JP2013013902A - Laser processing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a bending load acting on an optical fiber in controlling a position and direction of a machining head.SOLUTION: The optical fiber 2 and the machining head 3 are connected by a connecting mechanism 4 of a multijoint structure. Thereby, the connecting mechanism 4 freely moves in accordance with movement of the machining head 3, and movement on a connection part side of the optical fiber 2 and the connecting mechanism 4 is reduced to suppress the bending load acting on the optical fiber 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser beam machine for emitting a laser beam transmitted through an optical fiber from a machining head.

  Conventionally, a laser processing machine has been proposed that guides a laser from a laser oscillator to a processing head using an optical fiber, controls the position and orientation of the processing head with a robot, and performs cutting and welding (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-21550 A

  However, in the conventional laser processing machine, a large bending load is applied to the optical fiber at the connection portion between the optical fiber and the processing head with the movement of the processing head.

  On the other hand, when trying to avoid the breakage of the optical fiber due to the bending load, there arises a problem that a delicate operation of the robot is forced and a control range of the position and orientation of the processing head is restricted.

  In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to suppress a bending load acting on an optical fiber when controlling the position and orientation of a machining head.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a laser processing machine for emitting a laser beam transmitted by an optical fiber (2) from a processing head (3), an optical fiber (2) and a processing head ( 3) is connected by a multi-joint structure connection mechanism (4).

  According to this, when the position and orientation of the machining head (3) are controlled by a robot, the coupling mechanism (4) freely moves in accordance with the movement of the machining head (3), so that the optical fiber (2) Since the movement of the connecting portion side with the coupling mechanism (4) is reduced, the bending load acting on the optical fiber (2) can be suppressed.

  As in the invention according to claim 2, in the laser processing machine according to claim 1, the optical fiber (2) is connected, and the laser beam transmitted through the optical fiber (2) is collimated. A first structure (5) including a lens (52) and a first structure (5) rotatably coupled to the first structure (5) and reflecting a collimated laser beam by the collimating lens (52) A second structure (6) having a built-in first reflecting mirror (61) and a second structure (6) that is rotatably coupled to the first reflecting mirror (61) and reflected by the first reflecting mirror (61). The coupling mechanism (4) can be constituted by the third structure (7) in which the second reflecting mirror (71) for reflecting the laser is incorporated.

  As in the invention described in claim 3, in the laser processing machine described in claim 2, the coupling mechanism (4) is further rotatably coupled to the third structure (7) and processed. A fourth structure (8) to which the head (3) is coupled may be provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing machine according to the first aspect, the coupling mechanism (4) connects the optical fiber (2) and transmits the laser transmitted through the optical fiber (2). A first structure (5) having a collimating lens (52) for collimating light and a first structure (5) that is rotatably coupled to the collimating lens (52), and is collimated by the collimating lens (52). The first prism (64) for changing the direction of the laser beam and the second structure (6) including the first reflecting mirror (61) for reflecting the laser whose direction is changed by the first prism (64) And a third structure including a second reflecting mirror (71) that is rotatably coupled to the second structure (6) and reflects the laser reflected by the first reflecting mirror (61). And a body (7).

  According to this, it becomes possible to make the connection mechanism (4) as a whole substantially straight, which is advantageous when the machining head (3) enters a narrow space.

  As in the invention described in claim 5, in the laser processing machine described in claim 4, the connection mechanism (4) is further rotatably coupled to the third structure (7) and is processed by the processing head. A fourth structure (8) in which a second prism (82) that couples (3) and changes the direction of the laser beam reflected by the second reflecting mirror (71) is incorporated may be provided.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the coupling mechanism (4) cools the optical elements (61, 71) in the coupling mechanism (4). It is characterized by having a water channel (53, 62, 72, 81) in the coupling mechanism for circulating the cooling water for this purpose.

  According to this, a connection mechanism (4) can be cooled with cooling water.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the laser processing machine according to the second or fourth aspect, the coupling mechanism (4) is a cooling water for cooling the optical elements (61, 71) in the coupling mechanism (4). In the connection mechanism water channel (53) of the first structure (5) and in the connection mechanism water channel (62) of the second structure (6). Are communicated via an annular water channel communication groove (63) centered on the relative rotational axis (a) of the first structure (5) and the second structure (6), and the second structure (6) The connection mechanism water channel (72) between the connection mechanism water channel (62) and the third structure (7) is centered on the relative rotational axis (b) of the second structure (6) and the third structure (7). It is characterized by communicating through an annular water channel connecting groove.

