JP2004291080A - Laser control device and scrap material processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser control device and a scrap material processing method in which an operator can perform cutting by merely indicating instruction points without preparing a program. <P>SOLUTION: The laser control device is equipped with: an axis moving means for moving a laser head; an inputting means for instructing a height control starting position and its completing position at an arbitrary coordinate position moved by the axis moving means; a shift distance storage section in which a preset shift distance is stored; an automatic arithmetic means for calculating the processing starting and completing positions that are assumed at a position the shift-distance away from the height control starting position and completing position; and an automatic processing operating means for preparing the cutting processing program on the basis of the processing starting and completing positions calculated by the automatic arithmetic means and the height control starting position and completing position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cutting method for a laser beam machine for cutting waste material generated by laser cutting.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the conventional waste material cutting method, the scrap on the workpiece called the remaining material is sequentially cut from the specific start point to the end point by the cutting program inputted in advance after the cutting process of the product (for example, Patent Document 1).
As a method of cutting the waste material after cutting processing by directly teaching the laser processing head without cutting waste material processing as a cutting program in advance, all the individual operations of beam on / off, scanning on / off, and axis movement are all performed. The operator pushed the switch.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-6-315586
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the conventional waste material processing method uses a preset cutting program, it is not possible to perform additional processing such as cutting the waste material further at the stage where the waste material processing is actually finished, and waste material processing work efficiency Was bad.
In addition, when the thickness of the workpiece is increased or the way of placing is inclined, it is necessary to re-create the program in order to properly handle the waste material, and the workability is poor.
[0005]
In addition, the waste material processing is not set as a cutting program in advance, and the method of cutting the waste material after the cutting process directly by operating the laser processing head performs all the individual operations of beam on / off, scanning on / off, and axis movement. The operator presses the switch, and the workability is poor. If the operation / timing is wrong, the processing machine may be damaged.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a laser control device that can perform cutting processing only by teaching a teaching point point without an operator creating a program. To do.
In addition, when applied to waste material processing, the processed waste material can be cut into a size that is easy to carry.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A laser control apparatus according to the present invention includes an axis moving unit that moves a laser head, an input unit that teaches a height control start position and a height control end position at an arbitrary coordinate position moved by the axis moving unit, A shift distance storage unit that stores preset shift distances, and an automatic calculation means that calculates a height control start position, a machining start position assumed at a position away from the height control end position, and a machining end position. And an automatic processing means for creating a cutting processing program based on the processing start position, the processing end position, the height control start position, and the height control end position calculated by the automatic calculation means. .
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the laser control apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the laser control device is composed of an NC unit 1 for controlling a laser processing machine, an input / output unit 2 for inputting / outputting from a predetermined input means 4, and a data storage unit 3 for storing data. ing.
The NC unit 1 includes an axis moving means 11 for an operator to move an axis using a handle, and P1, P4 automatic calculating means for obtaining P1, P4 coordinates based on P1, P4 designated using the axis moving means 11. 13, waste material processing automatic operation means 12 for performing automatic processing of waste material processing based on the P1 to P4 coordinates, an oscillator control means 14 for performing oscillation control of the laser oscillator, and a copying control means 15 are provided.
The data storage unit 3 stores P2, P3 coordinate values and shift distance (set distance between P1-P2 and P3-P4).
As input means, buttons for teaching the positions of P2 and P3 are provided.
[0009]
FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a workpiece to be cut. The hatched portion in the figure indicates a necessary processed workpiece, and the white portion indicates an unnecessary waste material.
The points P1 to P4 will be described with reference to FIG.
In laser cutting processing, a so-called height control is performed, which is a copying operation in which stable cutting processing is performed while maintaining a constant distance between a processing nozzle and a workpiece.
Here, P2 indicates a point at which height control is turned on, and P3 indicates a point at which height control is turned off.
Note that P1 is a point for starting cutting, and P4 is a point for ending cutting.
[0010]
In this embodiment, a button for teaching the operator of P2 and P3 is provided, and the waste material processing is automatically performed by automatically calculating P1 and P4 based on a predetermined shift distance from the coordinates. It is a thing.
