JP2005066693A - Laser-emitting arc-welding apparatus and laser-emitting arc-welding method to plated steel plate - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select an optimum welding method according to a welded coupler, in a laser-emitting arc-welding apparatus composed of a laser oscillator 11, a welding power source unit 10 and a working head 8 integrating a welding torch 6 and a laser torch 7, etc. <P>SOLUTION: This apparatus is provided with a mode-selection unit MS for selecting one mode from among a single laser-emitting mode, a single arc-welding mode or a laser-emitting arc-welding mode, and for outputting a mode-selecting signal Ms, and a mode-control unit MC, in which at the start of welding, in the case of selecting the single laser-emitting mode with the mode-selecting signal Ms, only the laser-emission is performed; in the case of selecting the single arc-welding mode with the mode-selecting signal Ms, only the arc-welding is performed; and in the case of selecting the laser-emitting arc-welding mode with the mode-selecting signal Ms, the laser-emitting arc-welding is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser irradiation arc welding apparatus for performing high-efficiency welding by irradiating a welding portion of consumable electrode gas shielded arc welding while irradiating a laser, and a laser irradiation arc welding method for a plated steel sheet using the apparatus. It is about.

  There has been proposed a laser irradiation arc welding method in which consumable electrode gas shielded arc welding and laser irradiation are used in combination. In this welding method, welding is performed while irradiating the molten pool formed by consumable electrode gas shield arc welding or its peripheral part with laser. As a type of laser, a YAG laser, a semiconductor laser, or the like is used. The feature of this laser irradiation arc welding method is that heat input to the base metal is performed by two heat sources, laser and arc, so that high-speed welding exceeding 3 m / min can be performed and productivity is improved. It is possible to do. Further, the laser irradiation arc welding method has a feature that the range of application is wide because the gap tolerance of the weld joint is larger than that of single laser welding, and the processing accuracy of the workpiece is not as strict as laser welding. A conventional laser irradiation arc welding apparatus will be described below.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a laser irradiation arc welding apparatus. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. The welding power supply device 10 supplies electric power for generating the arc 3 to the welding torch 6 and controls feeding of the welding wire 1. The laser oscillation device 11 outputs the laser 4 to the laser torch 7. The machining head 8 is formed by integrating the welding torch 6 and the laser torch 7. When the gas switch 12 is opened, the shield gas 5 is ejected from the gas cylinder through the processing head 8. The welding wire 1 is fed from the welding torch 6 and an arc 3 is generated between the welding wire 1 and the base material 2. The laser 4 is irradiated from the laser torch 7 to the arc generator.

  The machining head 8 is attached to a moving device and moves along the weld line. This figure shows a case where a robot 9 is used as the moving device. The machining head 8 is attached to the wrist of the robot body 9 and moved along the weld line. The robot control device 13 controls the operation of the robot body 9 described above.

The welding procedure is as follows.
(1) The robot body 9 moves to move the machining head 8 to a predetermined welding start position.
(2) The gas switch 12 is opened and the shield gas 5 is ejected from the machining head 8.
(3) At the same time, power supply and feed control from the welding power source device 10 is started, and the welding wire 1 is fed to generate the arc 3.
(4) At the same time, irradiation of the laser 4 from the laser torch 7 is started.
(5) The machining head 8 moves along the weld line while performing arc welding and laser irradiation.
(6) When the machining head 8 reaches a predetermined welding end position, the arc welding and laser irradiation are ended.

JP-A-10-225770 JP 2002-192363 A

  As described above, since the laser irradiation arc welding method can perform high-speed welding as compared with single arc welding, productivity can be improved. In addition, since the gap tolerance of the welded joint portion is larger than that of single laser welding, the workpiece machining accuracy is not as strict as laser welding, and the application range is wide.

  By the way, in a welding line, it is necessary to weld various workpieces. Further, there are many cases where a plurality of welding points exist in one workpiece. Thus, in a welding line, it is necessary to perform high quality and highly efficient welding with respect to various weld joints. Laser irradiation arc welding is a welding method having excellent characteristics as described above, but depending on the welded joint, welding at a higher speed and lower strain may be required. In such a case, it is necessary to perform laser welding after managing the gap of the welded joint portion to be small. The limit of the laser irradiation arc welding speed is about 5 m / min, but a single laser welding can be up to about 7 m / min.

