Waterjet cutting tool interface apparatus and method

• US 5,584,016 A
• Filed: 02/14/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andersen Corporation
• Original Assignee: Andersen Corporation
• Inventors: Varghese, Thomas, Bright, Jason, Smith, Randall W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruggiero, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/195,166
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 364/468, 364/474.02, 364/474.24, 364/512, 364/401, 364/403, 364/474.09, 364/473, 364/470, 395/139, 395/155, 395/161, 65/29.1, 65/29.11, 65/16.13
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4097 characterised by using design data to control NC machines, e.g. CAD/CAM G05B19/4093 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved cutting device control system for analyzing designs, blueprints, and other drawings, and for creating low level computer instructions to fully automate the cutting process is provided. The program utilizes several algorithms, constraints, and program features to fully automate creation of the instructions--thereby eliminating the need for an operator to input cutting, moving, or operating instructions to the cutting device. The apparatus includes a microprocessor and associated memory to store the various programming steps, to store the various data tables, and to implement the algorithms and programmed constraints. Additionally, the preferred apparatus includes associated communication devices for transmitting the generated codes to the electronic controller for the cutting device, Similarly, the input format may also be transmitted to the microprocessor.

Claims

1. A method for generating cutting instructions from a pattern stored in a known format, the format being of the type output from a computer aided design software program, comprising the steps of:

(a) loading a pattern from a known format into a computer memory location, wherein the pattern includes one or more draw primitives;

(b) applying a set of predetermined rules to the draw primitives to determine a cutting path along the one or more draw primitives without operator intervention, wherein the rules form a hierarchical structure such that finding the next draw primitive to be cut dictates subsequent draw primitives to be cut, and wherein the applying step includes the step of determining bounding boxes to rank the one or more draw primitives relative to one another; and

(c) determining cutting instructions from the cutting path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying step further includes determining each separate item to be cut in the pattern by starting at opposing ends of each of the one or more draw primitives and traversing the draw primitive in opposite directions.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of storing information relative to traversing the draw primitive in a memory location, wherein duplicating traversing of draw primitives is minimized.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of translating the cutting instructions into computer numerical control language.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of communicating the cutting instructions to a two dimensional cutting device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the two dimensional cutting device is a waterjet and wherein the pattern is for art glass.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the known format file is a DXF file.

8. A method of generating cutting instructions for a glass pattern having one or more panes formed with known objects, the objects including arcs, circles, lines, and complex objects and each object having known geometrical relationships to the other objects, the method comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a desired glass pattern;

b) reading the DXF file associated with the desired glass pattern;

c) sorting the list of objects according to the bounding box of the individual objects;

d) determining the location of each pane to be cut and the exterior edge of the pattern;

e) finding the starting pane to be cut according to predetermined criteria;

f) determining a cutting path along an object; and

g) generating cutting instructions.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of transmitting the generated instructions to a cutting device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising repeating step f for each object and each pane to be cut.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of repeating steps e, f, and g for each color glass to be cut.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of extending the edges of the exterior panes of the pattern to create room for the exterior panes to be held by a frame.

13. An apparatus for generating cutting instructions for a waterjet device from an art glass pattern having one or more panes and stored in a DXF format file, the DXF format file being of the type output from a computer aided design software program, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for reading a pattern including one or more draw primitives, wherein associated with the draw primitives is data representative of the spatial relationship between the draw primitives in the pattern;

(b) means for applying a set of predetermined rules to the draw primitives, wherein the panes are determined, and wherein the rules form a hierarchical structure such that finding the next draw primitive to be cut dictates subsequent draw primitives to be cut, and wherein the applying means includes bounding box determining means to rank the one or more draw primitives relative to one another; and

(c) means for generating a cutting path along the ranked draw primitives, wherein cutting instructions are determined automatically without operator input.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the applying means further includes determining means for separating each pane to be cut in the pattern by starting at opposing ends of the each of the one or more draw primitives and traversing the draw primitives in opposite directions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further including a memory storage device for storing information relative to traversing the draw primitive in a memory location, wherein duplicating traversing of draw primitives is minimized.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising translating means for translating the cutting instructions into computer numerical control language.

17. A method for generating cutting instructions from a pattern stored in a known format, the format being of the type output from a computer aided design software program, comprising the steps of:

(a) loading a pattern from a known format into a computer memory location, wherein the pattern includes one or more draw primitives;

(b) applying a set of predetermined rules to the draw primitives to determine a cutting path along the one or more draw primitives without operator intervention, wherein the rules form a hierarchical structure such that finding the next draw primitive to be cut dictates subsequent draw primitives to be cut, and wherein the applying step includes determining each separate item to be cut in the pattern by starting at opposing ends of each of the one or more draw primitive and traversing the draw primitive in opposite directions; and

(c) determining cutting instructions from the cutting path.

18. A method for generating cutting instructions from a pattern stored in a known format, the format being of the type output from a computer aided design software program, comprising the steps of:

(a) loading a pattern from a known format into a computer memory location, wherein the pattern includes one or more draw primitives;

(b) applying a set of predetermined rules to the draw primitives to determine a cutting path along the one or more draw primitives without operator intervention, wherein the rules form a hierarchical structure such that finding the next draw primitive to be cut dictates subsequent draw primitives to be cut, and wherein the applying step includes determining each separate item to be cut in the pattern by starting at opposing ends of each of the one or more draw primitive and traversing the draw primitive in opposite directions;

(c) storing information relative to traversing the draw primitive in a memory location, wherein duplicating traversing of draw primitives is minimized; and

(d) determining cutting instructions from the cutting path.

19. An apparatus for generating cutting instructions for a waterjet device from an art glass pattern having one or more panes and stored in a DXF format file, the DXF format file being of the type output from a computer aided design software program, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for reading a pattern including one or more draw primitives, wherein associated with the draw primitives is data representative of the spatial relationship between the draw primitives in the pattern;

(b) means for applying a set of predetermined rules to the draw primitives, wherein the draw primitives are ranked relative to one another and the panes are determined, and wherein the rules form a hierarchical structure such that finding the next draw primitive to be cut dictates subsequent draw primitives to be cut, and wherein the applying means includes determining means for separating each pane to be cut in the pattern by starting at opposing ends of each of the one or more draw primitives and traversing the draw primitives in opposite directions; and

(c) means for generating a cutting path along the ranked draw primitives, wherein cutting instructions are determined automatically without operator input.

20. An apparatus for generating cutting instructions for a waterjet device from an art glass pattern having one or more panes and stored in a DXF format file, the DXF format file being of the type output from a computer aided design software program, the apparatus comprising:

(a) means for reading a pattern including one or more draw primitives, wherein associated with the draw primitives is data representative of the spatial relationship between the draw primitives in the pattern;

(b) means for applying a set of predetermined rules to the draw primitives, wherein the draw primitives are ranked relative to one another and the panes are determined, and wherein the rules form a hierarchical structure such that finding the next draw primitive to be cut dictates subsequent draw primitives to be cut, and wherein the applying means includes determining means for separating each pane to be cut in the pattern by starting at opposing ends of each of the one or more draw primitives and traversing the draw primitives in opposite directions;

(c) a memory storage device for storing information relative to traversing the draw primitive in a memory location, wherein duplicating traversing of draw primitives is minimized; and

(d) means for generating a cutting path along the ranked draw primitives, wherein cutting instructions are determined automatically without operator input.