  According to this, irrespective of the rotational positional relationship between the first structure (5) and the second structure (6) and the rotational positional relationship between the second structure (6) and the third structure (7), The water channel of the structure can be communicated through the water channel communication groove.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the laser beam machine according to the sixth or seventh aspect, the machining head (3) is connected to the water channel (53, 62, 72, 81) in the coupling mechanism, and the machining head ( 3) It is characterized by having a water channel (81) in the processing head for circulating cooling water for cooling the optical element (31) in the inside.

  According to this, the processing head (3) can be cooled by the cooling water.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each means described in this column and the claim shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

It is a figure showing the whole laser beam machine composition concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the principal part in the laser beam machine of FIG. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the laser beam machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a laser beam machine according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of the laser beam machine in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a laser beam machine is a laser oscillator 1 that is a laser light source, an optical fiber 2 that transmits a laser oscillated from the laser oscillator 1, and a laser beam transmitted through the optical fiber 2 is directed toward a workpiece. And a multi-joint structure coupling mechanism 4 for coupling the optical fiber 2 and the machining head 3 to each other.

  In the laser processing machine of the present embodiment, the position and orientation of the processing head 3 are controlled by an articulated robot (not shown).

  The connection mechanism 4 includes first to fourth structures 5 to 8 in which a space through which a laser passes is formed.

  The first structure 5 includes a first housing 50 made of aluminum or copper. The optical fiber 2 is connected to the first housing 50 by a fiber connector 51 and transmitted through the optical fiber 2. A collimating lens 52 that makes the laser parallel light is incorporated. The first casing 50 is connected to a hose 10 that guides cooling water, and is formed with a first water channel 53 through which the cooling water guided by the hose 10 flows.

  A second structure 6 is coupled to the first structure 5, and the second structure 6 includes a second housing 60 made of aluminum or copper. The second housing 60 includes a collimating lens 52. A first reflecting mirror 61 is incorporated as an optical element that reflects the laser collimated in (1) in the orthogonal direction. The first reflecting mirror 61 is a parabolic mirror or a plane mirror. The first reflecting mirror 61 can also be formed integrally with the second housing 60. The second casing 60 and the first reflecting mirror 61 are formed with a second water channel 62 through which the cooling water guided through the first water channel 53 is circulated.

  The first structure 5 and the second structure 6 are rotatably coupled around the optical axis a of the laser that has passed through the collimator lens 52 as a rotation axis. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the first structure 5 and the second structure 6 are rotatably coupled via two bearings 11. These bearings 11 are radial ball bearings in which a large number of steel balls 113 are arranged between an inner ring 111 and an outer ring 112. The bearing 11 is desirably a bearing having a lip seal for waterproofing.

  In the second housing 60, an annular water channel communication groove 63 centering on the optical axis a is formed at the most upstream portion of the second water channel 62. Regardless of the rotational positional relationship between the first structure 5 and the second structure 6, the first water channel 53 and the second water channel 62 communicate with each other through the water channel communication groove 63.

  Returning to FIG. 1, a third structure 7 is coupled to the second structure 6, and the third structure 7 includes a third housing 70 made of aluminum or copper. Includes a second reflecting mirror 71 as an optical element that reflects the laser beam reflected by the first reflecting mirror 61 in the orthogonal direction. The second reflecting mirror 71 is a parabolic mirror or a plane mirror. The second reflecting mirror 71 can also be formed integrally with the third housing 70. The third casing 70 and the second reflecting mirror 71 are formed with a third water channel 72 through which the cooling water guided through the second water channel 62 is circulated.

  The second structure body 6 and the third structure body 7 are rotatably coupled around the optical axis b of the laser beam reflected by the first reflecting mirror 61 as a rotation axis. Similar to the first structure 5 and the second structure 6, the second structure 6 and the third structure 7 are rotatably coupled via two bearings 11.

  Although not shown, the third casing 70 is formed with an annular water channel communication groove centered on the optical axis b in the uppermost stream portion of the third water channel 72. Regardless of the rotational positional relationship between the second structure 6 and the third structure 7, the second water channel 62 and the third water channel 72 communicate with each other through the water channel communication groove.

  A fourth structure 8 is coupled to the third structure 7, and the fourth structure 8 includes a fourth housing 80 made of aluminum or copper. The fourth housing 80 includes a third water channel. A fourth water channel 81 through which the cooling water led through 72 is circulated is formed.

  The third structure 7 and the fourth structure 8 are rotatably coupled with the optical axis c of the laser beam reflected by the second reflecting mirror 71 as the rotation axis. Similar to the first structure 5 and the second structure 6, the third structure 7 and the fourth structure 8 are rotatably coupled via two bearings 11.

