Debris control apparatus for cutting machines

A debris control apparatus for a cutting machine, wherein the cutting machine includes:

• (i) a cutting tool for cutting a work material;
• and (ii) a carriage movably mounted on a support structure for supporting the cutting tool, the debris control apparatus comprising:
• a debris control enclosure shaped to admit the cutting tool to the work material while containing, within the enclosure and on the work material, debris from the cutting of the work material, as the cutting tool moves during operation of the cutting machine and relative to the support structure along a surface of the work material, through which surface the cutting tool moves into the work material, the enclosure having an outer surface defining an upper face and a lower face and comprising:
• a vacuum opening in said enclosure, the vacuum opening having an axis extending through the upper and lower faces, nonparallel with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine, and being sized, shaped and positioned to receive a vacuum conduit, connected to a vacuum source, for extracting the debris from the enclosure, and
• at least one flange projecting from a central portion of the enclosure;
• and
• the debris control apparatus further comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the enclosure to the carriage such that, during operation of the cutting machine, the enclosure moves along the surface as the cutting tool moves along the surface and relative to the support structure, the enclosure being mounted such that movement of the cutting tool in and out of the work material does not cause movement of the enclosure, the mounting assembly comprising:
• at least one support arm for supporting the enclosure, the at least one support arm having a first engagement portion at a first end and a second engagement portion at a second end, wherein the first engagement portion slidably engages the at least one flange, securing the enclosure to the at least one support arm, such that the at least one support arm extends from the enclosure, and
• a depth adjuster for enabling an operating depth of the enclosure to be adjusted, wherein the depth adjuster comprises at least one rail attachable to the carriage, the at least one rail comprising:
• an elongated engagement portion having a length;
• an axis that is substantially perpendicular with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine;
• and
• a depth adjustment range along the length of the at least one rail,
• wherein the enclosure comprises at least one magnet, and wherein the mounting assembly comprises at least one magnetic connector for detachably attaching the enclosure to the at least one support arm by connection to the at least one magnet and
• wherein, during operation of the cutting machine, the second engagement portion of the at least one support arm engages the elongated engagement portion of the at least one rail, such that the at least one support arm is secured to and extends from the at least one rail and is selectively adjustable relative to the at least one rail along the length of the elongated engagement portion within the depth adjustment range,
• whereby, prior to operation of the cutting machine, the depth of the enclosure can be adjusted such that the debris will be contained in the enclosure during operation of the cutting machine.

A debris control apparatus for a cutting machine, wherein the cutting machine includes:

• (i) a cutting tool for cutting a work material;
• and (ii) a carriage movably mounted on a support structure for supporting the cutting tool, the debris control apparatus comprising:
• a debris control enclosure shaped to admit the cutting tool to the work material while containing, within the enclosure and on the work material, debris from the cutting of the work material, as the cutting tool moves during operation of the cutting machine and relative to the support structure along a surface of the work material, through which surface the cutting tool moves into the work material, the enclosure having an outer surface defining an upper face and a lower face and comprising:
• a vacuum opening in said enclosure, the vacuum opening having an axis extending through the upper and lower faces, nonparallel with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine, and being sized, shaped and positioned to receive a vacuum conduit, connected to a vacuum source, for extracting the debris from the enclosure;
• at least one flange projecting from a central portion of the enclosure;
• and
• a debris shield for maintaining the debris at the work material, and a brush, depending from the debris shield, for controlling the debris as the cutting tool moves along the work material, wherein the debris shield comprises an opening to admit the cutting tool to the work material, and wherein the enclosure further includes a laser shield attached to the debris shield and sized to admit a laser cutting beam to the work material while reducing the size of said debris shield opening to reduce air flow out of the enclosure, and
• the debris control apparatus further comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the enclosure to the carriage such that, during operation of the cutting machine, the enclosure moves along the surface as the cutting tool moves along the surface and relative to the support structure, the enclosure being mounted such that movement of the cutting tool in and out of the work material does not cause movement of the enclosure, the mounting assembly comprising:
• at least one support arm for supporting the enclosure, the at least one support arm having a first engagement portion at a first end and a second engagement portion at a second end, wherein the first engagement portion slidably engages the at least one flange, securing the enclosure to the at least one support arm, such that the at least one support arm extends from the enclosure, and
• a depth adjuster for enabling an operating depth of the enclosure to be adjusted, wherein the depth adjuster comprises at least one rail attachable to the carriage, the at least one rail comprising:
• an elongated engagement portion having a length;
• an axis that is substantially perpendicular with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine;
• and
• a depth adjustment range along the length of the at least one rail,
• wherein, during operation of the cutting machine, the second engagement portion of the at least one support arm engages the elongated engagement portion of the at least one rail, such that the at least one support arm is secured to and extends from the at least one rail and is selectively adjustable relative to the at least one rail along the length of the elongated engagement portion within the depth adjustment range,
• whereby, prior to operation of the cutting machine, the depth of the enclosure can be adjusted such that the debris will be contained in the enclosure during operation of the cutting machine.

