David Alan Bourne

Title: David Alan Bourne: Innovator in Sheet Metal Bending Operations

Introduction

David Alan Bourne, hailing from Pittsburgh, PA, is an accomplished inventor with a remarkable portfolio of 14 patents. His inventions are primarily focused on advancing the technology and processes involved in sheet metal bending operations, enabling greater efficiency and productivity in manufacturing settings.

Latest Patents

Among his significant contributions are two notable patents. The first is an "Apparatus and method for multi-part setup planning for sheet metal bending operations." This innovation introduces a setup planning technique that identifies a family of parts for manufacturing while assessing setup constraints for various bending operations. The approach enhances productivity by allowing different sheet metal parts to share setups, minimizing the need for additional tooling and fixturing, and ultimately providing potential savings over existing systems.

The second patent is titled "Intelligent system for generating and executing a sheet metal bending plan." This invention features a cooperative generative planning system where a planning module collaborates with various expert modules to establish a bending plan. The planner employs a state-space search algorithm, allowing for concurrent setup and computation, thus greatly improving operational efficiency.

Career Highlights

David has played a pivotal role in the evolution of sheet metal bending technologies. His career includes significant tenures at reputable companies such as Amada America, Inc. and Amada Company, Limited. Through his work, he has been instrumental in bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical application in manufacturing processes.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, David has collaborated with notable peers in the industry. Sivaraj Sivarama Krishnan and Kensuke Hazama are among the innovative minds he has worked alongside, contributing to the advancement of complex systems and technologies in sheet metal operations.

Conclusion

David Alan Bourne stands out as a leading figure in sheet metal bending innovations. His ingenious patents not only enhance production capabilities but also serve to streamline manufacturing operations. Through his career and collaborations, David continues to be a driving force in the evolution of manufacturing technologies, paving the way for future innovations in the industry.