Waterjet cutting system with standoff distance control
First Claim
1. A cutting head of a waterjet cutting system, the cutting head comprising:
- a nozzle having an orifice through which fluid passes during operation to generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing a workpiece;
an environment control device positioned to act on a surface of the workpiece at least during a measurement operation, the environment control device configured to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece via a discharged fluid stream or suction; and
a measurement device positioned relative to the environment control device to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area with a laser beam dischargeable by the measurement device to impinge on the workpiece, the obtained information being indicative of a position of a tip of the nozzle of the cutting head relative to the workpiece.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cutting head of a waterjet cutting system is provided having an environment control device and a measurement device. The environment control device is positioned to act on a surface of a workpiece at least during a measurement operation to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece substantially unobstructed by fluid. The measurement device is positioned to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area indicative of a position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece. A control system is further provided and operable to position the cutting head relative to the workpiece at a standoff distance based at least in part on the information indicative of the position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece obtained by the measurement device. A method of operating a waterjet cutting system is also provided.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A cutting head of a waterjet cutting system, the cutting head comprising:
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a nozzle having an orifice through which fluid passes during operation to generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing a workpiece; an environment control device positioned to act on a surface of the workpiece at least during a measurement operation, the environment control device configured to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece via a discharged fluid stream or suction; and a measurement device positioned relative to the environment control device to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area with a laser beam dischargeable by the measurement device to impinge on the workpiece, the obtained information being indicative of a position of a tip of the nozzle of the cutting head relative to the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A waterjet cutting system, comprising:
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a cutting head having a nozzle with an orifice through which fluid passes during operation to generate a high-pressure fluid jet for processing a workpiece; an environment control device positioned to act on a surface of the workpiece at least during a measurement operation, the environment control device configured to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece via a discharged fluid stream or suction; a measurement device positioned to selectively obtain information from within the measurement area with a laser beam dischargeable by the measurement device to impinge on the workpiece, the obtained information being indicative of a position of a tip of the nozzle of the cutting head relative to the workpiece; and a control system to move the cutting head relative to the workpiece, the control system operable to position the tip of the nozzle of the cutting head relative to the workpiece at a standoff distance based at least in part on the information indicative of the position of the tip of the nozzle of the cutting head obtained from the measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of operating a waterjet cutting system having a cutting head, the method comprising:
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activating an environment control device of the cutting head to act on a surface of a workpiece to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece via a discharged fluid stream or suction; and obtaining information from within the measurement area indicative of a position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece with the assistance of a laser beam impinging on the workpiece within the measurement area. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of operating a waterjet cutting system having a cutting head, the method comprising:
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activating an environment control device of the cutting head to act on a surface of a workpiece support structure to establish a measurement area on the surface of the workpiece support structure via a discharged fluid stream or suction; and obtaining information from within the measurement area indicative of a position of the cutting head relative to the workpiece support structure with the assistance of a laser beam. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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Specification