JP2001087862A - Thermal cutting method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically determine the cutting condition to meet the cutting purpose, and to achieve an appropriate thermal cutting by inputting the cutting purpose by an operator. SOLUTION: A work on a work table is thermally cut by moving a torch in back and forth, right and left and vertical directions with respect to the work by the command from a control device based on a cutting program. The cutting condition corresponding to a plurality of cutting purposes including the emphasis on the accuracy, the speed and the energy saving are stored in a cutting vertical fine 75 in advance. When the cutting program, the cutting condition and the cutting purposes are inputted from an input device, the cutting vertical to meet the inputted cutting purposes is automatically selected from the cutting conditions corresponding to a plurality of cutting purposes in the cutting condition file 75, and the operation sequence is automatically determined. The thermal cutting is appropriately achieved in accordance with this operation sequence.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for hot cutting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a plasma processing machine as a thermal cutting machine is provided with a work table on which a work is placed, and holds a torch for thermally cutting the work placed on the work table. A torch head provided with a torch holder capable of moving up and down is provided, and a carrier provided with the torch head movably in the left-right direction is provided. The carrier is provided movably in the front-rear direction above the worktable.

[0003] Therefore, the plasma torch can be moved forward and backward (X-axis direction), left and right (Y-axis direction),
It can be moved and positioned vertically (in the Z-axis direction), and this positioning operation is controlled by a control device.

[0004] A nozzle is provided at the tip of the plasma torch, and a plasma jet is jetted toward the work from the nozzle, and plasma processing such as cutting into a desired shape is performed.

Further, in the above-mentioned plasma processing machine, a plurality of processing conditions such as a processing program, a work thickness and a material, a plasma current, and a cutting speed are input by an operator, and based on the input plurality of processing conditions. A plasma processing command is given from the control device.

[0006]

By the way, in the conventional plasma processing machine, a plurality of processing conditions such as a plasma current and a cutting speed for one material and a plate thickness must be selected when performing the plasma processing. It is determined by the operator what processing conditions are selected to perform the plasma processing.

[0007] However, if the operator does not select processing conditions suitable for the processing purpose, such as emphasis on accuracy, productivity, etc., the processing quality in the cut state is poor, or uneconomical such as increased power consumption. There was a problem that it did not save energy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. The purpose of the present invention is to simply input a machining purpose by an operator and automatically determine a machining condition suitable for the inputted machining purpose. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal cutting method and apparatus capable of performing a proper thermal cutting process by using the same.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal cutting method according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein a torch instructed by a control device based on a machining program heats a workpiece on a work table. When cutting,
A processing purpose is input from the input device, and from the processing conditions corresponding to the plurality of processing purposes stored in the memory in advance in accordance with the input instruction of the processing purpose, the processing condition suitable for the input processing purpose is selected. Is selected, an operation sequence is determined, and thermal cutting is performed in accordance with the operation sequence.

Therefore, just by inputting the processing purpose by the operator, an appropriate processing condition suitable for the processing purpose is automatically selected by the control device, and an operation sequence based on the selected processing condition is automatically performed. And appropriate thermal cutting is performed. Since the machining is performed under the appropriate machining conditions suitable for the machining purpose, there is no need for the operator to select the machining conditions, there is less machining failure, and there is no over-spec machining such as large current consumption, which saves energy. To contribute.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the hot cutting method according to the first aspect, when the processing purpose is energy saving, the cutting length extracted from the input processing program and the cut length of the work are determined. It is characterized in that economical machining conditions suitable for the above-mentioned energy-saving machining purpose are selected from the thickness and the material.

Therefore, for example, economical machining can be performed under machining conditions that require a current and a speed that can be machined with minimum power consumption.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermal cutting apparatus having a torch for thermally cutting a workpiece on a work table. An input device, a memory for storing processing conditions corresponding to a plurality of processing purposes in advance, and a processing condition corresponding to the processing purpose input by the input device from the processing conditions corresponding to the plurality of processing purposes in the memory. And a processing condition selection unit for determining an operation sequence by selecting the operation sequence.

