JP2004322127A - Method for controlling lens and nozzle in laser beam machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To mechanically control lenses and nozzles including the kind and the service history in the past. <P>SOLUTION: A laser beam machine has a laser beam machining head 17 having an attachable/detachable lens assembly 18 and a nozzle 19. In a method for controlling lenses and nozzles in the laser beam machine, an identification medium 37 capable of recording or reading the data is provided on the lens assembly and the nozzle, function information specific to the lens assembly and the nozzle and history information including the service environment and the maintenance condition or the like of the lens assembly and the nozzle are recorded in the identification medium. When both the lens assembly and the nozzle, or any one thereof are exchanged, function information is read, the read information is compared with the machining condition database maintained in an NC unit, and an alarm of disagreement is displayed when the function information is not agreed with the database. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lens and nozzle management method in a laser processing machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an operator performs management of the focal length of a lens, the diameter of a nozzle, and the like in a laser processing machine. If the nozzle and lens are regarded as a kind of tool, knowing the past history of using the nozzle and lens enables tool management to grasp the life of the nozzle and lens at the time of replacement. Management is not carried out in depth. Further, the lens and the nozzle in the laser processing machine are different from the tool of a normal machine tool in that the lens and the nozzle to be replaced are greatly affected by the past processing. In particular, the lens exhibits a unique property called a thermal lens phenomenon when exposed to laser light. If the laser beam is cut off, the thermal lens phenomenon disappears. However, this repetition causes thermal fatigue to accumulate in the lens, which greatly affects the lens characteristics. Moreover, the nozzle itself may be blocked by a laser beam due to spatter scattering during laser processing.
[0003]
If there are about two types of lenses and nozzles, it is possible to make a determination by providing a detection sensor inside the processing head, but if there are more types than that, the method of providing a detection sensor inside the processing head can make the determination. difficult.
[0004]
In a turret punch press that is a plate material processing machine, a tool is managed by attaching a tool identification body such as a barcode to a mold in order to manage the size and shape of the mold (for example, Patent Document 1). The main information included in the tool identifier is information unique to the tool such as a tool nominal diameter, a tool shape (cut shape), an attachment angle, and a management number.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-28532
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the case where the management of the focal length of the lens, the diameter of the nozzle, etc. in the laser processing machine is left to the operator, it is inevitable that human error will occur. Also, in tool management in machine tools such as turret punch presses, it is important to manage tool-specific information such as tool nominal diameter, tool shape (extracted shape), mounting angle, and management number. In the management of lenses and nozzles in laser processing machines, which are tools that have different properties from tools, it is important to understand past usage conditions in addition to specific information such as lens type (focal length) and nozzle diameter. It becomes.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a laser processing machine capable of mechanically managing the lens and the type of the nozzle and the past use history. It is to provide a lens and nozzle management method.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The method of managing a lens and a nozzle in a laser processing machine according to claim 1 as means for solving the above-described problem is provided in the laser processing machine including a detachable lens assembly and a laser processing head having a nozzle. An identification medium capable of recording or reading data is provided on the three-dimensional object and the nozzle, and the identification medium includes functional information unique to the lens assembly and the nozzle, and history information including the use environment and maintenance status of the lens assembly and the nozzle. When the lens assembly and / or nozzle is replaced, the function information is read out and the read function information is compared with the processing condition database held in the NC device. The gist is to display a mismatch alarm when there is a mismatch.
[0009]
The lens and nozzle management method in the laser beam machine according to claim 2 is the lens and nozzle management method in the laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein the function information of the lens assembly and the nozzle is a focal length of the lens. And the nozzle diameter, the history information is cumulative use time, replacement date, presence / absence of cleaning, non-use elapsed time, laser output, pulse width, laser frequency, duty ratio, processing speed, return light level, return light exposure time, The gist is that the degree of contamination is the presence or absence of trouble.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An example of a laser processing machine to which the lens and nozzle management method in the laser processing machine according to the present invention is applied is shown in FIGS. The outline of the laser processing machine will be described below.
[0011]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the laser processing machine 1 has four support columns 3 erected from the floor surface, and two X-axis guides 5 (extending in the X-axis direction above the support columns 3 ( a, b) are attached. Both ends of the X-axis guide 5 (a, b) are connected by beam members 7 (a, b) extending in the Y-axis direction.
