Fluid Jet Cutting Head Control for Taper and Trail Back Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fluid jet cutting systems lack optimized control units and data mediums to accurately control the motion of the cutting head, leading to variations in cut surface quality due to factors like distance, abrasive particle quality, water pressure, and material variations, resulting in inconsistent taper and trail back angles.

Innovation Solution

A fluid jet cutting system with a control unit that adjusts the motion of the cutting head based on actual taper and trail back angles, using a calibration portion of the same material as the workpiece, and incorporating dynamic and fixed variables such as abrasive flow characteristics and water pressure, to determine the optimal inclination angle and adapt the cutting speed accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a predetermined cutting speed is used for all operations, then the system is simple to operate, but the cut surface quality varies due to individual machine differences and material variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of operationVSAvoidcut surface quality consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary calibration by cutting a calibration portion and measuring the actual taper angle and trail back angle before the actual cutting operation. This preliminary measurement allows the system to determine optimal cutting speed and inclination angle values specific to that machine-material combination, thereby ensuring consistent cut surface quality without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system measures the actual taper angle and trail back angle from the calibration cut and uses this feedback information to automatically adjust the cutting speed and inclination angle. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for individual machine variations and material differences, maintaining consistent cut quality while keeping the operation simple for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If the cutting speed is dynamically adjusted based on multiple variables, then the cut surface quality is optimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut surface qualityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary calibration by cutting a calibration portion and measuring the actual taper angle and trail back angle before the actual cutting operation. This preliminary measurement allows the system to determine optimal cutting speed and inclination angle values specific to that machine-material combination, thereby ensuring consistent cut surface quality without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (cutting speed and inclination angle) based on measured values from calibration. By determining optimal parameter values in advance through calibration and then applying them consistently, the system achieves high cut quality without requiring complex real-time parameter adjustment mechanisms during the actual cutting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If calibration is performed for each material type, then the cutting precision is improved, but the process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidprocess time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary calibration by cutting a calibration portion and measuring the actual taper angle and trail back angle before the actual cutting operation. This preliminary measurement allows the system to determine optimal cutting speed and inclination angle values specific to that machine-material combination, thereby ensuring consistent cut surface quality without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs calibration specifically tailored to each material type and machine combination, creating locally optimized cutting parameters. By determining optimal parameters specific to each material-cutter pairing through calibration, the system achieves high precision without requiring excessive calibration time for all possible scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures improved cut surface quality and reduced process time by dynamically adjusting the cutting head's motion and speed based on real-time operational data, effectively mitigating inconsistencies and enhancing precision in cutting various materials.

Implementation Method 1

A water jet cutting machine of a fluid jet cutting system is an industrial tool using ultra-high pressure water jet stream alternately mixed with abrasive particles, which wears off the material of the workpiece and hence cuts the material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP3290158B1A fluid jet cutting system and method for controlling the motion of a fluid jet cutting head
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 WATER JET SWEDEN
  • EP3290158B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3b
  • EP3290158B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c
  • EP3290158B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5d

AI summary

The present invention relates to a fluid jet cutting system (1) comprising a control unit (3) configured to control the motion of a fluid jet cutting head (5) of the fluid jet cutting system (1) relative a workpiece (7) to be cut, the control unit (3) is coupled to a fluid jet cutting head drive (9) configured to incline the fluid jet cutting head (5) relative a vertical line (VL). The control unit (3) is configured to operate the motion of the fluid jet cutting head (5) from a predetermined inclination angle value (PIA) and other operational data. The control unit (3) is configured to automatically adapt the speed of the fluid jet cutting head (5) in accordance with the predetermined inclination angle value (PIA). The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the motion of the fluid jet cutting head (5) of the fluid jet cutting system (1), wherein the control unit (3) is configured to operate the motion of the fluid jet cutting head (5) from a predetermined inclination angle value (PIA).