Development of real-time process control system for precision and flexible V-bending with an on-line database

An advanced process control system based on expertise is developed for the V-bending process. An experimental database and a fuzzy inference model are employed as the expertise for real-time process control. The punch force-stroke curves and other process parameters stored in the database are retrieved in-process and evaluated by the fuzzy model for precise prediction control. Also, a learning process, which is similar to the way craftsmen acquire knowledge, is applied for database and fuzzy model improvements in order to cope with new materials. Several experiments were carried out to confirm the validity of the developed control system. The results show that the process control is capable of coping with differences in the material properties and other forming parameters automatically even if the operator has no information on the material properties and the process.