  Further, when the gap of the welded joint is large, the advantage of laser irradiation arc welding is reduced, so that the merit of single arc welding with easy management of welding conditions and execution is exceeded. Also, in the case of a welding point with a short welding length, single arc welding is more advantageous. Thus, the optimal welding method may differ according to various weld joints. In such a case, in the prior art, it was necessary to install three welding apparatuses, a laser irradiation arc welding apparatus, a laser welding apparatus, and an arc welding apparatus, on the welding line. For this reason, the equipment cost is high, and a large installation space is required.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a laser irradiation arc welding apparatus capable of arbitrarily selecting an optimum welding method from laser irradiation arc welding, laser welding, or arc welding according to various welding joints.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the first invention includes a laser oscillation device that outputs a laser, a power supply for consumable electrode gas shielded arc welding, and a welding power supply device that performs feeding control of a welding wire, A processing head in which a welding torch for arc welding by a welding power source device and a laser torch for irradiating a laser beam from the laser oscillation device to a welded portion are integrated, and a gas switch for controlling ejection of shield gas from the processing head; In the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus comprising a moving device for moving the machining head along the welding line,
A mode selector for selecting a mode from at least one of a single laser irradiation mode or a single arc welding mode or a laser irradiation arc welding mode and outputting a mode selection signal;
At the start of welding, when the mode selection signal is the single laser irradiation mode, an output stop signal is sent to the welding power source device to stop the power supply to the welding torch and the feeding of the welding wire, and the gas An opening circuit signal is sent to the switch to start ejection of shield gas from the machining head, and an output start signal is sent to the laser oscillation device to start laser irradiation from the laser torch so that only laser irradiation is performed. When the mode selection signal is the single arc welding mode, an output start signal is sent to the welding power source device to start supplying power to the welding torch and feeding the welding wire, and to the gas switch An opening circuit signal is sent to start ejection of shield gas from the machining head, and an output stop signal is sent to the laser oscillation device to send the laser When the laser irradiation from the torch is stopped and only arc welding is performed, and the mode selection signal is the laser irradiation arc welding mode, an output start signal is sent to the welding power source device to supply power to the welding torch. The supply of the welding wire and the feeding of the welding wire is started, an opening signal is sent to the gas switch to start ejection of shield gas from the processing head, and an output start signal is sent to the laser oscillator to send the laser torch. A laser irradiation arc welding apparatus, comprising: a mode control device that starts laser irradiation from and performs laser irradiation arc welding.

  The second invention is the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the mode selector outputs a mode selection signal set in advance for each type of weld joint.

Moreover, 3rd invention is the laser irradiation arc welding method of the plated steel plate using the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus of 1st invention,
Move the processing head to the welding start position, set the mode selection signal to the single laser irradiation mode by the mode selector, and perform the laser irradiation only while moving the processing head along the welding line to plate near the welding line. Evaporate and remove,
Subsequently, the machining head is returned to the welding start position, the mode selection signal is switched to the laser irradiation arc welding mode by the mode selector, and laser irradiation arc welding is performed while moving the machining head along the welding line. This is a laser irradiation arc welding method for a plated steel sheet.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, by setting the mode selection signal to a desired value according to the type of the weld joint, one welding apparatus is changed to a laser irradiation arc welding apparatus, a single laser irradiation apparatus, and a single arc welding apparatus. Since it can be switched, the equipment cost and installation space can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the mode selection signal is automatically set to an appropriate value according to the type of the welded joint, so that welding can always be performed with the optimum welding method for the welded joint.

  According to the third invention, using the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus of the first invention, first, the plating of the plated steel sheet is removed by single laser irradiation, and then the plating removal portion is removed at high speed by laser irradiation arc welding. High quality can be welded.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a laser irradiation arc welding apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, the same components as those in FIG. Hereinafter, components indicated by dotted lines different from those in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The mode selector MS selects a mode from at least one of the single laser irradiation mode and the single arc welding mode or the laser irradiation arc welding mode and outputs a mode selection signal Ms. The mode control device MC inputs this mode selection signal Ms, sends a power output start / stop signal Pc to the welding power source device 10, sends a laser output start / stop signal Lc to the laser oscillation device 11, and opens and closes the gas. An open / close signal Gc is sent to the device 12. The operation is as follows.

(1) At the start of welding, when the mode selection signal Ms is the single laser irradiation mode, a power output stop signal Pc (Low level) is sent to the welding power source 10 to supply power to the welding torch 6 and The feeding of the welding wire 1 is stopped. At the same time, an opening signal Gc (High level) is sent to the gas switch 12 to start ejection of the shield gas 5 from the machining head 8. In addition, a laser output start signal Lc (High level) is sent to the laser oscillation device 11 to start irradiation of the laser 4 from the laser torch 7 so that only laser irradiation is performed.

