JP2006061977A - Fusion working device using laser beam and arc discharge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fusion working device capable of realizing an optimum fusion working using a laser beam and an arc discharge. <P>SOLUTION: The inside of a cylindrical case 100 is provided with a laser beam system narrowing laser beam via an optical system and condensing and emitting the same to the surface of a work W, and an electrode 500 arranged at a position confronted with the work W in almost the same axial positional relation with the optical axis of the laser beam system and fed with high voltage for arc discharge, and fusion and working by arc discharge are performed in a state where the work is fused by the irradiation of the laser beam. The lower part of the case 100 is provided with a slant in almost the same direction as the optical path direction of the laser beam, and the slant is fitted with an electrode guide 300 to which the electrode 500 to be separated is arranged and fixed and which can be separated from the case 100. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge, and in particular, using laser light and arc discharge with improved melt efficiency and connection efficiency by effectively using both laser light energy and discharge arc energy. The present invention relates to a melt processing apparatus.

  Thermal processing by arc discharge has been widely used for processing metals and the like. On the other hand, laser processing technology for processing by irradiating and melting a workpiece that is a workpiece or a melted material by narrowing a laser beam having high density thermal energy to a very thin beam diameter also has high efficiency, high accuracy, Attention is focused on low thermal strain characteristics.

  However, laser processing requires a high-power laser light source for high-power laser light emission, and the power source for light emission is also complicated and large due to poor conversion efficiency from power, It restricts the expansion of its application range. Therefore, in spite of having the above-mentioned benefits, the laser welding process is limited to the processing of a thin plate layer as compared with other gas, electric, and arc welding processes. In particular, application of laser welding has many fields where joint accuracy is required, and high output is required to increase the processing speed, resulting in high equipment costs.

  In view of this, there has been proposed a hybrid-type melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge in which both laser beam energy and discharge arc energy are effectively used in combination for melting processing and connection efficiency is improved.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose this type of hybrid melt processing apparatus.
JP-A-60-234783 (Figs. 1 and 2) JP-A-60-234783 (FIG. 2, [0028] to [0030])

  By the way, in the melt processing method using laser light and arc discharge, the work as the object to be melted must be maintained at the highest temperature. For this purpose, it is necessary to focus laser light on the workpiece surface and to perform arc irradiation at the maximum density (the pole of the arc column).

  However, these conditions cannot usually be easily satisfied. For example, in the above-described conventional melt processing apparatus, the arc electrode is fixedly installed inside the conical cylindrical electrode. However, since the arc electrode is used at a very high temperature and is in a severe use environment, the electrode must be replaced. The frequency is high.

  On the other hand, for efficient processing, it is important that the melting point near the focal point of the laser beam and the pole of the arc column generated from the electrode (usually the anode point) match. Each time the electrode is replaced, the coincidence between the two is lost, so that precise setting is required again. The tip of the arc electrode becomes unsuitable for the laser beam focus (due to distance, angle, poor positioning, etc.), and efficient melting cannot be performed. Further, when the electrode tip has a small diameter (for example, φ1.6), the electrode tip is bent by the laser light and the heat generated by itself. The tip of the electrode enters the laser beam path where this phenomenon has occurred, and the focal properties are significantly impaired. Furthermore, the electrode tip that is improperly positioned in this way is likely to be contaminated by the tip of the laser beam due to fume or sputtering.

  The above-mentioned problems can be set individually at the time of factory shipment in a large and high-cost melt processing apparatus, but it becomes a serious problem when replacing worn electrodes. In addition, since a handy type melt processing apparatus is required to have a small, light, and simple structure, it is desired that an optimum electrode position can always be secured even by replacing the arc electrode.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge that can set and maintain an arc electrode at an optimum position with a simple structure.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to the present invention employs the following characteristic configuration.

(1) A laser optical system that squeezes and irradiates laser light onto the work by focusing the laser light through the optical system inside the cylindrical case, and a position facing the work, and is high for arc discharge. A melt processing apparatus for performing melting and processing by the arc discharge in a state in which the workpiece is melted by irradiation with the laser beam,
A laser having an inclined surface substantially in the same direction as the optical path direction of the laser light below the case, and an electrode guide on which the electrode is detached and fixed is removably attached to the cylindrical case. Melt processing equipment using light and arc discharge.

