Roll Forming Machinery, is a process of continuous bending in which a long strip of metal like coiled steel is put through consecutive sets of rolls, or stands, each of them are bending a part of the metal, until the required cross-section shape is obtained. Roll Forming Machinery manufacturer is good for producing parts which are long in lengths or needed in large quantities. The process of Roll Forming Machinery is one of the most simplest manufacturing processes for the Roll Forming Machinery manufacturers. It generally begins with a large spool of metal strips, which are generally between 1 inch to 20 inch in width, and about 0.0004 to 0.125 inch in thickness. These sheets are held together by a device known as 'dispenser'. After this process, the metal sheet is unrolled and put in to the machine which has stock feeder in the beginning and is connected to a cut off attachment. After the sheet is passed through the cut off attachment, it is then fed into the forming rolls.

These mating die-set rolls do the job of constructing to form the desired shapes, and this is done in sequential stages by various shaped rolls.

The layout of these rolls can be in any different roll configuration like flower shaped or progressive upper and lower rolls, or the side rolls, or even overhung spindle rolls which are also known as cluster roll configurations. Steel is also a very important material used for framing and cladding roofs and walls. Houses which are made of steel are easily erectable and can be insulated. They are earthquake resistant, cost effective too. Due to Roll Forming Machinery supplier, the architects and designers can now give wings to their imagination .it is also very convenient for the manufacturer because it requires less labor.

There are several different kinds of Roll Forming Machinery machines, which can be purchased and also be developed to fit the specifications of cross-section. The name of some of the Roll Forming Machinery  manufacturer are rollforming presses, Purlinmaster Rollformers, Stud and Track Rollformers, Workhorse Series Rollformers and Greenfield Stud Rollforming Lines. These Rollforming machineries are used in a number of industries like in the building construction industry, for garage doors, for automotive, shelving and other complex parts.

The future of the building industry can be improved if there are advances in the processes of roll form. Modern roll form system is a integrated fully computerized system for handling, processing, and finishing the material with better efficiency and economically. Due to this technical and spatial advances in the field of Roll Forming Machinery, the future of this industry looks brighter.

 

An energy-efficient house without solar equipment. Designed by architect Christoph Schulte, this superinsulated home was the first Passivhaus building in Bremen, Germany.

More and more designers of high-performance homes are buzzing about a superinsulation standard developed in Germany, Square Duct manufacturer the Passivhaus standard. The standard has been promoted for over a decade by the Passivhaus Institut, a private research and consulting center in Darmstadt, Germany.

The institute was founded in 1996 by a German physicist, Dr. Wolfgang Feist. Feist drew his inspiration from groundbreaking superinsulated houses built in Canada and the U.S., including the Lo-Cal house developed by researchers at the University of Illinois in 1976, the Saskatchewan Conservation House completed in 1977, and the Gene Leger house built in 1977 in Pepperell, Massachusetts. Aiming to refine North American design principles for use in Europe, Feist built his first Passivhaus prototype in 1990-1991.

Feist later obtained funding for a major Passivhaus research project called CEPHEUS (Cost-Efficient Passive Houses as European Standards). Conducted from 1997 to 2002, the CEPHEUS project sent researchers to gather data on 221 superinsulated housing units at 14 locations in five countries (Austria, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland).

The Standard Sets a Strict Bar

The Passivhaus standard is a residential construction standard requiring very low levels of air leakage, very high levels of insulation, and windows with a very low U-factor. To meet the standard, a house needs an infiltration rate no greater than 0.60 AC/H @ 50 Pascals, a maximum annual heating energy use of 15 kWh per Square Duct meter (4,755 Btu per square foot), a maximum annual cooling energy use of 15 kWh per Square Duct meter (1.39 kWh per square foot), and maximum source energy use for all purposes of 120 kWh per square meter (11.1 kWh per square foot). The standard recommends, but does not require, a maximum design heating load of 10 watts per Square Duct manufacturermeter and windows with a maximum U-factor of 0.14.

The Passivhaus airtightness standard of 0.6 AC/H @ 50 Pa is particularly strict. It makes the Canadian R-2000 standard (1.5 AC/H @ 50 Pa) look lax by comparison.

Unlike most U.S. standards for energy-efficient homes, the Passivhaus standard governs not just heating and cooling energy, but overall building energy use, including baseload electricity use and energy used for domestic hot water.

Thick Walls, Thick Roofs, and Triple-Glazed Windows

Most European Passivhaus buildings have wall and roof R-values ranging from 38 to 60. Wood-framed buildings usually have 16-inch-thick double-stud walls or walls framed with deep vertical I-joists. Masonry buildings are usually insulated with at least 10 inches of exterior rigid foam. To meet the Passivhaus window standard, manufacturers in Germany, Austria, and Sweden produce windows with foam-insulated frames and argon-filled triple-glazing with two low-e coatings.

Although the Passivhaus Institut recommends that window area and orientation be optimized for passive solar gain, the institute’s engineers have concluded, based on computer modeling and field monitoring, that passive solar details are far less important than airtightness and insulation R-value.

In the U.S. and Canada, the phrase “passive solar house” was used in the 1970s to describe houses with extra thermal mass and extensive south-facing glazing. Because of the possibility of confusing Passivhaus buildings with passive solar houses, most English-language sources use the German spelling of “Passivhaus” to reduce misunderstandings.

Gotta Have An HRV

Feist recommends that every Passivhaus building be equipped with a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV). Since the space heating load of a Passivhaus building is quite low, it can usually be met by using an air-source heat pump to raise the temperature of the incoming ventilation air. In most European Passivhaus buildings, the heat pump’s evaporator coil is located in the ventilation exhaust Square Duct manufacturer, downstream from the HRV, to allow the heat pump to scavenge waste heat that might otherwise leave the building. In this way, the ventilation ductwork becomes part of a forced-air heating system with a very low airflow rate.

