WO2009078054A2

WO2009078054A2 - Improved cutting machine

Info

Publication number: WO2009078054A2
Application number: PCT/IT2008/000766
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eros Caretta; Herbert Caretta; Mirko Caretta; Ruben Caretta
Original assignee: Caretta Technology S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-12-17
Filing date: 2008-12-16
Publication date: 2009-06-25
Also published as: WO2009078054A3; ITVI20070318A1

Abstract

An improved cutting machine comprising a bridge structure on which is mounted a shaped support (20), sliding on a horizontal bar (16) of the bridge structure, supporting at least one cutting head (22) suitable to move itself in at least two dimensions in order to carry out multiple workings and cutting types, such as water jet or hydro -abrasive cuttings, laser cuttings and/or plasma cuttings and/or oxygen lance cuttings and/or chip removal known as milling; in particular, the aforesaid cutting head (22) is coupled, through the shaped support (20), with a further cutting head (22), positioned opposite to the first cutting head (22), with respect to the bridge structure, and also movable in at least two dimensions.

Description

IMPROVED CUTTING MACHINE

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates, in general, to an industrial cutting machine, able to use various cutting and/or incision technologies, from the water cutting (water-jet) to cut the most different materials (ferrous metals, alloys, ceramics, armoured glass, composite materials, etc.), to the plasma cutting, oxygen lance cutting, hydro-abrasive cutting, laser cutting, methods of chip removal ("milling"), until the generic working as machining centre .

More in particular, the invention refers to an improved cutting machine, developed according to a simple modular design and with high working flexibility, since it is suitable to perform multiple workings and cutting and/or incision types, such as shapes and designs, even of significant complexity, with a high degree of precision and efficiency, and able to allow maximum customization according to customer requirements, as it can easily be expanded, both in the two-dimensional sense and in three- dimensional, thanks to the adding of supplementary modules in order to increase the useful work area, which definitely reduced costs.

A pump and/or source, a work tank and a numerical control (CNC) management system, equipped with CAD/CAM software complete the machine.

A numerical control cutting machine of the traditional type typically include a work top or bench, suitable to support the workpieces, a bridge structure, positioned above the work top and movable lengthwise along the entire top, and a truck, assembled on the bridge and movable transversely with respect to the work top, which brings one or more cutting heads.

The movements of the bridge structure and truck are controlled by the numerical control system, in order to carry out the desired workings on the piece.

Among the industrial cutting types currently available the fluid jet and, in particular, water jet cutting, at very high pressure, the laser cutting, the plasma cutting, the oxygen lance cutting, the hydro- abrasive cutting and relative combinations of the aforesaid operations, obtained by assembling different types of cutting heads on the truck, have to be remembered .

However, such a constructive solution presents problems related to the overall dimension of the structure, since it is not always possible to freely carry out workings on the entire work bench, due to the limited range of action of the cutting heads, which are assembled on the same truck; on the other hand, the use of several trucks, each supporting a respective cutting head suitable to carry out a certain type of working, is clearly an expensive solution, both in economic terms and overall dimensions terms.

Finally, it should be taken into due consideration the fact that it is increasingly felt the need to implement extremely flexible cutting machines, that is suitable to be customized to customer scale, both with respect to the sizes of the useful work area (two-dimensional and three-dimensional) , and with respect to the types of cutting which can be carry out, in order to fully meet all the customer requirements. Aim of the present invention is, therefore, to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks and, in particular, to provide an improved cutting machine, which is highly flexible and which can be customized on the basis of customer requirements, both as regards the workings which can be carried out and the useful work areas, and as regards the types of cutting which can be achieved, containing, at the same time, the total implementation and operating costs and the overall dimensions of the structure. Another aim of the present invention is to provide an improved cutting machine, which is highly reliable and efficient from the functional point of view, compared to the traditional plants of the known type. These and other aims are achieved by an improved cutting machine, made in accordance with the attached claim 1; the additional dependent claims include other technical characteristics of details of the machine . In an advantageous way, the modular configuration of the machine, based on a few and simple components, allows to obtain a high production standardization and a smooth riconfiguration; in addition, the easiness is also a feature which concerns the planning and management of the machine.

Moreover, the possibility of carrying out various types of cutting on the same machine, with high level performance, gives it a high technological content, while the structures of the same assure to it high rigidity and precision, without squandering the operation dynamism.

