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EP-4740072-A1 - AN APPARATUS FOR CUTTING A PLURALITY OF GROOVES IN A WORKPIECE

EP4740072A1EP 4740072 A1EP4740072 A1EP 4740072A1EP-4740072-A1

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece. The apparatus is computer numerically controlled and configured to cut the plurality of grooves in accordance with information defining a cutting pattern. The apparatus comprises a controller for receiving information comprising numerical data defining a cutting pattern for a workpiece; at least one table for supporting a first surface of a respective workpiece; and a cutting machine, comprising a plurality of cutters. The cutting machine is configured such that a position in a direction parallel to the x-axis of at least one cutter of the plurality of cutters is controllable by the controller relative to a position in the direction parallel to the x-axis of another cutter of the plurality of cutters to enable a spacing between at least two adjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves to be controlled. The cutting machine is also configured such that a position in a direction parallel to the z-axis of at least one cutter of the plurality of cutters is controllable by the controller to enable a depth of at least one groove to be controlled. At least one of the cutting machine and the at least one table are movable, relative to the other, for cutting the plurality of grooves across the surface of the workpiece.

Inventors

  • The designation of the inventor has not yet been filed

Assignees

  • GURIT (UK) LTD

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250107

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece, the apparatus being computer numerically controlled and configured to cut the plurality of grooves in accordance with information defining a cutting pattern, the apparatus comprising: a controller for receiving information comprising numerical data defining a cutting pattern for a workpiece; at least one table for supporting a first surface of a respective workpiece; and a cutting machine, comprising a plurality of cutters, the cutters arranged in spaced relation to the at least one table and configured to cut a plurality of grooves in a second surface, opposite to the first surface, of the workpiece when the workpiece is supported on the at least one table, the plurality of grooves being in accordance with the cutting pattern defined for the workpiece, wherein each cutter is configured to cut a respective groove in the second surface and the plurality of cutters are controlled by the controller to cut the grooves in an x-y-z coordinate system wherein an x-y plane is parallel to a surface of the at least one table and a z- axis is orthogonal to the x-y plane; wherein the cutting machine is configured such that a position in a direction parallel to the x-axis of at least one cutter of the plurality of cutters is controllable by the controller relative to a position in the direction parallel to the x-axis of another cutter of the plurality of cutters to enable a spacing between at least two adjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves to be controlled; wherein the cutting machine is configured such that a position in a direction parallel to the z-axis of at least one cutter of the plurality of cutters is controllable by the controller to enable a depth of at least one groove of the plurality of grooves to be controlled; and at least one of the cutting machine and the at least one table being movable, relative to the other of the cutting machine and the at least one table, in the x-y plane or a plane parallel to the x-y plane, and in a direction either parallel to the y-axis or at an angle to the y-axis, for cutting the plurality of grooves across the second surface of the workpiece.
  2. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spacing between at least two adjacent grooves can be varied between 10 mm and 300 mm.
  3. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the depth of at least one groove can be varied between 1 mm and 100 mm.
  4. 4. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the position of each of the plurality of cutters is individually adjustable in the direction parallel to the x-axis.
  5. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of cutters comprises a respective first servo-motor for enabling the position to be individually adjustable in the direction parallel to the x-axis.
  6. 6. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a position of each of the plurality of cutters is individually adjustable in the direction parallel to the z- axis.
  7. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of cutters comprises a respective second servo-motor for enabling the position to be individually adjustable in the direction parallel to the z-axis.
  8. 8. The apparatus according to any preceding claims, wherein the cutting machine and the at least one table are configured such that when the at least one of the cutting machine and the at least one table are being moved relative to each other for cutting the plurality of grooves across the surface of the workpiece, (i) the cutting machine remains stationary while the at least one table is moved; or (ii) the at least one table remains stationary while the cutting machine is moved; or (iii) both the at least one table and the cutting machine are moved.
  9. 9. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising at least one gantry for supporting the cutting machine.
  10. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one gantry extends in a longitudinal direction that is parallel to the x-axis, the cutting machine configured to be moved back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the gantry.
  11. 11 . The apparatus according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the cutting machine comprises a first cutting machine assembly and a second cutting machine assembly, the first cutting machine assembly being mounted on a first gantry and the second cutting machine assembly being mounted on a second gantry, each of the first and second gantries extending in a longitudinal direction that is parallel to the x-axis, the second gantry being mounted behind the first gantry in the y-direction, the first cutting machine assembly configured to be moved back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the first gantry between at least first and second cutting locations of the first cutting machine assembly, and the second cutting machine assembly being movable back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the second gantry between at least first and second cutting locations of the second cutting machine assembly.
  12. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one table for supporting the workpiece comprises a first table for supporting a first workpiece and a second table for supporting a second workpiece, wherein the first table is configured to reciprocate back and forth in the y-direction so that the first table can be selectively moved to the first cutting location of the first cutting machine assembly or the first cutting location of the second cutting machine assembly, and the second table is configured to reciprocate back and forth in the y-direction so that the second table can be selectively moved to the second cutting location of the first cutting machine assembly or the second cutting location of the second cutting machine assembly.
  13. 13. The apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured to cut a first set of grooves of the plurality of grooves in a first run of a respective workpiece past both the first and second cutting machines, and after an alteration to a position of the first and second cutting machines and/or an alteration of a position of at least one cutter of the first and second cutting machines, to cut a second set of grooves of the plurality of grooves in a second run of the respective workpiece past the first and second cutting machines in a direction that is a reverse of the first run. 22
  14. 14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an angle of the gantry relative to the y-axis is adjustable to enable cutting the plurality of grooves across the surface of the workpiece at an angle to the y-axis.
  15. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the gantry is rotatable about a pivot point between a range of angles relative to the y-axis.
  16. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the range of angles comprises a range between +60 degrees and -60 degrees, and preferably the range of angles comprises a range between +45 degrees and -45 degrees.
  17. 17. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a conveyor system having a first conveyor portion for conveying workpieces to an inlet area of the apparatus prior to cutting by the cutting machine, and a second conveyor portion for conveying workpieces away from the apparatus after cutting by the cutting machine.
  18. 18. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one table comprises a suction table for securely holding the workpiece on the at least one table.
  19. 19. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of cutters comprises two or more cutters, and preferably eight cutters.
  20. 20. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the cutters comprises a saw blade.