[0011]
Next, a waste material processing procedure using the laser beam machine in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the laser processing machine.
[0012]
After the necessary workpiece is cut from the plate material, the operator switches the mode of the laser control device to change to the waste material processing mode.
Then, the operator teaches the points P2 and P3 to be cut by pressing the buttons of the input means P2 and P3, respectively, by moving the machining head by the axis moving means 11 using a handle or the like.
Here, it is necessary for P2 and P3 to teach the operator by moving the machining head to a position where the operator is less than the shift distance from the workpiece end.
The shift distance (distance between P1-P2 and P3-P4) is determined as a distance at which P2 and P3 can be easily taught, and is displayed on the screen of this function.
In general, the distance that is easy to teach is set at 20 to 30 mm. If the distance is too long, the points P1 and P4 are in a range where the processing machine cannot move or there is a possibility that a useless beam is emitted. . If it is too short, P1 and P4 may be on the workpiece, and the workpiece may not be cut.
Therefore, when P2 and P3 are not specified within the shift distance range from the workpiece end, even if the machining program of FIG. 3 is executed, the workpiece is not cut and only the portion hit by the beam is regarded as an operation error in which a flaw is left. .
When the operator teaches P2 and P3, the data of the taught head position (current values of the X and Y axis coordinates on the machining table) is transferred to the data storage unit 3 and stored. At this time, P2 is recognized as a height-on position for starting height control, and P3 is recognized as a height-off position for ending height control.
[0013]
Subsequently, when the operator presses the machining start button, the P1 and P4 automatic calculation means 13 of the NC unit obtains the cutting start point P1 and the cutting end point P4 based on the coordinate data stored in the data storage unit 3. Process.
Specifically, based on the shift distance registered in advance in the data storage unit 3, it is a position that is on the line segment extension with P2 and P3, and obtains a position that is separated from the shift distance from P2 and P3, The coordinates are determined as P1 and P4 coordinates and stored in the data storage unit 3.
[0014]
The waste material processing automatic operation means 12 of the NC unit 1 is based on P2, P3 and P1, and P1 and P4 obtained by the P4 automatic calculation means 13 specified by the operator, such as a cutting processing program for waste material processing. Run the software.
Specifically, the case where the operator designates the coordinates of P2 as (100, 20), the coordinates of P3 as (100, 180), and the shift distance is set to 30 mm in advance will be described with reference to FIG. To do.
It should be noted that it is necessary for the operator to read and set cutting conditions suitable for waste material processing in advance.
[0015]
Since this is a waste material cutting process after the cutting process is completed, first, a shutter is opened, and a program for setting the absolute value coordinates is created by retracting the machining head (Z axis) to the upper part (origin).
Then, the cutting head is moved to the P2 coordinate in order to cut the waste material, and a height-on command is issued to perform height control, and the Z-axis is fixed so as to obtain an appropriate distance between the waste material and the processing head.
Thereafter, in order to actually cut the waste material, it moves at a fast feed to the P1 coordinate, outputs a laser beam, and performs a process feed to the P2 coordinate.
When the P2 coordinate is reached, the copying operation with the height control enabled is started, and the waste material cutting process is performed up to the P3 coordinate.
When the P3 coordinate is reached, the height is turned off, cutting is performed up to the P4 coordinate with the Z axis fixed, the laser beam is turned off, the shutter is closed at the P4 coordinate, and the waste material cutting process is completed.
[0016]
When executing the software, the reason why the height control is turned off and the beam is turned on at the point P1 is because it is necessary to cut from a place where there is no work. The reason why the height control is turned on at the point P2 is focused by turning on the height control. This is because the position can be kept constant and good machining is possible, and the reason why the height control is turned off at point P3 is that the beam needs to be turned on to a place where there is no workpiece in order to cut off.
[0017]
According to the present embodiment, since the operator simply executes teaching of points (P2, P3) to be cut and software such as a cutting processing program is executed, a troublesome processing program for waste material is created in advance. It is not necessary to reduce the waste material processing time.
Further, compared with a method in which the laser processing head is directly taught and cut, the time is shortened and the workability is improved.
