Abstract: An improved laser cutting apparatus is provided that optimizes the amount of time required to perform all of the required cuts in a piece of sheet material. The optimization minimizes the amount of rapid-travel movement of the laser head, and virtually eliminates all head-up/head-down movements of the laser head. In one embodiment, the present invention performs a method that accepts NC code that has already been created by a conventional software product produced by a CAD/CAM vendor, and analyzes that NC code to create an optimized part program. The NC code is broken down and analyzed as a series of individual shapes to be cut by the laser head. Once the required shapes are known, a “sweep” is made to determine how many cut-outs are in each “band” being analyzed across the surface of the sheet material to be cut.

Abstract: A photon energy beam delivery system has a gas delivery tube extending generally the length of the beam path, having a plurality of openings oriented generally toward the beam path. Gas is discharged through the openings, flowing proximal to the beam path, resulting in the desired gas movement within the beam path throughout a sufficient length of the beam path, thereby reducing, eliminating or minimizing degradation of the beam.

Abstract: A photon energy beam delivery system has a gas delivery tube extending generally the length of the beam path, having a plurality of openings oriented generally toward the beam path. Gas is discharged through the openings, flowing proximal to the beam path, resulting in the desired gas movement within the beam path throughout a sufficient length of the beam path, thereby reducing, eliminating or minimizing degradation of the beam.

Abstract: A photon energy beam delivery system has a gas delivery tube extending generally the length of the beam path, having a plurality of openings oriented generally toward the beam path. Gas is discharged through the openings, flowing proximal to the beam path, resulting in the desired gas movement within the beam path throughout a sufficient length of the beam path, thereby reducing, eliminating or minimizing degradation of the beam.

Abstract: An improved laser cutting apparatus is provided that optimizes the amount of time required to perform all of the required cuts in a piece of sheet material. The optimization minimizes the amount of rapid-travel movement of the laser head, and virtually eliminates all head-up/head-down movements of the laser head. In one embodiment, the present invention performs a method that accepts NC code that has already been created by a conventional software product produced by a CAD/CAM vendor, and analyzes that NC code to create an optimized part program. The NC code is broken down and analyzed as a series of individual shapes to be cut by the laser head. Once the required shapes are known, a "sweep" is made to determine how many cut-outs are in each "band" being analyzed across the surface of the sheet material to be cut. The number of bands and the types of sweep are varied to analyze different possibilities of rapid-travel distance while still eliminating all head-up/head-down movements of the laser head.

Abstract: A gantry assembly and appurtenances therefor for a linear motor driven laser cutting machine. The gantry box is made of honey comb construction characterized by high strength, light weigh, high stiffness to weight ratio and vibration absorption. The gantry box is supported at each of its ends on a linear motor driven carriage by a torsion plate. The torsion plates are exteriorly flanked by protective panels which support a light weight cover for the upper part of the gantry assembly. The beam end of the gantry box is additionally attached to its gantry carriage by a snubber pin-snubber bushing assembly and by a gantry pin-carriage pin-link assembly. These last two assemblies, together with the torsion plates and gantry carriages, limit or restrain certain movements of the gantry box. The laser cutting machine is controlled by a high performance multi-axis motion controller.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the movement of the ram of a press or press brake of the type having one or two main cylinders with pistons operatively attach to the ram. The control system comprises a programmable processor with inputs from a pressure transducer indicating the pressure applied to the one or two pistons and a linear potentiometer for each side of the ram to indicate ram position and levelness. The control system further includes a hydraulic circuit operated by outputs from the processor. The hydraulic circuit comprises a variable volume load sense-controlled pump supplying hydraulic fluid through a speed control assembly to a solenoid-actuated directional valve determining upward and downward movement of the ram. The speed control assembly comprises at least two lines connected to the output line of the pump and to the speed control assembly output line to the directional valve. At least one of the at least two speed control assembly lines is provided with a restricting orifice.

