JP2004202558A - Laser processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser processing machine capable of surely controlling an irradiating position of leaser beam to a workpiece W. <P>SOLUTION: A torch mounting member 28 and a second motor 27 as its rotary driving means are arranged on a gyrating member 17 free of gyrating driving, and a rotary driving system of the gyrating member 17 and a rotary driving system of the torch mounting member 28 are separated each other. Even though either of the gyrating member 17 and the torch mounting member 28 is gyrated, a rotary driving force of the gyrating member is not operated as the rotary driving force of the other member, and change of a gyrating position caused by co-rotation of the other member is eliminated. Thus, positioning control between the gyrating member 17 and the torch mounting member 28 is accurately performed, and an irradiating position of laser beam to the workpiece is accurately controlled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laser processing machine configured to process a three-dimensional workpiece by laser light.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A laser processing machine for processing a three-dimensional workpiece has a laser oscillator and a processing head for guiding laser light oscillated by the laser oscillator to an arbitrary processing position of the workpiece. The machining head is provided with an A-axis that rotates about the Z axis in order to rotate the torch in a horizontal plane, and further to rotate the torch about an axis parallel to the horizontal plane. Is provided with a B-axis that rotates around the Y-axis.
[0003]
In order to rotationally drive the torch in the A-axis and B-axis directions, conventionally, a sleeve member that transmits laser light toward the torch is rotatable with respect to each other. The driving force for rotationally driving the torch in the A-axis direction and the driving force for rotationally driving in the B-axis direction are independently transmitted to the sleeve members of the double pipes to drive the torch ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-129089 (page 3-5, FIG. 2-3)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such a laser processing machine has a configuration in which the outer sleeve member and the inner sleeve member are arranged in duplicate on the same axis. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the support structure becomes complicated and the processing head becomes heavy. Further, as described above, a bearing member such as a bearing is disposed between the outer sleeve member and the inner sleeve member so that each of them can be rotated independently. The outer sleeve member and the inner sleeve member may be rotated by the adhesive force of the supplied lubricant, and the position of the torch in the three-dimensional processing space may change. For this reason, not only is the structure complicated, but when the A axis is rotated, the B axis is also rotated, which makes it difficult to control.
[0006]
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a laser processing machine capable of reducing the size and weight of a processing head and reliably controlling the irradiation position of laser light on a three-dimensional solid workpiece. The purpose is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 comprises a machining head (15),
Turning that is supported by the machining head (15) so as to be rotatable about the first axis (CT1) and deflects the projection direction of the laser light from the first direction to a direction orthogonal to the first direction. Members (17, 18, 22);
A torch (33) for emitting laser light is provided, and the swiveling member (17, 18, 22) is rotatable about a second axis (CT2) orthogonal to the first axis (CT1). A torch mounting member (28) that is supported and deflects the laser light in any one direction within a plane parallel to the first axis (CT1), and
A drive source (27) provided on the swivel member (17, 18, 22) and capable of rotationally driving the torch mounting member (28) about the second shaft (CT2). Is done.
[0008]
The invention according to claim 2 is the laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein slip ring means (37) provided on the turning member (17);
A power supply means provided between the machining head (15) and the drive source (27) and supplying power to the drive source (27) via the slip ring means (37); Composed.
[0009]
Note that the reference numerals and the like in parentheses are for contrast with the drawings, and are for convenience of understanding the invention and do not affect the scope of the claims. Absent.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the drive source of the torch mounting member that is rotatably arranged on the turning member is arranged on the turning member, when any one of the turning member and the torch mounting member is driven to rotate The rotation of the other member can be eliminated, and the irradiation position of the laser beam on the workpiece W can be controlled with high accuracy. Further, by eliminating the speed reducer, the processing head can be reduced in size and weight. Further, since the backlash can be reduced, the machining torch can be controlled with high accuracy. Further, it is possible to form a sufficient machining space and minimize interference with the workpiece.
[0011]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, power can be reliably supplied to the drive source with a simple configuration and the torch mounting member can be driven, so that the processing head in the laser processing machine can be further downsized.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a laser processing machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a saddle in the laser processing machine of FIG. It is the detailed front (partial cross section) figure shown.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the laser beam machine 1 has a base 2 on which a table 3 having a horizontal workpiece placement surface 3a formed on the upper surface is provided with an arrow X indicating the horizontal direction. It is mounted so as to be movable in the direction. The table 3 is moved by known movement driving means (not shown) such as a ball screw.
[0014]
A column 5 is provided on the base 2 so as to straddle the table 3. The column 5 is provided with saddle rails 6 and 6 extending in a horizontal direction and in an arrow Y direction perpendicular to the arrow X direction. A saddle 11 is provided on the saddle rails 6 and 6 so as to be movable in the arrow Y direction. At the upper end of the saddle 11, a laser light receiving member 7 is disposed. The saddle 11 is moved by known movement driving means (not shown) such as a ball screw.
