprising an identification marker40carranged at the tool part20c.

FIGS.3a-3billustrate example individual dimensions of the cutting insert21caccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG.3athe height h and the width w are illustrated. InFIG.3bthe dimension “a” from the centre of the cutting insert21cto a first cutting edge of the cutting insert21cis illustrated. InFIG.3bthe dimension “b” from the centre of the cutting insert21cto a second cutting edge of the cutting insert21cis illustrated. InFIG.3bthe dimension “c” from the centre of the cutting insert21cto a third cutting edge of the cutting insert21cis illustrated.

FIG.3cillustrates example individual dimensions of a tool part20daccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.3c, the example tool part20dcomprises an identification marker40darranged at the tool part20d. The tool part20din the example inFIG.3cis a tool holder22. InFIG.3cthe dimension “d” from the centre of a tool holder axis AXt of the tool holder22to the centre of a cutting insert attachment point, configured to receive a cutting insert21a,21b,21c, is illustrated.

FIG.4illustrates example assembled tool parts20a,20b,20c,20dattached to a machine50according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG.4the dimension “a” from the centre of the cutting insert21cto a first cutting edge of the cutting insert21cis illustrated together with the dimension “d” from the centre of a tool holder axis AXt of the tool holder22to the centre of an cutting insert attachment point for illustrating two dimensions with a common measurement point.

Hence, with this embodiment an individually measured dimension of that specific cutting insert21c, as measured when manufacturing the cutting insert21c, can be used during e.g. a manufacturing process for a faster and more reliable positioning of the cutting insert21ce.g. in relation to a piece of material to be processed in a machine operation.

According to some embodiments, the individual dimension information data idID is coded in the machine readable code and the machine readable code is configured to be read by a reader device10a,10b,10cand decoded by an electronic device1a,1b,1cconfigured to be in communication with the reader device10a,10b,10c.

Hence, with this embodiment individual dimension information data can be obtained by a device which enables usage of the individual dimension information data by e.g. a machine and at the same time limits the need for human interaction which minimizes the risk of human errors.

FIG.5a-5ceach illustrates an example system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system100comprises a reader device10a,10b,10cfor reading a machine readable code. According to some embodiments, the reader device10a,10b,10cis any of a camera based reader, a video camera reader, a pen-type reader with photodiodes, a laser scanner, a charge-coupled device reader or a cell phone camera. According to some embodiments, the reader device10a,10b,10cis a component integrated in an electronic device a stand-alone component. The reader device10a,10b,10cis configured for reading a machine readable code, arranged at a tool part20a,20b,20c,20d, during usage of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20din a machine operation by a machine50.

The system100further comprises an electronic device1a,1b,1cconfigured to be connected with the reader device10a,10b,10c. According to some embodiments, the electronic device is a portable electronic device1a. According to some embodiments, the electronic device is a local electronic device1b. According to some embodiments the electronic device is a remote electronic device1c. According to some embodiments, the electronic device1a,1b,1cis configured to be connected to a communication network60.

FIG.5aillustrates an electronic device1ain form of a smartphone, tablet, cellular phone, feature phone or any portable electronic device. In one example, as illustrated inFIG.5a, the reader device10ais the camera of a smartphone1a. In the example, the electronic device1ais a smartphone that is held by the machine operator when preparing tool parts20a,20b,20c,20dfor machine operation. The electronic device can also be a local electronic device1b, e.g. installed as a part of a machine50as illustrated inFIG.5b. In one example, illustrated inFIG.5b, the reader device10bis a stand-alone reader device connected to the electronic device1band installed as a part of the machine50. According to some embodiments the electronic device is a remote server1cconnected to a reader device10cvia the communication network60as illustrated inFIG.5c. In an example, the machine50is operated from a remote location e.g. within a factory.