  (2) The electrode guide is a hollow inverted conical electrode guide, and an arc electrode is disposed and fixed along the electrode guide. The angle of the laser peripheral light with respect to the central axis, and the arc guide The center axis of the electrode is set to be substantially the same, and the arc electrode tip position is in the vicinity of the focal point of the laser beam so that the extension line of the center axis of the arc electrode is surely the above-mentioned The melt processing apparatus using the laser beam and the arc discharge of (1), which is disposed so as to connect the laser beam central axis in the vicinity of the focal light.

  (3) The melt processing apparatus using the laser beam and arc discharge of (1) or (2) above, wherein a cylindrical nozzle tip having a predetermined length is attached to the tip of the electrode guide.

  (4) The melt processing apparatus using the laser beam and arc discharge according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein an opening is formed in at least one place in the nozzle tip.

  (5) The melt processing apparatus using the laser beam and arc discharge according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the electrode guide and the electrode are cooled by water cooling.

  (6) The melt processing apparatus using the laser beam and arc discharge according to any one of (1) to (5) above, wherein the electrode guide and the cylindrical case are screwed.

  (7) Melt processing using laser light and arc discharge in any one of (1) to (6) above, in which an inert gas is allowed to flow in a direction substantially coaxial with the laser light system and jetted onto the nozzle electrode and the work surface. apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible not only to optimally melt the laser beam and the arc discharge in an optimal manner, but also to optimally position the electrode for the arc and to improve the cooling efficiency by water cooling of the electrode. For this reason, the melting efficiency can be remarkably improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional side view of a melt processing apparatus 10 using laser light and arc discharge according to the present invention.

  Laser light oscillated from, for example, a YAG laser (not shown) as a laser oscillation source enters the laser light guide through the optical fiber 20. In addition, an inert gas (for example, an inert gas such as argon gas Ar) supplied from the outside is introduced into the opening 130 of the melt processing unit 10 through the gas hose 30.

  The melt processing unit 10 includes an outer cylinder 100 made of an electrical insulating material and an inner cylinder 200 substantially coaxial with the outer cylinder 100, and guides and focuses laser light to a workpiece W that is a workpiece (processing target). A laser beam guiding unit that performs the arc discharge, and an arc discharge machining unit that melts and processes the workpiece by arc discharge. The tip of the optical fiber 20 is inserted into the opening 110 of the top 120 at the top of the outer cylinder 100. The laser light emitted from the tip is narrowed down to an extremely small beam by an optical system including a collimating lens 210 and a condensing lens 220, and is focused near the workpiece W. These optical systems can be attached to the inner wall of the inner cylinder 200.

  At the lower end of the outer cylinder 100, an inverted conical electrode guide 300 is removably attached so as to form a small-diameter opening as a laser beam and arc emission path. . The electrode guide 300 is attached to the outer cylinder 100 by screws or the like by the electrode stopper 400. That is, as shown in the drawing, the electrode guide 300 is fixed by being fixed to the outer cylinder 100 while being held in contact with the inner side of the electrode stopper 400. The electrode stopper 400 can be fixed to the outer cylinder 100 by screwing the screw portion 160.

  An elongated arc electrode 500 is attached to the electrode guide 300. Therefore, a groove for accommodating the arc electrode in the length direction is formed on the surface of the electrode guide 300, and the electrode 500 is fixed along the groove. This fixing can also be performed by an arbitrary structure, and can be screwed or an electrode having a similar inclination can be inserted by forming an inclination in the groove. In short, the arc electrode 500 may be fixed to the electrode guide 300 by any structure. The arc electrode 500 is made of any suitable material, but is made of, for example, a copper material, and its tip is made of a metal such as a high melting point tungsten material in order to avoid damage caused by high heat generated by the generated arc discharge. Can be formed.

  The outer cylinder 100 is provided with a cooling water injection port 140, reaches a cooling water chamber 150 that contacts the electrode guide 300 through a cooling water passage provided inside the outer cylinder, cools the electrode guide 300, and supplies the electrode 500. Cool yourself.