In Europe, most homes are heated with a boiler connected to a hydronic distribution system. Since residential forced-air heating systems are almost unknown in Europe, many Passivhaus advocates declare that their houses “have no need for a conventional heating system” — a statement that reflects the European view that forced-air heat distribution systems are “unconventional.”

Passivhaus Comes Back to the U.S.

The first building in the U.S. that aimed to meet Passivhaus standards was a private residence built by architect Katrin Klingenberg in Urbana, Illinois, in 2003. The home included an R-56 foundation with 14 inches of sub-slab EPS insulation, R-60 walls, and an R-60 roof. Klingenberg specified triple-glazed Thermotech windows with foam-filled fiberglass frames.

Klingenberg later founded a nonprofit organization, the Ecological Construction Laboratory (E-co Lab), to promote the construction of energy-efficient homes for low-income and middle-income families. In October 2006, the E-co Lab completed Square Duct manufacturer Urbana’s second Passivhaus building: a 1,300-square-foot home that resembled Klingenberg’s home in many ways.

As Klingenberg devoted more and more time to promoting Passivhaus buildings in North America, she decided to found the Passive House Institute US — basically, a North American outpost of the Darmstadt institute — in Urbana.

Although Klingenberg’s first and second Urbana homes were built to the Passivhaus standard, she didn’t bother to have the homes certified and registered. The first U.S. building to achieve that goal was the Waldsee BioHaus, a language institute completed in Minnesota in 2006. That building includes an R-55 foundation  Square Duct manufacturer with 16 inches of EPS foam under the concrete slab, R-70 walls, and an R-100 roof. The building’s triple-glazed windows were imported (at a high cost) from Germany.

How Do I Learn More?

An easy way to learn more about the Passivhaus standard is to visit the bulletin board and Web forum hosted by the Passive House Institute US.

In the United Kingdom, the Building Research Establishment has produced an excellent English-language primer on the Passivhaus standard.

A GBA blogger, Rob Moody, is sharing details of his ongoing Passivhaus project in a series of blog postings.

Builders and designers interested in learning more about the Passivhaus standard may want to invest $225 in a Passivhaus software program, the Passive House Planning Package. Available from the Passive House Institute US, the software Square Duct manufacturer is a spreadsheet-based tool that models a building’s energy performance to help designers fine-tune the specifications of a building aiming to achieve the Passivhaus standard.

Finally, a 2007 interview that I conducted with Dr. Wolfgang Feist has been posted on the Web by the Passive House Institute US.

 

ISM has developed spiral tubeforming equipment utilizing state-of-the-art engineered technologies to deliver the best Spiral Tubeformer in the industry. Their foundation is based on delivering machines that are built with quality, performance and dependability to ensure the best possible return on your investment.

The company offers its spiral duct machines, which feature Spiral Smart Technology, touch-screen operator controls, PLC length control (standard), and are built, serviced and sold utilizing over 50 years of experience, and made in the USA.

 

Why Use Spiral Tubeformer Filter Cores? 

  

 Lower Cost 

 You can produce more using less labor. Longitudinal welding requires skilled labor for longer periods of time, slowing turnaround and increasing staff needs. In-line fluting (perforating and expanding) dramatically reduces material cost versus pre-perforating or pre-expanding. 

  

 Reduced Material Usage 

 Because Spiral Tubeformer lock seaming and in-line fluting inherently strengthens the tube, lighter weight materials can be used to replace a longitudinally seamed core. 

  

 Logistics 

  

 Longitudinal cores require different cut size blanks for each size, as well as pre-perforation/pre-expanding, rolling and welding. Spiral Tubeformer cores and liners are made from standard, compact coil, regardless of diameter, substantially reducing storage as well as material waste.  

  

 Why Produce on a Helix Tubeformer?  

 Strict length and diameter tolerances 

 Fast computerized tube length and helix angle change  

 Fast and easy diameter and gauge changeover 

 Flying slitter provides a clean cut tube at high speeds 

 Easy and safe to operate, designed to avoid delicate time-consuming adjustments and risk of human error  

 Minimal floor space required 

In operation the plasma cutting system of the invention provides safe and efficient cutting of metal sheets. As described above the system includes a plasma cutter, a rolling table pin support panel and cutting system support. The plasma cutter and the rolling table are supported by the cutting system support. The rolling table is adapted to be positioned on the cutting system support at a loading position and at cutting position. The operator positions the sheet metal to be cut on the rolling table while the table is in the loading position near table positioner. The operator then rolls the table to the cutting position near table positioner 84. The cutting position is beneath the cnc plasma cutter . A transparent curtain supported by cutter housing encloses the area around the plasma cutter. The curtain protects the operator from fumes generated during cutting.

A gantry is supported by the cutter housing, and the gantry supports the carriage which supports the plasma cutting machine . The cutting position is beneath the plasma cutter. The position of the plasma cutter is programmed in computer 296. The pinion gear at either end of the gantry is stepper motor driven. Movement of the cutter between the sides is stepper motor driven.In a preferred embodiment of the invention the table support rail is extended and a second table positioned at the end thereof. A second rolling table is supported on the extended portion of the table support rail. In this embodiment the operator loads one table while the plasma cutter cuts the metal on the other table.

 

source:myblog SBKJ

The plasma cutting machine of the invention includes a constant height plasma cutter, a rolling table and cutting system support. The plasma cutter and the rolling table are supported by the cutting system support. The rolling table is adapted to be positioned on the cutting system support at a loading position at a cutting position. The cutting position is beneath the plasma cutter.The plasma cutting system of the invention optionally includes an additional rolling table. Each rolling table includes adjustable pins supported on transverse channel members.