[0012]
On the X-axis guide 5 (a, b), an X-axis carriage 9 (a, b) is provided so as to be positioned in the X-axis direction by a driving means (not shown). A Y-axis guide 11 is suspended between the X-axis carriages 9a and 9b, and a Y-axis carriage 13 is provided on the Y-axis guide so that it can be moved and positioned in the Y-axis direction by driving means (not shown). The Y-axis carriage 13 is provided with a Z-axis carriage 15 that can be moved and positioned in the Z-axis direction by a driving means (not shown).
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a laser processing head 17 is provided at the lower part of the Z-axis carriage 15 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal B-axis orthogonal to the Z-axis. This laser processing head 17 is detachably mounted with a lens assembly 18 (lens ASSY.) Having a condensing lens 23 therein, and a lower part of the lens assembly 18 is provided with a gap sensor. A nozzle 19 is detachably mounted.
[0014]
A laser beam LB from the laser oscillator 25 is guided to the condenser lens 23 via a plurality of bend mirrors BM. The axis of the laser beam LB collected by the condenser lens 23 is adjusted so that the workpiece W is irradiated from the nozzle opening of the nozzle 19. The Z-axis carriage 15 is provided so as to be rotatable about an A-axis having the Z-axis as an axis.
[0015]
A work table 21 having an area that can cover the moving range of the laser processing head 17 is installed on the floor surface below the laser processing head 17. An NC device 27 for controlling the laser processing machine 1 and a power supply device 29 for the laser oscillator 25 are installed adjacent to the laser oscillator 25.
[0016]
In the laser processing machine 1 configured as described above, the laser processing head 17 is placed on the work table 21 by controlling the three axes X, Y, and Z, the A axis, and the B axis by the NC device 27. The workpiece W can be positioned with respect to an arbitrary position, and laser processing can be performed by irradiating a desired processing position with a laser beam.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a bar code reader / writer 35 controlled by the NC unit 27 on one of the columns 3 in the vicinity of the work table 21 (in the embodiment, the column 3 on the lower left in FIG. 3). Is provided.
[0018]
On the other hand, a barcode is attached to the lens assembly 18 (lens ASSY.) Of the laser processing head 17 as an identification medium 37 on which information about the lens assembly 18 is recorded. For example, a two-dimensional code (VERI code), an IC chip or the like can be used in addition to the bar code. The identification medium 37 is an identification medium attached to the lens assembly 18 (lens ASSY.). Information to be recorded in the barcode includes functional information unique to the component and history information including the usage environment and maintenance status of the component. The focal length of the lens is the history information. Cumulative usage time, 2. 2. Exchange date and time 3. presence or absence of cleaning; 4. Non-use elapsed time Laser output, 6. 6. pulse width; Laser frequency, 8. 8. Duty ratio, Processing speed, 10. Return light level, 11. Return light exposure time, 12. Pollution degree, 13. Information such as the presence or absence of trouble is coded and described.
[0019]
The bar code affixed to the nozzle 19 includes 1. Nozzle diameter and history information are as follows: Cumulative usage time, 2. 2. Exchange date and time 3. presence or absence of cleaning; 4. Non-use elapsed time Laser output, 6. 6. pulse width; Laser frequency, 8. 8. Duty ratio, Processing speed, 10. Return light level, 11. Return light exposure time, 12. Pollution degree, 13. Information such as the presence or absence of trouble is coded and described.
[0020]
Next, the configuration of the NC device 27 will be described with reference to FIG. The NC unit 27 has a CPU 39 which is a central processing unit. The CPU 39 is connected to an input means 41 such as a keyboard for inputting various data and an output means 43 such as a CRT for displaying various data. ing.
[0021]
Further, the CPU 39 stores an optimum combination of the focal length of the condensing lens and the nozzle diameter corresponding to the workpiece material and the plate thickness as the processing condition database 45. Further, machining condition comparison means 47 for comparing and calculating the material and plate thickness of the input workpiece with the machining condition database 45, a memory 49 for storing programs and calculation results, and a barcode reader / writer 35 are connected. It is.