  Below the electrode guide 300, the nozzle tip 600 is fixed by screwing 610. The nozzle tip 600 is cylindrical like the electrode guide 300, and at least one opening 620 is formed in the circumferential direction below to form an escape path for an inert gas or the like. The length of the nozzle tip 600 is set to an optimum length in advance, and the arc generated from the electrode 500 fixed to the electrode guide 300 is set so that the focal position of the laser beam is the workpiece W. Is long enough to reach the workpiece. As a result, it is possible to perform processing under appropriate conditions simply by bringing the nozzle tip 600 of the melt processing unit 10 into contact with the workpiece W, which is particularly beneficial in a handy type melt processing unit. The nozzle tip 600 is also used for the purpose of isolating it from the periphery during workpiece welding.

  The projecting dimension of the arc electrode 500 is usually about 2 mm with reference to the vicinity of the laser beam focal point.

  In the present embodiment, the arc electrode used for reducing the size and weight is, for example, a small diameter of about 1 mm. Therefore, the arc electrode is easily deformed by heat, and a water-cooling structure is provided to prevent deformation due to heat. It is used. Without such a cooling structure, the deformation (bending) of the electrode due to heat, the approach of the electrode tip into the laser beam path, etc. cause disturbance of the laser beam, not only hindering its concentration, but also the laser beam focus and arc. A pole mismatch occurs and the hybrid effect is significantly inhibited. Therefore, in the present embodiment, water cooling is performed while securing the arc electrode placement position.

  In this embodiment, the arc electrode is positioned by fixing the arc electrode along a hollow inverted conical electrode guide, the angle of the laser peripheral light with respect to its central axis, and the central axis of the electrode. Are set to be the same, so that the arc electrode tip position is at the focal position of the laser beam, and this electrode ensures that the extension of the central axis intersects the laser beam central axis near the focal point. It is arranged to tie. Incidentally, the arc column is greatly influenced by the shape of the electrode tip, and the tip is generated with directivity according to the bending angle. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, an arc column generated from an electrode with a bent tip has directivity, and the arc column has an arc pole formed on the stronger side in relation to the inductivity of laser light. The

  FIG. 3 shows a side view when the arc electrode is properly disposed and a state seen from above, and the focal point of the laser beam coincides with the arc pole point. FIG. 4 shows a side view when the arc electrode tip is deformed or in a poor position, as viewed from above, and the focal point of the laser beam and the arc pole point do not coincide with each other. Even if they exist, they occur in their own positions.

  In the present invention, the arc electrode is fixed along the inclined surface of the electrode guide 300 having an inclination angle substantially coincident with the inclination angle of the laser beam passing through the inner cylinder 200 with respect to the central axis of the inner cylinder 200. Therefore, the arc electrode can be set in accordance with the laser beam angle, and the laser beam and the arc discharge action can be operated in an optimum manner.

  Further, the electrode guide can be optimally positioned simply by forming a groove for fixing the arc electrode and inserting and storing the electrode in the groove.

  Furthermore, since the electrode guide in which the electrodes are integrally fixed has a structure that is fitted into the outer cylinder with a screw or the like and has a variable axial position structure, the electrode position can be optimally set according to the work contents.

  The cooling efficiency of the electrode can be improved by using a water cooling method.

  The downsizing of the tip portion of the electrode guide can efficiently prevent fume and spatter electrode guide penetration that occur when the metal melts. The inert gas as the shielding gas is released from the tip of the small diameter guide, and the effect is further increased.

  An inert gas flows into the opening 130 formed in the outer cylinder 100 at a position slightly lower than the fixed mounting position F of the inner cylinder 200 through the gas hose 30, and the inert gas that has flowed into the inner cylinder 200 and the inner cylinder 100. It passes through a gas guide passage which is a space path formed by the cylinder 200 and passes through an opening 620 of the nozzle tip 600 as shown by an arrow A in the drawing.

  The nozzle chip 600 is used to properly determine the focal position of the laser beam on the workpiece. By connecting the tip of the nozzle tip 600 to the workpiece, it is possible to maintain the proper position stably even manually. In order to generate arc discharge smoothly, it is made of an electrical insulator, but if it is used automatically and without tip contact, if arc discharge occurs smoothly, there is no need for an insulator. . The nozzle tip 600 also exhibits a melting point shielding action through which the shielding gas is released onto the workpiece. It is desirable that the nozzle tip 600 has a small tip and a small diameter as much as possible in order to further improve the workability (ease of use) during manual operation and to expand the applicability.