Abstract: An auger conveyor assembly for heating and feeding polymer coated powder from a powder supply assembly to a shuttle assembly for ultimate delivery to the die cavity of a compacting press. The auger conveyor has an auger tube having near its rearward end an inlet connected to the powder supply assembly and near its forward end an outlet for delivery of heated polymer coated powder to the shuttle assembly. A hollow tubular auger with flights on its exterior surface is rotatably mounted in the auger tube and is rotatable therein by a motor and gear assembly to advance the polymer coated powder. For the majority of its length the auger tube is surrounded by ceramic band heaters. An air heater is mounted on a manifold at the driven end of the auger. An air tube connected to the manifold extends through the length of the auger. The tube has perforations at the discharge end of the auger.

Abstract: A stacking and laser cutting system and method, for cutting multiple layers of flexible material, comprising a CNC laser center and a cutting and stacking machine. The laser center includes a cutting zone, a loading and unloading zone, a laser cutting head assembly shiftable anywhere within the cutting zone, upper and lower pallet bearing carriages shiftable between the cutting zone and the loading and unloading zone, and and elevating mechanism to lift the lower carriage pallet in the loading and unloading zone to the same vertical loading level that the upper carriage pallet occupies in the loading and unloading zone. The cutting and stacking machine includes a material supply section and a cutting and stacking section. The cutting and stacking section is mounted on the laser center over the loading and unloading zone.

Abstract: An automatic adaptive fill cavity adjust system for a powder metal press to control trend variations in the weight of multi-level parts as the result of the flowability and apparent density characteristics of the powder metal. The system comprises a monitoring component to monitor compacting load or tonnage changes, or part weight changes. A computer control is provided to receive the monitor signals, to keep a running average of a small sample of parts, to execute the proper logic to determine when a fill adjustment is needed, and to calculate the new fill position for each moveable platen bearing a tooling member to assure that the percent change in powder column height is the same for all columns. The system further includes a motor drive component responsive to the control computer output to position the up stop of each moveable platen bearing a tooling member and the core rod mechanism (if used), to achieve proportionally correct adjustments to the fill cavity.

Abstract: A system for heating and feeding polymer coated powder to a heated die cavity of a compacting press. The system includes at least one heated vertical pipe for heating the polymer coated powder and for delivering the polymer coated powder by gravity from source thereof to the entry end of at least one horizontally oriented auger conveyor. The at least one auger conveyor is heated and imparts heat to the individual powder particles through a mixing action. The at least one auger conveyor delivers the polymer coated powder to the heated hopper of a shuttle assembly. The shuttle assembly is shiftable between a retracted position wherein the polymer coated powder is discharged from the shuttle hopper to a heated powder ring, to an extended position wherein the polymer coated powder is discharged from the powder ring to the heated die cavity of the compacting press. The system heats the individual particles of the polymer coated powder to a temperature just below the coagulation point thereof.

Abstract: A vision system for detecting mispositioned parts during the operation of a powder metal press and preventing damage to the press and tooling associated therewith, wherein the gross level of light is read at specified locations of the press during predetermined points in the press stroke, compared to gross light levels established during a teaching stroke of the press, with the press being automatically deactivated when the difference between the gross light level read and the established gross light level is not within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A system for detecting penetration through a blank by the beam of a laser cutter prior to cutting a workpiece from a blank. The laser cutting includes a frame defining an interior area bounded by first and second side walls, first and second end walls and a bottom. Means are provided for supporting the blank within the confines of the side walls and end walls and above the bottom. A gantry structure extends transversely of the frame and movable longitudinally thereof. A laser head is connected to and is movable longitudinally of the gantry. A main control for the laser cutter causes the beam to be reflected through the gantry structure and the laser head toward the blank. The system comprises at least one sensor module mounted on the frame beneath the support means. The sensor module is operatively connected to the main control such that the laser cutter begins cutting the blank upon detection of the penetration by the sensor module.

