Aim, Inc.

Advanced Orthodontic Solutions

Automated Industrial Machinery, Inc.

Constantine Grapsas

Tom J Christofilis

Tony Suto

Piotr Cison

An apparatus and method for calibrating an automated wire bending machine is provided that includes a camera system comprising a camera and a lens configured with a focal plane fixedly positioned relative to a bending surface provided on the automated wire bending machine. The disclosed apparatus and method further includes a processor device configured to interpret images captured by the camera system. The apparatus and method measures an actual angle formed in a wire while a bent portion of the wire is substantially within the focal plane of the camera system, and a memory device stores values generated during a calibration sequence of the automated wire bending machine. The values correspond to the actual angle and a target angle provided for the calibrating of the automated wire bending machine.

Method and apparatus for auto-calibration of a wire bending machine

A simplified wire bending machine is provided comprising a bending head with an integrated wire cutoff mechanism. The bending head comprises an inner portion, wherein the inner portion includes a wire bending channel; and an outer portion, wherein the outer portion includes a cutting edge and one or more bending pins. The outer portion is rotatable about the inner portion such that a bending pin is capable of bending a wire around the inner portion. Further, the outer portion is movable from a first position to a second position in which the cutting edge is configured to engage and shear a wire.

Wire bending machine

A system and a method is provided in which a CAD system receives a solid model and receives user input to select points on the surface of the solid model, to create a wire part program file based on the selected points, and to transmit the wire part program file to a bending machine. The wire part program files is configured such that the bending machine will manufacture a wire based on the wire part program file.

Wire path design tool

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to a wire bending apparatus capable of both on and off-plane nose and mandrel bends. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention incorporate a center turret cluster with a plurality of radii possible, a nose-bending mandrel, and a mandrel-bending mandrel. This apparatus forms a bending head that is attached to a CNC wire bending machine. This combination allows increased flexibility in forming complex wire forms and cuts down secondary operations, such as operations from robot arms, sometimes associated with CNC wire bending. In addition, the turret cluster position in the center allows for bending support with mandrel bends or nose bending on the back side of the bending head, usually 180 degrees away from the normal bending area. This allows the manufacturing of double end-loop forms without the addition of external clamps or robotic manipulation.

Devices, systems and methods for automated wire bending

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to a stake that is twisted into and out of the ground via an adaptor. The adaptor adapts the stake to a power drill, allowing the power drill to twist the stake into and out of the ground by activating the drill. The adaptor is designed to fit a standard drill chuck at one end. At the other end, the adaptor has a fitting to receive the stake. The fitting is such that the stake and adaptor are axially locked so that the stake and adaptor rotate in unison when the drill is activated. The stake is a wire designed in a coil shape with a pilot. The pilot is fit into the adaptor which axially locks the stake with the adaptor.

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Oak Brook, IL, United States of America

Constantine Grapsas