In the plasma cutting system of the invention the constant height cnc plasma cutter is carried by a gantry driven from opposite sides. The rolling table is loaded in a loading position where the operator positions metal sheets thereon. The operator then rolls the loaded table to a cutting position beneath the plasma arc cutter. The plasma arc cutter is held at a constant height above the rolling table. Each metal sheet loaded onto the rolling table is supported on the adjustable pins. The entire cutting area is enclosed and vented thus protecting the operator from fumes produced during cutting.

In the plasma cutting system of the invention a cutter housing supports a transparent curtain, and the transparent curtain encloses the plasma cutter. A gantry is supported by the cutter housing, and the gantry supports the plasma cutter. The rolling table is adapted to be positioned on the cutting system support at a loading position and at cutting position. The cutting position is beneath the plasma cutter. The rolling table includes a table frame, adjustable pins and table wheels. The adjustable pins and the table wheels are connected to the table frame. The adjustable pins extend above and below the pin supporting channels of the table frame. The cnc plasma cutting machine includes a constant height plasma arc cutter and a cutter positioner. The plasma arc cutter includes a plasma arc cutting portion and a programmable cutter control. The cutter position includes a cutter support and a programmable cutter position controller. The cutter support includes a gantry and a rotatable pinion at each end of the gantry.

 

source:myblog sbkj 

A combination of a protective case enclosing a plasma cutter , the combination comprising: a protective case forming a chamber, the protective case having a inner bottom surface with a formation formed thereon and a lid having an open and closed position enclosing a chamber, the lid having an inner lid surface having a formation formed therein; a plasma cutter within the chamber, the plasma cutter having a bottom surface interfitting with the formation on the inner bottom surface to securely retain the plasma cutter within the protective case; and wherein the formation formed on the inner lid surface interfits with the CNC plasma cutter when the lid is in the closed position to prevent lateral or vertical movement of the plasma cutter by sandwiching the plasma cutter between the formation on the inner lid surface and the formation on the inner bottom surface of the protective case.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is a protective case for a plasma cutter that allows the plasma cutter to be stowed in the protective case with no manipulation needed to put the plasma cutter into a particular orientation. That is, the plasma cutting machine is stored in the protective case in the same orientation as it is used. In addition, the aspect ratio i.e. height to width can be nearly equal to the aspect ratio of the plasma cutter itself.

The protective case with the plasma cutter contained therein can be readily carried by a user and the cnc plasma cutting machine is securely retained within the protective case by being sandwiched between a special formation formed on the inner surface of the lid and the inner surface of the bottom of the case.

There is also space provided for the stowage of an accessory box and plug accessories and those components are also specially securely retained within the protective case so as to prevent their movement therein.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein.

 

source:blogigo sbkj 

 

Plasma cutting is a process in which an electric arc is used for cutting or gouging a workpiece. The plasma cutter is generally contained within a housing and provides output power to a pair of cables that extend from the plasma cutter apparatus. One of the cables has a torch that is located at the outer end of the cable and the other cable has a work clamp at its outer end that is adapted to be attached to the workpiece.

The CNC plasma cutter apparatus is designed to be a portable unit, that is, the plasma cutter can be carried by a person from location to location. Basically, the new inverter based plasma cutters now achieve the portability of other industrial power tools. With such portability, however, there is an increased risk of damage to the plasma cutter which increases the importance of protection in transport and storage.

While there are protective cases used among highly portable power tools, such as drills, saws and the like, at the present, protective cases are not widely used with plasma cutting machines. Protective cases have also been used on portable welding equipment, however, these protective cases for that purpose require manipulation of the power source from a natural vertical position to a horizontal position. In addition, the weld and ground cables for such welding equipment must be detached from the power source and be deliberately arranged in a specific manner into a storage position.

With a plasma cutter, the reorientation of the cutter is made more difficult by the comparative size, weight and amount of cabling that needs to be manipulated, as compared with standard power tools.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a protective case that requires little, if any, cable and power source manipulation in order stow the plasma cutter therein. In addition, it would be advantageous to have a protective case that requires minimal power source and cable manipulation for stowage in the protective case, while closely matching the aspect ratio of the plasma cutter to maximize space efficiency.

 

Source:news sbkj

A  filling machines and bottle washing machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a rotating spoke assembly 2 mounted for rotation within a cylindrica.

A through passageway is provided through the lower portion of the cylindrical drum 4 at the six o'clock position. A conveyor line 10 extends through the passageway 8 on which bottles 12 are conveyed to the rotating spoke assembly 2, rotated therearound to washing, rinsing, drying and filling positions, and then when filled conveyed away from the washing and filling machine to the next processing station such as capping the bottles, applying labels and the like.

Modification of the invention provide additional improvements over the prior art, including one modification in which each bottle is rotated through two separate orbits. In one orbit, the bottles are washed with a detergent, and then filled during the second orbit.

In another modification, two side-by-side circular rows of bottles are carried around the cylindrical drum by the rotary spoke assembly, for rinsing, aerating and filling of two sets of bottles during each revolution.

Other improvements and advantages of the bottle filling machines in accordance with the present invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows and from an examination of the accompanying drawings.
A bottle filling machine as set forth, wherein said filling means includes a valve assembly, said valve assembly includes a first inlet port connected to a supply of selected fluid material with which said bottles are to be filled, outlet port means for discharging a portion of said selected fluid material to each of said bottles while being continuously moved through at least a part of said bottle filling portion of said rotational pathway, said fluid conduit means being connected between said outlet port means and each one of said bottles to continuously rotate with said bottles and carry respective portions of said selected fluid material to fill respective ones of said bottles while they are being rotated.

A bottle filling machine manufacturer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said valve plate includes a bearing surface to face and bear against said bearing surface of said rotatable valve member, said valve plate being secured in a fixed position on said bottle filling machine coaxially with said central axis of said rotatable assembly and with said rotational pathway in which said rotatable assembly is rotated, said first inlet aperture being located radially in line with said three o'clock position of said rotational pathway to feed selected fluid filling material to and through said first discharge apertures in said first circular pathway of said rotatable valve member for feeding into said bottles as they are continuously rotated past the said three o'clock position moving clockwise.