Therefore, the operation is the same as that of the first aspect, except that the operator only inputs the processing purpose.
Appropriate processing conditions suitable for the processing purpose are automatically selected by the control device, and an operation sequence based on the selected processing conditions is automatically determined to perform appropriate thermal cutting. Since the machining is performed under the appropriate machining conditions suitable for the machining purpose, there is no need for the operator to select the machining conditions, there is less machining failure, and there is no over-spec machining such as large current consumption, which saves energy. To contribute.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the plasma processing method and the plasma processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in a plasma processing machine 1 according to the present embodiment, a work table 3 on which a work W is placed is fixed on a floor, and a lower portion of the work table 3 Is provided with a dust collecting tank 5 for storing dross generated during plasma cutting. The dust collection tank 5 is connected to a dust collector 7 for sucking dust through a duct hose 9.

The upper part of the work table 3 is open,
In this opening (not shown), plate-like bars 11 for placing the work W are arranged at appropriate intervals.

On the right side of the work table 3 in FIG. 2, an X-axis guide rail 15 for guiding the carrier 13 to travel in the X-axis direction is supported on a floor by a column 17 so as to extend in the X-axis direction. It has been extended for a long time. Carrier 13
Is the wheel 2 of the pillar 19 fixed to the right end side in FIG.
1, and is supported on the X-axis guide rail 15 so as to be able to run freely.

On the left side of the work table 3 in FIG. 2, the carrier 13 of the plasma processing machine 1 is driven to travel in the front-rear direction (the X-axis direction, the direction perpendicular to the front and back of FIG. 2, and the left-right direction in FIG. 3). A frame guide body 25 having a built-in X-axis driving device 23 is supported on a floor by a column 27 and is extended in the X-axis direction. The X-axis driving device 23 partially constitutes a torch axis moving device for moving and positioning the plasma torch 29 for irradiating the workpiece W with the plasma arc in the front-rear and left-right directions.

The X-axis driving device 23 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 2, a carrier guide 31 which is long in the X-axis direction is supported on the column 27 on the frame guide 25. An X-axis linear guide 33 is extended from the carrier guide body 31 in the X-axis direction. In FIG. 2, the left end side of the carrier 13 is provided so as to be able to travel along an X-axis linear guide 33 via an X-axis guide member 35.

The carrier guide body 31 is provided with a rack 37 in parallel with the X-axis linear guide 33.
The pinion 41, which is rotationally driven by an X-axis drive motor 39 provided on the left end side of the carrier 13 in FIG.
7, the carrier 13 is provided so as to be movable and positioned above the work table 3 in the X-axis direction by driving the X-axis drive motor 39. Note that, for example, an X-axis encoder 43 as an X-axis torch position detecting device for detecting the position of the plasma torch 29 in the X-axis direction is provided on the rotation axis of the pinion 41. It is electrically connected to the control device 45.

The carrier 13 constitutes a Y-axis driving device for driving, for example, a torch head 47 as a processing head in the Y-axis direction, for example, a Y-rotation driven by a Y-axis driving motor 49 shown in FIG. A ball screw (not shown) for the shaft is provided so as to be movable and positionable in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis drive motor 49 is electrically connected to the control device 45.

A Y-axis encoder (not shown) for detecting the position of the plasma torch 29 in the Y-axis direction is provided at one end of the Y-axis ball screw. It is electrically connected to the control device 45.

The torch head 47 is moved up and down (Z-axis direction) by a Z-axis drive motor 51 shown in FIG. It is provided freely. Therefore, the plasma torch 29 is controlled by the control device 45 to move on the work table 3 in the X-axis direction,
It is moved and positioned in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction.

A nozzle 53 for irradiating a plasma jet (plasma arc) toward the work W is provided at the tip of the plasma torch 29. The plasma gas passes from the tip of the nozzle 53 through the inside of the plasma torch 29. And the assist gas is injected.

More specifically, a plasma power supply 55 (DC welding power supply) and a high-frequency generator 5 shown in FIG.
7 is built-in. The gas is heated to a high temperature by the arc heat generated in the plasma torch 29 by the plasma power supply 55 and the high frequency generator 57 to be in a plasma state, and the plasma gas, that is, the plasma arc as a plasma jet is ejected from the nozzle 53. Then, plasma processing such as cutting into a desired shape is performed.