  Referring to the schematic diagram of FIG. 5, the laser light emitted from the tip of the optical fiber 20 of the melt processing apparatus is condensed through the optical system composed of the lenses 210 and 220 as described above, and is brought into the in-focus position. Irradiate the arranged work W. In this way, the workpiece W is instantaneously melted by the laser energy, and the melted workpiece metal is vaporized into a plasma. When the plasmaized gas reaches the arc electrode 500, an arc discharge is generated from the tip of the arc electrode 500 by the already applied DC voltage. As is apparent from the well-known arc theory, the positive pole of this arc is guided and positioned reliably at the highest temperature part (the part melted by the laser beam) on the workpiece W, and the arc discharge is caused by the circumference of the electrode tip. Result from one point above.

  Therefore, in the present invention, both the energy of the laser energy and the arc discharge energy are efficiently concentrated on one point of the workpiece, a higher temperature state is obtained, and the machining is surely and easy.

  In addition, since it has been experimentally confirmed that the absorption rate of the laser light energy of the workpiece metal is higher as the melting temperature is higher, according to the present invention, a synergistic effect is obtained, and the welding point is melted very quickly. Therefore, the welding speed can be increased.

  In the above-described embodiment, a YAG laser is used as the laser. However, other lasers can be used as long as they are high-power lasers. For example, a carbon dioxide laser or a semiconductor laser can be used. Further, as the inert gas, other appropriate inert gas such as helium gas can be used.

  The configuration of the preferred embodiment of the melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to the present invention has been described in detail. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made according to a specific application without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a configuration of an embodiment of a melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the directivity of the arc column generate | occur | produced from the electrode by which the front-end | tip was bent. It is a figure which shows the state seen from the side and upper direction when the electrode for arcs is arrange | positioned appropriately. It is a figure which shows the state seen from the side and upper direction at the time of a deformation | transformation and position defect of the electrode for arc. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of the melt processing apparatus using a laser beam and arc discharge.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Melt processing apparatus 20 Optical fiber 30 Gas hose 100 Outer cylinder 110, 130, 620, 700 Opening part 120 Top part 140 Cooling water injection port 150 Cooling water chamber 160 Screw part 200 Inner cylinder 210, 220 Lens 300 Electrode guide 400 Electrode stop part 500 Arc electrode 600 Nozzle tip 610 Screw stop

Claims (7)

Inside the cylindrical case, a laser optical system that squeezes the laser light through the optical system to irradiate and irradiate the work, and a laser optical system that is disposed at a position facing the work and supplies a high voltage for arc discharge. A melt processing apparatus that performs melting and processing by the arc discharge in a state in which the workpiece is melted by irradiation with the laser beam,
Below the case, there is an inclined surface substantially in the same direction as the optical path direction of the laser beam, and an electrode guide to which the electrode is removed and fixed is attached to the cylindrical case so as to be removable. A melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge.   The electrode guide is a hollow inverted conical electrode guide, and an arc electrode is disposed and fixed along the electrode guide. The angle of the laser peripheral light with respect to its central axis and the center of the arc electrode The arc electrodes are set to be substantially the same, and the arc electrode tip position is in the vicinity of the focal point of the laser beam, and the arc electrode has an extension line of the central axis thereof reliably in the vicinity of the focal light. The melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to claim 1, wherein the melt light processing apparatus is disposed so as to form an intersection with the laser light central axis.   The melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to claim 1, wherein a cylindrical nozzle tip having a predetermined length is attached to a tip portion of the electrode guide.   The melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an opening is formed at least in one side surface of the nozzle tip.   The melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to claim 1, wherein the electrode guide and the electrode are cooled by water cooling.   The melt processing apparatus using laser light and arc discharge according to claim 1, wherein the electrode guide and the cylindrical case are screwed.   7. The melt processing using laser light and arc discharge according to claim 1, wherein an inert gas flows in a direction substantially coaxial with the laser light system and is jetted onto the electrode and the work surface. apparatus.

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