| United States Patent | 6,420,674 |
| Cole, III , et al. | July 16, 2002 |
A heavy-duty laser plate cutting machine capable of cutting heavy plate at production rates. The machine includes a laser source having an output power of 4 kilowatts or more. The machine is preferably of the flying optic configuration, and an automatic beam control system, such as an automatically adjustable collimator is interposed between the laser source and a focusing optic carried in the cutting head. The cutting head, in addition to normal Z-axis control, has an adjustment to position the focal spot relative to the workpiece. The focal spot can be driven into the workpiece when cutting heavy plate. A machine bed underlying the workpiece is capable of absorbing significant energy from the remnant laser beam without damaging the machine base.
| Inventors: | Cole, III; Ira E. (Rockford, IL); Scott; William B. (Rochelle, IL) |
| Assignee: | W. A. Whitney Co. (Rockford, IL) |
| Appl. No.: | 636205 |
| Filed: | August 10, 2000 |
| Current U.S. Class: | 219/121.67; 219/121.83; 219/121.63; 219/121.64; 219/121.62 |
| Intern'l Class: | B23K 026/14; B23K 026/16 |
| Field of Search: | 219/121.67,121.83,121.63,121.64,121.62 |
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