A debris control apparatus for a cutting machine, wherein the cutting machine includes:

• (i) a cutting tool for cutting a work materials and (ii) a carriage movably mounted on a support structure for supporting the cutting tool, the debris control apparatus comprising:
• a debris control enclosure shaped to admit the cutting tool to the work material while containing, within the enclosure and on the work material, debris from the cutting of the work material, as the cutting tool moves during operation of the cutting machine and relative to the support structure along a surface of the work material, through which surface the cutting tool moves into the work material, the enclosure having an outer surface defining an upper face and a lower face and comprising:
• a vacuum opening in said enclosure, the vacuum opening having an axis extending through the upper and lower faces, nonparallel with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine, and being sized, shaped and positioned to receive a vacuum conduit, connected to a vacuum source, for extracting the debris from the enclosure, and
• at least one flange projecting from a central portion of the enclosure;
• and
• the debris control apparatus further comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the enclosure to the carriage such that, during operation of the cutting machine, the enclosure moves along the surface as the cutting tool moves along the surface and relative to the support structure, the enclosure and mounting assembly being configured such that the enclosure is detachably attached to the mounting assembly, the mounting assembly comprising:
• at least one support arm for supporting the enclosure, the at least one support arm having a first engagement portion at a first end and a second engagement portion at a second end, wherein the at least one flange is detachably engaged with the first engagement portion, removably securing the enclosure to the at least one support arm, such that the at least one support arm extends from the enclosure, the at least one support arm further having a slot for receiving the enclosure, wherein the enclosure can be inserted into and withdrawn from the slot;
• and
• a depth adjuster for enabling an operating depth of the enclosure to be adjusted, wherein the depth adjuster comprises at least one rail attachable to the carriage, the at least one rail comprising:
• an elongated engagement portion having a length;
• an axis that is substantially perpendicular with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine;
• and
• a depth adjustment range along the length of the at least one rail,
• wherein, during operation of the cutting machine, the second engagement portion of the at least one support arm engages the elongated engagement portion of the at least one rail, such that the at least one support arm is secured to and extends from the at least one rail and is selectively adjustable relative to the at least one rail within the depth adjustment range,
• whereby, after detaching the enclosure from the mounting assembly, the cutting tool and the work material can be changed without action on the mounting assembly other than said detaching.

