Tool identification and condition monitoring

摘要

The invention relates to an electro-optic device, which is capable of both identifying and monitoring the condition of material processing tools such as those used in cutting and forming operations. This leads to improvements in the efficiency of automatic or computer-integrated manufacturing procedures, wherein tools are inspected on the basis of signatures derived from an optical scattering system. A laser source is used to illuminate a tool which is rotated eg in a monitoring station prior to the commencement of a machining operation. Light scattered by the tool is picked-up by a photo-detection system and the resulting signature signal is compared with a reference signature signal.