# US 2025/0144745 A1 · Apparatus and method for making shaped flat elements

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- Number: US 2025/0144745 A1
- Document ID: US20250144745A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/833,342
- Filed: 2023-01-23
- Published: 2025-05-08
- Earliest claimed: 2022-01-25
- Assignees: Endico S.R.L.
- Applicants: Endico S.R.L.
- Inventors: Franco Zuliani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250144745A1

## CPC

- B23K 26/0876: {in at least two axial directions}
- B23K 26/38: by boring or cutting
- B23K 26/08: Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
- B23K 26/0838: {by using an endless conveyor belt}
- B23K 37/02: Carriages for supporting the welding or cutting element
- B23K 37/0235: {the guide member forming part of a portal}
- B23K 2103/40: {Paper}
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

## Abstract

Apparatus (10) for making shaped flat elements (11), comprising at least one laser head (12) mobile along at least two work axes (X, Y) which are defined by respective guide bars (13, 14) equipped with respective movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) and configured to work said flat elements (11).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus (10) for making shaped flat elements (11), the apparatus comprising at least one laser head (12) with a fixed focal length, mobile along at least two work axes (X, Y), which are defined by respective guide bars (13, 14) equipped with respective first movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b), and configured to work said flat elements (11), wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one second movement device (17) configured to support and allow an advance of said flat elements (11) in a given direction (A), and a control unit (21) connected at least to said first and second movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, 17), to first sensors (18, 19) positioned on said guide bars (13, 14) configured to monitor at least deformations of said guide bars (13, 14), and to second sensors (20) configured to monitor at least a position of said flat elements (11) in said direction (A), wherein said control unit (21) is configured to adjust a functioning of said first and second movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, 17) at least according to data detected by said first and second sensors (18, 19, 20).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein said control unit (21) comprises a hardware and a software system based on artificial intelligence and machine learning of a laser cutting process.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus (10) claim 1, wherein said laser head (12) comprises a support (32) with a reticular structure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus (10) of claim 3, wherein said support (32) is made by means of Generative Design and Additive Manufacturing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein said guide bars (13, 14) have a reticular structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus (10) of claim 5, wherein said guide bars (13, 14) are made by means of Generative Design.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus (10) of claim 6, wherein said guide bars (13, 14) comprise zones (25) having higher structural stresses and consequently a higher material density than other parts.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein each of said guide bars (13, 14) comprises at least one pair of said first movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) connected to said control unit (21).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein said laser head (12) is associated with a laser source (31) connected to said control unit (21).

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein said control unit (21) is configured to adjust the functioning of said first movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) at least according to the deformations of said guide bars (13, 14) detected by said first sensors (18, 19).

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus (10) of claim 1, wherein said control unit (21) is configured to adjust the functioning of said second movement device (17) at least as a function of the data detected by said second sensors (20) and to synchronise an actuation of said first movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b).

### Claim 12

A method to make shaped flat elements (11), the method comprising moving at least one laser head (12) configured to work said flat elements (11) along at least two work axes (X, Y) which are defined by respective guide bars (13, 14) equipped with respective first movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b), and moving said flat elements (11) in a given direction (A) by means of at least one second movement device (17) configured to support and allow an advance of said flat elements (11), wherein a control unit (21) is connected at least to said first and second movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, 17), to first sensors (18, 19) positioned on said guide bars (13, 14) and configured to monitor at least deformations of said guide bars (13, 14), and to second sensors (20) configured to monitor at least a position of said flat elements (11) in said direction (A), wherein said method provides to adjust a functioning of said first and second movement devices (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, 17) at least according to data detected by said first and second sensors (18, 19, 20).