Method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material
A laser blanking system for cutting material stock includes a first series of conveyor lanes that include a plurality of support conveyors which are situated in parallel, generally spaced apart relationships. A second series of conveyor lanes is situated downstream from the first series. The second series includes a plurality of support conveyors situated in parallel, generally spaced apart relationships with respect to each other. The laser blanking system further includes a multiple-axis gantry system. The multiple-axis gantry includes a moveable transverse-axis component is supported by and moveable along a longitudinal-axis component that is situated adjacent to a longitudinal edge of the first and second series. A moveable laser head is supported by the transverse-axis component. A controller operatively controls movements of each one conveyor of the first and second lanes, the transverse-axis component, and the laser head as stock material is indexed downstream and supported by the system.
1. A method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a laser cutting station comprising a laser moveable along both a longitudinal axis of the system and a transverse axis of the system, a plurality of first support conveyors located on an upstream side of the laser cutting station extending along the longitudinal axis of the system and arranged adjacent to one another along the transverse axis in a substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship, the first support conveyors each being linearly extensible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the system independently from one another, and a plurality of second support conveyors located on an downstream side of the laser cutting station extending along the longitudinal axis of the system and being arranged adjacent to one another along the transverse axis of the system in a substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship, the second support conveyors each being linearly extensible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the system independently from one another;
(b) extending or retracting at least one first support conveyor and at least one second support conveyor of the system to a first processing position;
(c) advancing the stock material to a first position at the laser cutting station;
(d) performing at least one first laser cutting routine on the stock material with the laser; and
(e) advancing a developed blank downstream of the laser cutting station.
2. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 1 wherein said steps (b) and (d) occur simultaneously.
3. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 1 wherein said step (b) extending or retracting at least one first support conveyor and at least one second support conveyor of the system to a first processing position comprises extending or retracting a plurality of the first support conveyors and a plurality of the second support conveyors to a first processing position.
4. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 3 wherein the first support conveyors and the second support conveyors are positioned to match at least a portion of a two-dimensional profile of the blank and to create an opening therebetween.
5. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 4 wherein said steps (b) and (d) occur simultaneously.
6. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 1 wherein said step (d) comprises parting the developed blank from the stock material.
7. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 1 , further comprising:
extending or retracting at least one first support conveyor and at least one second support conveyor of the system to a second processing position; and
after said step (d), advancing the stock material to a second position at the laser cutting station; and
before said step (e), performing at least one second laser cutting routine on the stock material with the laser.
8. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 7 wherein extending or retracting at least one first support conveyor and at least one second support conveyor of the system to a second processing position comprises extending or retracting a plurality of the first support conveyors and a plurality of the second support conveyors to a second processing position.
9. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 7 wherein extending or retracting a plurality of the first support conveyors and a plurality of the second support conveyors to a second processing position and performing at least one second laser cutting routine on the stock material occur simultaneously.
10. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 7 wherein performing at least one second laser cutting routine on the stock material comprises parting the developed blank from the stock material.
11. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a stock material according to claim 7 wherein said steps (b) and (d) occur simultaneously.
12. A method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a strip of coil stock material as the strip moves forward through the system, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a first series of conveyors comprising a plurality of individual first support conveyors extending along the longitudinal axis of the system and being arranged adjacent to one another along the transverse axis of the system in a substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship, the first support conveyors each being linearly extensible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the system independently from one another;
(b) providing a laser cutting station comprising a laser moveable along both a longitudinal axis of the system and a transverse axis of the system and a multiple-axis gantry system comprising a longitudinal axis component situated adjacent to the first series of conveyors and a transverse-axis component supported by and moveable along the longitudinal axis component, wherein the laser is supported by and moveable along the transverse-axis component;
(c) providing a second series of conveyors comprising a plurality of second support conveyors extending along the longitudinal axis of the system and being arranged adjacent to one another along the transverse axis of the system in a substantially parallel, spaced-apart relationship, the second support conveyors each being linearly extensible and retractable along the longitudinal axis of the system independently from one another, the second series of conveyors being located on a downstream side of the laser cutting station such that each of the first support conveyors opposes a corresponding one of the second support conveyors;
(d) feeding the strip of the coil stock material in a downstream direction with the first series of conveyors;
(e) advancing the strip of coil stock material through the laser cutting station with one or both of the first series of conveyors and the second series of conveyors;
(f) positioning the first series of conveyors and the second series of conveyors to correspond to at least a portion of a two-dimensional profile of the blank;
(g) cutting the strip of coil stock material with the laser along the at least a portion of a two-dimensional profile of the blank; and
(h) advancing a developed blank downstream of the laser cutting station.
13. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a strip of coil stock material according to claim 12 , wherein positioning the first series of conveyors and the second series of conveyors comprises extending or retracting at least one of the first support conveyors and at least one of the second support conveyors.
14. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a strip of coil stock material according to claim 12 , wherein positioning the first series of conveyors and the second series of conveyors comprises extending or retracting a plurality of the first support conveyors and a plurality of the second support conveyors.
15. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a strip of coil stock material according to claim 12 wherein said step (g) comprises parting the developed blank from the coil stock material.
16. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a strip of coil stock material according to claim 12 , wherein said steps (e), (f) and (g) occur simultaneously.
17. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a strip of coil stock material according to claim 16 wherein said step (f) comprises positioning the first series of conveyors and the second series of conveyors to correspond to a plurality of different portions of a two-dimensional profile of the blank and said step (g) comprises cutting the strip of coil stock material with the laser along the plurality of different portions of a two-dimensional profile of the blank.
18. The method for operating a laser blanking system for cutting a blank from a strip of coil stock material according to claim 17 wherein said step (g) comprises parting the developed blank from the coil stock material.