JP2007038274A - Method for cutting prepreg - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of cut powder upon cutting, and to prevent the generation of glass fiber powder upon treatment after cutting. <P>SOLUTION: Each prepreg P obtained by impregnating a glass fiber base material 2 with a thermosetting resin and subjecting the same to half-setting is irradiated with laser beams 6, 9, and the prepreg P is cut. Also, by the setting of the thermosetting resin after the cutting, the glass fiber base material 2 is fixed in a state where the cut edge side thereof is wrapped with the thermosetting resin. At this time, the prepreg P is cut as the laser beams 6, 9 are relatively moved in the cutting direction to the prepreg P, and, to the prepreg P, jetting regions including irradiating regions of the laser beams 6, 9 are jetted with a gas for cooling, and the cut places of the prepreg P are cooled by the gas for cooling. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a prepreg cutting method in which a prepreg obtained by impregnating a glass fiber base material with a thermosetting resin and semi-cured is cut with a laser.

  The prepreg is obtained by impregnating a glass fiber substrate such as a glass cloth, a glass nonwoven fabric, and a glass mat with a thermosetting resin layer resin such as epoxy resin, polyimide resin, unsaturated polyester, polyphenylene oxide, and the like, and semi-curing it. When manufacturing a multilayer printed wiring board, it is used to form an insulating layer by bonding an inner layer printed wiring board and an inner layer printed wiring board, and an inner layer printed wiring board and an outer layer printed wiring board.

  The prepreg is manufactured in a long shape. Usually, the long prepreg is cut into a square and a rectangle having a predetermined size by cutting in the longitudinal direction and the width direction. The prepreg is cut using a rotary blade, a shearing blade or other cutting blade.

  However, a prepreg is a glass fiber base material impregnated with a resin and semi-cured. Both the glass fiber base material and the resin are very fragile. Cutting powder is easily generated. And if these cutting powders are scattered around, the working environment will be deteriorated, and if the cutting powder adheres to the surface of the prepreg, it will be mixed as a foreign substance in the manufacturing process of the multilayer printed wiring board, resulting in product defects. Cause.

Therefore, as a measure for preventing the generation of the cutting powder, conventionally, there is a method in which the cutting portion of the prepreg is heated with an infrared heater or the like, the resin in the peripheral portion including the cutting portion is softened, and then cut with a cutting blade after the softening. It is considered (Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-138288 A

  Even in the conventional cutting method, since the resin in the peripheral portion including the cut portion is softened and then cut, the generation of resin cutting powder can be prevented as much as possible. However, it is still a cutting with a cutting blade, and since the glass fiber substrate is cut with the cutting blade, a large amount of glass fiber cutting powder is generated at the time of cutting, and the cut end of the glass fiber becomes brittle. During the subsequent handling of the prepreg, the brittle portion of the glass fiber becomes powdery and is scattered in the air, or may adhere to the surface of the prepreg.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for cutting a prepreg that can prevent generation of cutting powder during cutting and prevent generation of glass fiber powder during handling after cutting. And

  The present invention relates to a prepreg cutting method in which a glass fiber base material is impregnated with a thermosetting resin and semi-cured, and the prepreg is cut into a predetermined size. The prepreg is irradiated with laser light to cut the prepreg, while cutting By the subsequent curing of the thermosetting resin, the cut end portion of the glass fiber substrate is hardened in a state where the cut end portion side of the glass fiber substrate is wrapped with the thermosetting resin.

  At that time, while cutting the prepreg while moving the laser light relative to the prepreg in the cutting direction, a cooling gas is injected into the injection region including the irradiation region of the laser light with respect to the prepreg. Then, the cut portion of the prepreg may be cooled by the cooling gas.

  Further, the cooling gas may be injected in the relative movement direction from the already cut side with respect to the prepreg. Further, while cutting the prepreg with the laser beam, it is possible to suck and eliminate smoke and other generated products generated during the cutting. Further, the prepreg may be sucked and fixed on a suction table, and the laser light may be irradiated along a cutting line between the suction parts.

