Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to overcome the defects of the prior art and provides a bending machine which has a simple structure, low cost and high efficiency and can be fed and discharged in multiple directions.
In order to solve the problems, the invention adopts the following technical scheme:
a bending machine capable of feeding and discharging materials in multiple directions, which is characterized by comprising:
A bending system;
a feeding system capable of feeding and pushing the workpiece to and from the bending system from one or more of the directions of the bending system;
The bending system comprises a first traversing mechanism, a second traversing mechanism and a follower mechanism for receiving a workpiece pushed by the feeding system;
the first transverse moving mechanism is provided with a first bending mechanism for bending the workpiece and a first lifting power device for driving the first bending mechanism to move up and down;
the second transverse moving mechanism is provided with a second bending mechanism for bending the workpiece and a second lifting power device for driving the second bending mechanism to move up and down in a vertically movable manner;
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that the follow-up mechanism is arranged between the first bending mechanism and the second bending mechanism, the bending system further comprises a first rack, the first traversing mechanism comprises a first traversing frame arranged on the first rack in a traversing manner and a first traversing power device for driving the first traversing frame to move, and the second traversing mechanism comprises a second traversing frame arranged on the first rack in a traversing manner and a second traversing power device for driving the second traversing frame to move in a traversing manner.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that the first transverse moving power device is a linear driving mechanism arranged on the first transverse moving frame and used for driving the first transverse moving frame to linearly move, and the second transverse moving power device is a linear driving mechanism arranged on the second transverse moving frame and used for driving the second transverse moving frame to linearly move.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that the first bending mechanism comprises a first bending installation bending frame which is arranged on a first transverse moving frame in a vertically sliding mode, a first rotating shaft and a first rotating driving mechanism which drives the first rotating shaft to rotate are rotatably arranged on the first bending installation bending frame, a first connecting link frame which is driven to rotate by the first rotating shaft and a first rotating rod which is sleeved on the first rotating shaft in a relatively rotating mode are arranged on the first rotating shaft, a first dragging plate frame and a first dragging plate lifting device which drives the first dragging plate frame to move up and down are arranged on the first connecting link frame in a vertically movable mode, and a first dragging plate capable of dragging a workpiece and a dragging plate transverse moving driving device which drives the first dragging plate to move transversely are arranged on the first dragging plate frame in a transversely movable mode.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that the second bending mechanism comprises a second bending installation bending frame which is arranged on a second transverse moving power frame in a vertically sliding mode, a second rotating shaft and a second rotating driving mechanism which drives the second rotating shaft to rotate are rotatably arranged on the second bending installation bending frame, a second linkage frame which is driven to rotate by the second rotating shaft and a second rotating rod which is sleeved on the second rotating shaft in a relatively rotating mode are arranged on the second rotating shaft, a clamping plate capable of clamping a workpiece is arranged on the second rotating rod, a second dragging plate frame which can clamp the workpiece with the clamping plate and a second dragging plate lifting device which drives the second dragging plate frame to move up and down are arranged on the second linkage frame, and a dragging plate locating rod which is used for transversely locating the end portion of the workpiece is arranged on the second dragging plate frame.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that a backup plate assembly capable of leaning against a workpiece end at one side of a first bending mechanism and a backup plate transverse moving power device for driving the backup plate assembly to move transversely are arranged on the first frame, the backup plate assembly comprises a backup plate transverse moving frame driven by the backup plate transverse moving power device to move transversely on the first frame, a backup plate mounting frame capable of being arranged on the backup plate transverse moving frame in a sliding mode, a backup plate lifting power device for driving the backup plate mounting frame to move up and down, a backup plate capable of being arranged on the backup plate mounting frame in a rotating mode and capable of leaning against a workpiece, and a backup plate rotation driving device for driving the backup plate to rotate are arranged on the backup plate, and two clamping blocks used for clamping two sides of the workpiece and clamping block power devices for driving the two clamping blocks to be relatively close to or far away are arranged on the backup plate.