JP2015013297A - Laser beam machine, and method for adjusting laser beam machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser beam machine which can automatically perform a centering process with a high accuracy.SOLUTION: A laser beam machine according to this invention comprises: an image-capturing means 5 disposed on the downstream side of laser beam with respect to a laser-machining nozzle 9; transfer means for transferring a focal position of laser beam; a condenser lens 7 which can be freely moved by the transfer means; and a control device 6 for controlling the transfer means 8, the image-capturing means 5 and an oscillator. A method for adjusting the laser beam machine according to this invention comprises: a step of image-capturing a nozzle port of the laser-machining nozzle 9 by the image-capturing means 5 from the downstream side of the laser beam; a step of image-capturing the laser beam by the image-capturing means 5; a step of calculating a center of the nozzle port from a captured image of the nozzle port; a step of calculating a center of the laser beam from a captured-image of the laser beam; a step of calculating a deviation amount between the center of the nozzle port and the center of the laser beam; and a step of outputting a correction command according to the deviation amount, to the transfer means 8 for transferring the condenser lens 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser processing machine and a method for adjusting a laser processing machine.

In the conventional centering method, for example, the laser beam is actually irradiated onto the tape, the state where the spatter is scattered is photographed with a CCD camera, and the position of the condenser lens in the processing head is moved so as to adjust the center of gravity of the spatter scattering. It was carried out by letting. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
Alternatively, an optical flat mounted so that the angle with respect to the laser beam can be changed in the machining head, and the path of the laser beam is changed by a reflecting mirror, so that the center of the laser beam and the center of the nozzle axis are photographed with a CCD camera. The angle of the optical flat was changed so that the center of the laser beam and the center of the nozzle axis coincided. (For example, see Patent Document 2)

Japanese Patent No. 3761684 (3rd page, Fig. 1) JP2003-225787 (first page, FIG. 4)

  However, in these methods, for example, manual work for replacing the tape is required. Or, since it was necessary to temporarily change the path of the laser beam to a path different from the actual processing in order to photograph the center of the laser beam with a camera or the like, there was a problem that the accuracy of the centering deteriorated. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to obtain a laser processing machine that automatically performs a highly accurate centering process.

  In the laser processing machine according to the present invention, the photographing means installed on the downstream side of the laser light from the processing nozzle, the moving means for moving the focal position of the laser light, and the condensing lens movable by the moving means And a controller for controlling the moving means, the photographing means, and the oscillator.

  According to the present invention, since the nozzle and the laser beam are imaged by the imaging means installed on the downstream side of the laser beam with respect to the processing nozzle, it is possible to obtain a laser processing machine capable of highly accurate centering processing with a simple configuration. .

It is the schematic which shows the centering process of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a control flowchart of the CNC apparatus of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the schematic of the image which the CCD camera of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 1 of this invention image | photographed. It is the schematic which shows the centering process of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a control flowchart of the CNC apparatus of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the centering process of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a control flowchart of the CNC apparatus of the laser beam machine in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a centering process of a laser beam machine according to Embodiment 1 for carrying out the present invention. The X-Z axis is as shown, and the Y-axis is a direction penetrating the paper surface of FIG. The laser processing machine 1 includes an oscillator 2, a fiber cable 3, a processing head 4, a CCD camera 5 (imaging means), a CNC device 6 (control device), and a processing table 15. A workpiece 11 is provided on the processing table. The oscillator 2 can emit two types of laser light, a guide laser Lg and an actual processing laser Lr, which are different from the actual processing, in accordance with a command from the CNC device 6, and the output energy of the actual processing laser Lr is adjusted. Is possible. The guide laser beam Lg is used as the laser beam during the centering process, and the actual machining laser beam Lr is used during the actual machining. Since FIG. 1 is a diagram in which centering processing is performed, the guide laser beam Lg is output. The guide laser beam Lg is emitted from a laser light source that is mounted in the oscillator 2 and outputs a laser beam having a wavelength that does not damage the CCD camera 5. Whether the laser beam is a guide laser beam Lg or an actual processing laser beam Lr, the laser beam passes through the fiber cable 3 and enters the processing head 4. The laser beam is collected by the condensing lens 7, passes through the nozzle port 9 a, and exits. By passing through the fiber cable 3, transmission can be performed in the same optical path regardless of the output energy level of the guide laser Lg or the actual processing laser Lr, or any output energy level in the actual processing laser Lr. Is possible.

