Plasma system with integrated power supply, motion control, gas control and torch

Abstract

An integrated plasma cutting system includes a plasma cutting power supply and a motion control device to move a torch along a desired cut path relative to a workpiece. The system also includes a torch height control device to adjust a gap between a tip of the torch and the workpiece and a gas control device to regulate a gas used in the integrated plasma cutting system. The system further includes a centralized controller that includes an integrated microprocessor architecture that controls a sequence of the plasma arc, controls the regulation of the gas used in the integrated plasma cutting system gases, and controls coordination of the movement of the torch along the cut path with adjusting the gap without aid of an intervening microprocessor architecture in any one of the plasma cutting power supply, the motion control device, the torch height control device and the gas control device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An integrated plasma cutting system, the system comprising:
 a plasma cutting power supply configured to provide a desired current to at least one torch to create a plasma arc to cut a workpiece;   a motion control device configured to move the at least one torch along a desired cut path relative to the workpiece;   a torch height control device configured to adjust a gap between a tip of the at least one torch and the workpiece;   a gas control device configured to regulate at least one of a gas selection, a gas flow rate, and a gas pressure of at least one gas used in the integrated plasma cutting system; and   a centralized controller configured to control each of the plasma cutting power supply, the motion control device, the torch height control device, and the gas control device,   wherein the centralized controller includes an integrated microprocessor architecture configured to control sequences of plasma arcs, control the regulation of the at least one gas used in the integrated plasma cutting system, determine an order and positioning of cuts based on user input information, and control coordination of movement of the at least one torch along the cut path while adjusting the gap between the tip of the at least one torch and the workpiece.