  In the present invention, when cutting a prepreg obtained by impregnating a glass fiber base material with a resin and semi-cured to a predetermined size, the prepreg is irradiated with a laser to cut the prepreg, so that the glass fiber and the resin are melted and cut. Thus, generation of glass fiber and resin cutting powder can be prevented as much as possible compared to the case of cutting with a conventional cutting blade.

  Further, the cured end portion of the glass fiber base material is hardened in a state where the cut end portion side of the glass fiber base material is wrapped with the thermosetting resin by curing the thermosetting resin after cutting, so that the cut end portion is handled during subsequent handling. The glass fiber is not scattered as glass fiber powder, so that the generation of glass fiber powder can be prevented and the subsequent prepreg can be easily handled.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1-8 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention. When a predetermined prepreg P is cut from the original fabric prepreg P1, the following is performed. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the raw fabric prepreg P1 is obtained by impregnating a glass fiber base 2 in which glass fiber bundles 1 are arranged vertically and horizontally with an epoxy resin or other thermosetting resin and semi-curing it. And the glass fiber base material 2 is interposed in the inside of the thin plate-shaped or sheet-like thermosetting resin layer 3, and it is usually the original fabric roll 4 wound up in roll shape.

  For example, in the case of cutting a rectangular prepreg P having a length L and a width W, the length of the transverse cutting position of the original prepreg P1 after the raw prepreg P1 is unwound from the original roll 4 as shown in FIG. L is measured, and the lateral cutting laser head 5 is relatively moved in the lateral direction along the cutting line 7 while irradiating the original prepreg P1 with the laser beam 6 from the lateral cutting laser head 5 at the lateral cutting position. The raw fabric prepreg P1 is cut in the lateral direction by the thermal energy of the laser beam 6.

  Next, the unit length of the prepreg P separated from the raw fabric prepreg P1 is laser-beamed 9 from each longitudinally cut laser head 8 disposed at a plurality of transverse positions, for example, at four longitudinally cut positions, with respect to the prepreg P. Each of the longitudinal cutting laser heads 8 is relatively moved in the longitudinal direction along the cutting line 10 while irradiating the laser beam, and the prepreg P is cut in the longitudinal direction by the thermal energy of the laser light 9 to obtain three units. Separated into prepreg P and ears P2 on both sides thereof.

  In this way, the laser beams 6 and 9 are irradiated to cut the prepreg P vertically and horizontally, and as shown in FIG. 3, the thermosetting resin layer temporarily melted at the time of cutting by thermosetting the thermosetting resin. 3, the cut end 2 a of the glass fiber base 2 is hardened in a state where the cut end 2 a side of the glass fiber base 2 is wrapped.

  At the same time, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. (Cooling gas) 14 is injected, and the cooling air 14 cools the cut portion of the prepreg P and the vicinity thereof, and smoke and other products generated when the prepreg P is cut are sucked by the exhaust suction portion 15. To the outside.

  6 and 7 show an example of a prepreg cutting apparatus employing the cutting method of the present invention. The prepreg cutting device includes a supply unit 21 that supplies the prepreg P on the base 20, a horizontal cutting unit 22 that sucks the prepreg P supplied by the supply unit 21 and cuts the prepreg P in the horizontal direction (width direction), A vertical cutting unit 23 that adsorbs the prepreg P and cuts it in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction), a transfer unit 24 that transfers the prepreg P after being cut by the horizontal cutting unit 22 to the vertical cutting unit 23, and after cutting And a take-out portion 25 for taking out the prepreg P while removing the adhering matter on the upper and lower surfaces.

  The supply unit 21 supplies the original fabric prepreg P1 fed from the original fabric roll 4 of the support means 26 to the transverse cutting unit 22 via the dancer roller 27, the meandering correction roller 28, the guide roller 29, the measuring roller 30, and the like. It has become.

  The support means 26 is a pair of support tools 31 that are rotatably arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the original roll 4 and that support the center of the original roll 4 from both sides in the axial direction. And a feeding motor 32 for driving the support 31. The dancer roller 27 is disposed below the support means 26 of the original roll 4 and the meandering correction roller 28, and is provided at the tip of a pair of swing arms 33 pivotably supported in a pair of vertical directions. The tensioner 34 keeps the prepreg P in a substantially constant tension state.