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that a second positioning mechanism for positioning a workpiece and a second lifting mechanism for driving the second positioning mechanism to lift are arranged on one side, away from the pushing system, of the follow-up mechanism.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that the second positioning mechanism comprises a second positioning frame longitudinally arranged on the follow-up mechanism, a positioning assembly capable of longitudinally moving on the second positioning frame and a positioning longitudinal movement driving device for driving the positioning assembly to longitudinally move are arranged on the second positioning frame, the positioning assembly comprises a positioning sliding frame capable of longitudinally moving on the second positioning frame, a positioning installation frame capable of vertically sliding on the positioning sliding frame and a second transverse positioning rod fixed on the positioning installation frame and capable of positioning a workpiece, and the second lifting mechanism comprises a chute arranged at the end part of the second positioning frame and obliquely arranged downwards, and a pulley capable of sliding into the chute when the positioning installation frame longitudinally moves is arranged on the positioning installation frame.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that the feeding system comprises a second rack, a feeding platform for placing a workpiece and a pushing mechanism for pushing the workpiece to move to one side of the bending system are arranged on the second rack, and the pushing mechanism comprises a pushing frame, a longitudinal movement driving mechanism for driving the pushing frame to longitudinally move, a pushing rod movably arranged on the pushing frame and a pushing power device for driving the pushing rod to push the workpiece.
The bending machine capable of feeding and discharging in multiple directions is characterized in that the second frame is further provided with a detection mechanism for detecting the size of a workpiece, a first positioning mechanism capable of positioning the workpiece when the pushing mechanism pushes the workpiece close to one side of the bending system, and a first lifting mechanism for driving the first positioning mechanism to lift.
The bending machine has the advantages that the first bending mechanism and the second bending mechanism respectively move transversely and lift through the power device, so that the first bending mechanism and the second bending mechanism can exit after bending, feeding and discharging of workpieces in multiple directions are prevented from being interfered, the workpieces can be fed and discharged in multiple directions (for example, the feeding and the discharging are in the longitudinal direction), feeding and discharging can be flexibly arranged according to the implementation requirements of places and the size requirements of the workpieces and the requirements of process requirements, the use is convenient, the working efficiency is high, one side of the first bending mechanism is provided with a backup plate assembly, the backup plate is driven to rotate through the backup plate rotation driving device, the backup plate can be adjusted to push against positions according to different positions and angles after the workpieces are bent, the use is convenient, the backup plate is provided with clamping blocks, the clamping blocks clamp the two sides of the workpieces, dislocation between the workpiece fins during bending can be prevented, the first frame is provided with a detection mechanism, the pushing mechanism pushes the workpieces to one side of the first positioning mechanism, the first positioning mechanism is used for positioning the workpieces, the workpieces after the detection, the detection mechanism detects the workpieces are qualified, the lifting mechanism is lowered, the first positioning mechanism is used for pushing the workpieces to the workpieces, the workpieces to the detection is not needed, and the feeding mechanism is started, and the bending machine is used for lowering the rate of the products.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bending system of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the follower mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the follower mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the components of the follower mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second positioning mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a left side view of the second positioning mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first bending mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the first bending mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a first bending mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fence assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the fence assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the fence assembly of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second bending mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a left side view of the second bending mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is an exploded view of a second bending mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a pushing system of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a right side view of the pushing system of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the components of the pushing system of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is an exploded view of the components of the pushing system of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention;
