Networking architecture for thermal processing system
AssigneeHypertherm, Inc.
InventorsTate S. Picard, Gregory S. Wilson, Jeffery L. Peterson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal processing system includes a thermal torch for processing a workpiece, a power supply for providing power to the thermal torch, a positioning system for relatively moving the thermal torch and the workpiece, a controller for controlling the thermal processing system, and a deterministic-based communication network, such as, for example, a network which operates using SERCOS. The deterministic-based communications network connects at least the controller, the power supply, and the positioning system of the thermal processing system together.
Claims32
A thermal processing system capable of processing a workpiece, the system comprising:
- a thermal torch for processing the workpiece;
- a deterministic-based distributed communication network;
- a power supply for providing power to the thermal torch, the power supply connected to the communication network and including a first processing unit with a deterministic-based networking protocol for communicating with the communication network;
- a positioning system for relatively moving the thermal torch and the workpiece, the positioning system connected to the communication network and including a second processing unit with the deterministic-based networking protocol for communicating with the communication network;
- and
- a controller for controlling the thermal processing system, the controller connected to the communication network and including a third processing unit with the deterministic-based networking protocol for communicating with the communication network.
A thermal processing system capable of processing a workpiece, the system comprising:
- a thermal torch for processing the workpiece;
- a deterministic-based distributed communication network;
- a power supply for providing power to the thermal torch, the power supply connected to the communication network and including a first processing unit with a deterministic-based networking protocol for communicating with the communication network;
- and
- a positioning system for relatively moving the thermal torch and the workpiece, the positioning system connected to the communication network and including a second processing unit with the deterministic-based networking protocol for communicating with the communication network wherein one or more of the power supply and the positioning system comprise controlling means for controlling the thermal processing system.
A method of operating a thermal processing system capable of processing a workpiece, the method comprising:
- connecting to a distributed communication network a thermal torch for processing the workpiece, a power supply for providing power to the thermal torch, a positioning system for relatively moving the thermal torch and the workpiece, and a controller for controlling the thermal processing system, the power supply including a first processing unit, the positioning system including a second processing unit, the controller including a third processing unit, wherein the first, second, and third processing units include a deterministic-based networking protocol for communicating with the communication network;
- and
- transmitting, by the power supply, the positioning system, or the controller, data over the communication network using the deterministic-based communication protocol.
A method of operating a thermal processing system capable of processing a workpiece, the method comprising:
- transmitting data over a distributed communication network using a deterministic-based networking protocol to provide instructions to a thermal torch for processing the workpiece, a power supply for providing power to the thermal torch, a positioning system for relatively moving the thermal torch and the workpiece, and a controller, the power supply including a first processing unit, the positioning system including a second processing unit, the controller including a third processing unit, wherein the first, second, and third processing units include a deterministic-based networking protocol for communicating with the communication network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.