A bottle filling machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said valve plate includes a bearing surface to face and bear against said bearing surface of said rotatable valve member, said valve plate being secured in a fixed position on said bottle filling machine china coaxially with said central axis of said rotatable assembly and with said rotational pathway in which said rotatable assembly is rotated, said first inlet aperture being located radially in line with said three o'clock position of said rotational pathway to feed selected fluid filling material to and through said second discharge apertures in said second circular pathway of said rotatable valve member for feeding into said bottles in said second orbit as they are rotated past the said three o'clock position moving clockwise, said fluid conduit means of said filling means including first orbit fluid conduit means connected between said first discharge apertures and said bottles in said first orbit, and second fluid orbit conduit means connected between said second discharge apertures and said bottles in said second orbit.

In a first modified form of the bottle washing and filling machines , the bottles are rotated through two revolutions around the drum by a modified dual spoke assembly. The dual spoke assembly includes a first spoke assembly comprising a plurality of spokes extending radially from the axle adjacent the downstream side of the rear wall  of the drum , with separator pads secured to the free ends of the spokes . The dual spoke assembly also includes a second spoke assembly comprising a plurality of spokes extending radially from the axle adjacent to the first spoke assembly and on the downstream side thereof, the second spoke assembly having separator pads secured to the free ends of its spokes .

In this modified form of the bottle washing and filling machine, each bottle is rotated through two complete revolutions, first carried around the spoke assembly of the modified dual spoke assembly wherein each bottle  is washed and rinsed with a detergent and then diverted by guide rail at the six o'clock position viewed from the front, into the path of the second spoke assembly for a second revolution around the drum 4 wherein each bottle is filled with a liquid material such as distilled water.

 

 

source:townhall|bottle filling machine

Are you familiar with a show on the Discovery Channel called How Its Made? The show basically takes its viewer's through the elaborate process from the raw materials the product is made from to the finished product. Many episodes from How Its Made talk about the different filling machines that partake in the creation of the product throughout the different stages of the production line. Furthermore, some of the products they show are either foods or beverages.

Many of us prefer to drink soda while others like bottled water, however they both involve the same type of equipment that transfers the gallons of liquid which is mixed in large tanks to the containers the liquid will fill, which end up in your pantries or refrigerators. Mass production wouldn't be possible if it were not for the water filling machines that participate in this process, can you imagine doing all that by hand?

When you shop in a grocery store and you stroll up the condiments aisle, for the cookout later this week, you notice all the containers filled with ketchup, mustard, relish, and BBQ sauce which you could find in many grocery stores around the world. This is all made possible with these machines that bottle all sorts of edible or inedible things that allow these companies to mass produce them.

Here is a brief walk through of the tedious tasks involved with these filling machines .

 

 

source:dr-machines news|filling machines

 There are three different states of matter have been found in everyday life, and a fourth is not so common. They are as water, solid and gas - with the latest plasma. Almost 99 percent of all matter in the universe plasma, but it is less common in the soil, because it is extremely hot.
We tend to see in the sun or the form or the flash. Plasma is also used in neon and fluorescent lamps.

To understand the place occupied in the plasma membrane, first look at the states of matter in the world and its properties. The atom consists of protons and neutrons in the nucleus is surrounded by a swarm of electrons. If overheated, these electrons move very fast in random patterns and have published from their obligations to the base. When the electrons leave their link to the atom, which are negatively charged and positively charged nuclei are left as ions. The hotter than the electrons, the faster they move and leave before large amounts of energy.

The use of water as an example, is the first solid state of matter. A solid has a special form and is of neutral atoms arranged in a pattern composed loaded hex. Ice is a good example. The liquid is in the next state of matter. In this state the molecules are still together, bound, but move relative to the other very slowly. The gas is in the next state in which molecules move independently of each other at high speed and separate, so that the nuclei and negatively charged electrons are called positive ions. The plasma will be the last state of matter in which electrons and ions move so fast that when they collide with each other to produce enormous amounts of energy formed.

A plasma cutter uses this energy to your advantage. It has a nozzle with two gas passages and a center electrode negative. If cut close with power and space charge on the metal creates a very hot spark. A gas such as argon result of the disclosure surrounding the arc is extremely hot, the molecules move at a rapid pace, meet each other and release large amounts of energy. , Contain the unpredictable arc in a smaller limit, a second round of the protection of the gas stream. The plasma is cut at an incredible 30 000 degrees to - location, something. You can cut through sheet metal as thick as butter.

A typical auto plasma cutter includes: a table on which mounted a cloth such as a steel plate or the like are cut, is a drive to XYZ a plasma torch with servo amplifiers and servo motors or similar X, Y, and Z is a plasma drive cutter supply device for generating a plasma with a plasma torch, a gas supply contract unit for the supply of natural gas in the plasma torch is water cooling device cooling of a nozzle and an electrode that described in the ionized plasma torch, and a controller of North Carolina and similar institutions to a numerical control (NC) program for the transformation of an arc plasma torch supply, while the plasma-plasma torch moves relative to the material being cut.

In addition, plasma cutting machine  power supply typically includes: a main inverter circuit, the electric energy supplies in an arc on the plasma-plasma torch, and ignite with a constant power supply, DC-loop, a circuit for generating high frequency superimposed on a high voltage to a pilot arc between the electrode and nozzle of the plasma torch in the output voltage of the main circuit, a circuit that the output voltage of the main circuit between the electrode and nozzle, during the pilot-arc ignition and then makes the phase of the application of the output voltage between the electrode and the workpiece so the pilot to make an arc main arc and a power control unit to the main switch, the circuit of circuits with high frequency and the pilot controlling the pilot arc, rotate and subsequently maintain the central arch supports. Understand that the CNC plasma cutter Power Device that these elements is usually contained in a single chassis contains. Although the main arc power is supplied by this type of equipment for plasma cutting power depends on the type of material being cut and thickness, etc., can reach a high value, as several hundred amperes. It is therefore necessary to create a circuit with high output capacity.

