Title:

Hypertherm Plasma Torch Automatic Cartridge Changer

Production grade plasma cutters require the consumables to be changed as they wear. Traditionally this is done by hand, with many different parts that need to be assembled correctly. To simplify things and stay competitive, Hypertherm would like to develop a method of automatically changing the consumables including a storage system. The team’s designs were modeled and simulated under the expected stress conditions in Solidworks. After much brainstorming and simulation of auto-changer design, the team has manufactured a working prototype to be leveraged by Hypertherm. The design includes two processes. One process unthreads and rethreads an outer cap making the internal cartridge available. The other pulls off the cartridge. The shield cap removal process uses a two part pneumatic actuator to grip and rotate the cap. This required the team to custom design grippers for consistency and alignment. The cartridge removal uses a fork to hook into the lip of the cartridge to be pulled off. After testing both processes by hand they were both tested by coding the KUKA six axis robotic arm in the Olsen Center.

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