fig. 22 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
The invention is described in further detail below with reference to the attached drawings and detailed description:
As shown in fig. 1 to 22, a bending machine capable of feeding and discharging materials in multiple directions, comprising:
Bending system 10;
the feeding system 20 can be arranged on one or more sides of the front, back, left or right sides of the bending system 10, the feeding system 20 can be used for pushing the workpiece onto the bending system 10 by mechanical power or pushing the bent workpiece out, the feeding system 20 can also be used for manually feeding, for example, the feeding system 20 can be arranged on the left side (embodiment I) of the bending system 10, the feeding system 20 can be used for pushing the workpiece onto the bending system 10 from the left side of the bending system 10, the workpiece can be pushed onto the feeding system 20 after bending or pushed out from the right side of the bending system 10 by the feeding system 20, the feeding system 20 can also be arranged on the left side and right side (embodiment II) of the bending system 10, and the feeding system 20 can also be arranged on the left side, the right side, the front side and the right side (embodiment III) of the bending system 10;
The bending system 10 comprises a first traversing mechanism 30, a second traversing mechanism 40 and a follower mechanism 50 for receiving the workpiece pushed by the feeding system 20;
the first traversing mechanism 30 is provided with a first bending mechanism 4 for bending a workpiece and a first lifting power device 60 for driving the first bending mechanism 4 to move up and down in a vertically movable manner;
The second traversing mechanism 40 is provided with a second bending mechanism 5 for bending the workpiece and a second lifting power device 70 for driving the second bending mechanism 5 to move up and down;
The follower mechanism 50 is disposed between the first bending mechanism 4 and the second bending mechanism 5, the first bending mechanism 4 and the second bending mechanism 5 are disposed at a distance from each other, the direction of the first bending mechanism 4 toward the second bending mechanism 5 is defined as a transverse direction, or the length direction of the workpiece is defined as a transverse direction, the direction perpendicular to the transverse direction is defined as a longitudinal direction, and the transverse direction and the longitudinal direction are defined only for convenience of description.
The bending system 10 comprises a first frame 1, wherein the follower mechanism 50 comprises a follower frame capable of transversely moving on the first frame 1 and a follower platform capable of vertically moving on the follower frame, a workpiece is pushed onto the follower platform by the feeding system 20, a transversely arranged guide rail is arranged on the first frame 1, the follower frame is slidably arranged on the guide rail, the follower frame can be driven to transversely move by a power device, the power device can be a hydraulic cylinder to push the follower frame, a rack can be arranged on the follower frame, the follower frame can be driven to move on the rack by a motor, a nut seat and a screw rod can be arranged on the follower frame, and the first frame 1 can drive the screw rod to rotate by the motor, and can be a mode of driving a synchronous belt by the motor. The follow-up platform can drive to lift through power device, sets up vertical guide rail on the follow-up frame, and follow-up platform slidable establishes on vertical guide rail, can drive follow-up platform through modes such as cylinder, or motor drive screw rod, nut seat and lift.
The top of the first frame 1 is provided with a transverse guide rail, the first traversing mechanism 30 comprises a first traversing frame 31 which is arranged on the first frame 1 in a transversely movable manner, a first traversing power device 33 which drives the first traversing frame 31 to move, the first traversing frame 31 is arranged on the transverse guide rail in a sliding manner, the first traversing power device 33 is a linear driving mechanism which is arranged on the first traversing frame 31 and drives the first traversing frame 31 to linearly move, and the linear driving mechanism can be a gear rack mechanism, a screw nut seat mechanism, a synchronous belt mechanism and a hydraulic cylinder mechanism, for example, a rack is arranged on the top of the first frame 1, a motor is arranged on the first traversing frame 31, and a gear is arranged on the motor to be matched with the rack. The second traverse mechanism 40 includes a second traverse frame 51 provided on the first frame 1 so as to be laterally slidable, and a second traverse power device 53 that drives the second traverse frame 51 to laterally move. The second traverse power device 53 is a linear driving mechanism provided on the second traverse frame 51 to drive the second traverse frame 51 to linearly move, and the linear driving mechanism of the second traverse power device 53 may be implemented in the same manner as the linear driving mechanism of the first traverse power device 33.