 

 

source:SBKJ.COM

The Plasma Cutting Machine of the invention includes a constant height plasma arc cutter, a rolling table and a plasma cutter carrying gantry driven from opposite sides. The rolling table is rolled from a loading position where metal sheets are positioned thereon to a cutting position beneath the plasma arc cutter. The plasma arc cutter is held at a constant height above the rolling table. Each metal sheet loaded onto the rolling table is supported on adjustable pins. The entire cutting area is enclosed and vented. The plasma cutter and the rolling table are supported by the cutting system support. A cutter housing supports a transparent curtain, and the transparent curtain encloses the plasma arc cutter. A gantry is supported by the cutter housing, and the gantry supports the plasma cutter. The rolling table includes a table frame, adjustable pins and table wheels. The adjustable pins and the table wheels are connected to the table frame. The adjustable pins extend above and below the pin engaging portion of the table frame. The plasma arc cutter includes a plasma arc cutter member and a cutter positioner. The plasma arc cutter member includes a plasma arc cutting portion and a programmable cutter control. The cutter positioner includes a cutter support and a programmable cutter position controller. The cutter support includes a gantry and a rotatable pinion at each end of the gantry.

Miller plasma cutters use a combination of electricity and air pressure to create a stream of plasma that can cut through metal. There are two different categories of Miller plasma cutters: those with built-in air compressors and those without. A plasma cutter with a built-in air compressor has the added convenience of portability, but does not have the cutting capacity of the larger external air compressor models. Both types of plasma cutters use similar controls for amperage and airflow.Read the operating manual for the model of Miller plasma cutter you intend to use to become familiar with the plasma cutter's controls.

This invention relates to a plasma cutting system of improved efficiency and safety. The improvements of the invention each taken alone or in combination add to operator convenience and productivity and provide equipment portability.

Union Carbide Corporation, Linde Division, Technical Sales Manual, January, 1983 entitled "proDUCTor AUTOMATIC SHEET METAL SYSTEM" discloses a computer aided manufacturing system having two parts, a cutting center and an input control terminal. The cutting center consists of a gantry type machine with microprocessor numerical control, a plasma cutting system, one or more down draft cutting tables and a fume-smoke collector. Plug in the plasma cutter and set the amperage gauge as specified by the chart affixed to the inside of the Miller plasma cutter for the thickness of the metal you are cutting.Remove the cup from the plasma torch and inspect the plasma tip for signs of wear. Replace the cutting tip if you notice large amounts of gouging in the copper tip, and reassemble the torch head.

These problems of the prior art are overcome by the improved plasma cutting system of the present invention. The fume hazards and other loading difficulties of the prior art are either compensated for or not present in a plasma cutting system in accordance with the present invention.The plasma cutting system of the invention includes a constant height plasma cutter, a rolling table and cutting system support. The plasma cutter and the rolling table are supported by the cutting system support. The rolling table is adapted to be positioned on the cutting system support at a loading position at a cutting position. The cutting position is beneath the plasma cutter. Turn on the Miller plasma cutter and secure the scrap piece of sheet metal to a non-combustible firm surface with the self-locking pliers.Put on your leather gloves and tinted safety glasses, and place the copper tip of the plasma torch the distance required by the Miller plasma cutter's operating manual.

In the plasma cutting system of the invention a cutter housing supports a transparent curtain, and the transparent curtain encloses the plasma cutter. A gantry is supported by the cutter housing, and the gantry supports the plasma cutter manufacturer . The rolling table is adapted to be positioned on the cutting system support at a loading position and at cutting position. The cutting position is beneath the plasma cutter. The rolling table includes a table frame, adjustable pins and table wheels. The adjustable pins and the table wheels are connected to the table frame. The adjustable pins extend above and below the pin supporting channels of the table frame. The plasma cutter includes a constant height plasma arc cutter and a cutter positioner. The plasma arc cutter includes a plasma arc cutting portion and a programmable cutter control. The cutter position includes a cutter support and a programmable cutter position controller. The cutter support includes a gantry and a rotatable pinion at each end of the gantry.

Depress the tip of the plasma torch to start the cut. The torch will have a delay, so do not lift the plasma torch away from the surface of the metal.Slowly drag the tip of the plasma cutter along the surface of the sheet metal. Slow down your dragging speed if you notice sparks coming back toward you while you cut; speed up your dragging speed if the plasma arc repeatedly shuts off.The plasma cutting system of the invention optionally includes an additional rolling table. Each rolling table includes adjustable pins supported on transverse channel members.

In the CNC plasma cutting machine of the invention the constant height plasma arc cutter is carried by a gantry driven from opposite sides. The rolling table is loaded in a loading position where the operator positions metal sheets thereon. The operator then rolls the loaded table to a cutting position beneath the plasma arc cutter. The plasma arc cutter is held at a constant height above the rolling table. Each metal sheet loaded onto the rolling table is supported on the adjustable pins. The entire cutting area is enclosed and vented thus protecting the operator from fumes produced during cutting.

FIG. 1A is a side-elevational view of the first two sections of the helical grooving machine with parts broken out to permit illustration of the overall appearance;
FIG. 1B is a side-elevational view of the latter two sections of the helical grooving machine with parts broken out to permit illustration of the overall appearance;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the engaging and lifting mechanism of the present invention illustrating engagement of a lifter with a glass Tube forming ;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lifting mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the positioning mechanism mounted on the upper longitudinal frame of the helical grooving machine;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of the mechanism in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the engaging and lifting mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of the mechanism in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a rear view of the engaging and lifting mechanism illustrated in FIG. 7; and
FIG. 10 is a side-elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention which provides for simultaneous transfer of two glass tubes in tandem from one processing area of the machine to the adjacent processing area.

