Method and system for multi pass weld preparation using a cutting torch

A method for controlling a numerical control (NC) machine having a single cutting tool to cut out from a sheet a part with weld preparation, comprising the steps of:

• a) combining weld preparation parameters with an electronic description of the part to form an enhanced electronic file, the electronic description of the part including at least an electronic definition of a line segment of the part in an XY plane of the sheet, the step of combining including a substep of embedding the weld preparation parameters with the electronic definition of the line segment of the part in the XY plane of the sheet in the enhanced electronic file;
• b) converting the enhanced electronic file into multiple cutter paths to be provided to the NC machine, the multiple cutter paths being useable to control the NC machine to cut out the part with at least one bevel and a dihedral shape based upon the enhanced electronic file;
• c) providing the NC machine with the multiple cutter paths;
• d) instructing the NC machine, the NC machine having the provided multiple cutter paths, to cut the part from the sheet;
• and
• e) controlling the NC machine to cut the sheet along the multiple cutter paths by the single cutting tool along the line segment, each of the multiple cutter paths following a separate but parallel contour along the line segment, the step of controlling comprising moving the cutting tool in the XY plane, rotating the cutting tool, and/or tilting the cutting tool,
• wherein the dihedral shape comprises a center cut selectively varying in dihedral angle relative to a planar surface of the part.