Finally, the modular solution allows 3-5 axes workings, on different commercial sizes, with different technologies and on different materials types and shapes, depending on workpieces and plant sizes. For example, caulkings, sloped cuttings, compensation cuttings (through a proper CAD software, which compensates the sloped cutting) can be made on the sheets, depending on the materials type, speed, pieces shaped and trimmings of printed sheets, thermoforming bodyworks, carbon bodyworks, carbon or titanium sportswear particulars, etc. can also be made. After all, the machine according to the invention is an extremely versatile machine, in relation to the needs of profitability, easy use, low operating costs and working flexibility.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description that follows, related to an illustrative and preferred, but not limited to, implementation example of the improved cutting machine, according to the invention, and from the attached drawing (figure 1) , that shows a perspective view of the aforesaid machine.

With reference to the figure mentioned, the improved cutting machine, according to the current invention, presents a work top 12, possibly provided with support grid, fixed or removable, where the pieces to be worked are positioned; the work top 12 is placed above a tank 11 for collecting water or waste materials resulting from the pieces working.

In illustrative and preferred, but not limiting, embodiments of the invention, two or more tanks 11 can be uses, associated with respective work tops 12A, 12B, the latter having also different longitudinal sizes (according to the direction of the axis Y) .

The tank 11 is raised from the ground thanks to the interposition of appropriate support clamps 17 and is positioned, in turn, within a outer framework, which comprises two side section bars 10 and two front covering plates 13.

On the side section bars 10 are assembled two vertical elements 14, sliding on proper upper guides 15 of the side section bars 10, which support a horizontal bar 16 which, together with the vertical elements 14, constitutes a bridge structure suitable to translate lengthwise (Y axis) on the entire work top 12 of the machine .

The machine may have one or more bridge structures, each of which is operated longitudinally (Y axis) along the guides 15, by means of a toothed rack

(not shown in figure) , placed sideways to at least one side section bar 10, while the entire operation of the machine is assured by an electric power board 18 and at least one terminal 19, placed outside the machine and equipped with a numeric control (CNC) management software, which allows to manage the cutting quality and speed, in relation to the different types of materials and the thickness of them, and carry out an automatic management of the acceleration ramps and slowing downs on the edges, as well as the cutting settings and the drilling cycles.

According to the invention, on the horizontal bar 16 of each bridge structure of the machine is fixed a support 20, properly C-shaped and sliding on the bar 16, along a transverse direction defined by the direction of axis X, thanks to the operation of a toothed rack 21.

Two respective aligned cutting heads 22, which translate, therefore, simultaneously, transversally to the work top 12 (along the axis X) , are assembled on the side portions of the C-shaped support 20.

In alternative and illustrative, but not limiting, embodiments of the present invention, each cutting head 22 may be connected with a respective system of distribution of the motion, so as to make independent their movements on the horizontal bar 16 of the bridge structure .

Furthermore, each cutting head 22 may be moved both in the direction transversal to the top 12 (according the axis X) , as seen, and in the direction (according to the axis Z) vertical with respect to the top 12 itself, in order to put away or draw up the head 22 to the top, depending on the type of working to be carried out on the pieces positioned on the top 12.

Again, alternatively o what described, each cutting head 22, in addition to move itself in the directions defined by the axes X and Z (and to move itself, together with the entire bridge structure, lengthwise along the axis Y) , can be also operated independently along the direction defined by the axis Y, removing from or approaching to the horizontal bar 16 of the bridge structure.

This allows to obtain a great working flexibility, thanks to the operation of the various cutting heads 22, whose motion can be independent and/or combined with that one of the bridge structure, so as to carry out a total interpolation of all the Cartesian axes. Moreover, the improved cutting machine according to the invention can also be used in robotic booths for the cutting along three (in case of fixed cutting head 22) or five dimensions (in case of cutting head 22 movable along three dimensions) . A nozzle for the water jet cutting (water-jet) or further cutting devices, in order to carry out synchronous water- jet, laser, plasma, oxygen lance cutting type and/or milling machine cutting operations, or combined cutting operations, such as water-jet cutting + laser cutting, laser cutting + plasma cutting, laser cutting + oxygen lance cutting, etc., may be associated with each cutting head 22

In particular, in case of use of the plant for the water jet cutting, each head 22 is connected with a pumping and pressure increasing system 23 and is designed for the assembly of devices of jet focusing, which assure high performances and firmness in the quality of the jet for a long time, while the containment tank 11 is designed for the connection to a system of recovery, sedimentation and separation of the sludge from the abrasive and to a closed circuit system of purification of the waste waters, which allows recycling and reuse of water, assuring a reduction of the operating costs of the system, the possibility of avoiding an external water supply, the firmness in the quality of the supply water of the pump and a longer duration of the seals and all components at high pressure .

