Tube and duct trim machine

US6664499B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Steve A. Brink · Seattle, US
• Noel A. Spishak · Bellevue, US
• Daniel L. Nydegger · Auburn, US
• Stephen L. Sembritzky · Wenatchee, US
• William R. Schell · Federal Way, US
• David M. Kozy · Kent, US
• Steven R. Walton · Wilkeson, US
• Ray Henderson · Federal Way, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 11, 2002
• Grant date: Dec 16, 2003
• Expiry date: Jul 11, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B23K2101/06
• WIPO field: Machine tools
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for cutting curved tube and duct assemblies using a high-powered laser, which locates, measures and follows a scribe line. The invention generally is comprised of a multi-axis laser-based machine tool to cut formed (i.e., curved) welded tube and duct detailed parts to a planar scribe line. It is further comprised of a laser focusing head positioned on a rotating and tilting platform; fixturing aids to position and hold the tubes or ducts to be cut; a machine vision system to locate and measure a scribe line in a plane on the tube or duct, thus determining its orientation; and a controller that tilts the turntable to a co-planar position, and then operates a high-powered laser to cut the duct at the scribe line.