  The meandering correction roller 28 includes an adjusting means 35 on one end side in the axial direction, and the adjusting means 35 adjusts one end side in the front-rear direction around the other end side so as to correct the meandering of the prepreg P. It has become. The guide roller 29 is driven by a drive motor 36 at one end in the axial direction. The measuring roller 30 is disposed on one end side of the guide roller 29, and the supply amount of the prepreg P guided by the guide roller 29 is measured with the prepreg P sandwiched between the guide roller 29.

  The horizontal cutting unit 22 includes a fixed suction table 37 disposed close to the lower side of the guide roller 29, two horizontal cutting laser heads 5 disposed on the upper side of the fixed suction table 37, and two horizontal cutting units. Guide means 38 for guiding the cutting laser head 5 movably in the lateral direction, and lateral drive means (not shown) such as a motor for driving the two transverse cutting laser heads 5 along the guide means 38 in the lateral direction. The laser beam 6 is irradiated onto the prepreg P and cut in half in the horizontal direction by moving the horizontal cutting laser head 5 in the horizontal direction. The number of the transverse cutting laser head 5 may be one. The fixed suction table 37 is connected to a suction source so as to suck the prepreg P thereon from below.

  The vertical cutting unit 23 receives a movable suction table 39 movable in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction of the prepreg P) between a receiving position A near the lower side of the fixed suction table 37 and a delivery position B on the take-out unit 25 side. Four longitudinally cutting laser heads 8 arranged in the vicinity of the lower side of the position A in the lateral direction, guide means 42 for supporting the four longitudinally cutting laser heads 8 so as to be movable in the lateral direction, Adjustment means (not shown) for adjusting the distance between the vertical cutting laser heads 8 in the horizontal direction along the guide means 42 according to the horizontal width of the prepreg P, is movable by moving the movable suction table 39 in the vertical direction. The laser beam 9 is used to cut the prepreg P in the vertical direction while irradiating the laser beam 9 from the vertical cutting laser head 8 to the prepreg P sucked on the suction table 39.

  The vertical cutting laser head 8 may be the same as the number of cutting positions in the horizontal direction of the prepreg P or less than the number of cutting positions, and the movable suction table 39 and the vertical cutting laser head 8 are moved a plurality of times. By doing so, the prepreg P may be cut in the vertical direction. The movable suction table 39 is connected to a suction source so as to suck the prepreg P thereon from below.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the fixed suction table 37 of the horizontal cutting unit 22 and the movable suction table 39 of the vertical cutting unit 23 have a large number so that the prepreg P can be sucked by almost the entire portion corresponding to the prepreg P on the upper surface. Is formed in the horizontal direction corresponding to the cutting direction of the prepreg P so as to avoid the laser beams 6 and 9 irradiated from the laser emitting portions 5a and 8a of the cutting laser heads 5 and 8, respectively. A recessed groove 41 having a predetermined width is provided in the vertical direction. In the vicinity of both sides of the recessed groove 41, suction ports 40 are provided in a row in order to reliably suck the cut end side of the prepreg P. Therefore, the laser emitting units 5a and 8a can irradiate the prepreg P with the laser beams 6 and 9 along the cutting lines 7 and 10 between the adsorption portions.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transverse cutting laser head 5 and the longitudinal cutting laser head 8 include laser emitting units 5a, 8a in addition to laser emitting units 5a, 8a that emit laser beams 6 and 9 to the prepreg P. A cooling air injection section 13 and an exhaust suction section 15 are provided on both sides in the cutting direction with respect to 8a.

  The cooling air injection unit 13 is a laser emitting unit that injects the cooling air 14 to the injection region 12 including the irradiation region 11 of the spot-like laser beams 6 and 9 to cool the cut portion of the prepreg P and its periphery. With reference to 5a and 8a, the prepreg P is disposed obliquely along the cutting direction above the already cut 44 side. The exhaust suction unit 15 is disposed on the opposite side of the cooling air injection unit 13 with respect to the laser emitting units 5a and 8a, that is, on the uncut side of the prepreg P, and smoke, resin splashes and the like generated when the prepreg P is cut. The generated product is sucked and removed together with the cooling air 14 injected from the cooling air injection unit 13 to the prepreg P. The cooling air injection unit 13 is preferably set so that the center of the injection region 12 is slightly closer to the already cut 44 side than the irradiation region 11 of the laser beams 6 and 9.