The processing head 4 is provided with a condenser lens 7 and a first motor 8 (moving means for moving the condenser lens), and the first motor 8 controls the position of the condenser lens 7 as described later. . Since the first motor 8 moves the condenser lens 7 in the XY plane, it is necessary for the X axis and the Y axis respectively. However, since both are the same, the first motor 8 moves, for example, the X axis. Only the motor 8 is shown. The position where the centering process is performed is the end of the processing table 15 as shown in FIG. The CCD camera 5 has illumination and is connected to the CNC device 6. The CCD camera 5 is installed at the end of the machining table 15 in the XY direction and at the downstream side of the guide laser beam Lg from the machining table 15 in the Z-axis direction. When performing the centering process, the CNC device 5 sends a command to a second motor (not shown) to move the machining head 4 and moves the machining head 4 so as to face the CCD camera 5. Since the processing table 15 has a sword mountain shape and a gap is formed in the XY plane, the laser beam Lg from the processing nozzle 9a to the CCD camera 5 is not hindered. The position of the centering process is not limited to the end of the processing table 15. In short, the CCD camera 5 may be arranged on the downstream side of the path of the guide laser light Lg so as to photograph the nozzle port 9a and the guide laser light Lg from the downstream side of the guide laser light Lg.

  Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the laser beam machine in the present embodiment. The CNC device 6 outputs to the CCD camera 5 instructions for turning on / off the illumination and photographing images. The CCD camera 5 turns on and off the illumination based on a command from the CNC device 6, takes an image of the guide laser beam Lg or the nozzle port 9 a, and sends the taken image to the CNC device 6. The CNC device 6 compares the center positions of the nozzle opening 9a and the guide laser light Lg from the image, calculates the shift amount, and moves and moves the condenser lens 7 for correcting the calculated shift amount. And a correction command is transmitted to the first motor 8 in order to move the condenser lens 7 by the calculated movement direction and movement amount. The first motor 8 that has received the correction command moves the condenser lens 7 in accordance with the correction command. As the condenser lens 7 moves, the center position of the guide laser beam Lg moves, and the deviation from the center position of the nozzle port 9a is corrected.

  FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the CNC apparatus. First, in S100, the CNC device 6 sends a command to the second motor to move the machining head 4 above the CCD camera 5. In S101, the CNC device 6 outputs an illumination lighting command to the CCD camera 5, and the CCD camera 5 lights the illumination. In S102, the CNC device 6 outputs a command to the CCD camera 5 to capture an image, and the CCD camera 5 captures the nozzle port 9a (hereinafter, the captured image of the nozzle port 9a is referred to as image 1). In S103, the CNC device 6 outputs a command to turn off the illumination to the CCD camera 5, and the CCD camera 5 turns off the illumination. In S104, the CNC device 6 outputs a command to the oscillator 2 to oscillate the guide laser Lg, and the oscillator 2 outputs the guide laser light Lg. In S105, the CNC device 6 outputs a command to capture an image with the CCD camera 5, and the CCD camera 5 captures the guide laser beam Lg (hereinafter, the captured image of the laser beam is referred to as an image 2). In S106, the center position of the nozzle port 9a (hereinafter referred to as the center C1) is calculated from the image 1. In S107, the center position of the guide laser beam Lg (hereinafter referred to as the center C2) is calculated from the image 2.