Description

GROOVE CUTTING [0001 ] Technical Field [0002] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece. [0003] Background [0004] It is well known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing to provide a workpiece or structural material having a pattern of cuts or grooves in one or more surfaces of the structural material. The grooves may provide a functionality to the structural material over and above the material’s inherent qualities or characteristic. [0005] For example, in the art of wind turbine manufacture it is known to provide foam or balsa wood as a core structural material in a core material kit. A pattern of grooves may be cut into one or more surfaces of the material at a selected spacing and to a selected depth, to make the material more conformable or drapable. For example, the grooves may be provided so that the core material can more easily conform to an inner surface of a wind turbine blade mould. Additionally or alternatively, grooves may be provided in a surface of the material so that the grooves promote resin transfer along or through the core material during a resin transfer moulding (RTM) process. [0006] For example, EP4065841 A1 discloses a core material for a wind turbine blade, the core material having grooves cut therein to enhance drapability of the core material. [0007] The present disclosure has identified a problem that in known methods there is a lack of flexibility with respect to the pattern of grooves that can be made. For example, it is known for a cutting machine to have a plurality of cutting elements arranged at a fixed spacing from each other. Multiple grooves can be cut in a single pass of a workpiece, but the spacing between adjacent grooves and depth of each groove is fixed or at least cannot be easily adjusted between “runs”. As such, for efficiency of manufacture standard groove depths and groove spacings may be provided, even where those spacings and depths may be sub-optimal for a given purpose. [0008] Accordingly it is identified in the present disclosure that there is a need for a cutting apparatus that provides enhanced flexibility with respect to enabling an operator to cut a variety of groove patterns in to a workpiece. [0009] Summary [0010] In a first aspect there is provided an apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece, according to claim 1 . [0011] Further optional features are set forth according to the dependent claims. [0012] Brief Description of Drawings [0013] Figure 1 schematically shows an apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece, according to an example of a first embodiment. [0014] Figure 2 further shows the apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece, according to the example of the first embodiment. [0015] Figure 3 shows in more detail the cutters of the apparatus, according to the first embodiment. [0016] Figure 4 schematically shows an apparatus for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece, according to an example of a second embodiment. [0017] Figure 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 4. [0018] Figure 6 shows in more detail a component of the apparatus of the second embodiment. [0019] Figure 7 schematically shows a housing that could be used to house parts of the apparatus of the first and second embodiments. [0020] Detailed Description [0021] Figures 1 and 2 schematically show a manufacturing area or system 100. [0022] The system 100 comprises an apparatus 102. The apparatus 102 is for cutting a plurality of grooves in a workpiece 104 (see Figure 2). The workpiece 104 may also be referred to as a material or section of material, or a section of core material, or the like. The apparatus 102 is computer numerically controlled (CNC) and is configured to cut the plurality of grooves in accordance with information defining a cutting pattern. One or more cutting patterns may be generated by a human operator via an associated computer aided drawing package, and/or one or more cutting patterns may be generated by a computer program based on one or more design parameters, and the one or more cutting patterns may be sent or transmitted to the apparatus 102. [0023] As shown in Figure 1 , the apparatus comprises a controller which is schematically shown at 106. The controller 106 is configured for receiving numerical data defining a cutting pattern for a workpiece, such as workpiece 104. Other workpieces may be subjected to a same or a different respective groove cutting pattern. The controller 106 may comprise one or more memories and one or more processors. The controller 106 may comprise a microcontroller. [0024] A power source is schematically shown at 109, for powering one or more components within the system. In some examples, the power source 109 comprises mains electrical power. In some examples an auxiliary power supply may also be provided, in case of failure of the power source 109. [0025] The apparatus 102 comprises at least one