Systems and methods for shaping materials

Abstract

Shaping systems and methods suitable for cutting a material and deburring devices for performing a deburring operation on an edge of the material. The shaping systems include means for supporting the material and at least first and second carriage units independently operable to travel parallel to an axis of the supporting means. The first carriage unit comprises a cutting device coupled thereto with a first arm, and the second carriage unit comprises a deburring device coupled thereto with a second arm. The cutting device and the deburring device are coupled to the first and second carriage units, respectively, so as to move in a travel direction relative to the material supported by the supporting means and perform cutting and deburring operations, respectively, from opposite surfaces of the material.

1 . A shaping system for cutting a material, the shaping system comprising:
 means for supporting the material;   at least first and second carriage units independently operable to travel parallel to an axis of the supporting means, the first carriage unit comprising a cutting device coupled thereto with a first arm, the second carriage unit comprising a deburring device coupled thereto with a second arm, the cutting device and the deburring device being coupled to the first and second carriage units, respectively, so as to move in a travel direction relative to the material supported by the supporting means and perform cutting and deburring operations, respectively, from opposite surfaces of the material.   
     
     
         2 . The shaping system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deburring device is behind the cutting device relative to the travel direction. 
     
     
         3 . The shaping system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means associated with the first carriage unit for moving the cutting device in directions toward and away from the supporting means and transverse to the axis of the supporting means. 
     
     
         4 . The shaping system according to  claim 1 , further comprising means associated with the second carriage unit for moving the deburring device in directions toward and away from the supporting means and transverse to the axis of the supporting means. 
     
     
         5 . The shaping system according to  claim 4 , further comprising means associated with the second carriage unit for oscillating the deburring device in the lateral direction of the supporting means and transverse to the axis of the supporting means. 
     
     
         6 . The shaping system according to  claim 1 , wherein the deburring device comprises a manifold comprising at least first and second nozzles adapted to project first and second gas streams therefrom toward a slit in the material formed by the cutting device. 
     
     
         7 . The shaping system according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second nozzles have converging axes so that the first and second gas streams flowing therefrom intersect at a focal zone in the same plane. 
     
     
         8 . The shaping system according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second nozzles have converging axes so that the first and second gas streams flowing therefrom are directed towards a focal zone but are on different planes. 
     
     
         9 . The shaping system according to  claim 6 , further comprising first and second gases supplied at different pressures to the first and second nozzles. 
     
     
         10 . The shaping system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a valve coupled to the manifold and operable to enable the manifold to rotate while continuously supplying the first and second gases to the first and second nozzles. 
     
     
         11 . The shaping system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a laser unit that detects a side of the material when being supported by the supporting means. 
     
     
         12 . The shaping system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first carriage unit comprises more than one cutting device and the second carriage unit comprises more than one deburring device. 
     
     
         13 . The shaping system according to  claim 12 , further comprising means associated with the first carriage unit for independently moving each of the cutting devices in directions toward and away from the supporting means and transverse to the axis of the supporting means, and means associated with the second carriage unit for independently moving each of the deburring devices in directions toward and away from the supporting means and transverse to the axis of the supporting means. 
     
     
         14 . The shaping system according to  claim 1 , wherein the supporting means comprises means for collecting debris from the material, the shaping system comprising means for moving the first and second carriage units relative to the means for collecting debris in order to provide access to the debris. 
     
     
         15 . A method of cutting a material using the shaping system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 supporting the material;   independently operating the first and second carriage units to travel parallel to the axis of the supporting means; and   operating the cutting device and the deburring device to perform the cutting and deburring operations, respectively, from the opposite surfaces of the material.   
     
     
         16 . A deburring device adapted for performing a deburring operation on an edge of a material, the deburring device comprising:
 a manifold having at least first and second nozzles adapted to project first and second gas streams therefrom; and   means for orienting the manifold to project the first and second gas streams at the edge of the material.   
     
     
         17 . The deburring device according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second nozzles have converging axes so that the first and second gas streams flowing therefrom intersect at a focal zone. 
     
     
         18 . The deburring device according to  claim 16 , wherein the first and second nozzles have converging axes so that the first and second gas streams flowing therefrom are directed towards a focal zone but are on different planes. 
     
     
         19 . The deburring device according to  claim 16 , further comprising first and second gases supplied at different pressures to the first and second nozzles. 
     
     
         20 . The deburring device according to  claim 19 , further comprising a valve coupled to the manifold and operable to enable the manifold to rotate while continuously supplying the first and second gases to the first and second nozzles.