# US 9,039,485 B2 · Method for machining a series of workpieces by means of at least one machining jet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,485 B2 - Document ID: US9039485B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/132,647 - Filed: 2013-12-18 - Published: 2014-06-19 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-18 - Assignees: Micromachining AG - Applicants: Micromachining AG - Inventors: Walter Maurer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039485B2 ## CPC - B24B 49/02: according to the instantaneous size and required size of the workpiece acted upon, the measuring or gauging being continuous or intermittent (B24B49/12 takes precedence) - B23K 26/03: Observing, e.g. monitoring, the workpiece - B23K 26/032: {using optical means} - B23K 26/0884: {in at least three axial directions, e.g. manipulators, robots} - B23K 26/38: by boring or cutting - B23K 26/389: {of fluid openings, e.g. nozzles, jets} - B23K 37/0235: {the guide member forming part of a portal} - B24C 1/045: {for cutting (energy dissipating devices therefor B26F3/008)} - B24C 3/04: stationary - B26D 5/00: Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting - B26F 3/004: {by means of a fluid jet (methods for use of abrasive blasting for cutting B24C1/045; guns for abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet B26F1/26)} - B23K 2101/001: {Turbines} - B26D 5/005: {Computer numerical control means} - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS - 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 - B24C: ABRASIVE OR RELATED BLASTING WITH PARTICULATE MATERIAL - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) - B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B) ## Abstract The method for machining a series of workpieces (21) via at least one machining jet includes the following steps: each workpiece (21) is associated with an identifier for uniquely identifying the workpiece, during the machining of a respective workpiece, the temporal characteristic of the machining jet is detected by at least one sensor (30), the detected temporal characteristic is evaluated so as to obtain at least one comparative value, and for detecting incorrect machining, the at least one comparative value is compared with at least one threshold value. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for machining a series of workpieces by means of at least one machining jet, wherein in the method each workpiece is associated with an identifier for uniquely identifying the workpiece, during the machining of a respective workpiece, a temporal characteristic of said at least one machining jet is detected by means of at least one sensor, the detected temporal characteristic is evaluated so as to obtain at least one comparative value, and for detecting incorrect machining, said at least one comparative value is compared with at least one threshold value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the respective workpiece is associated with an error indicator which is determined as a function of a deviation of said at least one comparative value from said at least one threshold value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the error indicator comprises a flag. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein information can be obtained from the error indicator, which information indicates at which of the machining areas, at which the workpiece has been machined by means of said at least one machining jet, the absolute value of said at least one comparative value is greater than said at least one threshold value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one comparative value is formed as a function of a predetermined expectation value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein said at least one comparative value Uv is formed as absolute value of the difference between a measurement signal U of said at least one sensor and the expectation value Ue: Uv=|U−Ue|. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the existence of an error during machining is determined as a function of the following criterion: when machining a workpiece, there is at least one time interval which lasts at least for a predetermined time, and during which the absolute value of said at least one comparative value exceeds said at least one threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a calibration is carried out in which, with said at least one machining jet turned on, a signal of said at least one sensor is detected as a function of a distance of said at least one machining jet from a point of origin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the calibration is carried out prior to machining the series of workpieces. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is part of a closed loop control for changing a characteristic of said at least one machining jet in dependence on a deviation of said at least one comparative value from said at least one threshold value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the closed loop control comprises at least one of the following components: a drive for moving said at least one machining jet, a pump for ejecting said at least one machining jet under pressure out of a machining head, a dosing device for adding abrasive material to said at least one machining jet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein machining a workpiece is interrupted if said at least one comparative value exceeds or falls below said at least one threshold value several times in a row. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the machining, a workpiece is supported on a workpiece support which comprises said at least one sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to perform at least one of the following operations: detecting vibrations in at least one of a solid body, a liquid and air, detecting a pressure which said at least one machining jet exerts onto a workpiece support or a workpiece or onto both, detecting said at least one machining jet optically. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one machining jet is formed from at least one of the following media: a liquid with or without abrasive particles, gas, photons. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining of said at least one comparative value comprises a comparison of the detected temporal characteristic with calibration values, which define a change of a signal of said least one sensor when a distance between said at least one machining jet and said at least one sensor is changed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein, for detecting an incorrect setting, said at least one comparative value is obtained by evaluating the acquired temporal characteristic and comparing it with data stored, which data define a relationship between setting parameters and a sensor signal to be expected and which data are used for obtaining said at least one threshold value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the comparison is done in a frequency spectrum. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein for the respective machined workpiece data are stored, which comprise the identifier and information on the detected temporal characteristic, wherein the data serves for a verification of required production conditions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein machining the series of workpieces comprises at least one of structuring a workpiece surface, compacting a workpiece surface, cutting and drilling. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A machining device, which is configured to implement the method according to claim 1, wherein the machining device is configured to generate during the operation at least one machining jet for machining workpieces, the machining device comprising at least one sensor for detecting a temporal characteristic of said at least one machining jet when machining the workpieces, wherein the machining device is provided with a program on execution of which the method is implementable. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The machining device according to claim 21, further comprising a workpiece support which comprises said at least one sensor and on which a workpiece is supported during machining. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The machining device according to claim 21, further comprising a workpiece support which comprises a frame on which a workpiece can be fastened by means of holding means.