The flow rate and speed of the plasma gas are adjusted by switching a plasma gas valve 59 (shown in FIG. 4) provided in a plasma gas supply pipe (not shown), and an assist gas supply pipe (not shown) is used. The flow rate and speed are adjusted by switching the assist gas valve 61 (shown in FIG. 4) provided in the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the control unit 45, a CPU 63 as a central processing unit controls a processing program, a shape, a thickness, a material, a processing shape, a plasma processing speed, a plasma arc generation output, and the like of the work W. An input device 65 such as a keyboard as input means for inputting various data such as processing conditions and processing purposes such as emphasis on accuracy, speed, and energy saving, and a display device 67 such as a CRT for displaying various data are provided. It is connected.

The CPU 63 has an input device 6.
A memory 69 for storing the above various data input from 5 is connected. The memory 69 includes a processing program file 71 for storing an input processing program and parameters for storing parameters indicating a relationship between a shape, a thickness, a material, a plasma processing speed, and a plasma arc generation output of the workpiece W. The file 73 includes a processing condition file 75 in which optimum processing conditions corresponding to a plurality of processing purposes such as importance on accuracy, speed, and energy saving are input and stored in advance.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, when the material of the work W is stainless steel (SUS) and the thickness of the work W is t ₁ mm, the processing condition As appropriate parameters in this case, the plasma current is set to a current A _S1 having a value as small as possible and the plasma processing speed is set to a value V _S1 having a value as small as possible so that the cutting process is performed with high accuracy.

Further, as an appropriate parameter when the processing purpose is focused on speed, a current A _L1 having a large plasma current and a speed V _L1 having a large plasma processing speed are set in advance so as to increase the cutting processing speed. Is set. When the purpose of processing is energy saving, the appropriate parameters are plasma so as to obtain the economical condition that consumes the least amount of power from the viewpoint of material, plate thickness and cutting length and that reduces the unit price of consumables used. The current is a current A _M1 having an intermediate value, and the plasma processing speed is preset to an intermediate speed V _M1 .

As another example, when the material of the work W is stainless steel (SUS) and the thickness of the work is t ₂ mm, the appropriate parameter when the processing purpose is high precision is a small value of the plasma current. At the current A _S2 , the plasma processing speed is preset to a small value of the speed V _S2 . Furthermore, when the processing purpose is speed-oriented,
The plasma processing speed is preset to a high value V _L2 with the current A _L2 having a large plasma current. As the appropriate parameters when the processing purpose is energy saving, the plasma current is preset to an economical intermediate value current _AM2 and the plasma processing speed to the intermediate value speed _VM2 .

If the processing purpose is energy saving, for example, since the current is small, if the processing speed is low, the processing time is long and the power consumption is large. Therefore, the cutting length of the work extracted from the input processing program is used. The current that can be processed with minimum power consumption by simulation based on the
The processing conditions for obtaining the speed are set.

The CPU 63 operates by selecting a processing condition suitable for the processing purpose input by the input device 65 from the processing conditions corresponding to a plurality of processing purposes in the processing condition file 75. A processing condition selection unit 77 that determines a sequence and gives a command to perform a thermal cutting according to the operation sequence is electrically connected.

With the above configuration, when the plasma torch 29 is moved back and forth, right and left, and up and down with respect to the work W on the work table 3 in accordance with a command from the control device 45 based on the machining program, the operator performs the thermal cutting. , The machining program, the material of the work W, the plate thickness, and the machining purpose are input from the input device 65.

In response to the input instruction, the CPU 63 causes the processing condition selection unit 77 to select the above-mentioned input from the processing conditions corresponding to a plurality of processing purposes stored in the processing condition file 75 of the memory 69 in advance. The processing conditions suitable for the processed purpose are selected. Further, an operation sequence is determined based on the selected processing conditions and the input processing program. The thermal cutting is performed by the plasma processing machine 1 according to this operation sequence.