  The transfer unit 24 includes a transfer suction head 46 which is configured to be movable up and down and is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the vertical direction between the fixed suction table 37 and the movable suction table 39 by the guide means 45. The prepreg P of the fixed suction table 37 is transferred to a predetermined position on the movable suction table 39 at the receiving position A by a combination of the vertical movement of the head 46 and the reciprocating movement in the vertical direction.

  The take-out part 25 is configured to be able to move up and down in a vertical direction between the take-out position 47 and the take-out table 47 by the guide means 48 and a take-out table 47 that takes out the prepreg P having a predetermined size cut vertically and horizontally. A take-out suction head 49 that is movably provided, a top brush 50 that is disposed on the upper side of the delivery position B and removes deposits on the top surface of the prepreg P that is sucked onto the movable suction table 39, and a take-out suction head 49 The lower surface brush 51 for removing the deposits on the lower surface of the prepreg P adsorbed on the prepreg P and the scrap receiving portions 52 disposed on both sides of the take-out table 47 in the lateral direction are provided.

  The take-out table 47 can be moved up and down so that the receiving height of the prepreg P is substantially constant, and in accordance with the size of the prepreg P at the time of take-out so that the ears P2 protruding on both sides in the lateral direction fall downward. A width adjusting portion 47a for adjusting the lateral width is provided on both sides in the horizontal direction, and the ear portion P2 protruding from the width adjusting portion 47a can be collected by the scrap receiving portion 52 as scrap. The scrap receiving part 52 is comprised by the box and other containers. The upper surface brush 50 and the lower surface brush 51 are provided in the hoods 50a and 51a, and the deposits removed from the prepreg P by the brushes 50 and 51 are collected outside.

  The transfer suction head 46 and the take-out suction head 49 are composed of an upper head portion and a lower head portion. If the length of the prepreg P is short according to the length of the longitudinal direction, the upper head portion is used. It can be used properly to use both heads when long.

  When cutting a square or rectangular prepreg P of a predetermined size from the original fabric prepreg P1, the following is performed. That is, when cutting the prepreg P, first, the original fabric roll 4 of the original fabric prepreg P1 is mounted on the support means 26, and the prepreg P of the original fabric prepreg P1 fed out from the original fabric roll 4 is transferred to the dancer roller 27, The paper is supplied onto the fixed suction table 37 of the transverse cutting unit 22 through the meandering correction roller 28, the guide roller 29, the measuring roller 30, and the like. At this time, the length L in the vertical direction from the front end in the feeding direction of the prepreg P to the horizontal cutting position is measured by the measuring roller 30.

  When the longitudinal length L of the original fabric prepreg P1 reaches a predetermined length, the feeding of the original fabric prepreg P1 is stopped, and the prepreg P is adsorbed on the upper surface of the fixed adsorption table 37. As a result, the prepreg P on the fixed suction table 37 can be reliably fixed on the fixed suction table 37, and the prepreg P on the fixed suction table 37 does not move unstably due to injection of the cooling air 14 during cutting.

  Next, while irradiating the prepreg P with the laser beam 6 from the laser emitting portions 5a of the two transverse cutting laser heads 5, the respective transverse cutting laser heads 5 are moved in the lateral direction of the prepreg P, and the laser beam 6 To cut the prepreg P in the lateral direction. In this case, there are two transverse cutting laser heads 5 in the width direction of the prepreg P, and the entire width of the prepreg P is cut in the transverse direction by irradiating the laser beam 6 from each of the transverse cutting laser heads 5. The amount of movement can be reduced as compared with the case of one laser head 5.