The first bending mechanism 4 comprises a first bending installation bending frame 42 which is arranged on the first traverse frame 31 in a vertically sliding manner, the first traverse frame 31 and the first bending installation bending frame 42 realize vertical sliding in a guide rail and guide groove mode, the first lifting power device 60 drives the first bending installation bending frame 42 to move up and down, the first lifting power device 60 can be a vertical rack arranged on the first bending installation bending frame 42, and the first traverse frame 31 is provided with a motor to drive a gear to drive the vertical rack in a mode. The first folding installation bending frame 42 is rotatably provided with a first rotating shaft 43 and a first rotating driving mechanism 34 for driving the first rotating shaft 43 to rotate, the first rotating driving mechanism 34 can be a mode that a synchronous belt device is arranged on the first folding installation bending frame 42 to drive the first rotating shaft 43 to rotate, namely, a motor, a transmission rod and a transmission rod are arranged at the top of the folding installation bending frame 42 to drive a transmission belt, the transmission belt drives the first rotating shaft 43 to rotate, and naturally, the first rotating driving mechanism 34 can also drive a gear through the motor to drive the gear, and the gear drives the first rotating shaft 43 to rotate. The first rotating shaft 43 is provided with a first linkage frame 44 driven by the first rotating shaft 43 to rotate and a first rotating rod 45 sleeved on the first rotating shaft 43 in a relatively rotatable manner, the first rotating rod 45 bends and guides a workpiece during bending, the upper end of the first linkage frame 44 is fixed on the first rotating shaft 43, and the first linkage frame 44 is driven to turn over during rotation of the first rotating shaft 43. The first linkage frame 44 is provided with a first pallet frame 46 and a first pallet lifting device 49 for driving the first pallet frame 46 to move up and down, the first linkage frame 44 and the first pallet frame 46 can slide in a guiding way, the first pallet lifting device 49 can be realized in a cylinder or a screw nut frame and the like, for example, a cylinder is arranged on the first linkage frame 44, and the shaft of the cylinder pushes the first pallet frame 46 to move up and down. The first carriage 46 is provided with a first carriage 47 capable of dragging a workpiece and a carriage transverse driving device 48 for driving the first carriage 47 to transversely move, the first carriage 47 can transversely move, so that when the first carriage 47 bends, the first carriage 47 can follow the workpiece, the carriage transverse driving device 48 can be a screw rod and a nut seat, the nut seat is arranged on the first carriage 47, the screw rod is driven to rotate by a motor, the motor is also arranged on the first carriage 46 to drive a gear, and a rack meshed with the gear is arranged on the first carriage 47.
The second bending mechanism 5 includes a second bending installation bending frame 52 which is slidably disposed on the second moving frame 51 up and down, the second moving frame 51 and the second bending installation bending frame 52 slide through a guide rail and a guide groove, the second lifting power device 70 drives the second bending installation bending frame 52 to move up and down, and the second lifting power device 70 and the first lifting power device 60 can be implemented in the same way. The second folding mounting bracket 52 is rotatably provided with a second rotating shaft 54 and a second rotating driving mechanism 55 for driving the second rotating shaft 54 to rotate, and the second rotating driving mechanism 55 can be implemented in the same way as the first rotating driving mechanism 34. The second rotating shaft 54 is provided with a second linkage frame 56 driven to rotate by the second rotating shaft 54 and a second rotating rod 57 sleeved on the second rotating shaft 54, the second rotating rod 57 can rotate along with the second rotating shaft 54, the upper end of the second linkage frame 56 is fixed on the second rotating shaft 54, the second rotating rod 57 is provided with a clamping plate 571 capable of clamping a workpiece, the second linkage frame 56 is provided with a second dragging plate frame 58 capable of clamping the workpiece with the clamping plate 571 in a vertically movable manner and a second dragging plate lifting device 59 for driving the second dragging plate frame 58 to move up and down, and the second dragging plate lifting device 59 can be in the same manner as the first rotating driving mechanism 34, and the second dragging plate frame 58 is provided with a dragging plate positioning rod 581 for transversely positioning the end part of the workpiece.