In many cases, replacement of consumables such as the nozzle 53 needs to be performed by plasma current. For example, in the manual plasma processing machine 1, replacement of consumables by an operator is performed according to the display on the display device 67. Will be

As described above, only by inputting the processing purpose by the operator, the processing condition suitable for the input processing purpose is automatically selected by the control unit 45, and further based on the selected processing condition. The operation sequence is automatically determined, and appropriate thermal cutting is performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be embodied in other modes by making appropriate changes. In the present embodiment, a plasma processing machine has been described as an example of a thermal cutting machine, but a laser processing machine, an automatic welding machine, a welding robot, and other thermal cutting machines may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the plasma current value and the processing speed value corresponding to each processing purpose are fixed and set in advance in the processing condition file. However, the processing conditions such as the plasma current value and the processing speed value are set. Is set as a function corresponding to the material and the thickness of the work W without fixing, and the plasma current value and the processing speed value for the material and the thickness of the work W are calculated and selected by this function. It does not matter.

The function for selecting the processing conditions may be provided on the automatic programming device (CAD, DAM) instead of being provided in the control device of the plasma processing machine described above.

Further, the processing purpose is not limited to the above-mentioned three types, and other processing purposes may be further added or diverted, for example, processing for gouging or processing for marking.

In addition, items related to input energy, such as an operating gas flow rate and a unit price, may be added to the selection condition for emphasizing energy saving.

[0044]

As will be understood from the above description of the embodiments of the present invention, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is only necessary for the operator to input the processing purpose, and the appropriate Processing conditions can be automatically selected by the controller. Further, an operation sequence based on the selected processing conditions can be automatically determined, and appropriate thermal cutting can be performed. As a result, machining can be performed automatically under the appropriate machining conditions that match the machining purpose, eliminating the hassle of selecting machining conditions, reducing machining failures, and over-specifying such as large current consumption. Since there is no need for processing, energy can be saved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, economical machining can be performed under machining conditions in which a current and a speed that can be machined with minimum power consumption are obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the effect is the same as that of the first aspect, and only by inputting the processing purpose by the operator, the appropriate processing conditions suitable for the processing purpose are automatically determined by the control device. Can be selected. Further, an operation sequence based on the selected processing conditions can be automatically determined, and appropriate thermal cutting can be performed. As a result, machining can be performed automatically under the appropriate machining conditions that match the machining purpose, eliminating the hassle of selecting machining conditions, reducing machining failures, and over-specifying such as large current consumption. Since there is no need for processing, energy can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing a processing condition table of a processing condition file according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the plasma processing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the plasma processing machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plasma processing machine 3 Work table 13 Carrier 29 Plasma torch 39 X-axis drive motor 45 Controller 47 Torch head 49 Y-axis drive motor 51 Z-axis drive motor 53 Nozzle 55 Plasma power supply 57 High frequency generator 63 CPU 65 Input device 67 Display device 69 Memory 71 Processing program file 73 Parameter file 75 Processing condition file 77 Processing condition selector

Claims (3)

[Claims] When performing a thermal cutting process on a work on a work table with a torch based on a command from a control device based on a processing program, a processing purpose is input from an input device, and the inputted processing purpose instruction is given. From the processing conditions corresponding to the plurality of processing purposes stored in the memory in advance, a processing condition suitable for the input processing purpose is selected to determine an operation sequence, and the thermal cutting is performed in accordance with the operation sequence. A thermal cutting method characterized by performing. 2. When the processing purpose is energy saving, an economical processing condition suitable for the energy saving processing purpose is selected from the cutting length, the plate thickness and the material of the work extracted from the input processing program. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The hot cutting method as described. 3. A thermal cutting device provided with a torch for thermally cutting a workpiece on a work table, comprising: an input device for inputting a processing program, a processing condition, a processing purpose, and the like; A memory for storing processing conditions to be processed, and a processing condition for selecting an operation condition suitable for the processing purpose input by the input device from the processing conditions corresponding to a plurality of processing purposes in the memory and determining an operation sequence. And a selecting unit.