US 11,724,361 B2 · Autonomous modification of waterjet cutting systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing real-time modification of cutting process programs using feedback from one or more sensors which measure one or more operational parameters of a cutting process and/or cutting apparatus. The sensor readings may be used to provide real-time modification of a motion program after such motion program has been provided to a motion controller. Examples of such operational parameters may include waterjet pump supply pressure, the abrasive mass flow rate, the force of the waterjet on the target piece, etc. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize a cutting algorithm or program to calculate actual cut quality based on one or more sensor inputs, and to generate warnings or system shut-downs accordingly. The systems and methods discussed herein also utilize inspection devices to inspect coupons or first articles, and use the inspection data to autonomously modify motion programs and/or cutting process models without user intervention.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A fluid jet apparatus control system, comprising:

a controller clock;
at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium that stores at least one of processor-executable instructions or data;
and
at least one processor communicably coupled to the at least one nontransitory processor-readable storage medium, in operation the at least one processor:
receives an initial motion program for a target object which is to be cut by a fluid jet apparatus;
receives a reference separation cut speed;
executes a motion program to cause the fluid jet apparatus to cut the target object according to the received initial motion program;
and
from time-to-time during execution of the motion program,
autonomously receives at least one operational parameter of the fluid jet apparatus from at least one sensor;
autonomously determines a modified separation cut speed based at least in part on the received at least one operational parameter;
and
autonomously adjusts a clock rate of the controller clock to cause the fluid jet apparatus to cut the target object based at least in part on the modified separation cut speed.

10 more elements

A method of autonomously controlling a fluid jet apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor, an initial motion program for a target object which is to be cut by a fluid jet apparatus;
receiving, by at least one processor, a reference separation cut speed;
executing, by the at least one processor, a motion program to cause the fluid jet apparatus to cut the target object according to the received initial motion program;
and
from time-to-time during execution of the motion program,
autonomously receiving, by the at least one processor, at least one operational parameter of the fluid jet apparatus from at least one sensor;
autonomously determining, by the at least one processor, a modified separation cut speed based at least in part on the received at least one operational parameter;
and
autonomously adjusting, by the at least one processor, a clock rate of a controller clock to cause the fluid jet apparatus to cut the target object based at least in part on the modified separation cut speed.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Autonomous modification of waterjet cutting systems

Life of this patent

Autonomous modification of waterjet cutting systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13