In order to enable the workpiece bending end of the first bending mechanism 4 to be positioned, the first frame 1 is provided with a backup plate assembly 7 which can lean against the workpiece end on one side of the first bending mechanism 4, and a backup plate transverse moving power device 35 for driving the backup plate assembly 7 to move transversely, and the implementation mode of the backup plate transverse moving power device 35 can be the same as that of the first transverse moving power device 33. The backup plate assembly 7 includes a backup plate traversing frame 71 which is driven by a backup plate traversing power device 35 to move transversely on the first frame 3, a backup plate mounting frame 72 which is arranged on the backup plate traversing frame 71 in a manner of sliding up and down, a backup plate lifting power device 73 which drives the backup plate mounting frame 72 to move up and down, a backup plate 74 which is rotatably arranged on the backup plate mounting frame 72 and can lean against a workpiece, and a backup plate rotation driving device 75 which drives the backup plate 74 to rotate, wherein the backup plate mounting frame 72 is rotatably provided with a backup plate rotating shaft 721, the bottom end of the backup plate 74 is fixed on the backup plate rotating shaft 721, the backup plate rotation driving device 75 comprises a backup plate rotation driving motor 751 which can drive the backup plate rotating shaft 721 to rotate in a manner of a gear or a synchronous belt, the backup plate traversing frame 71 and the backup plate mounting frame 72 can move up and down in a manner of a guide rail and a guide groove, the backup plate lifting power device 73 can be realized in a manner of a screw nut seat, and of course also can be realized by pushing of a cylinder. The backup plate 74 is provided with two clamping blocks 76 which are longitudinally and oppositely arranged and used for clamping two sides of a workpiece, and a clamping block power device 77 which is used for driving the two clamping blocks 76 to be relatively close to or far away from each other, wherein the clamping block power device 77 can be realized by a screw rod and two nut seats with different rotation directions, the two clamping blocks 76 are respectively provided with the nut seats with different rotation directions, the clamping block power device 77 can be a conveyor belt, a motor drives a loop-shaped conveyor belt, and the two clamping blocks 76 are respectively arranged on the two opposite belt pieces.
The follower mechanism 50 is provided with a second positioning mechanism 61 for positioning the workpiece and a second lifting mechanism 62 for driving the second positioning mechanism 61 to lift, wherein the second positioning mechanism 61 is used for positioning the workpiece when the feeding system 20 sends the workpiece to the follower mechanism 50, and the second positioning mechanism 61 descends after the workpiece is bent, so that the workpiece can be pushed out by the feeding system 20. The second positioning mechanism 61 comprises a second positioning frame 611 longitudinally arranged on the follower mechanism 50, a positioning assembly 612 capable of longitudinally moving on the second positioning frame 611 and a positioning longitudinal movement driving device 66 for driving the positioning assembly 612 to longitudinally move are arranged on the second positioning frame 611, and the positioning longitudinal movement driving device 66 can drive the positioning assembly 612 to longitudinally move in a synchronous belt mode, and certainly can also be in a matching mode of a screw rod and a nut seat. The positioning assembly 612 comprises a positioning sliding frame 613 capable of longitudinally moving on the second positioning frame 611, a positioning installation frame 614 capable of vertically sliding on the positioning sliding frame 613, a second transverse positioning rod 615 fixed on the positioning installation frame 614 and capable of positioning a workpiece, wherein vertical sliding rail sliding guide is arranged between the positioning sliding frame 613 and the positioning installation frame 614 to realize vertical relative movement, the second lifting mechanism 62 comprises a chute 621 which is arranged at the end part of the second positioning frame 611 and is obliquely arranged downwards, a pulley 616 capable of sliding into the chute 621 when the positioning installation frame 614 longitudinally moves is arranged on the positioning installation frame 614, and due to the downwards oblique arrangement of the chute 621, the positioning installation frame 614 can sink down after the positioning installation frame 614 slides into the lower end in the chute 621.
