Hypertherm, Inc.

Aaron D Brandt

Zheng Duan

Jon W Lindsay

Stephen M Liebold

Brian J Currier

Casey Thomas Jones

Edward M Shipulski

Kenneth J Woods

Christopher Scott Passage

Guy Best

Shane M Selmer

Yutaka Nakano

E Michael Shipulski

Richard W Couch, Jr

Richard Eugene Anderson

Zhipeng Lu

Charles Marcou Hackett

Girish R Kamath

Brent R Bartlett

David Jonathan Cook

Richard Rox Anderson

Sanjay Garg

Wayne Chin

Joe Ciambra

Marco Celeghin

Casey Jones

A double nozzle for a laser processing head includes an inner body portion having an interior surface defining a bore for passing a laser beam, a first interface surface near a distal end of the inner body portion, the first interface surface including a plurality of channels, and an exterior surface near a proximal end of the inner body portion and shaped to engage the laser processing head. Each channel includes interior and exterior linear edges in a cross-section that passes though a central longitudinal axis of the double nozzle. The double nozzle also includes an outer body portion connected to the inner body portion. The outer body portion defines a jet surface, which together with the plurality of channels defines a corresponding plurality of auxiliary fluid flow paths about the bore and between the inner body portion and the outer body portion.

Highly positioned laser processing nozzle

A component for a plasma arc torch includes a body portion, a tapered surface on the body portion, the tapered surface including a compressible member that provides a disengagement force relative to the body portion, and an axially disposed surface on the body portion for coupling a mating surface on an adjacent structure of the torch. The component can be a nozzle and/or an electrode.

Consumable component parts for a plasma torch

An automated material processing system is provided for processing a workpiece using a processing table. The system includes a replaceable component comprising at least one cutting head consumable, one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) signal devices disposed in or on the replaceable component, and at least one reader communicatively connected to the one or more signal devices. The one or more signal devices are encoded with information about the replaceable component and the reader is configured to sense the information encoded on the one or more signal devices. In addition, the system includes a computing device communicatively connected to the reader for (i) processing the information transmitted by the reader and (ii) configuring a set of operating parameters of the material processing system based on the sensed information.

Identifying components in a material processing system

A method and apparatus for controlling a gas supply to a plasma arc torch uses a proportional control solenoid valve positioned adjacent the torch to manipulate the gas flow to the torch, thereby extending electrode life during arc transfer and shutdown. Swirl ring design can be simplified and gas supply and distribution systems become less complicated. The invention also allows manipulation of shield gas flow to reduce divot formation when making interior cuts. The system can be controlled with a digital signal processor utilizing a feedback loop from a sensor.

Method and apparatus for automatic gas control for a plasma arc torch

Plasma arc torches described herein include a torch tip with an improved nozzle that provides angular shield flow injection. In particular, the nozzle provides angular/conical impingement of a fluid (e.g., a shield gas) on an ionized plasma gas flowing through a plasma arc torch. Some of the torch tips described herein include a nozzle with a conical external shape combined with a shield with complementing internal geometry to form the angular fluid flow. As a result, a plasma arc torch including the improved nozzle have the benefits of a stabilized ionized plasma gas flow together with enhanced nozzle cooling and protection from reflecting slag during torch use.

Plasma arc torch providing angular shield flow injection

Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses for automated self test for a thermal processing system. A signal to execute the automated self test is received. The automated self test is executed. The execution includes executing one or more self test instructions for the one or more subsystems of the system. Data can be received from sensors associated with the subsystems. The data can be analyzed to determine the results of the automated self test for the thermal processing system.

Automated self test for a thermal processing system

A coolant tube and electrode are adapted to mate with each other to align the tube relative to the electrode during operation of the torch. Improved alignment ensures an adequate flow of coolant along an interior surface of the electrode. In one aspect, an elongated body of the coolant tube has a surface adapted to mate with the electrode. In another aspect, an elongated body of the electrode has a surface adapted to mate with the coolant tube. The surfaces of the tube and electrode may, for example, be flanges, tapered surfaces, contours, or steps.

Method and apparatus for alignment of components of a plasma arc torch

Method and apparatus for alignment of components of a plasma ARC torch

An output structure for material processing apparatus facilitates field replacement of consumable components, while maintaining important alignments. Contoured surfaces within the output structure mate with corresponding contoured surfaces on the consumable components, thereby facilitating alignment of the consumable components with an axis of the output structure. Material processing apparatus employing such surfaces include lasers and plasma arc torches and, with proper alignment, apparatus performance is improved. Typical consumable components include electrodes, swirl rings, nozzles, and shields. The consumable components can be axially translatable with respect to each other, thereby promoting contact starting of a plasma arc torch. An installation tool for consumable components also serves to align the components with an axis of the output structure.

Nozzle for plasma arc torch

Apparatus and method of improved consumable alignment in material processing apparatus

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West Lebanon, NH, United States of America

Aaron D Brandt