According to some embodiments the communication network60is a wireless communication network. According to some embodiments, the wireless communication network is a standardized wireless local area network such as a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, Bluetooth™, ZigBee, Ultra-Wideband, UWB, Radio Frequency Identification, RFID, or similar network. According to some embodiments, the wireless communication network is a standardized wireless wide area network such as a Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM, Extended GSM, General Packet Radio Service, GPRS, Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution, EDGE, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, WCDMA, Long Term Evolution, LTE, Narrowband-IoT, 5G, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, WiMAX or Ultra Mobile Broadband, UMB or similar network. According to some embodiments, the wireless communication network can also be a combination of both a wireless local area network and a wireless wide area network. According to some embodiments, communication network60can be a combination of a wired communication network and a wireless communication network. According to some embodiments, the communication network60is defined by common Internet Protocols.

The electronic device1a,1b,1chaving a processing circuitry102a,102b,102cconfigured to cause the system100to detect, by the reader device10a,10b,10c, an identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dat a tool part20a,20b,20c,20dwherein the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dis a unique machine readable code.

The processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to read, by the reader device10a,10b,10c, the unique machine readable code of the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40d, and obtain from the unique machine readable code, individual dimension information data idID comprising at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d.

According to some embodiments, the electronic device1a,1b,1cfurther comprising a memory103a,103b,103c. According to some embodiments, the individual dimension information data idID is stored in the memory103a,103b,103c.

Hence, with this embodiment an individual dimension, as measured when manufacturing the individual tool part, can be obtained using the reader device, and used during usage of the individual tool part, e.g. at a tool part customer, which eliminates the need for measuring the individual dimension of the tool part at a later point in time, as needed with a tool part only associated with a dimension value +/− a certain tolerance value, e.g. This saves time before and/or during usage of the tool part in a machine operation at a tool part customer, and also improves measurement accuracy and reduces measurement errors caused by e.g. a human operator.

According to some embodiments, the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to cause the system100to obtain machine dimension information data madID comprising at least a first assembly dimension defining a relation of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dto a machine50when the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis attached to the machine50.

Hence, with this embodiment dimension information relating to the machine, an individual dimension of the tool part can be used in combination with a known dimension that is related to the machine when the tool part is assembled at the machine.

FIG.4illustrates example assembled tool parts20a,20b,20c,20dattached to a machine50. According to some embodiments first tool part is attached to a machine50by a second tool part. According to some embodiments, a tool part is attached to a machine50by a tool holder22. In the example inFIG.4, tool parts20a,20b,20care attached at a tool holder22, and the tool holder22is attached to the machine50.

According to some embodiments, the machine dimension information data madID is obtained from a memory103a,103b,103cconnectable to the processing circuitry102a,102b,102c.

According to some embodiments, the machine dimension information data madID is obtained via at least any of a manual input of the machine dimension information data madID via a user interface400a,400b,400cof the electronic device1a,1b,1c, or via an automatic input of the machine dimension information data madID by a machine50connectable to the electronic device1a,1b,1c.

According to some embodiments, the machine dimension information data madID comprises a predetermined dimension relation and/or a predetermined angle relation of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dto a machine50when the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis attached to the machine50.

According to some embodiments, the machine dimension information data madID comprises an angle relation to a predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm in relation to a predetermined tool reference axis AXt of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. In the example as illustrated inFIG.4, the tool part20dhas a predetermined tool reference axis AXt that is in the example shared with the machine reference axis AXm, and hence the angle relation to the predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm in relation to the predetermined tool reference axis AXt is zero degrees.

According to some embodiments, the machine dimension information data madID comprises a distance relation to a predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm in relation to a predetermined tool reference axis AXt of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. In the example as illustrated inFIG.4, there is no distance between the predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm and the predetermined tool reference axis AXt to the tool part20d.

According to some embodiments, the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to cause the system100to determine first assembly dimension d of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20din relation to the machine50, based on the first individual dimension information data 1idID and the machine dimension information data madID.

In an example, with reference to illustrated inFIG.4, the distance between the predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm and the predetermined tool reference axis to the tool part20cis the distance d to an assembly point of the tool part20dwhere the tool part20cis attached.

Hence, with this embodiment an individual dimension of the tool part can be used in combination with a known dimension that is related to the machine in order to determine a first assembly dimension of the tool part in relation to the machine, e.g. the position of the tool part in relation to the machine.

