Abstract: An expert system containing a built-in application knowledge is used with a controllable cutting system to automatically seek an optimal feed rate during cutting in response to various of a number of possible changing system cutting parameters wherein a programmable controller defines and specifies a preset configuration file defining the specific cutting system control parameters for directing the operation of the cutting system in accordance with a contour defining a path be followed by a cutter carried by the cutting system and which cutter is moved in an X, Y and C coordinate space across the cutting surface of the cutting system. The X, Y and C axes motors are driven with a commanded current to move the cutter with a velocity defined in the configuration file.

Abstract: A method of moving a cutter blade along a contour defined by a plurality of segments each connected end to end with one another and having at least one angle disposed between consecutively ordered segments calculates a distance from a corner point along one and another line segments and fits an arc to be followed by the blade between the line segments for eliminating repeated high force short time system inputs and replacing them with lower force longer duration inputs to affect the reduction and mechanical wear and the reduction of shocks to the system. The method further includes a process by which individual velocity profiles are determined for each contour in order to run the system at maximum velocity at all times during the course of a cutting operation.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cutting either a single sheet or a lay-up of sheets of material to derive pattern pieces or the like from the material, the material is cut segment-by-segment by bringing a fresh segment to a cutting station after a preceding segment has been entirely cut. Discontinuities, which may translate into points of non-clean cutting, which might otherwise occur in cut lines as they pass to one segment to another, because of accidental shifting or mispositioning of the material during advancement, are avoided or reduced by acquiring the start and finish X and Y coordinates of an index point on the material and then using such coordinates with the cutting instructions used in the cutting of the subsequent segment, the use of the coordinates being such that accidental shifting or mispositioning of the material is taken into account and compensated for in the cutting of the second segment.