  When the transverse cutting of the prepreg P is completed, the adsorption of the prepreg P by the fixed adsorption table 37 is released, while the transfer adsorption head 46 is lowered onto the prepreg P, and the upper surface side of the prepreg P is moved by the transfer adsorption head 46. To adsorb. Then, the transfer suction head 46 is moved to the receiving position A by the guide means 45 while being raised, and then the transfer suction head 46 is lowered onto the movable suction table 39 stopped at the receiving position A. Next, the adsorption of the prepreg P by the transfer adsorption head 46 is released, the transfer adsorption head 46 is raised, and the upper prepreg P is adsorbed by the movable adsorption table 39 so that the prepreg P is placed on the movable adsorption table 39. Fix in place.

  Then, after fixing the prepreg P on the movable suction table 39, the movable suction table 39 is moved from the receiving position A to the delivery position B while emitting the laser light 9 from the laser emitting portions 8a of the four longitudinally cut laser heads 8. And the laser beam 9 cuts the prepreg P in the vertical direction.

  After the longitudinal cutting of the prepreg P, when the movable suction table 39 passes below the upper surface brush 50, the upper surface brush 50 that rotates in the forward direction with respect to the moving direction of the prepreg P removes deposits on the upper surface of the prepreg P. Remove and collect from hood 50a. When the movable suction table 39 reaches the delivery position B and stops, the take-out suction head 49 is lowered onto the movable suction table 39 to release the adsorption of the prepreg P by the movable suction table 39, The upper surface side of the prepreg P is adsorbed.

  Next, the pickup suction head 49 is raised to a height at which the lower surface brush 51 can contact the lower surface of the prepreg P, and the pickup suction head 49 is moved along the guide means 48 to the pickup table 47 in this state. During the movement, the lower surface brush 51 rotating in the forward direction with respect to the moving direction of the prepreg P removes the deposits on the lower surface of the prepreg P and collects them from the hood 51a.

  When the take-out suction head 49 reaches the take-out position, the suction of the prepreg P by the take-out suction head 49 is released, and each prepreg P is stacked on the take-out table 47. At this time, if the horizontal width of the take-out table 47 is adjusted according to the three prepregs P, the ears P2 on both sides in the horizontal direction are not placed on the take-out table 47 when the suction by the take-out suction head 49 is released. Then, it falls to the scrap receiving parts 52 on both sides. For this reason, the ear | edge part P2 can be collect | recovered as a scrap by the scrap receiving part 52. FIG.

  When the prepreg P is irradiated with the laser beams 6 and 9 from the cutting laser heads 5 and 8 during the horizontal cutting and vertical cutting of the prepreg P, the thermosetting resin layer 3 and the glass fiber substrate 2 of the prepreg P are dissolved. Although the temperature is different, the thermal energy of the laser beams 6 and 9 cuts the thermosetting resin layer 3 of the prepreg P and the glass fiber base material 2 without generating cutting powder or the like, while melting at the time of cutting. The molten resin of the thermosetting resin layer 3 penetrates between the glass fibers on the cut end 2a side of the glass fiber base 2 and wraps the cut end 2a from the outside, and the heat of the thermosetting resin The cut end 2a of the glass fiber substrate 2 is hardened by curing.

  That is, when the prepreg P in which the thermosetting resin layer 3 is in a semi-cured state is irradiated with the laser beams 6 and 9, the thermosetting resin layer 3 at the irradiated portion of the laser beams 6 and 9 is melted and cut by the thermal energy. Then, the exposed glass fiber bundle 1 is melted, and the prepreg P can be easily and reliably cut with the movement of the cutting laser heads 5 and 8, and a large amount of cutting powder is generated. Nor.

  In addition, the thermosetting resin such as the central portion of the irradiated portion of the laser beams 6 and 9 disappears as smoke after melting, but at the cut ends on both sides of the disappearing portion, the end surface of the thermosetting resin layer 3 There is a temporarily melted resin on the side, and the molten resin impregnates the protruding portion of the glass fiber bundle 1 and wraps the cut end 2a from the outside. The protruding portion of the fiber base material 2 can be solidified in a covered state. For this reason, even if the cut end 2a side of the glass fiber base 2 comes into contact with another object during handling after cutting the prepreg P, the glass fiber does not become dust or the like, and subsequent handling is easy. it can.