(2) When the mode selection signal Ms is the single arc welding mode, a power output start signal Pc (High level) is sent to the welding power source 10 to supply power to the welding torch 6 and the welding wire 1 Start feeding. At the same time, an opening signal Gc (High level) is sent to the gas switch 12 to start ejection of the shield gas 5 from the machining head 8. In addition, a laser output stop signal Lc (Low level) is sent to the laser oscillation device 11 to stop the irradiation of the laser 4 from the laser torch 7, and only arc welding is performed.

(3) When the mode selection signal Ms is the laser irradiation arc welding mode, a power output start signal Pc (High level) is sent to the welding power source 10 to supply power to the welding torch 6 and the welding wire 1. Start feeding. At the same time, an opening signal Gc (High level) is sent to the gas switch 12 to start ejection of the shield gas 5 from the machining head 8. In addition, a laser output start signal Lc (High level) is sent to the laser oscillation device 11 to start the irradiation of the laser 4 from the laser torch 7 to perform laser irradiation arc welding.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart of each signal in the welding apparatus of FIG. 1 described above. (A) in the figure shows the mode selection signal Ms, (B) in the figure shows the gas switching signal Gc, (C) shows the laser output start / stop signal Lc, and (D) shows the power supply output start / stop. The time change of the signal Pc is shown. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  In the figure, during the period from time t1 to t2, the welded joint 1 is welded only by laser irradiation, and during the period from time t3 to t4, the welded joint 2 is welded only by arc welding, and the period from time t5 to t6. The inside is a case where the weld joint 3 is subjected to laser irradiation arc welding.

(1) Single laser irradiation period from time t1 to t2 When the machining head moves to the welding start position of the welded joint 1 at time t1, as shown in FIG. Mode). In response to this, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gas opening / closing signal Gc becomes High level (open circuit signal), and the ejection of the shielding gas from the machining head starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the laser output start / stop signal Lc becomes High level (laser output start signal), and laser irradiation from the laser torch starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4D, since the power supply output start / stop signal Pc is at the low level (power supply output stop signal), the power supply and feed control from the welding power supply device remain stopped. As a result, during this period, single laser irradiation is performed on the welded joint 1.

(2) Single arc welding period from time t3 to t4 When the machining head moves to the welding start position of the weld joint 2 at time t3, as shown in FIG. Mode). In response to this, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gas opening / closing signal Gc becomes High level (open circuit signal), and the ejection of the shielding gas from the machining head starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 3C, the laser output start / stop signal Lc is at the low level (laser output stop signal), so that the laser irradiation from the laser torch remains stopped. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4D, the power output start / stop signal Pc becomes High level (power output start signal), and power supply and feed control from the welding power supply device are started. As a result, during this period, single arc welding is performed on the welded joint 2.

(3) Laser irradiation arc welding period from time t5 to t6 When the processing head moves to the welding start position of the weld joint 3 at time t5, as shown in FIG. Arc welding mode). In response to this, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gas opening / closing signal Gc becomes High level (open circuit signal), and the ejection of the shielding gas from the machining head starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the laser output start / stop signal Lc becomes High level (laser output start signal), and laser irradiation from the laser torch starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4D, the power output start / stop signal Pc becomes High level (power output start signal), and power supply and feed control from the welding power supply device are started. As a result, laser irradiation arc welding is performed on the welded joint 3 during this period.

  As described above, the mode selection signal Ms determined in advance according to the type of the weld joint is set tw, and the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus is controlled so that the welding method corresponding to the mode selection signal Ms is performed.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 3 is a timing chart when welding a plated steel plate using the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus according to the first embodiment described above. (A) in the figure shows the mode selection signal Ms, (B) in the figure shows the gas switching signal Gc, (C) shows the laser output start / stop signal Lc, and (D) shows the power supply output start / stop. (E) and (F) of the signal Pc show schematic diagrams of the welded portion. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG.

  This figure shows a case where a welded joint 4 made of a plated steel plate is welded. During the period from time t1 to t2, the plating in the vicinity of the weld line of the welded joint 4 is removed by single laser irradiation, and then at time t3 to t4. During the period, laser irradiation arc welding is performed on the weld line from which the plating of the weld joint 4 has been removed. If welding is performed while plating is present at a place to be welded, the arc state becomes unstable due to evaporation of the plating during welding, and the weld bead may become defective. Further, the plating evaporation gas may enter the molten pool to generate blow holes. For this reason, when welding a plated steel plate, it is desirable to remove the plating of the place to be welded. If the welding apparatus of this invention is used, welding of a plated steel plate can be performed efficiently and with high quality. Examples of the plated steel sheet include a galvanized steel sheet, an aluminum plated steel sheet, and a lead-tin alloy plated steel sheet.