The subject invention includes an engaging and lifting mechanism for a helical grooving machine for transferring glass tubes from one section of the machine to the next in order for continuous processing operations to be performed on the SBKJ Tube formings in each section. To provide a fuller understanding of the present invention, a brief description of the helical grooving machine and the operations it performs on the glass tubes is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the helical grooving machine may be functionally divided into four sections. As the glass tubes are moved from one section of the machine to the next, various operations are performed which result in a finished product when the tubes leave the machine. A left to right flow is described but, of course, the flow can also be in the opposite direction. The first section of the machine is the loading area. This is the input end of the machine into which thin wall glass tubes of circular cross section are placed. The next section of the machine is the preheating area where the tubes are heated to a temperature sufficient to prepare them for the grooving operation. The third section is the grooving area where the glass tubes are subjected to the grooving operation while they continue to be heated in a manner similar to that in the preheating area. In the embodiment of the machine to be described, a helical grooving operation is performed, but any suitable type of grooving can be accomplished. The final section of the machine is the unloading area where the grooved glass tubes are received and from where they are transferred, for example, to a packing area. This general arrangement is shown in the machine of the aforementioned patent. In general, it can be assumed that the Spiral Tubeformers are manually placed on the loading area, and removed from the unloading area. Of course, a conveyor arrangement can be provided, if desired. It should be noted that the grooving machine operates simultaneously on a plurality of glass tubes which are aligned in parallel. The grooving machine of the subject invention operates on sets of four parallel aligned glass tubes simultaneously. Although the following description of the invention relates, in some instances, to the processing of a single glass tube, similar operations are taking place on all the other glass tubes of the set with which the single tube is aligned.

In the preheating area of the machine, gas burner preheaters are supported on the framework and extend longitudinally thereof below the plane of carriage travel. Open top casings 188 enclose the preheaters, which are not shown. There is one preheater, or a group of preheaters, for each glass tube of a set to be processed. In the case illustrated, there are four tubes processed simultaneously, so there are four, or four sets, of preheaters. Supported at the top of each casing 188 are pairs of rotatable rollers (not shown) spaced to support each of the glass tubes T and provide an elongated channel through which heat can be transferred to the lower exposed surface of each of the glass tubes T. This is also described in detail in the aforementioned patent.

Hoods 198 extend along the top of the casings 188, and are supported on the carriage assembly by tubular members 197. By reason of their support from the carriage assembly, hoods 198 travel with the carriage assembly longitudinally of the tube T and casings 188. The preheaters operate as the carriage is moving from right to left during the time that the grooving operation is being performed. The Square Duct tubes are preheated to a point where they still maintain rigidity in the longitudinal direction, so that they can be transferred without any sag of the glass.

The portion of the carriage used in the grooving area is at this time located at its furthest right hand position abutting pusher head 352. On the return trip of the complete movable carriage assembly to the left, the portion of the carriage carrying the grooving apparatus will perform the grooving operation on the glass tubes in the grooving area of the machine. At the same time, the tubes in the preheating section are heated. To return the complete carriage to its starting (left) position so that the grooving operation can be performed by the grooving apparatus as the carriage travels to the left, air is admitted into cylinder 350, causing its piston rod to extend. As should be apparent from FIG. 1A, there is some overtravel to the right for the carriage beyond the tubes T in the grooving area. This permits the flames for the various torches to be turned on. Through the engagement of pusher head 352 attached to the piston rod and an engaging bracket on the grooving carriage, the carriage is returned to its starting position to the right of the tubes in the grooving area, for the grooving operation. At this point lead screw 242 is actuated and engages a half-nut on the movable carriage assembly, causing it to move to the left at a predetermined speed with respect to the speed of rotation of the glass tubes T in the grooving area. Flames from the torches on the grooving carriage soften the glass tubes along the desired path, preferably helical, to form the grooved tube illustrated in the unloading area of FIG. 1B. The carriage speed to the left is usually lower than the speed of the carriage to the right during transfer of the Tube forming machine .

The portion of the carriage used in the grooving area is at this time located at its furthest right hand position abutting pusher head 352. On the return trip of the complete movable carriage assembly to the left, the portion of the carriage carrying the grooving apparatus will perform the grooving operation on the glass tubes in the grooving area of the machine. At the same time, the tubes in the preheating section are heated. To return the complete carriage to its starting (left) position so that the grooving operation can be performed by the grooving apparatus as the carriage travels to the left, air is admitted into cylinder 350, causing its piston rod to extend. As should be apparent from FIG. 1A, there is some overtravel to the right for the carriage beyond the tubes T in the grooving area. This permits the flames for the various torches to be turned on. Through the engagement of pusher head 352 attached to the piston rod and an engaging bracket on the grooving carriage, the carriage is returned to its starting position to the right of the tubes in the grooving area, for the grooving operation. At this point lead screw 242 is actuated and engages a half-nut on the movable carriage assembly, causing it to move to the left at a predetermined speed with respect to the speed of rotation of the glass tubes T in the grooving area. Flames from the torches on the grooving carriage soften the glass tubes along the desired path, preferably helical, to form the grooved tube illustrated in the unloading area of FIG. 1B. The carriage speed to the left is usually lower than the speed of the carriage to the right during transfer of the tubes. The carriage assembly then proceeds to the right so that each carriage section moves the length of two tubes. The shafts 51 and 49 are rotated in the opposite direction so that the tubes are lowered down onto the station and the lifters are disengaged. In this embodiment, the shaft 51 is then rotated in the direction needed to raise the lifters vertically so that they will clear the tube former machines as the carriage assembly moves to the left to perform the grooving operation. After the carriage is at the leftmost position, the shaft 51 is rotated to lower the lifters so that they will be in a position to engage the tubes when the shaft 49 is rotated. Once the engagement takes place, the shaft 51 is again rotated to lift the tubes clear of the top surface of the machine.