[0022]
Next, the management flow of the lens and nozzle management method in the laser beam machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0023]
First, the laser processing in the laser processing machine 1 is temporarily interrupted (step S1), and at the same time, the function information and history information of the currently mounted lens (lens assembly) 18 and nozzle 19 are transmitted to the bar code writer (step S2). This is written as a barcode on each of the lens (lens assembly) 18 and the nozzle 19 or written on a sticker and pasted (step S3).
[0024]
Next, the current lens (lens assembly) 18 and / or nozzle 19 is removed from the laser processing head 17 and stored in a storage shelf (not shown) (step S4), and a new lens (lens assembly) 18 is also obtained. The nozzle 19 or either one is taken out from the storage shelf and mounted on the laser processing head 17 (step S5).
[0025]
Next, the laser processing head 17 is moved to the bar code reader 35 to read the function information and history information recorded in the bar code (step S6), and the processing condition database 45 and data input to the NC unit 27 are stored. The processing condition comparison means 47 determines whether or not they match (step S8).
[0026]
As a result of the comparison, if the data matches that of the processing condition database 45, laser processing is started (step S9). If they do not match, an alarm indicating that the data in the processing condition database 45 does not match is displayed on the output means 41, and the process returns to step S4 to prompt the user to attach the correct lens and nozzle.
[0027]
In this alarm, the function information and history information of the mounted lens (lens assembly) 18 and nozzle 19 are displayed simultaneously.
[0028]
As described above, according to the lens and nozzle management method of the laser processing machine of the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent the use of an inappropriate lens or nozzle that does not match the optimum processing conditions when the lens or nozzle is replaced. Can do. In addition, since the history information including the immediately preceding machining data can be provided to the worker at the time of replacement, the worker can take an appropriate action even in the event of an emergency such as a machine failure.
[0029]
In the description of the embodiment of the present invention, a three-dimensional laser processing machine has been described as an example. However, the lens and nozzle management method in the laser processing machine of the present invention is not limited to the three-dimensional laser processing machine. .
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent the use of an inappropriate lens or nozzle that does not match the optimum processing conditions when the lens or nozzle is replaced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent processing defects caused by using inappropriate lenses or nozzles.
[0031]
In addition, since history information including processing data immediately before the replacement of the lens or nozzle can be provided to the worker, the worker can take flexible measures even in the event of an emergency such as a machine failure.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an example (front view) of a laser processing machine to which a lens and nozzle management method is applied in a laser processing machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a right side view of the laser beam machine shown in FIG.
3 is a plan view of the laser beam machine in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is an enlarged explanatory view of a portion of the laser processing head 17 in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a view on arrow A in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the NC device.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a management flow of a lens and nozzle management method in the laser beam machine according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser processing machine 3 Support | pillar 5 (a, b) X-axis guide 7 (a, b) Beam member 9 (a, b) X-axis carriage 11 Y-axis guide 13 Y-axis carriage 15 Z-axis carriage 17 Laser processing head 18 Lens Assembly 19 Nozzle 21 Work table 23 Condensing lens 25 Laser oscillator 27 NC device 29 Power supply device 35 Bar code reader / writer 37 Identification medium 39 CPU
41 Input means 43 Output means 45 Machining condition database 47 Machining condition comparison means W Workpiece

Claims (2)

In a laser processing machine having a laser processing head having a detachable lens assembly and a nozzle, an identification medium capable of recording or reading data is provided on the lens assembly and the nozzle, and the lens assembly and the nozzle are provided on the identification medium. And the history information including the usage environment and maintenance status of the lens assembly and the nozzle, and the function information is read when the lens assembly and / or the nozzle is replaced. A lens and nozzle management method in a laser processing machine, wherein the read function information is compared with a machining condition database held in an NC apparatus, and a mismatch alarm is displayed when they do not match. 2. The lens and nozzle management method according to claim 1, wherein the lens assembly and nozzle function information is a focal length and a nozzle diameter of the lens, and the history information is cumulative use time, replacement date and time, and cleaning. Lens in laser processing machine, characterized by presence / absence of non-use, elapsed time of non-use, laser output, pulse width, laser frequency, duty ratio, processing speed, return light level, return light exposure time, contamination degree, trouble And nozzle management method.

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