[0015]
The column 5 is provided with a laser oscillator 8. Between the saddle 11 and the laser oscillator 8, an optical path tube 10a having one end connected to the laser oscillator 8 and one end connected to the saddle 11 via a laser light receiving member 7, and the other end connected to the optical path tube 10a. They are connected by a connected telescopic tube 10b. The telescopic tube 10b has a known telescopic mechanism that expands and contracts as the saddle 11 moves. Therefore, the laser beam transmitted by the laser oscillator 8 reaches the laser beam receiving member 7 in a form that passes through the inside of the optical path tube 10a and the telescopic tube 10b.
[0016]
A reflection mirror (not shown) is disposed inside the laser light receiving member 7, and the laser light that has passed through the telescopic tube 10 b is directed toward the saddle 11 by the reflection mirror in the direction of arrow Z (downward). ) Is reflected (projected).
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, the saddle 11 has a saddle body 12 that moves along the saddle rails 6 and 6 (see FIG. 1). The saddle body 12 is provided with head rails 13 and 13 provided in a shape extending in the arrow Z direction, which is the vertical direction, and a moving drive device 14 having a ball screw (not shown).
[0018]
The processing head 15 is supported movably along the head rails 13, 13, and is moved and driven in the direction of the arrow Z along the head rails 13, 13 by the movement driving device 14. And the head body 16 is rotated in the direction of arrows G and H (A axis direction) around the axis center CT1 of the A axis parallel to the Z axis (which is also the optical axis of the laser light projected in the vertical direction). The swivel member 17 is freely supported.
[0019]
The swivel member 17 is formed in a cylindrical shape that extends in the arrow Z direction (Z-axis direction) and has a laser beam passage space KR1 that allows the laser beam to pass therethrough, and the head body 16 has the axis CT1 as the center. A sleeve member 18 rotatably supported in the directions of arrows G and H (A-axis direction), and fixed to the lower end of the sleeve member 18, and the laser beam from the arrow Z direction (first direction) to the first And a lower turning member 22 that deflects in a direction orthogonal to the direction of.
[0020]
The upper end of the sleeve member 18 is a joint portion 18 b for connecting to the laser light receiving member 7. The laser light receiving member 7 and the joint portion 18b have a known telescopic mechanism and are connected by a joint optical path tube 21 that can expand and contract in the arrow Z direction.
[0021]
The head body 16 is provided with a first motor 20, and a first drive gear 20 a is fixed to the output shaft of the first motor 20. A sleeve gear 18a is fixed to the sleeve member 18 so as to mesh with the first drive gear 20a. Accordingly, the sleeve member 18 (the turning member 17) is driven to turn by the first motor 20.
[0022]
A reflecting mirror 23 is disposed inside the lower turning member 22. A window 25 is formed on the side surface of the lower turning member 22 where the laser beam reflected by the reflecting mirror 23 is projected so as to emit the laser beam. A gear 26 formed on a torch mounting member 28, which will be described later, is positioned on the window 25 so as to cover the outer peripheral portion of the window 25, and the B axis perpendicular to the axis CT1 of the A axis. The shaft center CT2 (which is also the optical axis of the laser beam projected in the horizontal direction) is supported rotatably together with the torch mounting member 28.
[0023]
A second motor 27 is fixed to a side surface (or a lower surface) perpendicular to the side surface of the lower turning member 22 where the window 25 is formed. A second drive gear 27 a is fixed to the output shaft of the second motor 27 so as to mesh with the gear 26. Accordingly, the torch mounting member 28 is driven to turn by the second motor 27.
[0024]
Slip ring means 37 in which a plurality of conductive rings 36 are arranged on an annular base 35 in the form of being insulated from each other in the Z-axis direction is fixed to the sleeve member 18 so as to be positioned between the head body 16 and the sleeve member 18. Yes. The conductive ring 36 of the slip ring 37 means is supplied from a power supply means (not shown) via a conductive brush (not shown) provided on the head body 16 (processing head 15) so as to face the slip ring. Power is supplied. The electric power supplied to the conductive ring 36 is supplied to the second motor 27 through a power supply cable (not shown) disposed along the sleeve member 18.
[0025]
The gear 26 is fixed to the left side surface of the torch mounting member 28 in the drawing. Inside the torch mounting member 28, a reflecting mirror 30 and a lens 31 for condensing the laser beam on the workpiece W are disposed. A window 32 is formed on the surface of the torch mounting member 28 on which the laser beam reflected by the reflecting mirror 30 is projected (the lower surface in FIG. 2) so as to emit the laser beam. A torch 33 is fixed to the surface of the torch mounting member 28 on which the window 32 is formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the window 32.