(1) Single laser irradiation period from time t1 to t2 When the processing head moves to the welding start position of the weld joint 4 at time t1, as shown in FIG. Mode). In response to this, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gas opening / closing signal Gc becomes High level (open circuit signal), and the ejection of the shielding gas from the machining head starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the laser output start / stop signal Lc becomes High level (laser output start signal), and laser irradiation from the laser torch starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4D, since the power supply output start / stop signal Pc is at the low level (power supply output stop signal), the power supply and feed control from the welding power supply device remain stopped. Accordingly, during this period, as shown in FIG. 5E, the welded joint 4 is irradiated with a single laser, and the plating in the vicinity of the weld line is removed by evaporation.

(2) Laser irradiation arc welding period from time t3 to t4 When the machining head moves again to the welding start position of the welded joint 4 at time t3, as shown in FIG. Irradiation arc welding mode). In response to this, as shown in FIG. 5B, the gas opening / closing signal Gc becomes High level (open circuit signal), and the ejection of the shielding gas from the machining head starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the laser output start / stop signal Lc becomes High level (laser output start signal), and laser irradiation from the laser torch starts. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4D, the power output start / stop signal Pc becomes High level (power output start signal), and power supply and feed control from the welding power supply device are started. Therefore, during this period, laser irradiation arc welding is performed at a high speed on the weld line from which the plating of the weld joint 4 has been removed, as shown in FIG.

  Conventionally, in order to weld a plated steel plate at high speed and high quality, a laser oscillation device for removing plating and a laser irradiation arc welding device for welding or another laser oscillation device have been required. . However, the present invention can be realized by one laser irradiation arc welding apparatus.

It is a block diagram of the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a timing chart of each signal in the welding apparatus of FIG. It is a timing chart which shows the laser irradiation arc welding method of the plated steel plate which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Welding wire 2 Base material 3 Arc 4 Laser 5 Shielding gas 6 Welding torch 7 Laser torch 8 Processing head 9 Robot main body 10 Welding power supply device 11 Laser oscillation device 12 Gas switch 13 Robot controller Gc Gas switching signal Lc Laser output start / stop Signal MC Mode controller MS Mode selector Ms Mode selection signal Pc Power supply output start / stop signal

Claims (3)

Laser oscillation device for outputting laser, welding power supply device for supplying power for consumable electrode gas shielded arc welding and feeding control of welding wire, welding torch for arc welding by the welding power supply device, and laser oscillation A machining head integrated with a laser torch for irradiating a welding portion with a laser beam from the apparatus, a gas switch for controlling ejection of shield gas from the machining head, and a moving device for moving the machining head along a welding line; In the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus consisting of
A mode selector for selecting a mode from at least one of a single laser irradiation mode or a single arc welding mode or a laser irradiation arc welding mode and outputting a mode selection signal;
At the start of welding, when the mode selection signal is the single laser irradiation mode, an output stop signal is sent to the welding power source device to stop the power supply to the welding torch and the feeding of the welding wire, and the gas An opening circuit signal is sent to the switch to start ejection of shield gas from the machining head, and an output start signal is sent to the laser oscillation device to start laser irradiation from the laser torch so that only laser irradiation is performed. When the mode selection signal is the single arc welding mode, an output start signal is sent to the welding power source device to start supplying power to the welding torch and feeding the welding wire, and to the gas switch Sending an open circuit signal to start ejection of shield gas from the machining head, and sending an output stop signal to the laser oscillation device to send the laser When the laser irradiation from the torch is stopped and only arc welding is performed, and the mode selection signal is the laser irradiation arc welding mode, an output start signal is sent to the welding power source device to supply power to the welding torch. The supply of the welding wire and the welding wire is started, and an opening signal is sent to the gas switch to start ejection of shield gas from the processing head, and an output start signal is sent to the laser oscillator to send the laser torch. A laser irradiation arc welding apparatus, comprising: a mode control device that starts laser irradiation from a laser beam and performs laser irradiation arc welding.   The laser irradiation arc welding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode selector outputs a mode selection signal set in advance for each type of weld joint. A laser irradiation arc welding method for a plated steel sheet using the laser irradiation arc welding apparatus according to claim 1,
Move the processing head to the welding start position, set the mode selection signal to the single laser irradiation mode by the mode selector, and perform the laser irradiation only while moving the processing head along the welding line to plate near the welding line. Evaporate and remove,
Subsequently, the machining head is returned to the welding start position, the mode selection signal is switched to the laser irradiation arc welding mode by the mode selector, and laser irradiation arc welding is performed while moving the machining head along the welding line. A laser irradiation arc welding method for a plated steel sheet.

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