As should be clear, the lifting arrangement of FIG. 10 can double the processing speed of the lamps. This, of course, is a decidedly advantageous result.

As should also be apparent, in each of the embodiments of the invention, the lifters do not engage the outside of a glass tube at points where they make contact. Instead, contact is made on the inside of the tube thereby preventing any unnecessary scratching of the tube, and also considerably simplifying the design of the lifters.

FIG. 1A is a side-elevational view of the first two sections of the helical grooving machine with parts broken out to permit illustration of the overall appearance;
FIG. 1B is a side-elevational view of the latter two sections of the helical grooving machine with parts broken out to permit illustration of the overall appearance;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side-elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the engaging and lifting mechanism of the present invention illustrating engagement of a lifter with a glass Tube forming ;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lifting mechanism illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the positioning mechanism mounted on the upper longitudinal frame of the helical grooving machine;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of the mechanism in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the engaging and lifting mechanism of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of the mechanism in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a rear view of the engaging and lifting mechanism illustrated in FIG. 7; and
FIG. 10 is a side-elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention which provides for simultaneous transfer of two glass tubes in tandem from one processing area of the machine to the adjacent processing area.

The subject invention includes an engaging and lifting mechanism for a helical grooving machine for transferring glass tubes from one section of the machine to the next in order for continuous processing operations to be performed on the Spiral Tubeformers in each section. To provide a fuller understanding of the present invention, a brief description of the helical grooving machine and the operations it performs on the glass tubes is provided.As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the helical grooving machine may be functionally divided into four sections. As the glass tubes are moved from one section of the machine to the next, various operations are performed which result in a finished product when the tubes leave the machine. A left to right flow is described but, of course, the flow can also be in the opposite direction.
The first section of the machine is the loading area. This is the input end of the machine into which thin wall glass tubes of circular cross section are placed. The next section of the machine is the preheating area where the tubes are heated to a temperature sufficient to prepare them for the grooving operation. The third section is the grooving area where the glass tubes are subjected to the grooving operation while they continue to be heated in a manner similar to that in the preheating area. In the embodiment of the machine to be described, a helical grooving operation is performed, but any suitable type of grooving can be accomplished. The final section of the machine is the unloading area where the grooved glass tubes are received and from where they are transferred, for example, to a packing area. This general arrangement is shown in the machine of the aforementioned patent. In general, it can be assumed that the Square Ducts are manually placed on the loading area, and removed from the unloading area. Of course, a conveyor arrangement can be provided, if desired. It should be noted that the grooving machine operates simultaneously on a plurality of glass tubes which are aligned in parallel. The grooving machine of the subject invention operates on sets of four parallel aligned glass tubes simultaneously. Although the following description of the invention relates, in some instances, to the processing of a single glass tube, similar operations are taking place on all the other glass tubes of the set with which the single tube is aligned.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, the loading area of the helical grooving machine will be described in detail. This section includes a table 10 having a plurality of U-shaped channels 12 secured to the upper horizontal surface of the table to insure the proper positioning of glass tubes T for subsequent movement into the preheating zone. As illustrated in FIG. 1A and 3, U-shaped channels 12 extend longitudinally of the loading area. The engaging and lifting mechanism and the positioning mechanisms which are both mounted on the upper frame of the helical grooving machine above table 10, will be described in detail below.

The movable carriage assembly extends approximately the length of three sections of the machine. The carriage is divided into three parts. The first part transfers tubes from the loading to the preheating area, the second transfers tubes from the preheating to the grooving area, and the third transfers Tube forming manufacturer   from the grooving to the unloading area. The third part of the carriage also carries the necessary equipment to perform the grooving operation. The three parts or sections of the carriage assembly move and operate in common to provide continuous processing of the lamps. In essence, sets of lamps are transferred sequentially from one area of the machine to the next.

In the preheating area of the machine, gas burner preheaters are supported on the framework and extend longitudinally thereof below the plane of carriage travel. Open top casings 188 enclose the preheaters, which are not shown. There is one preheater, or a group of preheaters, for each glass tube of a set to be processed. In the case illustrated, there are four tubes processed simultaneously, so there are four, or four sets, of preheaters. Supported at the top of each casing 188 are pairs of rotatable rollers (not shown) spaced to support each of the glass tubes T and provide an elongated channel through which heat can be transferred to the lower exposed surface of each of the glass tubes T. This is also described in detail in the aforementioned patent.

Hoods 198 extend along the top of the casings 188, and are supported on the carriage assembly by tubular members 197. By reason of their support from the carriage assembly, hoods 198 travel with the carriage assembly longitudinally of the tube T and casings 188. The preheaters operate as the carriage is moving from right to left during the time that the grooving operation is being performed. The tubes are preheated to a point where they still maintain rigidity in the longitudinal direction, so that they can be transferred without any sag of the glass.Referring to FIG. 1B, heating assemblies 288 corresponding to those in the preheating section, are supported by the machine framework. Here again, there is one heater for each Spiral Tubeformer to be processed. Hoods 298 operate in association with heaters 288.

A carriage 22, shown in the loading area of FIG. 1A, of the movable carriage assembly, supports the engaging and lifting mechanism of the present invention. The portion of the movable carriage assembly for supporting the torches that form the grooves in the outer walls of the glass tubes T during the spiral or helical grooving operation in the grooving area, is not shown. The carriage carrying the grooving torches does not form part of the present invention. Details with regard to its operation may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,984 to D. G. Trutner, et al.

The unloading area of the machine is illustrated in FIG. 1B. A conveyor 340 transfers completed tubes received from the grooving area along a path perpendicular to the longitudinal path of travel of the SBKJ Tube forming .An air cylinder 350 with pusher head 352 mounted on the end of its piston rod is supported on the machine framework. A bracket (not shown) on the right end of the carriage assembly is positioned to engage pusher head 352. A lead screw 242 operates to return the carriage assembly to the left, to its starting position. This is described in detail below.