The feeding system 20 comprises a second frame 2, a feeding platform 21 for placing a workpiece and a pushing mechanism 22 for pushing the workpiece to move to one side of the bending system 10 are arranged on the second frame 2, the pushing mechanism 22 comprises a pushing frame 226, a longitudinal movement driving mechanism 222 for driving the pushing frame 226 to longitudinally move, a pushing rod 227 movably arranged on the pushing frame 226, and a pushing power device 228 for driving the pushing rod 227 to push the workpiece, the longitudinal movement driving mechanism 222 can longitudinally move the pushing frame 226 in a mode of pushing a synchronous belt, a screw nut seat, a cylinder and the like, and the longitudinal movement driving mechanism 222 in the embodiment is a motor driving pushing conveyor belt 225, the pushing frame 226 which is driven by the pushing conveyor belt 225 to longitudinally move is longitudinally provided with a pushing rod 227 and a pushing cylinder 228 which drives the pushing rod 227 to stretch and retract, the pushing mounting frames 221 are provided with a plurality of pushing driven rotating rods 224 and pushing driving rotating rods 223 along the transverse direction at intervals, the pushing driven rotating rods 224 and the pushing driving rotating rods 223 are connected with the plurality of pushing mounting frames 221 in series, two ends of the pushing conveyor belt 225 are respectively wound on the driven rotating rods 224 and the pushing driving rotating rods 223, the pushing driving rotating rods 223 are driven to rotate through the pushing conveyor belt 225 when the pushing driving rotating rods 223 rotate, the pushing driving rotating rods 223 are provided with rotating wheels, and the pushing driving motor is provided with rotating wheels which can be connected with the two rotating wheels through the conveying belt. The feeding platform 21 is provided with a plurality of feeding guide rails 229 extending longitudinally along the transverse direction, the feeding mounting frame 221 is provided with a feeding guide rail 229 extending longitudinally, and the feeding frame 226 is provided with a feeding guide groove 220 which is slidably clamped. The second frame 2 is also provided with a detection mechanism 23 for detecting the size of the workpiece, a first positioning mechanism 24 which is close to one side of the bending system 10 and can position the workpiece when the pushing mechanism 22 pushes the workpiece, and a first lifting mechanism 25 which drives the first positioning mechanism 24 to lift. The first positioning mechanism 24 includes a first positioning mounting frame 241 provided on the second frame 2, and a positioning rod 242 provided on the first positioning mounting frame 241 so as to be capable of vertically sliding and capable of longitudinally blocking a workpiece, and the first positioning mounting frame 241 is provided on one side close to the bending machine. The first lifting mechanism 25 is a lifting cylinder arranged on the first positioning mounting frame 241 and capable of driving the positioning rod 241 to lift. The detecting mechanism 23 may be a thickness detecting mechanism, which may be an ultrasonic thickness detecting instrument, and/or a length detecting mechanism, which may be a mechanism for measuring the length of the workpiece by an infrared sensor. The first positioning mechanism 24 may be a positioning rod, and the first lifting mechanism 25 may drive the positioning rod to lift up and down through an air cylinder. During detection, the pushing rod 227 pushes the workpiece to lean against the positioning rod, then the detection mechanism 23 performs size detection, after the size detection is qualified, the positioning rod is downward, and the workpiece is pushed onto the follower mechanism 50 by the pushing rod 227. The detection structure 23 comprises a movable detection rod 231 arranged on the second frame 2, a fixed detection rod 232 arranged transversely opposite to the movable detection rod 23 in a spaced mode, a first detector 233 arranged on the movable detection rod 231, a second detector 234 arranged on the fixed detection rod 232, and a movable detection driving device 235 for driving the movable detection rod 231 to move, wherein the second frame 2 is provided with a detection guide rack 26 and a detection guide rail 27 which are transversely arranged, the movable detection rod 231 is provided with a detection guide groove 236 which is slidably clamped on the detection guide rail 27, the movable detection driving device 235 comprises a movable detection driving motor 237 arranged on the movable detection rod 231, and the movable detection driving motor 237 is provided with a movable detection driving gear 238 meshed with the detection guide rack 26. The first detector 233 and the second detector 234 are disposed opposite to each other, and may be an infrared sensor, which transmits a signal and receives a signal, and a distance between the two is calculated to measure a size of the workpiece. The detecting mechanism 23 may further include a thickness gauge 239 provided on the second chassis 2 for detecting the thickness of the tool, the thickness gauge 239 being an ultrasonic gauge.