Abstract: A method and apparatus is featured for providing linear control of a regulated electrical property (e.g., current or voltage) in a switch mode power supply of a thermal processing system that includes an inductive element and at least one switching element. The method and apparatus feature structure, or steps, for generating a nonlinear model that predict values for a regulated electrical property of the inductive element based on a given duty cycle of the at least one switching element and structure, or steps, for generating a nonlinear model that determines a duty cycle for the at least one switching element based on the nonlinear predictive model for the regulated electrical property, the nonlinear model determining the duty cycle such that a linear relationship results between the regulated electrical property and a selected value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is featured for providing linear control of a regulated electrical property (e.g., current or voltage) in a switch mode power supply of a thermal processing system that includes an inductive element and at least one switching element. The method and apparatus feature structure, or steps, for generating a nonlinear model that predict values for a regulated electrical property of the inductive element based on a given duty cycle of the at least one switching element and structure, or steps, for generating a nonlinear model that determines a duty cycle for the at least one switching element based on the nonlinear predictive model for the regulated electrical property, the nonlinear model determining the duty cycle such that a linear relationship results between the regulated electrical property and a selected value.

Abstract: A system and method is featured for controlling a process parameter of a thermal processing system by estimating an arc voltage between a plasma arc torch tip and a metallic workpiece and controlling the process parameter based on the estimated arc voltage. Particular embodiments include adjusting the height of a plasma torch based on the estimated arc voltage. A system and method is also featured for estimating an arc voltage in a thermal processing system in which a switch mode power supply provides an arc current to generate a plasma arc between a plasma arc torch tip and a metallic workpiece.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for creating 3D imagery of an object using calibration means to transfer data to a reference frame and visibility analysis to determine and resolve occlusion.