[0026]
Since the laser processing machine 1 is configured as described above, in order to process a three-dimensional three-dimensional workpiece W by the laser processing machine 1, the following is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece W is set on the workpiece placement surface 3 a of the table 3. The table 3 on which the workpiece W is installed is moved in the direction of the arrow X via the movement driving means (not shown). On the other hand, the saddle 11 supporting the machining head 15 is moved in the arrow Y direction via the movement drive means (not shown). Further, the machining head 15 is moved in the arrow Z direction via the movement drive device 14, and the relative positions of the workpiece W and the machining head 15 in the arrows X, Y, and Z (X, Y, Z axes) directions are set.
[0027]
The first drive gear 20a is rotationally driven by the first motor 20 of the machining head 15, and the sleeve member 18 (the swivel member 17) is rotated about the A-axis axis CT1 parallel to the Z-axis via the sleeve gear 18a. The lower turning member 22 is turned by rotating. At this time, together with the lower turning member 22, the torch mounting member 28 also turns around the axis A CT1 of the A axis. However, since the torch attachment member 28 and the second motor 27 are supported by the lower turning member 22, the relative positions of the lower turning member 22, the torch attachment member 28, and the second motor 27 do not change.
[0028]
Further, the second drive gear 27a is driven to rotate by the second motor 27, and the torch mounting member 28 is rotated about the B axis center CT2 parallel to the horizontal plane including the X and Y axes via the gear 26. The tip of the torch 33 is made to face the machining position of the workpiece W. At this time, the rotational driving force of the second motor 27 does not act as a rotational force on the lower turning member 22 turning around the axis CT1, so that the lower turning member 22 is held stationary.
[0029]
Therefore, even if the first motor 20 and the second motor 27 are operated and the lower turning member 22 (the turning member 17) and the torch mounting member 27 are driven to turn, the other member is rotated by the turning of one of the members. The torch 33 can be accurately opposed to the processing position of the workpiece W. Further, the control does not become impossible due to the rotation of the member.
[0030]
Then, the laser light oscillated from the laser oscillator 8 is guided to the laser light receiving member 7 through the optical path tube 10a and the telescopic tube 10b, and the laser light is reflected by the reflecting mirror disposed on the laser light receiving member 7, Projecting toward the lower turning member 22 in the A-axis direction. The laser light projected by the laser light receiving member 7 is guided to the lower turning member 22 through the axis of the sleeve member 18, and the laser light is reflected by the reflecting mirror 23 of the lower turning member 22 and directed toward the torch mounting member 28. Project in the B-axis direction. The laser beam projected from the lower turning member 22 is guided to the torch mounting member 28 through the window 25, and the laser beam is reflected by the reflecting mirror 30 of the torch mounting member 28, so that the workpiece W is opposed to the torch 33. Project toward. The workpiece W is processed by irradiating the processing position of the workpiece W through the torch 33 with the laser beam projected by the torch mounting member 28.
[0031]
As described above, the workpiece W is processed by emitting laser light from the tip of the torch 33 while three-dimensionally changing the relative position between the processing position of the workpiece W and the tip of the torch 33. When irradiating the workpiece W with laser light, the assist gas is ejected from the tip of the torch 33 or the vicinity thereof toward the machining position of the workpiece W.
[0032]
As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, the torch mounting member 28 and the second motor 27 serving as the rotation driving means are disposed on the turning member 17, that is, the lower turning member 22 of the sleeve member 18. The two drive systems of the turning member 17 and the torch mounting member 28 can be separated. Accordingly, even if one of the turning member 17 and the torch mounting member 28 is rotationally driven, the rotational driving force does not affect the other member. The position can be controlled with high accuracy.
[0033]
In addition, there is no member corresponding to the inner sleeve member in the conventional double pipe, and the second motor 27 rotates only the torch mounting member 28. Therefore, the second motor 27 can be reduced in size by reducing the weight of the drive target member. Can be achieved. Further, by reducing the weight of the member to be driven, it is possible to reduce the inertia when driving is stopped, and the positioning accuracy by the second motor 27 can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an example of a laser beam machine according to the present invention.
2 is a detailed front (partial cross-sectional) view showing a saddle in the laser beam machine in FIG. 1; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Laser processing machine 15 ... Processing head 16 ... Head main body 17 ... Turning member 18 ... Sleeve member 22 ... Lower turning member 27 ... Drive source (2nd motor)
28 ... Torch mounting member 33 ... Torch 37 ... Slip ring means CT1 ... First shaft (axial center)
CT2 ... Second axis (axis)
W ... Work

Claims (2)

A machining head;
A swiveling member supported by the machining head so as to be rotatable about a first axis, and deflecting the laser beam projection direction from the first direction to a direction perpendicular to the first direction;
A torch for emitting laser light, and supported by the swivel member so as to be rotatable about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the laser light being parallel to the first axis A torch mounting member that deflects in any one direction in a plane, and a drive source that is provided on the pivot member and that can rotationally drive the torch mounting member about the second axis; A laser processing machine configured. Slip ring means provided on the swivel member;
The laser processing according to claim 1, further comprising: a power supply unit that is provided between the processing head and the drive source and supplies power to the drive source via the slip ring unit. Machine.

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