Hypertherm, Inc.

Wayne Chin

Richard Eugene Anderson

Girish R Kamath

Christopher Scott Passage

E Michael Shipulski

Jon W Lindsay

Stephen M Liebold

Aaron D Brandt

Guy Best

Peter V Brahan

Richard Rox Anderson

Shane M Selmer

Norm LeBlanc

Norman LeBlanc

Paul Tillman

A plasma cutting system includes a plasma torch having a head, and a housing. A power supply is disposed within the housing and is in communication with the plasma torch. The power supply is configured to provide an output current for generating and maintaining a plasma cutting arc by the plasma torch, and includes a control processor in communication with a plurality of autonomous switching circuits via a multi-node communications bus. Each of the autonomous switching circuits includes a microcontroller configured to control the generation of a portion of the output current based on messages received from the control processor, monitor operating parameters of the autonomous switching circuit, and modify a control parameter of the autonomous switching circuit independent of and asynchronous to the other autonomous switching circuits of the plurality of autonomous switching circuits when one or more of the operating parameters exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Systems and methods for providing power for plasma arc cutting

A consumable component for a thermal processing torch is provided. The consumable component includes a consumable component body and a signal device located on or within the consumable component body for transmitting a signal associated with the consumable component. The signal can be independent of a detectable physical characteristic of the consumable component.

Optimization and control of material processing using a thermal processing torch

Transformer flux is monitored to determine if an onset of flux saturation is detected. If flux saturation is not detected, the transformer drive signal is received to a switch that maintains the polarity of the transformer flux. If flux saturation is detected, the transformer drive signal is received by a switch that reverses the polarity of the transformer signal and the transformer flux. This reversal of flux polarity can occur multiple times, during the carrier cycle of the drive signal, without compromising the dynamics of the transformer main control loop or requiring the drive signal to be regenerated.

Flux saturation controller

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

Growing community of inventors

Etna, NH, United States of America

Wayne Chin