Scott M Bockbrader

US Patent:

6609044, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

Sep 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/672357

Inventors:

Thomas A. Basista - Mentor OH
Scott Bockbrader - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Cincinnati Incorporated - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

700166, 700173, 700182, 700191, 21912178, 21912182, 21912167

Abstract:

An improved laser cutting apparatus is provided that optimizes the amount of time required to perform all of the required cuts in a piece of sheet material. The optimization minimizes the amount of rapid-travel movement of the laser head, and virtually eliminates all head-up/head-down movements of the laser head. In one embodiment, the present invention performs a method that accepts NC code that has already been created by a conventional software product produced by a CAD/CAM vendor, and analyzes that NC code to create an optimized part program. The NC code is broken down and analyzed as a series of individual shapes to be cut by the laser head. Once the required shapes are known, a âsweepâ is made to determine how many cut-outs are in each âbandâ being analyzed across the surface of the sheet material to be cut. The number of bands and the types of sweep are varied to analyze different possibilities of rapid-travel distance while still eliminating all head-up/head-down movements of the laser head. The order in which the cut-outs are to be cut within a particular band is analyzed, and the placement and direction of the lead-in for each of the cut-outs are determined.

US Patent:

61285463, Oct 3, 2000

Filed:

Sep 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/723918

Inventors:

Thomas A. Basista - Mentor OH
Scott Bockbrader - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

Cincinnati Incorporated - Cincinnati OH

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

700166

Abstract:

An improved laser cutting apparatus is provided that optimizes the amount of time required to perform all of the required cuts in a piece of sheet material. The optimization minimizes the amount of rapid-travel movement of the laser head, and virtually eliminates all head-up/head-down movements of the laser head. In one embodiment, the present invention performs a method that accepts NC code that has already been created by a conventional software product produced by a CAD/CAM vendor, and analyzes that NC code to create an optimized part program. The NC code is broken down and analyzed as a series of individual shapes to be cut by the laser head. Once the required shapes are known, a "sweep" is made to determine how many cut-outs are in each "band" being analyzed across the surface of the sheet material to be cut. The number of bands and the types of sweep are varied to analyze different possibilities of rapid-travel distance while still eliminating all head-up/head-down movements of the laser head. The order in which the cut-outs are to be cut within a particular band is analyzed, and the placement and direction of the lead-in for each of the cut-outs are determined.