 

 

source:freepatentsonline

The price of computer cycles fell drastically during the 1960s with the widespread introduction of useful minicomputers. Eventually it became less expensive to handle the motor control and feedback with a computer program than it was with dedicated servo systems. Small computers were dedicated to a single mill, placing the entire process in a small box. PDP-8's and Data General Nova computers were common in these roles. The introduction of the microprocessor in the 1970s further reduced the cost of implementation, and today almost all cnc plasma cutter use some form of microprocessor to handle all operations.

The introduction of lower-cost CNC machines radically changed the manufacturing industry. Curves are as easy to cut as straight lines, complex 3-D structures are relatively easy to produce, and the number of machining steps that required human action have been dramatically reduced. With the increased automation of manufacturing processes with CNC machining, considerable improvements in consistency and quality have been achieved with no strain on the operator. CNC automation reduced the frequency of errors and provided CNC operators with time to perform additional tasks. CNC Plasma Cutting Machine automation also allows for more flexibility in the way parts are held in the manufacturing process and the time required to change the machine to produce different components.

During the early 1970s the Western economies were mired in slow economic growth and rising employment costs, and NC machines started to become more attractive. The major U.S. vendors were slow to respond to the demand for machines suitable for lower-cost NC systems, and into this void stepped the Germans. In 1979, sales of German machines surpassed the U.S. designs for the first time. This cycle quickly repeated itself, and by 1980 Japan had taken a leadership position, U.S. sales dropping all the time. Once sitting in the  position in terms of sales on a top-ten chart consisting entirely of U.S. companies in 1971, by 1987 Cincinnati Milacron was in 8th place on a chart heavily dominated by Japanese firms.

Many researchers have commented that the U.S. focus on high-end applications left them in an uncompetitive situation when the economic downturn in the early 1970s led to greatly increased demand for low-cost NC systems. Unlike the U.S. companies, who had focused on the highly profitable aerospace market, German and Japanese manufacturers targeted lower-profit segments from the start and were able to enter the low-cost markets much more easily. Recent developments in small scale cnc plasma cutter manufacturer  have been enabled, in large part, by the EMC project (Enhanced Machine Controller) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency of the Commerce Department of the United States government. EMC is a public domain program operating under Linux operating systems and working on PC based hardware. After the NIST project ended, development continued, leading to EMC2 which is licensed under the GNU General Public License and Lesser GNU General Public License (GPL and LGPL). Derivations of the original EMC software have also led to several proprietary PC based programs notably TurboCNC, and Mach3, as well as embedded systems based on proprietary hardware. The availability of these PC based control programs has led to the development of DIY CNC, allowing hobbyists to build their own using open source hardware designs. The same basic architecture has allowed manufacturers, such as Sherline and Taig, to produce turnkey lightweight desktop milling machines for hobbyists.

Eventually the homebrew architecture was fully commercialized and used to create larger machinery suitable for commercial and industrial applications. This class of equipment has been referred to as Personal CNC. Parallel to the evolution of personal computers, Personal CNC plasma cutting machine has its roots in EMC and PC based control, but has evolved to the point where it can replace larger conventional equipment in many instances. As with the Personal Computer, Personal CNC is characterized by equipment whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end user, often without professional training in CNC technology.Although modern data storage techniques have moved on from punch tape in almost every other role, tapes are still relatively common in CNC systems. This is because it was often easier to add a punch tape reader to a microprocessor controller than it was to re-write large libraries of tapes into a new format. One change that was implemented fairly widely was the switch from paper to mylar tapes, which are much more mechanically robust. Floppy disks, USB flash drives and local area networking have replaced the tapes to some degree, especially in larger environments that are highly integrated.

The proliferation of CNC led to the need for new CNC standards that were not encumbered by licensing or particular design concepts, like APT. A number of different "standards" proliferated for a time, often based around vector graphics markup languages supported by plotters. One such standard has since become very common, the "G-code" that was originally used on Gerber Scientific plotters and then adapted for CNC use. The file format became so widely used that it has been embodied in an EIA standard. In turn, while G-code is the predominant language used by CNC plasma machines today, there is a push to supplant it with STEP-NC, a system that was deliberately designed for CNC, rather than grown from an existing plotter standard.

While G-code is the most common method of programming, some machine-tool/control manufacturers also have invented their own proprietary "conversational" methods of programming, trying to make it easier to program simple parts and make set-up and modifications at the machine easier (such as Mazak's Mazatrol and Hurco). These have met with varying success.

A more recent advancement in CNC interpreters is support of logical commands, known as parametric programming (also known as macro programming). Parametric programs include both device commands as well as a control language similar to BASIC. The programmer can make if/then/else statements, loops, subprogram calls, perform various arithmetic, and manipulate variables to create a large degree of freedom within one program. An entire product line of different sizes can be programmed using logic and simple math to create and scale an entire range of parts, or create a stock part that can be scaled to any size a customer demands.Modern CNC mills differ little in concept from the original model built at MIT in 1952. Mills typically consist of a table that moves in the X and Y axes, and a tool spindle that moves in the Z (depth). The position of the tool is driven by motors through a series of step-down gears in order to provide highly accurate movements, or in modern designs, direct-drive stepper motors.

As the controller hardware evolved, the mills themselves also evolved. One change has been to enclose the entire mechanism in a large box as a safety measure, often with additional safety interlocks to ensure the operator is far enough from the working piece for safe operation. Most new CNC plama cutting machine built today are completely electronically controlled.

CNC-like systems are now used for any process that can be described as a series of movements and operations. These include laser cutting, welding, friction stir welding, ultrasonic welding, flame and plasma cutting, bending, spinning, pinning, gluing, fabric cutting, sewing, tape and fiber placement, routing, picking and placing (PnP), and sawing.