According to some embodiments, the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to cause the system100to detect, by the reader device10a,10b,10c, a first identification marker40cat a first tool part20cand a second identification marker40dat a second tool part20d, read, by the reader device10a,10b,10c, the unique machine readable code of the first identification marker40cand the unique machine readable code of the second identification marker40d. The processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to obtain from the unique machine readable code of the first identification marker40ca first individual dimension information data 1idID comprising at least one individually measured dimension of the first tool part20cas measured when manufacturing the first tool part20c, and obtain from the unique machine readable code of the second identification marker40da second individual dimension information data 2idID comprising at least one individually measured dimension of the second tool part20das measured when manufacturing the second tool part20d. The processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to determine a second assembly dimension L of the first tool part20cand the second tool part20d, based on the first individual dimension information data 1idID and the second individual dimension information data 2idID.

Hence, with this embodiment an assembly dimension of the first tool part and the second tool part can be determined, e.g. when the first tool part is attached to the second tool part.

In the example as illustrated inFIG.4, the second assembly dimension L of the first tool part20cand the second tool part20dcomprising the sum of the dimension d of the second individual dimension information data 2idID plus the dimension a of the first individual dimension information data 1idID.

According to some embodiments, the first tool part20cis configured to be attached to the second tool part20d, and the second tool part20dis configured to be attached to a machine50and the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to cause the system100to determine a third assembly dimension of the first tool part20cand the second tool part20din relation to the machine50, based on the first individual dimension information data 1idID, the second individual dimension information data 2idID and the machine dimension information data madID.

In the example as illustrated inFIG.4, the third assembly dimension of the first tool part20cand the second tool part20dcomprising the sum of the dimension d of the second individual dimension information data 2idID plus the dimension a of the first individual dimension information data 1idID and in the example, the machine dimension information data madID defines the machine reference axis AXm to be common with the predetermined tool reference axis AXt of the second tool part20dwhen the second tool part20dis attached to the machine50.

According to some embodiments, not illustrated, the first assembly dimension of the first tool part20cand the second tool part20din relation to the machine50, is further based on an offset distance q between the predetermined tool reference axis AXt and the predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm. According to some embodiments the offset distance q between the predetermined tool reference axis AXt and the predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm is obtained from a memory103a,103b,103ccomprising tool and machine dimension data.

In another example, not illustrated, the machine dimension information data madID defines the machine reference axis AXm to be offset distance q from the predetermined tool reference axis AXt of the second tool part20dwhen the second tool part20dis attached to the machine50, and the third assembly dimension in relation to the machine reference axis AXm is hence q+d+a.

Hence, with this embodiment an assembly dimension of the first tool part and the second tool part in relation to a machine can be determined when the first tool part is attached to the second tool part, and the second tool part is attached to the machine to e.g. determine a distance from a known reference point or axis of the machine to an edge of the first tool part.

In an example, with reference toFIG.4, a machine operation by a tool part in form of a cutting insert21cis used for removing chips from a piece of material70that is in a fixed position in relation to the machine50. A certain location of the cutting edge of the cutting insert21cin relation to the piece of material70is required. This location can be determined in relation to how the cutting insert21cis located in relation to the machine50and/or in relation to the piece of material70. With reference toFIG.4, in an example, the location of the cutting edge of the cutting insert21cin relation to the piece of material70is determined to be at a distance P between the piece of material70and a fixed machine reference point Mref. When replacing the cutting insert21c, the same position in space of a new cutting edge of a new cutting insert, at the same distance P, in relation to the piece of material70is desired. When mounting the new cutting insert onto the tool holder22the distance P can be achieved by either using a new cutting insert with the very same dimensions as the previous cutting insert, or e.g. by adjusting the position of the machine reference axis AXm, by the machine50, so that the new cutting edge of the new cutting insert is determined to be at a distance P between the piece of material70and the machine reference point Mref. In the example determining the distance P can be achieved by first knowing the second assembly dimension L of the cutting insert21cand the tool holder22, in relation to the machine50. The relation to the machine50is based on the machine dimension information data madID, in this case related to the fixed machine reference point Mref. The first individual dimension information data 1idID of the new cutting insert, and the second individual dimension information data 2idID of the tool holder22, is then used to adjust the position of the machine reference axis AXm, by the machine50, so that the new cutting edge of the new cutting insert is determined to be at a position in space that is at a distance P between the piece of material70and the machine reference point Mref.

