System and method for stacking and laser cutting multiple layers of

Abstract

A stacking and laser cutting system and method, for cutting multiple layers of flexible material, comprising a CNC laser center and a cutting and stacking machine. The laser center includes a cutting zone, a loading and unloading zone, a laser cutting head assembly shiftable anywhere within the cutting zone, upper and lower pallet bearing carriages shiftable between the cutting zone and the loading and unloading zone, and and elevating mechanism to lift the lower carriage pallet in the loading and unloading zone to the same vertical loading level that the upper carriage pallet occupies in the loading and unloading zone. The cutting and stacking machine includes a material supply section and a cutting and stacking section. The cutting and stacking section is mounted on the laser center over the loading and unloading zone. The material supply section provides one or more webs which the cutting and stacking section draws over the pallet of that one of the upper and lower carriages located within the loading, and unloading zone. The web or webs are cut forming one or more material plies on the pallet. This procedure is repeated until a desired stack of material plies is located on the pallet. The loaded carriage and pallet is shifted to the cutting zone for the plies to be cut and the other carriage and pallet is shifted to the loading and unloading zone where previously cut material parts are removed therefrom and another stack of plies is loaded thereon for subsequent shifting to the cutting zone.