US 6,222,155 B1 · Cutting apparatus with thermal and nonthermal cutters, and associated methods

Abstract

A table has a pervious support surface and a gantry is mounted for movement across the support surface in a longitudinal direction. A carriage is mounted to the gantry for movement across the support surface in a transverse direction. Water jet and plasma arc cutting heads are carried by and movable with the carriage. A controller is capable of operating the water jet cutting head while moving the gantry and the carriage to cut a sheet of insulation supported by a first section of the support surface. In addition, the controller is capable of operating the plasma arc cutting head while moving the gantry and the carriage to cut a piece of sheet metal supported by a second section of the support surface. A drainage system is mounted beneath the first section of the support surface for collecting water that falls through the first section of the support surface from the water jet cutting head. A downdraft system is mounted beneath the second section of the support surface for drawing and receiving fumes that are generated by the operation of the plasma arc cutting head.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cutting workpieces, comprising:

a table for supporting the workpieces;
a gantry mounted for back and forth movement across the table in a first direction;
a carriage mounted to the gantry for back and forth movement across the table in a transverse direction;
a first cutting head carried by and movable with the carriage;
a second cutting head carried by and movable with the carriage;
a first supply module operatively connected to the first cutting head so that the first cutting head is capable of cutting workpieces via a substantially nonthermal cutting process;
a second supply module operatively connected to the second cutting head so that the second cutting head is capable of cutting workpieces via a thermal cutting process;
a controller operative for moving the gantry in the first direction, moving the carriage in the transverse direction, and operating the first cutting head and the second cutting head to cut workpieces positioned on the table;
a first residue removal system associated with the table and capable of receiving residue from cutting operations performed with the first cutting head;
and
a second residue removal system associated with the table and capable of receiving residue from cutting operations performed with the second cutting head.

8 more elements

An apparatus for cutting workpieces, comprising:

a table for supporting the workpieces;
a gantry mounted for back and forth movement across the table in a first direction;
a carriage mounted to the gantry for back and forth movement across the table in a transverse direction;
a water jet cutting head carried by and movable with the carriage;
a plasma arc cutting head carried by and movable with the carriage;
a water supply module operatively connected to the water jet cutting head so that the water jet cutting head is capable of operating to cut workpieces;
a plasma arc supply module operatively connected to the plasma arc cutting head so that the plasma arc cutting head is capable of operating to cut workpieces;
and
a controller operative for moving the gantry in the first direction, moving the carriage in the transverse direction, and operating the water jet cutting head and the plasma arc cutting head to cut workpieces positioned on the table.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cutting apparatus with thermal and nonthermal cutters, and associated methods

Life of this patent

Cutting apparatus with thermal and nonthermal cutters, and associated methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17