Sheet Metal Strip Cutting Path Correction for Contour Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting installations for sheet metal strips supplied continuously in a forward movement direction struggle to maintain a predetermined contour due to deviations and non-homogeneous widths, leading to suboptimal cutting results.

Innovation Solution

A method and installation that measure deviations in the sheet metal strip's position relative to reference points, calculating and adjusting the cutting path for the cutting head to ensure precise alignment and correction, allowing the cutting head to follow a corrected path that accounts for these deviations, thereby maintaining the required contour within specified tolerances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a predetermined cutting path is used for the cutting head, then the cutting process is simple and efficient, but the resulting format does not have the desired contour when the sheet metal strip has deviations or non-homogeneous width

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidcontour accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously measures the actual position of the sheet metal strip edge relative to a reference point and feeds this information back to the control device. The control device then adjusts the cutting path in real-time based on this feedback, ensuring that the cutting head follows a corrected path that compensates for strip deviations and maintains accurate contour dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting path is transformed from a static predetermined trajectory to a dynamic corrected path that adapts in real-time to the actual strip position. The control device continuously calculates and updates the cutting head's movement coordinates based on current measurements, allowing the system to respond to deviations as they occur during the cutting process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the cutting path is adjusted to account for strip deviations, then the contour accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional measurement and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontour accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated measurement and control system. Instead of manually adjusting the cutting path or physically repositioning components to accommodate strip deviations, the patent uses measurement devices to detect deviations and a control device to calculate and command corrected cutting paths, substituting mechanical complexity with automated computational control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If multiple measurement points are used to detect strip deviations, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and measurement time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeviation detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and measures only the critical parameter needed for cutting accuracy - the perpendicular distance from the strip edge to a reference point. By focusing measurement efforts on this single essential dimension rather than attempting to measure all possible strip variations, the system achieves sufficient measurement precision without requiring overly complex multi-point measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3865243B1Procedure and installation for cutting a sheet format
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 FAGOR ARRASATE SCOOP
  • EP3865243B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3865243B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3865243B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and installation for cutting a sheet metal format with a predetermined contour from a sheet metal strip (1) supplied in a forward movement direction (X), performing the cutting of the sheet metal strip (1) by means of a cutting head (2). To that end, a distance from a point of an edge (1.1) of the sheet metal strip (1) aligned with said cutting head (2) in a direction (Y1, Y2) perpendicular to the forward movement direction (X) is measured with respect to a reference point (1REF) and in said direction (Y1, Y2); a corrected cutting path is calculated from a predetermined cutting path, depending on said distance; and the cut is generated, causing the cutting head (2) to follow the corrected cutting path.