Hypertherm, Inc.

Michael Hoffa

E Michael Shipulski

Nicholas A Sanders

Brett Andrew Hansen

Jesse A Roberts

Cedar Jon Vandergon

Yu Zhang

Jon W Lindsay

Peter J Twarog

Stephen M Liebold

Girish R Kamath

David Osterhouse

Dennis M Borowy

Eric J Chalmers

Junsong Mao

Edward M Shipulski

Michael Scheller

Qinghua Liu

Michael Shipulski

Erik Brine

Clayton Gould

Brett A Hansen

In some aspects, material processing head can include a body; an antenna disposed within the body; a first tag, associated with a first consumable component, disposed within a flux communication zone of the body at a first distance from the antenna, the first tag having a first resonant frequency; and a second tag, associated with a second consumable component, disposed within the flux communication zone of the body at a second distance from the antenna, the second tag having a second resonant frequency that is different than the first resonant frequency, where the first and second resonant frequencies are tuned based upon at least one of: i) a difference between the first distance and the second distance; or ii) a characteristic (e.g., shape) of the flux communication zone in which the first tag and/or the second tag is disposed.

Configuring signal devices in thermal processing systems

A torch head for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The torch head includes a torch body and a torch insulator, coupled to the torch body, having a substantially non-conductive insulator body. The torch insulator includes (i) a first liquid coolant channel, disposed within the insulator body, configured to conduct a fluid flow from the torch head into a consumable cartridge along a first preexisting flow path, (ii) a first liquid return channel, disposed within the insulator body, configured to return at least a portion of the fluid flow from the cartridge to the torch head along the first preexisting flow path, and (iii) a gas channel, disposed within the insulator body, configured to conduct a first gas flow from the torch head to the cartridge along a second preexisting flow path. The first and second preexisting flow paths are fluidly isolated from each other.

Cartridge for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch

In some aspects, a replaceable consumable component for performing a cutting or welding operation can include a body and a readable data storage device coupled to the body or integrated within the body, wherein the data storage device contains an operation instruction for a cutting or welding device.

Systems, methods, and devices for transmitting information to thermal processing systems

A pressurized fluid jet cutting head is provided. The cutting head includes a body having one or more component parts coupled together, wherein a junction in the cutting head is defined between a first component part having a first engagement surface and a second component part having a second engagement surface, wherein the first and second engagement surfaces abut at the junction. A temperature sensor is positioned in thermal communication with the body and is configured to measure a temperature value of at least one of the first component part, the second component part, and the junction. The temperature value is communicated to a controller for analysis, wherein the controller receives the measured temperature value and communicates operating instructions for the cutting head based on a comparison of the measured temperature value to a predetermined value.

Waterjet cutting head temperature sensor

A hand-held plasma power tool is provided, which includes a hand-held housing, a plasma delivery tip section at least partially disposed within the housing for delivering a plasma arc to a workpiece, an air compressor disposed within the housing for providing a gas to the plasma delivery tip section, and a power source disposed within the housing for providing a current to at least one of the air compressor or the plasma delivery tip section. The hand-held plasma power tool further comprises a handle section defined by at least a portion of the housing. The handle section is configured to enable an operator to manipulate the plasma power tool by hand while delivering the plasma arc to the workpiece.

Plasma power tool

A consumable cartridge for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The consumable cartridge comprises a cartridge frame including a proximal end having an end surface, a distal end and a body having a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The cartridge configured to form a radio-frequency identification (RFID) interface with a torch head. The consumable cartridge also comprises an arc emitter and an arc constrictor affixed to the cartridge frame at the distal end and an RFID mounting feature formed on or in the cartridge frame adjacent to the end face. The RFID mounting feature is non-concentric with the central longitudinal axis of the body. The consumable cartridge further comprises an RFID tag disposed in or on the RFID mounting feature for transmitting information about the cartridge to a reader device in the torch head when the cartridge is connected to the torch head.

A consumable cartridge frame for a liquid-cooled plasma arc torch is provided. The consumable cartridge frame includes an insulator body configured to be disposed between a torch head and a cartridge tip. The consumable cartridge also includes a first cooling channel, disposed in the body, configured to conduct a first fluid flow received from the torch head to contact a component of the cartridge tip connected to the cartridge frame. The consumable cartridge further includes a first return channel, disposed in the body, configured to conduct at least a portion of the first fluid flow from the component to the torch head. The first cooling channel and the first return channel are non-concentric in relation to a central longitudinal axis of the body.

A plasma arc torch is provided for use in a plasma cutting system. The plasma arc torch includes a torch body for conducting electrical current. The torch body includes a torch tip configured to pass the electrical current to at least one consumable component connected to the tip. The plasma arc torch also includes at least one antenna positioned relative to the torch tip. The antenna is used to wirelessly detect the presence of the at least one consumable component. The plasma arc torch further includes a detection circuit configured to permit passing of the electrical current from the torch tip to the at least one consumable component based on at least the wireless detection.

Automatically sensing consumable components in thermal processing systems

In some aspects, consumables for a material processing head can include a body that is substantially axially symmetric about a central longitudinal axis; and a ring-shaped data tag attached to the body, the data tag having a central axis that is substantially coaxial to the central longitudinal axis of the body, the data tag having a conductive coil formed around the central axis of the data tag.

Growing community of inventors

Lebanon, NH, United States of America

Michael Hoffa