Abstract: A computer-based control for a press brake of the type having a ram for bending a sheet metal workpiece to a desired bend angle. The control incorporates a teach mode which collects ram force and position data during the bending of one or more test workpieces and calculates from the force and position data parameters representative of the ram reversal position necessary to produce the desired bend angle. The control also incorporates a bend mode for bending a production workpiece to the desired bend angle wherein force and position data is collected during the bending of the production workpiece and is used in conjunction with the parameters calculated during the bending of the test workpieces during the teach mode to calculate the exact position of ram reversal necessary to produce the desired bend angle in the production workpiece. The control also incorporates correction of the position of ram reversal to account for ram overshoot during the bend mode.

Abstract: An electronic control system for operating the hydraulic cylinders associated with a press brake wherein independent control of each of the hydraulic cylinders is achieved to insure that the cylinders track against a fixed reference to insure more accurate forming of the workpiece. The cylinder tracking is under computer control which also establishes a creep speed slower than the normal forming speed near the point of ram reversal. A plurality of press brake may be operated simultaneously from the same tracking reference.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the movement of the slide of a hydraulic press of the type having a main cylinder containing a piston mounting the slide. The control system comprises an electronic processor, a pressure transducer to measure the pressure of hydraulic fluid applied to the piston to move the slide downwardly, a position encoder coupled to the slide to determine the vertical position of the slide, and a hydraulic circuit to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the cylinder to move the piston and slide upwardly and downwardly. The hydraulic circuit comprises a plurality of cartridge valves having controls actuable by outputs from the processor.

Abstract: A deflection compensating assembly for deflection sensitive fabricating machine tools such as a press brake. In a press brake, for example, the deflection compensating assembly is mounted between the bed and the lower die or between the ram and the upper die. When mounted on the bed, the deflection compensating assembly, under load, will cause the lower die to become substantially parallel to the upper die. The deflection compensating assembly, under load, will cause the upper die to become substantially parallel to the lower die, when affixed to the ram. The deflection compensating assembly, is preferably a self-contained unit attachable to and detachable from the bed or ram and comprises a variable rate spring, the deflection of which, when under uniformly distributed full length load, is such that, when added to the combined bed and ram deflections, it yields a total deflection which is constant along the length of the bed and ram and will compensate for the bed and ram deflections.

Abstract: Tooling clamps by which tooling having mounting tongues can be attached to and detached from the working edges of the ram and bed of a press brake. Each clamp comprises a clamp body affixed to the working edge of one of the ram and bed. The clamp body provides a clamping surface. The clamp body supports a plurality of clamping bars aligned end-to-end. Each clamping bar has a clamping surface opposed to the clamp body clamping surface. Each clamping bar is affixed to the body by bolts which pass through perforations in the clamp body with clearance, so that each clamping bar is shiftable between a tool-clamping and a tool-release position. Spring means bias the clamping bars to their tool-clamping positions. A housing is affixed to the rear of the clamp body and extends the length thereof. The housing has a longitudinal cavity containing an actuating bar in abutment with the heads of the clamping bar bolts and a high pressure hose.

Abstract: A deflection compensating cylinder and auxiliary cross-member assembly, for use with a press brake of the type having a bed, a ram, and a pair of main cylinders actuating the ram. The assembly causes the die-supporting edges of the bed and ram to remain substantially parallel under load. A pair of auxiliary cross-members are located to each side of the bed, extending the majority of the length thereof. The cross-members are affixed to the bed by a pair of pins, each located near an end of the cross-members and extending therethrough and through the bed. The cross-members have corresponding, coextensive, longitudinal slots formed therein and located centrally thereof. The bed contains a similar slot, slightly offset in a vertical direction with respect to the cross-member slots. A deflection compensating cylinder is mounted in the cross-member and bed slots with the cylinder contacting one of the bed and cross-members and its piston contacting the other of the bed and cross-members.