A debris control apparatus for a cutting machine, wherein the cutting machine includes:

• (i) a cutting tool for cutting a work material;
• and (ii) a carriage movably mounted on a support structure for supporting the cutting tool, the debris control apparatus comprising:
• a debris control enclosure shaped to admit the cutting tool to the work material while containing, within the enclosure and on the work material, debris from the cutting of the work material, as the cutting tool moves during operation of the cutting machine and relative to the support structure along a surface of the work material, through which surface the cutting tool moves into the work material, the enclosure having an outer surface defining an upper face and a lower face and comprising:
• a vacuum opening in said enclosure, the vacuum opening having an axis extending through the upper and lower faces, nonparallel with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine, and being sized, shaped and positioned to receive a vacuum conduit, connected to a vacuum source, for extracting the debris from the enclosure, and
• at least one flange projecting from a central portion of the enclosure;
• and
• the debris control apparatus further comprising a mounting assembly for mounting the enclosure to the carriage such that, during operation of the cutting machine, the enclosure moves along the surface as the cutting tool moves along the surface and relative to the support structure, the enclosure and mounting assembly being configured such that the enclosure is detachably attached to the mounting assembly, wherein the mounting assembly and enclosure are attached by at least one magnetic connector, the mounting assembly comprising:
• at least one support arm for supporting the enclosure, the at least one support arm having a first engagement portion at a first end and a second engagement portion at a second end, wherein the at least one flange is detachably engaged with the first engagement portion, removably securing the enclosure to the at least one support arm, such that the at least one support arm extends from the enclosure, the at least one support arm further having a slot for receiving the enclosure, wherein the enclosure can be inserted into and withdrawn from the slot;
• and
• a depth adjuster for enabling an operating depth of the enclosure to be adjusted, wherein the depth adjuster comprises at least one rail attachable to the carriage, the at least one rail comprising:
• an elongated engagement portion having a length;
• an axis that is substantially perpendicular with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine;
• and
• a depth adjustment range along the length of the at least one rail,
• wherein, during operation of the cutting machine, the second engagement portion of the at least one support arm engages the elongated engagement portion of the at least one rail, such that the at least one support arm is secured to and extends from the at least one rail and is selectively adjustable relative to the at least one rail within the depth adjustment range,
• whereby, after detaching the enclosure from the mounting assembly, the cutting tool and the work material can be changed without action on the mounting assembly other than said detaching.

A debris control apparatus for a cutting machine, wherein the cutting machine includes:

• (i) a cutting tool for cutting a work materials and (ii) a carriage for supporting the cutting tool, the debris control apparatus comprising:
• a debris control enclosure having an outer surface defining an upper face and a lower face;
• and the debris control enclosure having a cutting tool access opening to admit the cutting tool to the work material while containing, within the enclosure and on the work material, debris from the cutting of the work material, as the cutting tool moves, during operation of the cutting machine, along a surface of the work material through which surface the cutting tool moves into the work material, the enclosure further comprising a vacuum opening in said enclosure, the vacuum opening being sized, shaped and positioned to receive a vacuum conduit, connected to a vacuum source, for extracting the debris from the enclosure;
• and
• a mounting assembly for mounting the enclosure to the carriage such that, during operation of the cutting machine, the enclosure moves along the surface as the cutting tool moves along the surface, the enclosure being mounted such that movement of the cutting tool in and out of the work material does not cause movement of the enclosure, the mounting assembly comprising:
• at least one support arm for supporting the enclosure, the at least one support arm having a first engagement portion at a first end and a second engagement portion at a second end, wherein the first engagement portion slidably and detachably engages an outer engagement portion of the enclosure, such that the at least one support arm extends from the enclosure, and
• a depth adjuster for enabling an operating depth of the enclosure to be adjusted, the depth adjuster comprising at least one rail portion attachable to the carriage, the at least one rail portion comprising an elongated engagement portion having a length and an axis that is substantially perpendicular with the surface of the work material during operation of the cutting machine,
• wherein, during operation of the cutting machine, the second engagement portion of the at least one support arm engages the elongated engagement portion of the at least one rail portion, such that the at least one support arm extends from the at least one rail portion and is adjustable along the length of the elongated engagement portion;
• whereby, prior to operation of the cutting machine, the depth of the enclosure can be adjusted such that the debris will be contained in the enclosure during operation of the cutting machine,
• the apparatus further comprising an air flow reducing element selectively mountable to the lower face of the enclosure so as to reduce a size of the cutting tool access opening.