Vision-Guided Routing Tool for Precise Cutting Without CNC Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for guiding tools, such as CNC machines, are either expensive, large, and limited in flexibility, or require extensive setup and suffer from user error due to the need for manual alignment and complex path navigation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a rig with a stage and digital camera that automatically determines its position on a material surface, using computer vision technology to adjust the tool's location accurately and precisely along a predetermined path without the need for expensive hardware, allowing for flexible and precise tool movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical guides such as railings or fences are used to guide the tool, then the tool can be guided accurately along a path, but the setup time increases significantly and the guides do not support complex paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical guides (railings, fences) with a vision-based guidance system using digital cameras and computer vision algorithms. The system captures images of the material surface, processes them to identify features and determine tool position, and provides guidance without physical contact. This eliminates the need for extensive mechanical setup while maintaining guidance accuracy and enabling complex path following.
2Ease of operation
If visual guides are drawn onto the material to assist manual following, then the tool can be positioned freehand, but user error increases extensively due to difficulty in following the guides accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where the digital camera continuously captures the material surface and tool position, the computer vision system processes this data to determine actual position, and the system provides real-time guidance feedback to the user. This closed-loop feedback enables freehand operation while maintaining high cutting accuracy by constantly correcting position deviations.
3Manufacturing precision
If CNC machines are used to guide the tool with computer control, then the tool can follow the intended path accurately, but the machines are expensive, large, and difficult to set up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential guidance function from complex CNC machines by separating the computer vision and control components from the heavy mechanical infrastructure. Instead of using large CNC machines with precision mechanical guides, the system uses a lightweight rig with digital cameras and computer vision processing to achieve accurate path following, eliminating the need for expensive and complex hardware while maintaining guidance precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If CNC machines are used to guide the tool, then the tool can follow the intended path accurately, but the machines are limited to working with materials that fit within the CNC machine's physical housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic, mobile rig that can be freely positioned and moved around the material surface, unlike fixed CNC machines with confined workspaces. The lightweight system with digital cameras can adapt to materials of any size by moving the rig to different positions and orientations, capturing images from various angles, and maintaining accurate tool guidance throughout the entire material surface, thus providing unlimited workspace adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A position correcting system, method and tool for guiding a tool during its use based on its location relative to the material being worked on. Provided is a system and tool which uses its auto correcting technology to precisely rout or cut material. The invention provides a camera which is used to track the visual features of the surface of the material being cut to build a map and locate an image on that map used to reference the location of the tool for auto-correction of the cutting path.