Methods, system and devices for panel marking and formability measurements, including autonomous methods and devices

Abstract

A method, system and devices for autonomous marking of a substrate and for conducting formability measurements. The method, system and devices may be used to apply markings to a substrate, such as panels that are used to construct articles. The panels, for example, may be automobile panels. The markings preferably are applied on the panel autonomously with a laser etching, and with robot device that is controlled to form a precise pattern of indicia (e.g., dots), on the panel surface. An x, y, z, gantry coordinate system may be used to guide the operations of the robot device to position the device for etching at precise locations on the substrate surface. Once etched, the panels may be processed, such as, by stamping or cutting, and the deformation of the dot pattern may be used to determine strain and formability properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for autonomous marking of substrates, comprising:
 a) a housing;   b) a transport mechanism;   c) a laser head that delivers a laser output;   d) circuitry for operating the laser head and the transport mechanism;   e) wherein the device is operable over an x, y, z coordinate system to deliver the laser output to a location on a substrate at locations represented by an x, y, z coordinate.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said transport mechanism comprises a plurality of wheels. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of wheels are operable to position the device at desired locations on the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said wheels comprise omnidirectional wheels. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein each wheel has an associated motor for driving said wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein each motor is a multi-axis drive motor. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , including circuitry comprising at least one hardware processor programmed with instructions for operating the device to laser etch a pattern on the substrate surface. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the device is configured to identify its position on the substrate using an associated CAD file containing x, y, z, coordinates for the substrate, and wherein the device laser etches one or more locations of the substrate when the device is positioned at those one or more locations. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the housing includes a housing space, and wherein an exhaust mechanism is connected to the housing space. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the exhaust mechanism comprises a tube communicating with the housing space. 
     
     
         11 . A system for autonomous marking of substrates, comprising:
 a) a laser etching robot, comprising:   i) a housing having a housing space;   ii) a transport mechanism;   iii) a laser head that delivers a laser output;   iv) circuitry for operating the laser head and the transport mechanism;   v) an exhaust tube having one end that communicates with the housing space and line connecting end;   vi) wherein the device is operable over an x, y, z coordinate system to deliver the laser output to a location on a substrate at locations represented by an x, y, z coordinate;   b) a supporting structure for supporting a substrate thereon;   c) one or more lines; and   d) an arm for holding said one or more lines, wherein at least one of said one or more lines makes a connection with the device and comprises an evacuation line connected to the line connecting end of the exhaust tube;   e) wherein at least another one of said one or more lines connects to the device, and connects the circuitry of the device with a computer.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing forms an enclosure, wherein the laser head is mounted at the top of the housing and delivers a laser output, and wherein the housing has an opening opposite the laser head at a location where the laser output is directed at the housing opening. 
     
     
         13 . A device for conducting marking of substrates comprising:
 i) a housing having a housing space, the housing comprising a laser etching hood;   ii) a laser that delivers a laser output, the laser being mounted at the top of the hood;   iii) circuitry for operating the laser head and the transport mechanism;   iv) a vacuum filtration system communicating with the housing space;   v) a laser interlock system that connects the laser to the vacuum filtration system, said interlock system comprising a vacuum interlock provided on said laser etching hood, wherein said laser etching hood includes an outer rim to which said vacuum filtration system connects.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the outer rim is comprised of a synthetic resin formed from polymerized tetrafluoroethylene or Teflon. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a vacuum sensor configured to stop the laser operation when a vacuum is lost or does not meet a predetermined vacuum threshold pressure. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a closable door panel that provides access to the housing space.