Hotwire deposition material processing system and method
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsKevin Michael Scott, Richard Martin Hutchison
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A material processing system includes a power supply and a wire feeder to feed a wire electrode for a material processing operation. The enthalpy and/or temperature of a region of the tip of the electrode is maintained substantially constant via closed loop control. The control may be based upon regulation of current applied to the electrode. The control of the current may be based upon an electrode extension error. Wire feed speed may also be controlled to assist in maintaining a substantially constant enthalpy and/or temperature near the electrode tip.
Claims20
A material processing method, comprising:
- advancing an electrode toward a workpiece to initiate a material processing operation;
- and
- regulating enthalpy of an end of an extension of the electrode during the material processing operation.
A material processing method, comprising:
- advancing an electrode toward a workpiece to initiate a material processing operation;
- and
- regulating current applied to the electrode to regulate enthalpy and/or temperature of an end of an extension of the electrode during the material processing operation.
A material processing system comprising:
- a power supply configured to provide power for a material processing operation;
- a wire electrode feeder configured to advance a wire electrode during the material processing operation;
- and
- a control system configured to regulate enthalpy of an end of an extension of the electrode during the material processing operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.