[0018]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment described above, the case where waste material cutting processing is performed by linear processing between two points by specifying the coordinates of P2 and P3 has been described. However, as in this embodiment, the coordinates of P2 and P3 are specified. In addition, by specifying the Px coordinate as an additional point, it is possible to perform waste material cutting processing with a plurality of line segments passing through Px.
[0019]
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the laser control apparatus according to the present embodiment. The difference from the configuration of FIG. 1 is that a button for Px (additional point) is separately provided as the input means 4 and an area for storing the Px coordinates input with the Px (additional point) button is stored in the data storage unit 3. It is to provide.
[0020]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described using the plan view of the workpiece to be cut shown in FIG.
In the figure, P2 is a point at which height control is turned on, P5 is a passing point (Px coordinate) when machining, and P3 is a point at which height control is turned off.
After the necessary workpiece is cut from the plate material, the operator switches the mode of the laser processing machine and changes to the waste material processing mode.
Then, the operator teaches by using the handle or the like to move the machining head to points P2, P5 and P3 to be cut and pressing the P2, Px and P3 buttons.
Here, the order of teaching the points is P2 → P5 (additional points) → P3.
Depending on how many times the additional point button is pressed between P2 and P3, the coordinates of the pressed point are stored as Px coordinates in the data storage unit, and a plurality of additional points can be taken.
Here, it is necessary for P2 and P3 to be taught by moving the machining head to a position where the operator is less than the shift distance from the workpiece end.
[0021]
When P2, P5, and P3 are taught by the operator, the taught head position reads the current value data of the X and Y axis coordinates on the machining table from the input / output unit to the NC unit, and then passes through the input / output unit. The data is read from the NC unit, transferred to the data storage unit inside the control device, and stored.
At this time, P2 is recognized as a height-on position for starting height control, and P3 is recognized as a height-off position for ending height control.
[0022]
Subsequently, when the operator presses the machining start button, the P1 and P4 automatic calculation means 13 of the NC unit obtains the cutting start point P1 and the cutting end point P4 based on the coordinate data stored in the data storage unit 3. Process.
Specifically, based on the shift distance registered in advance in the data storage unit 3, it is a position on the line segment extension with P2 and P5 and on the line segment extension with P5 and P3, and P2, P3 The positions separated from each other by the shift distance are obtained and determined as P1 and P4 coordinates and stored in the data storage unit 3.
[0023]
The waste material processing automatic operation means 12 of the NC unit 1 is a cutting processing program for waste material processing based on P1, P4 obtained by the P2, P5, P3 and P1, P4 automatic calculation means 13 designated by the operator. Run software like this: Here, as an example of obtaining P1 and P4, if the distance between P2 and P1 (P3 and P4) is 30 mm, the coordinate value (X1, Y1) of P1 is
X1 = X2 ± 30√ {1-1 / {[(X5−X2) / (Y5−Y2)] ² +1}}
Y1 = Y2 ± 30√ {1 / {[(X5−X2) / (Y5−Y2)] ² +1}}
However, X2 ≠ X5, Y2 ≠ Y5
It becomes.
(Note: "+" in X1 coordinate value calculation / Y1 coordinate value calculation is when X2> X5 / Y2> Y5, and "-" is the opposite of +. )
Similarly, the coordinate value (X4, Y4) of P4 can be automatically calculated by the following formula.
X4 = X3 ± 30√ {1-1 / {[(X5−X3) / (Y5−Y3)] ² +1}}
Y4 = Y3 ± 30√ {1 / {[(X5−X3) / (Y5−Y3)] ² +1}}
[0024]
Specifically, when the operator designates the coordinates of P2 as (100, 20), the coordinates of P3 as (300, 300), and the shift distance is set to 30 mm in advance, as shown in FIG. Perform the correct operation.
FIG. 7 differs from FIG. 4 in that G1 X200, Y180 (moving to point P5) is added between M198 (Height On) and G1 X300, Y300 (moving to point P3).
Similarly, when there are several additional points, additional points are inserted between M198 (Height On) and G1X300, Y300.
The control at the coordinates of the additional point Px is a copying operation in which the height control is performed, and the waste material cutting process is performed on the line segment passing through the additional point.