  Although not shown, the fourth casing 80 is formed with an annular water channel communication groove centered on the optical axis c in the uppermost stream portion of the fourth water channel 81. Regardless of the rotational positional relationship between the third structure 7 and the fourth structure 8, the third water channel 72 and the fourth water channel 81 communicate with each other through the water channel communication groove.

  In addition, the 1st water channel 53, the 2nd water channel 62, the 3rd water channel 72, and the 4th water channel 81 comprise the water channel in a connection mechanism of this invention.

  The machining head 3 is coupled to the fourth structure 8, and the machining head 3 includes a machining head housing 30 made of aluminum or copper. The machining head housing 30 is provided with a second reflecting mirror 71. A condensing lens 31 is incorporated as an optical element that condenses the reflected laser at a predetermined position. Further, the processing head housing 30 is formed with a processing head internal water channel 32 through which the cooling water guided through the fourth water channel 81 flows. Instead of the condensing lens 31, a collimating lens that makes the laser parallel light and a condensing mirror as an optical element that condenses the laser at a predetermined position can be used.

  In the laser processing machine configured as described above, the laser oscillated from the laser oscillator 1 is transmitted to the coupling mechanism 4 through the optical fiber 2, the laser is guided to the machining head 3 through the coupling mechanism 4, and the laser is further transmitted. By being emitted toward the workpiece, the workpiece is cut or welded.

  When cutting or welding the workpiece, the position and orientation of the machining head 3 are controlled by a robot.

  When the position and orientation of the machining head 3 are controlled by a robot, the first structure 5 and the second structure 6 are relatively free to move with the optical axis a as the rotation axis in accordance with the movement of the machining head 3. The second structure 6 and the third structure 7 rotate relatively freely with the optical axis b as the rotation axis, and the third structure 7 and the fourth structure 8 have the optical axis c as the rotation axis. Rotates relatively freely.

  That is, the coupling mechanism 4 freely moves with the movement of the machining head 3, and thereby the connection portion between the optical fiber 2 and the first structure 5 as compared with the movement of the machining head 3 and the fourth structure 8. The side movement is reduced, and the bending load acting on the optical fiber 2 is suppressed.

  Further, when cutting or welding the workpiece, the cooling water guided by the hose 10 is processed through the first water channel 53, the second water channel 62, the third water channel 72, and the fourth water channel 81. The optical element (that is, the collimating lens 52, the first reflecting mirror 61, the second reflecting mirror 71, and the condenser lens 31) that is guided to the in-head water passage 32 and generates heat by the laser is cooled.

  The cooling water guided to the processing head water channel 32 may be discharged toward the workpiece, or may be returned by a hose or the like.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a laser beam machine according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second housing 60 of the second structure 6 includes a second housing body 60a and a second housing plate 60b. The second housing plate 60b faces the first housing 50 of the first structure 5, and the first structure 5 and the second structure 6 are formed by the first housing 50 and the second housing plate. Using 60b, the optical axis a is used as a rotation axis so as to be freely rotatable.

  The second casing plate 60b incorporates a first prism 64 that changes the direction of the laser beam collimated by the collimator lens 52. The laser whose direction is changed by the first prism 64 is reflected by the first reflecting mirror 61 in the second housing body 60a. The optical axis b of the laser beam reflected by the first reflecting mirror 61 is orthogonal to the optical axis a of the laser beam that has passed through the collimating lens 52.

  The third housing 70 of the third structure 7 includes a third housing body 70a and a third housing plate 70b. The third casing body 70a faces the second casing body 60a, and the second structure 6 and the third structure 7 are the second casing body 60a and the third casing body 70a. , And the optical axis b is used as a rotation axis. The laser beam reflected by the first reflecting mirror 61 is reflected at an acute angle by the second reflecting mirror 71 in the third housing body 70a.

  The third housing plate part 70b faces the fourth housing 80 of the fourth structure 8, and the third structure 7 and the fourth structure 8 have the third housing plate part 70b and the fourth housing. Using the body 80, the optical axis d of a laser to be described later is rotatably coupled.

  The fourth housing 80 of the fourth structure 8 includes a second prism 82 that changes the direction of the laser beam reflected by the second reflecting mirror 71 at an acute angle. The optical axis d of the laser whose direction is changed by the second prism 82 is orthogonal to the optical axis b of the laser reflected by the first reflecting mirror 61.

  In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the water channel which distribute | circulates the cooling water for cooling an optical element is formed also in the laser processing machine of this embodiment similarly to 1st Embodiment.

  In the laser processing machine having the above configuration, when the position and orientation of the processing head 3 are controlled by a robot, the first structure 5 and the second structure 6 have the optical axis a as the processing head 3 moves. The second structural body 6 and the third structural body 7 rotate relatively freely with the optical axis b as the rotational axis, and the third structural body 7 and the fourth structural body 8 The optical axis d rotates relatively freely about the rotation axis.

  Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the movement on the connection portion side between the optical fiber 2 and the first structure 5 is smaller than the movement of the machining head 3 and the fourth structure 8, and the optical fiber 2 The acting bending load is suppressed.

  Here, in the connection mechanism 4 of the first embodiment that does not use the first prism 64 or the second prism 82, the first structure 5 and the second structure 6 are arranged coaxially, and the third structure 7 and the fourth structure 4 are arranged. The structure 8 is also arranged coaxially. Moreover, the 1st structure 5 and the 2nd structure 6, and the 3rd structure 7 and the 4th structure 8 become non-coaxial. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the coupling mechanism 4 has an L-shaped crank as a whole.

  On the other hand, the coupling mechanism 4 of the present embodiment uses the first prism 64 and the second prism 82, thereby allowing the second housing body 60a and the fourth structure 8 to be connected to the first structure 5 and the fourth structure 8. The third housing body 70a can be arranged eccentrically, and the degree of freedom in arranging them is increased. Thereby, the coupling mechanism 4 can be made substantially straight as a whole, which is advantageous when the machining head 3 enters into a narrow space.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above embodiments, the third structure 7 and the fourth structure 8 are rotatably coupled, but the third structure 7 and the fourth structure 8 do not have to rotate relative to each other.

  Moreover, each said embodiment can be arbitrarily combined in the range which can be implemented.

2 Optical fiber 3 Processing head 4 Coupling mechanism 5 First structure 6 Second structure 7 Third structure 8 Fourth structure 52 Collimator lens 61 First reflecting mirror 71 Second reflecting mirror

Claims (8)

  In a laser processing machine that emits a laser beam transmitted through an optical fiber (2) from a processing head (3), the optical fiber (2) and the processing head (3) are connected by a joint mechanism (4) having an articulated structure. A laser beam machine characterized by being connected. The connection mechanism (4)
A first structure (5) having a built-in collimator lens (52) to which the optical fiber (2) is connected and the laser transmitted by the optical fiber (2) is parallel light;
A second structure including a first reflecting mirror (61) that is rotatably coupled to the first structure (5) and reflects the laser beam collimated by the collimator lens (52). Body (6),
A third structure including a second reflecting mirror (71) that is rotatably coupled to the second structure (6) and reflects the laser reflected by the first reflecting mirror (61). The laser processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a body.   The coupling mechanism (4) includes a fourth structure (8) coupled to the third structure (7) so as to be rotatable and coupled to the processing head (3). The laser beam machine according to claim 2. The connection mechanism (4)
A first structure (5) having a built-in collimator lens (52) to which the optical fiber (2) is connected and the laser transmitted by the optical fiber (2) is parallel light;
A first prism (64) that is rotatably coupled to the first structure (5) and changes the direction of the laser beam collimated by the collimator lens (52), and the first prism ( 64) a second structure (6) having a built-in first reflecting mirror (61) for reflecting the laser whose direction has been changed;
A third structure including a second reflecting mirror (71) that is rotatably coupled to the second structure (6) and reflects the laser reflected by the first reflecting mirror (61). The laser processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a body.   The coupling mechanism (4) is rotatably coupled to the third structure (7) and the processing head (3) is coupled to the laser reflected by the second reflecting mirror (71). The laser beam machine according to claim 4, further comprising a fourth structure (8) in which a second prism (82) for changing the orientation of the second prism (82) is incorporated.   The coupling mechanism (4) includes a coupling mechanism water channel (53, 62, 72, 81) for circulating cooling water for cooling the optical elements (61, 71) in the coupling mechanism (4). The laser beam machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The coupling mechanism (4) includes a coupling mechanism water channel (53, 62, 72, 81) for circulating cooling water for cooling the optical elements (61, 71) in the coupling mechanism (4).
The connection mechanism water channel (53) of the first structure (5) and the connection mechanism water channel (62) of the second structure (6) are formed by connecting the first structure (5) and the second structure ( 6) is communicated through an annular water channel communication groove (63) centered on the relative rotation axis (a) of FIG.
The water channel (62) in the coupling mechanism of the second structure (6) and the water channel (72) in the coupling mechanism of the third structure (7) are connected to the second structure (6) and the third structure ( 7. The laser processing machine according to claim 2, wherein the laser processing machine is communicated via an annular water passage communication groove centering on a relative rotation axis (b) of 7).   The processing head (3) is connected to the water channel (53, 62, 72, 81) in the coupling mechanism, and circulates cooling water for cooling the optical element (31) in the processing head (3). The laser processing machine according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a water channel (81) in the processing head.

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