METAL ANALYZING PLASMA CNC CUTTING MACHINE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A metal analyzing plasma CNC cutting machine, comprising:
- a plasma cutting torch controllable to cut a workpiece with a plasma arc;
a lens positioned and configured to capture light from the plasma arc;
a spectrometer coupled to receive the captured light from the lens through an optical fiber path and adapted to determine spectral data of the light;
at least one computer having a processor and memory storing spectral analysis software that includes machine readable instructions executable by the processor to analyze the spectral data and generate a determined composition indicative of a composition of the workpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plasma computer numerically controlled (CNC) cutting machine is controlled by a computer such as a personal computer capable running an operating system and software programs. In an embodiment, the computer executes a CNC program to control movement of a plasma torch to cut parts from a workpiece while a spectrometer determines an emissions spectra of light emitted as the torch cuts the workpiece. The spectrometer cooperates with software running on a computer to analyze the metal as it is being cut by the CNC cutting machine and determine a composition. In embodiments, the composition is compared to an expected composition and saved in a database with identifying information; in a particular embodiment the database is queried to provide identifying information of metal having similar composition to the workpiece.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A metal analyzing plasma CNC cutting machine, comprising:
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a plasma cutting torch controllable to cut a workpiece with a plasma arc; a lens positioned and configured to capture light from the plasma arc; a spectrometer coupled to receive the captured light from the lens through an optical fiber path and adapted to determine spectral data of the light; at least one computer having a processor and memory storing spectral analysis software that includes machine readable instructions executable by the processor to analyze the spectral data and generate a determined composition indicative of a composition of the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A plasma CNC cutting machine of the type having a bed for supporting a workpiece to be cut, a gantry that traverses the bed, a plasma cutting head apparatus mounted to the gantry, and a computer having a processor and memory storing CNC control software having instructions executable by the processor to control the gantry and the plasma cutting head apparatus to cut the workpiece with a plasma arc, the improvement comprising:
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a lens positioned and configured to capture light from the plasma arc and direct the light through an optical path; a spectrometer configured to analyze the light received through the optical path and generate spectral data therefrom; and spectral analysis software comprising machine readable instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to analyze the spectral data and generate a determined composition indicative of composition of the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for analyzing composition of a workpiece being cut by a plasma CNC cutting machine, comprising:
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capturing light from a plasma arc of the plasma CNC cutting machine as the plasma arc cuts the workpiece; generating spectral data from the light; and processing the spectral data to generate a determined composition indicative of composition of the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification