Research On The Visual Localization Of The CNC Incremental Sheet Metal Forming Machine

The CNC incremental sheet metal forming technology is a flexible manufacturing technology, which originates in the principle of layered manufacture in rapid protortyping technology. Through the technology, the 3D CAD model of workpiece will be divided into a series of two-dimensional cross-section along the Z axis direction, and the CAM processing path will be made based on this. In addition, sheet will be assisted forming by placing a bolster model under it. When manufacture the workpiece , the CAM processing path must be inosculate with the bolster model accurately. Otherwise, it will seriously recede the forming quality of the part. So it is necessary for sheet metal forming machine of machining localization.Based on the characteristics of the CNC incremental sheet metal forming machine, this article discussed the disfigurement of current localization techniques by the guide pin, and studied a new localization technique that found on machine vision. In the technique, digital image processing, digital image algorithms, camera mathematical model and calibration process were separately researched. Meanwhile, through combination of these elements, a sheet metal forming machine visual localization software was developed by using Visual C + + 6.0.As the sheet metal forming machine visual localization was researched, this paper emphasized on the way to harmonize the forming trajectory with the bolster model precisely. After a series of image processing steps, the center coordinate of localization hole was obtained by using the least square method fitting. Based on Camera Calibration, the ubiety of machine coordinates and the bolster coordinate system was figured out in visual localization software, then machine was controlled to achieve machine localization. It has been proved in practice, this new localization method is more efficient and more reliable.