Here, the center position calculation in S106 and S107 is performed by an image processing method such as binarization, Hough transform, or edge detection, for example. Note that the calculation method is not limited to these examples. Next, the CNC device 6 calculates the amount of deviation between the center C1 of the nozzle port 9a and the center C2 of the guide laser beam Lg (S108). Here, since the center C2 of the guide laser beam Lg is calculated with respect to the substantially circular guide laser beam Lg, the guide laser beam Lg does not necessarily have to be condensed. That is, the image capturing position only needs to be on the downstream side of the guide laser beam Lg from the processing nozzle. In S109, the CNC device 6 compares the deviation amount with a preset value D, and when the deviation amount is equal to or less than the preset value D, the centering of the guide laser beam Lg is completed. When the deviation amount is larger than the preset value D, the CNC device 6 calculates a correction amount (movement direction and movement amount of the condenser lens 7) corresponding to the deviation amount, and outputs a correction command to the first motor 8. To do. As a result, the first motor 8 corrects the position of the condenser lens 7 and repeats the processing from S101 to S109 again until the amount of deviation becomes D or less.
By repeating this series of operations, the centering process of the guide laser beam Lg is performed. Note that this processing is an example, and for example, the presence or absence of illumination, the order of image capturing of the nozzle opening and guide laser light, and the like are not limited thereto.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an image taken by the CCD camera 5. (A) is an image 1 corresponding to the image taken in S102 of FIG. 3, and (b) is an image 2 corresponding to the image taken in S105 of FIG.

  In this way, since the guide laser beam Lg is directly observed from the downstream side and the centering process is automatically performed, even the beginner of the centering process can perform the centering process with high accuracy regardless of the skill level of the operator. In addition, by installing the CCD camera 5 on the downstream side of the guide laser beam Lg with respect to the processing nozzle 9, it is possible to perform the centering process with a simple configuration on the upstream side of the guide laser beam Lg with respect to the processing nozzle 9. In addition, parts such as optical flats and reflecting mirrors can be reduced, and high-precision centering is possible. Further, the cost can be reduced or the apparatus can be downsized. Further, since the path of the guide laser beam Lg is the same as the path of the actual processing laser beam Lr, in this embodiment, the guide laser beam Lg is used for the centering process, but an actual processing laser beam may be used. In this case, a light source for guide laser light is not required for the oscillator 2, and the apparatus can be simplified.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the centering process of the laser beam machine according to Embodiment 2 for carrying out the present invention. In the configuration of the present embodiment, input means 10 is added to the configuration of the first embodiment. The laser beam used for the centering process is the guide laser beam Lg in the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, the low-power actual processing laser beam Lrl and the guide laser beam Lg can be selected. Others are the same as in the first embodiment. The input means 10 is, for example, a keyboard or a touch panel. The input means 10 is connected to the CNC device 6.

  FIG. 6 shows a control flowchart of the CNC device in the present embodiment. The difference from the first embodiment is S201. In S <b> 201, the operator selects the laser beam L as the guide laser beam Lg or the low-power actual processing laser beam Lrl and inputs it to the input means 10. Here, the output level of the actual processing laser beam Lrl is a level at which the CCD camera 5 is not damaged even when the CCD camera 5 is irradiated, and is set in advance. S100 to S103 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In S104, the oscillator 6 is obtained so that the CNC device 6 acquires the signal input in S201 from the input unit 10 and outputs the laser light L (guide laser light Lg or low-power actual processing laser light Lrl) according to the input signal. A command is transmitted to 2 and the commanded laser beam L is irradiated.