  Further, while irradiating the laser beams 6 and 9, obliquely from the cooling air injection section 13 on the rear side of the laser emitting sections 5a and 8a with respect to the injection area 12 including the irradiation area 11 of the laser beams 6 and 9 of the prepreg P The cooling air 14 is jetted to cool the cut end portion of the prepreg P and the vicinity of both sides thereof. This can prevent an extreme temperature rise of the thermosetting resin layer 3 at the cutting end portion of the prepreg P and in the vicinity of both sides thereof, on the cutting end portion side of the prepreg P, especially on the cutting end portion side of the thermosetting resin layer 3. Carbonization and curing can be suppressed as much as possible.

  The air jetted from the cooling air jet 13 is for cooling and may be at a low pressure that can cool the cut end portion of the prepreg P by air cooling. The thermosetting resin melted by the laser beams 6 and 9 The pressure is not high enough to blow off the layer 3 as a droplet.

  On the other hand, simultaneously with the irradiation of the laser beams 6 and 9 and the injection of the cooling air 14, the cooling air after the smoke, soot, etc. of the molten resin generated when the prepreg P is cut is injected onto the prepreg P 14 is sucked together with the exhaust by the suction part 15 for exhaust and discharged to the outside. For this reason, the air after cooling can be efficiently excluded, the cutting end of the prepreg P can be efficiently cooled by the new cooling air 14 injected from the cooling air injection port, and the generation of dust can be prevented. It is possible to prevent contamination in the vicinity of the cut end portion of the prepreg P due to smoke, soot and the like.

  When the thermosetting resin layer 3 and the glass fiber substrate 2 of the prepreg P are melted by the laser beams 6 and 9, the prepreg is injected with the cooling air 14 in the injection region 12 including the irradiation region 11 of the laser beams 6 and 9. Although P is cooled as much as possible, the thermosetting resin layer 3 in the vicinity of the cut end may be cured by the heat of the laser beams 6 and 9.

  In such a case, as shown in FIG. 9, the hardening prevention allowances PL and PW of the predetermined widths L1 and W1 are secured on the outer periphery of the necessary region X of the prepreg P, and the sizes including the hardening prevention allowances PL and PW are secured. You can cut vertically and horizontally. As a result, the necessary region X of the prepreg P can be maintained in a semi-cured state, and the deterioration of the adhesiveness of the prepreg P in the subsequent process can be sufficiently prevented. The curing prevention allowances PL and PW are determined in consideration of the thickness and material of the prepreg P, the amount of heat energy of the laser beams 6 and 9, and the like. It may be determined so that it does not reach.

  FIG. 10 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, both sides of the cutting lines 7 and 10 of the prepreg P are cooled by the pair of cooling means 53 when the prepreg P is cut. As shown in FIG. 10, the fixed suction table 37 and the movable suction table 39 are provided with cooling means 53 for cooling the cut end side of the prepreg P from the lower side along the cutting lines 7 and 10 over substantially the entire length. ing.

  The cooling means 53 includes a cooling body 55 made of a material having good thermal conductivity and configured to pass a refrigerant (liquid or gas) through the internal refrigerant hole 54, and has a predetermined interval on both sides in the recessed groove 41. A pair is placed. The upper surface of each cooling body 55 is in contact with the lower surface of the prepreg P on the tables 37 and 39, and the vicinity of both sides of the cut end of the prepreg P is cooled by the cold heat during cutting. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In this case, the hardened area on the cut end side of the prepreg P due to the heat of the laser beams 6 and 9 at the time of cutting can be minimized.

  FIG. 11 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, immediately after the cutting of the prepreg P, a pair of upper and lower pressing rollers 56 pressurize the cutting end of the prepreg P and a predetermined area near both sides thereof from both the upper and lower sides, and heat at the time of cutting. By the melting and curing of the curable resin layer 3, the raised portions 57 formed on the upper and lower sides on the cut end side of the prepreg P are removed to make it flat. In this way, since the raised portion 57 on the cut end side of the prepreg P is eliminated, the adhesion state between the prepreg P and the printed wiring board in the manufacturing process of the multilayer printed wiring board can be improved.