FIGS.6a-6billustrate example schematic data relations of associated individual dimension information data.FIG.6aillustrates an example identification marker with the unique machine readable code of “AA0002”. According to some embodiments, the individual dimension information data idID comprises plurality of individually measured dimensions of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. The example identification marker with the unique machine readable code of “AA0002” is associated with individual dimension information data idID, a=9,0525 mm at 20 degrees centigrade, b=9,0520 mm at 20 degrees centigrade, c=9,0531 mm at 20 degrees centigrade. The dimensions a, b and c are example of individually measured dimensions of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d.

According to some embodiments, the individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis a dimension at a certain temperature. In an example, the dimension of the tool part may vary dependent on the temperature of the tool part, e.g. the tool part may expand at a higher temperature. According to some embodiments, the individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis a dimension at a certain temperature and/or a relation to a function for determining a dimension at a certain temperature. According to some embodiments, the expansion of a dimension of the tool part at a certain temperature is predetermined and part of the individual dimension information data idID. InFIG.6a, the dimension a=9,0550 mm at 800 degrees centigrade and the dimension a=9,0545 mm at 700 degrees centigrade. This information can be used for determining the dimension when the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dhas a certain temperature.

FIG.6billustrates an example identification marker with the unique machine readable code of “BB2342”. The example identification marker with the unique machine readable code of “BB2342” is associated with individual dimension information data idID d=52,052 mm at 20 degrees centigrade, d=52,0560 mm at 800 degrees centigrade and d=52,0545 at 700 degrees centigrade.

According to some embodiments, the system100comprises a temperature sensor device configured to determine the current temperature of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d, and the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis configured to cause the system100to obtain from the unique machine readable code, individual dimension information data idID comprising at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dwherein the at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis further dependent to the current temperature of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d. According to some embodiments, the temperature sensor device is any of an infrared camera or a thermometer. According to some embodiments, the reader device10a,10b,10cis configured to obtain the current temperature of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d.

According to some embodiments, the second tool part20dhas a predetermined tool reference axis AXt with a known relation to a predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm when the second tool part20dis attached to the machine50that is comprised in the machine dimension information data madID. According to some embodiments the predetermined tool reference axis AXt is common with, perpendicular to, or parallel to the predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm.

According to some embodiments the predetermined machine reference axis of the machine AXm is defined by a rotation of the second tool part20dwhen the second tool part20dis inserted into the machine50. According to some embodiments the reference axis of the machine AXm is defined by a rotation of a work piece that is inserted into the machine50.

According to some embodiments the individual dimension information data idID is obtained by decoding the unique machine readable code of the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dand from the decoded information obtain the individual dimension information data idID.

Hence, with this embodiment information about the individual dimension can be coded and stored in the unique machine readable code itself that is available on the tool part.

According to some embodiments, the individual dimension information data idID is obtained by comparing the unique machine readable code with association data the system comprises individual dimension information data idID of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dprovided with the unique machine readable code and obtaining the individual dimension information data idID from a memory103a,103b,103c.

Hence, with this embodiment, information about the individual dimension can be stored in a memory that e.g. is a remote memory400c, and the information data idID can be stored and managed by a tool part manufacturer for a tool part customer.

According to some embodiments, the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to cause the system100to output the at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dvia a user interface400a,400b,400cof the electronic device1a,1b,1c.

According to some embodiments, the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to output the at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das input data to a machine, connectable to the electronic device1a,1b,1c, configured to perform an operation of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d.

