Automated self test for a thermal processing system

• US 7,778,799 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2007
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hypertherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Chin, Wayne, Passage, Christopher Scott, Brandt, Aaron Donald, Anderson, Richard Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/619,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 148/194, 148/204, 148/205, 148/642, 148/694, 148/120, 148/121, 148/195, 148/508, 148/559, 148/639, 219/54, 219/55, 219/76.13, 219/76.17, 219/76.1, 219/78.01, 219/121.45, 219/617, 219/85.1, 219/50, 219/53, 219/59.1, 219/60.R, 219/68, 219/69.1, 219/69.11, 219/76.14, 219/76.16, 219/121.11, 219/121.12, 219/121.13, 219/121.18, 219/121.36, 219/121.39, 219/121.48, 219/121.49, 219/121.5, 219/121.51, 219/121.52, 219/121.53, 219/121.55, 219/121.56, 219/121.57, 219/121.6, 219/121.63, 219/121.67, 219/136, 219/137.2, 219/602, 219/603, 700/81, 700/207, 700/212, 700/1, 700/79, 700/80, 700/90, 700/95, 700/117, 702/183, 702/189, 702/1, 702/33, 702/34, 702/35, 702/57, 702/108, 702/113, 702/127, 702/182, 702/187, 702/188, 731/581, 734/321, 738/656.9, 324/72, 324/73.1
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33323 Self diagnostic of boards, own test program
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45154 Forming workpiece by using thermal energy, laser forming
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0256 injecting test signals and analyzing monitored process response, e.g. injecting the test signal while interrupting the normal operation of the monitored system; superimposing the test signal onto a control signal during normal operation of the monitored system

Abstract

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses for automated self test for a thermal processing system. A signal to execute the automated self test is received. The automated self test is executed. The execution includes executing one or more self test instructions for the one or more subsystems of the system. Data can be received from sensors associated with the subsystems. The data can be analyzed to determine the results of the automated self test for the thermal processing system.

Claims

1. A method of an automated self test of multiple torch subsystems of a plasma torch cutting system for cutting a metallic workpiece, the torch subsystems including a power supply, a gas supply subsystem, and a plasma torch, the method comprising:

receiving, at a switch module, a signal to execute an automated self test of at least one of the torch subsystems;

executing, at a test module, the automated self test wherein the automated self test comprises self test instructions for the at least one subsystem;

controllably activating, at the test module, one or more components associated with the at least one torch subsystem;

receiving, at a report module, data from the at least one torch subsystem; and

cutting the metallic work piece.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the self test instructions test the one or more components associated with the at least one torch subsystem.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more components comprise a gas supply line, an electrical power line, a part associated with a power supply, a part associated with a gas supply, a part associated with a coolant supply, a part associated with a plasma torch, a valve, a consumable, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving data further comprises:

receiving data from one or more sensors associated with the one or more components.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the self test instructions test the at least one torch subsystems.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the torch subsystems further comprise a coolant supply subsystem.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving data comprises receiving the signal from a serial communication network, a controller area network, an internal network, an external network, a local area network, a wide area network, a private network, a public network, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein executing the self test further comprises energizing at least one of the power supply, toggling a series of valves, performing leak checks, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more self test instructions are stored on a memory module.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the memory module is volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing the data at the report module to determine results of the automated self test.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a report at the report module; and

displaying the report at a displaying device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a report at the report module; and

storing the report on a memory module.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the data to determine results further comprises processing the data to determine at least one of a system ready status, electrical input voltage, or gas input pressure.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a report at the report module; and

transmitting the report over a network to a remote displaying device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the transmitting over the network is on a serial communications network, a controller area network, an internal network, an external network, a local area network, a wide area network, a private network, a public network, or combinations thereof.

17. A plasma torch system for cutting a metallic workpiece having multiple torch subsystems including a power supply, a gas supply subsystem, and a plasma torch, the torch system comprising:

a switch module for receiving a signal to execute an automated self test of one or more subsystems of the torch system;

a test module for executing the automated self test wherein the automated self test comprises one or more self test instructions for the one or more subsystems of the torch system such that the test module controllably activates one or more components associated with the one or more torch subsystems; and

a report module for receiving data from the one or more subsystems.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a memory module for storing the self test instructions.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the report module is receiving data from one or more sensors associated with the one or more components, processing the data to determine results of the automated self test, and generating a report.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the report module is displaying the report at a displaying device.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the report module is transmitting the report over a network to a remote displaying device.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein:

the report module is storing the report on a memory module.