  The upper and lower pressing rollers 56 may be provided so as to move relative to the prepreg P in the same direction at substantially the same speed as the cutting laser heads 5 and 8. Further, each pressing roller 56 may be cooled by passing a refrigerant through it. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The pressing roller 56 is desirably disposed between the irradiation region 11 of the laser beams 6 and 9 and the spraying position of the cooling air 14.

  As mentioned above, although one Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to this Example, It can implement in another various aspect. For example, in the examples, the cutting of the prepreg P using the glass fiber substrate 2 is illustrated, but the present invention can also be applied to the case of similarly cutting the prepreg P using the aramid fiber substrate. The glass fiber substrate 2 may be a glass cloth, a glass nonwoven fabric, or a glass mat.

  In order to prevent the prepreg P from affecting the thermosetting resin layer 3 as much as possible, a laser output laser generator for small output is suitable for the laser generator, but other laser generators are used. It is also possible. When the prepreg P is cut vertically and horizontally by the laser beams 6 and 9, a plurality of the transverse cutting laser heads 5 may be arranged on a straight line, or the plurality of transverse cutting laser heads 5 may be arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. The prepreg P may be cut in the lateral direction at a plurality of positions by the laser beams 6 and 9 irradiated from the respective transverse cutting laser heads 5.

  The prepreg P may be cut in the vertical direction at a plurality of vertical cutting points by combining the horizontal movement of one or a plurality of vertical cutting laser heads 8 and the vertical movement of the movable suction table 39. It is sufficient if the cutting laser head and the prepreg P can be moved relative to each other in the cutting direction.

  The cooling air injection unit 13 and the exhaust suction unit 15 are positions that can inject the cooling air 14 into the injection range including the cut part of the prepreg P and can suck and exhaust the smoke generated from the cut part. The laser emitting units 5a and 8a may be arranged in any position and direction.

  An inert gas such as nitrogen gas may be used as the cooling gas instead of the cooling air. In addition to continuously irradiating the prepreg P with the laser beams 6 and 9, the laser beams 6 and 9 may be irradiated intermittently so that a part of the irradiation region 11 overlaps the cutting direction.

It is explanatory drawing of the cutting process of the prepreg which shows the 1st Example of this invention. It is a 1st partial fracture top view of a prepreg which shows the 1st example of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the cutting part of the prepreg which shows the 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the cutting state of the prepreg which shows the 1st Example of this invention. It is a top view of the cutting state of the prepreg which shows the 1st Example of this invention. It is a front view of the cutting device which shows the 1st example of the present invention. It is a top view of the cutting device which shows the 1st example of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the table which shows the 1st Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the prepreg which shows the 1st Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the table which shows the 2nd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the cutting state of the prepreg which shows the 3rd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

P Prepreg 2 Glass fiber substrate 2a Cutting end 3 Thermosetting resin layer 5 Horizontal cutting laser head 6, 9 Laser beam 8 Vertical cutting laser head 11 Irradiation area 12 Injection area 14 Cooling air 37 Fixed adsorption table 39 Movable adsorption table

Claims (5)

In the prepreg cutting method in which a glass fiber base material is impregnated with a thermosetting resin and semi-cured, the prepreg is cut into a predetermined size. The prepreg is irradiated with laser light to cut the prepreg, while the heat after cutting is cut. A method for cutting a prepreg, comprising: curing a curable resin to solidify a cut end portion of the glass fiber substrate in a state where the cut end portion side of the glass fiber substrate is wrapped with the thermosetting resin. Cutting the prepreg while moving the laser light relative to the prepreg in a cutting direction, and injecting a cooling gas into an injection region including an irradiation region of the laser light with respect to the prepreg; The prepreg cutting method according to claim 1, wherein the prepreg cutting portion is cooled by a cooling gas. The method for cutting a prepreg according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cooling gas is injected in a relative movement direction from the already cut side to the prepreg. The method for cutting a prepreg according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the prepreg is cut by the laser beam, and smoke and other products generated during the cutting are sucked and removed. The prepreg cutting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the prepreg is sucked and fixed on a suction table, and the laser light is irradiated along a cutting line between the suction portions. Method.

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