[0025]
According to the present embodiment, it is possible to cut an arbitrary linear shape by increasing the number of cutting points, and there is an effect that the waste product processing cannot be performed because the processed product is damaged. In addition, it solves a problem that requires a lot of man-hours to create a program.
[0026]
Embodiment 3 FIG.
By the way, in the above description, the case where the present invention is used for cutting waste material that has been processed has been described. However, not only waste material processing but also simple product processing in a continuous straight line is possible. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, by adding three additional points (P5, P6, P7), simple product processing on a continuous straight line is possible.
[0027]
As an operation of the operator, first, the machining head is moved to the points P2, P5, P6, P7, and P3 to be cut using a handle or the like.
Here, P2 is a point at which height control is turned on (P2 teaching button is pressed down), P5, P6, P7 are passing points at the time of machining (Px teaching button is pressed down), and P3 is a point at which height control is turned off (P3) Indicates that the teaching button is pressed. The order of pressing the position teaching button is P2 → Px → P3. By pressing the Px additional point button three times between P2 and P3, the additional points P5, P6 and P7 can be taken in order.
[0028]
When the operator teaches P2, P5, P6, P7, and P3, the taught head position reads the current value data of the X and Y axis coordinates on the machining table from the NC unit 1, and the data storage unit inside the control device 3 is stored.
Subsequently, when the operator presses the machining start button, the P1 and P4 automatic calculation means of the NC unit 1 calculates P1 and P4 based on the coordinate data stored in the data storage unit 3 as in the first embodiment. Perform the requested process.
Specifically, based on the distance registered in advance in the data storage unit, the point P1 is on an extension line of P2 and the first additional point (P5 point), and the point P4 is P3 and the last additional point (P7). The coordinates are obtained on the extension line of the point), and the obtained value is stored in the data storage unit 3.
[0029]
The waste material processing automatic operation means of the NC unit 1 creates and executes a processing program for processing based on P2, P3 and P1, P4 obtained by the P4 automatic calculation means designated by the operator. .
In the third embodiment, as described above, there are three additional points between the movement to M198 (height on) and the point P3, and machining is performed via the three points.
[0030]
According to the present embodiment, the cutting process program is created simply by teaching the points, so that it is not necessary to create a troublesome machining program in advance, and the machining time can be shortened.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
A cutting process program can be created simply by teaching the teaching point point without creating a program.
Moreover, when applied to waste material processing, the processed waste material can be cut into a size that is easy to carry.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of a laser control device in Embodiment 1. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a workpiece to be cut in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the laser processing machine.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation based on NC data in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a structure of a laser control device in a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a workpiece to be cut in the second embodiment.
7 is a diagram showing an operation based on NC data in Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a workpiece to be cut in the third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 NC unit, 2 input / output unit, 3 data storage unit, 4 input means, 12 waste material processing automatic operation means, 13 P1, P4 automatic calculation means.

Claims (4)

An axis moving means for moving the laser head;
Input means for teaching the height control start position and the height control end position at an arbitrary coordinate position moved by the axis moving means;
A shift distance storage unit for storing a preset shift distance;
Automatic calculation means for calculating a machining start position, a machining end position assumed at a position away from the height control start position, the height control end position by the shift distance;
Based on the processing start position, processing end position, height control start position, height control end position calculated by the automatic calculation means, automatic processing operation means for creating a cutting processing program,
A laser control device comprising: An additional point input means for separately specifying an additional point is provided between the height control start position and the height control end position, and the automatic machining operation means creates a cutting processing program that passes through the additional point. Item 2. The laser control device according to Item 1. Teaching the height control start position and height control end position at an arbitrary coordinate position to which the laser head has been moved; and
Assuming a position that is a preset shift distance away from the height control start position and the height control end position as a processing start position and a processing end position, calculating and determining the processing start position and the processing end position;
A step of creating a waste material processing program based on the calculated processing start position, processing end position, height control start position, height control end position;
The waste material processing method provided with. When teaching the height control start position and the height control end position, a separate material additional processing point is specified between the height control start position and the height control end position, thereby creating a waste material processing program that passes through the additional points. The waste material processing method according to claim 3.

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