It is thus shown how the use of at least two cutting heads 22 associated with the horizontal bar 16 of each bridge structure of a cutting machine allows to carry out all the foreseen technological applications, such as the several types of cutting (from the water jet cutting to the laser cutting, plasma cutting, oxygen lance cutting, milling machine) and the subsequent working which can be carried out, which then can coexist, thereby providing a flexible and innovative plant.

Furthermore, the use of at least two cutting heads 22 associated with a bridge structure allows to carry out double works, equal or different, to use different technologies applied by either sides of the bridge structure, to use one or both the cutting heads 22 (in fact, putting in stand-by a head 22, it is made available the working across the entire surface of the top work 12) , to achieve an opposed zero machine (reference position), by either sides of the top 12.

A further important feature of the plant according to the invention, which increases the maximum flexibility and customization thereof, depending on customer requirements, is the special design in the form of modules of the machine, which, indeed, can be easily expanded at a later time, thanks to the possibility of adding supplementary modules along the longitudinal direction (Y axis) of the same, simply by temporarily removing and reassembling at least one of the front plates 13.

Each modular structure can be provided with a relative bridge structure in order to increase the useful work area, while maintaining low production, maintenance and operation costs .

It is, therefore, possible, to lengthen or shorten the cutting machine, depending on the size and volume of the workpieces, without losing anything in terms of flexibility of use, since the machine can be equipped similarly with various cutting heads 22 on each bridge structure, so as to equally carry out single cuttings or water, laser, plasma, etc. combined cuttings .

From the description made the characteristics of the improved cutting machine, which is the object of the present invention, as well as the resulting benefits, are clear.

It is, finally, clear that several other variations could be made to the cutting machine in question, without for this reason going out of the novelty principles inherent of the inventive idea, as it is clear that in the practical implementation of the invention, materials, shapes and dimensions of the illustrated details could be any, depending on the needs, and the same replaced with others technically equivalent .

Claims

1. Improved cutting machine comprising a frame

(10, 13) which supports at least one bridge structure sliding on said frame (10, 13) in a direction (Y) longitudinal to at least one lower work top (12, 12A,

12B) , with said bridge structure being associated at least one first cutting head (22) suitable to be operated at least transversely (X) and vertically (Z) with respect to said work top (12, 12A, 12B) in order to carry out multiple workings and cutting types on workpieces positioned on said work top (12, 12A, 12B), such as water jet or hydro-abrasive cuttings, laser cuttings and/or plasma cuttings and/or oxygen lance cuttings and/or chip removals, characterized in that said first cutting head (22) is coupled, through at least one shaped support (20) , sliding on said bridge structure, with at least one second cutting head (22) , positioned opposite to said first cutting head (22) , with respect to a horizontal bar (16) of said bridge structure, said second cutting head (22) being also suitable to be operated at least transversely (X) and vertically (Z) , with respect of said work top (12, 12A, 12B) .

2. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that said second cutting head (22) is firmly coupled with said first cutting head (22) , so that both the cutting heads (22) are operated together and in a synchronous way on said bridge structure.

3. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said first and second cutting heads (22) is operated, independently from the other, in longitudinal direction (Y) with respect to said work top (12, 12A , 12B) .

4. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that said work top (12, 12A, 12B) can be divided into zones (12A, 12B) having measures and/or areas equal or different one from each other, within which different types of workings are carried out.

5. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that said first and second cutting heads (22) are aligned with respect to said shaped support (20) .

6. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that the operation of said machine is assured by an electric power board (18) and at least one terminal (19) provided with numerical control (CNC) management software, which allows to manage the quality and speed of cutting, in relation to the different types of materials and their thickness, and carry out an automatic management of the acceleration ramps and slowing downs on the edges, as well as the cutting settings and drilling cycles.

7. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that said support (20) is properly C- shaped and is sliding on said horizontal bar (16) of the bridge structure, along a transverse direction (X) with respect to the work top (12, 12A, 12B) .

8. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that each cutting head (22) can be operated, independently, in longitudinal direction (Y) , removing from or approaching to with respect to said horizontal bar (16) of the bridge structure.

9. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that said cutting heads (22) allow to carry out doubles types of workings, equal or different, from one side to other of the bridge structure .

10. Improved cutting machine as claim 1, characterized in that it includes additional modules, possibly provided with a relative bridge structure, which can be added along the longitudinal direction (Y) of the machine, removing at least one plate (13) of said support frame, in order to lengthen or shorten the machine, depending on the size and volume of the workpieces, without losing anything in terms of flexibility of use.