According to some embodiments, the processing circuitry102a,102b,102cis further configured to cause the system100to output a determined distance to a part of a tool part20cbased on the machine dimension information data madID via a user interface400a,400b,400cof the electronic device1a,1b,1c.

FIG.7illustrates a flow chart of example method steps according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The method comprises the step of S1adetecting, by a reader device10a,10b,10c, an identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dat a tool part20a,20b,20c,20dwherein the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dis a unique machine readable code, the step of S2areading, by the reader device10a,10b,10c, the unique machine readable code of the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40d, and the step of S3aobtaining from the unique machine readable code individual dimension information data idID comprising at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20das measured when manufacturing the tool part20a,20b,20c,20d.

Hence, with this embodiment each individual tool part is provided with a unique machine readable code which in turn can be associated with individual dimension information data idID for that specific individual tool part. This eliminates e.g. the need for measuring the dimension of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dat a later point in time e.g. during usage of the tool part in a machine.

According to some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of S4obtaining machine dimension information data madID comprising at least a first assembly dimension defining a relation of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dto a machine50when the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dis attached to the machine50.

Hence, with this embodiment dimension information relating to the machine, an individual dimension of the tool part can be used in combination with a known dimension that is related to the machine when the tool part is assembled at the machine.

According to some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of S5adetermining first assembly dimension d of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20din relation to the machine50, based on the first individual dimension information data 1idID and the machine dimension information data madID.

Hence, with this embodiment, an individual dimension of the tool part can be used in combination with a known dimension that is related to the machine in order to determine a first assembly dimension of the tool part in relation to the machine, e.g. the position of the tool part in relation to the machine.

According to some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of S1bdetecting, by the reader device10a,10b,10c, a first identification marker40cat a first tool part20cand a second identification marker40dat a second tool part20d, the step of S2breading, by the reader device10a,10b,10c, the unique machine readable code of the first identification marker40cand the unique machine readable code of the second identification marker40d. The method further comprises the step of S3bobtaining from the unique machine readable code of the first identification marker40ca first individual dimension information data 1idID comprising at least one individually measured dimension of the first tool part20cas measured when manufacturing the first tool part20c, and obtaining from the unique machine readable code of the second identification marker40da second individual dimension information data 2idID comprising at least one individually measured dimension of the second tool part20das measured when manufacturing the second tool part20d. The method further comprises the step of S5bdetermining a second assembly dimension L of the first tool part20cand the second tool part20d, based on the first individual dimension information data 1idID and the second individual dimension information data 2idID.

Hence, with this embodiment an assembly dimension of the first tool part and the second tool part can be determined, e.g. when the first tool part is attached to the second tool part.

According to some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of determining a third assembly dimension of the first tool part20cand the second tool part20din relation to the machine50, based on the first individual dimension information data 1idID, the second individual dimension information data 2idID and the machine dimension information data madID.

Hence, with this embodiment an assembly dimension of the first tool part and the second tool part in relation to a machine can be determined when the first tool part is attached to the second tool part, and the second tool part is attached to the machine to e.g. determine a distance from a known reference point or axis of the machine to an edge of the first tool part.

According to some embodiments, the individual dimension information data idID is obtained by decoding the unique machine readable code of the identification marker40a,40b,40c,40dand from the decoded information obtaining the individual dimension information data idID, and/or by comparing the unique machine readable code with association data the method comprises individual dimension information data idID of the tool part20a,20b,20c,20dprovided with the unique machine readable code and obtaining the individual dimension information data idID from a memory103a,103b,103c.

Hence, with this embodiment information about the individual dimension can be coded and stored in the unique machine readable code itself that is available on the tool part.

Further, with that information about the individual dimension being stored in a memory103a,103b,103c, that is e.g. a remote memory103c, is that the individual dimension can be managed by a tool part manufacturer for a tool part customer.

FIG.8illustrates a computer program product500according to a third aspect of this disclosure. The computer program product500comprises a non-transitory computer readable medium, having thereon a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable into a processing circuitry102a,102b,102cand configured to cause execution of the method when the computer program is run by the processing circuitry102a,102b,102c.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. The person skilled in the art further realizes that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.