  In the laser transmitted by the fiber cable 3, the optical axis does not deviate between the low output and the high output of the actual processing laser. For this reason, in the present embodiment, by making it possible to select centering with the low-power actual processing laser light Lrl, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to perform centering with higher accuracy. However, in the case of an output that damages the CCD camera, the CCD camera is provided with a protective glass. The protective glass is disposed on the laser beam path between the machining nozzle 9 and the CCD camera 5 and attenuates the energy of the actual machining laser beam.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the centering process of the laser beam machine according to Embodiment 3 for carrying out the present invention. A nozzle changer (nozzle exchange device) 12 and a nozzle brush 14 are added to the first embodiment, and the other components having the same reference numerals are the same as those in the first embodiment. The nozzle changer 12 stores, for example, a plurality of machining nozzles 13 having different nozzle diameters and is connected to the CNC device 6. For example, the nozzle changer 12 is installed in an area where the machining head 4 is movable, which is different from the machining area. Similarly to the nozzle changer 12, the nozzle brush 14 is installed, for example, in a region different from the processing region, and the CNC device 6 moves the processing nozzle 9 so that the processing nozzle 9 is rubbed onto the nozzle brush 14, whereby the processing nozzle The dirt such as spatter attached to 9 is removed.

  FIG. 8 shows a control flowchart of the CNC apparatus in the present embodiment. S300 to S306 are added to the centering process of the CNC device 6 in the first embodiment. First, in S300, the CNC device 6 moves the machining head 4 onto the nozzle changer 12. Next, in S301, the CNC device 6 rubs the machining head 4 on the nozzle brush 14 and cleans the machining nozzle 9. In S302, the nozzle changer 12 replaces the processing nozzle 9. S100 to S102 are the same as those in the first embodiment. When the dirt of the nozzle port 9 is detected in S303, the process proceeds to S304, the processing nozzle 9 is cleaned with the nozzle brush, and the process returns to S103. S103 is the same as that in the first embodiment. In S305, the diameter of the nozzle port 9a is calculated from the image 1. In S306, it is confirmed whether or not the calculated nozzle port 9a matches the required processing condition, and an error is returned if it does not match the processing condition. On the other hand, if the processing conditions match, the process proceeds to S104. The processes from S104 to S110 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Note that the execution timings of S301 and S302 are not limited to this, and the execution timings of S303 and S304 may be any timing between S103 and S109 after the image 1 is captured in S102.
In the present embodiment, since the processing nozzle diameter is confirmed using the image 1, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, an erroneous installation of the replacement nozzle is prevented, and further, the nozzle using the image 1 is used. By detecting the dirt on the mouth 9a and adding a cleaning function by the nozzle brush 14, it is possible to prevent clogging of the nozzle holes due to dirt such as spatter, and the processing stability during automatic operation is improved.

2 Oscillator 4 Processing head 5 CCD camera 6 CNC device 7 Condensing lens 8 Motor 9 Processing nozzle

Claims (7)

A machining head;
A processing nozzle connected to the tip of the processing head and emitting laser light from an opening;
An oscillator that outputs laser light;
A condenser lens provided in the processing head for condensing laser light;
Imaging means installed on the downstream side of the laser beam from the processing nozzle;
Moving means for moving the condenser lens;
A laser processing machine comprising: the photographing unit, the moving unit, and a control device that controls the oscillator. The laser beam machine according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam is transmitted by a fiber cable. Further comprising input means connected to the control means;
The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the control device receives a signal from the input unit. The laser processing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a protection unit that attenuates laser light between the imaging unit and the processing nozzle. A processing nozzle that is not connected to the processing head; and a nozzle exchange device that replaces the processing nozzle connected to the processing head;
The laser processing machine according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle exchange device is connected to a control device. A step of photographing the nozzle port of the processing nozzle from the downstream side of the laser light with photographing means;
Imaging a laser beam with the imaging means;
A step of moving the condenser lens by a moving means so as to correct a deviation between the center of the nozzle opening and the center of the laser beam based on the image photographed in the step;
The adjustment method of the laser processing machine which consists of. A step of photographing the nozzle port of the processing nozzle from the downstream side of the laser light with photographing means;
Imaging a laser beam with the imaging means;
Calculating the center of the nozzle port from the captured image of the nozzle port;
Calculating the center of the laser beam from the captured image of the laser beam;
Calculating the amount of deviation between the center of the nozzle opening and the center of the laser beam;
Outputting a correction command corresponding to the amount of deviation to a moving means for moving the condenser lens;
Moving the condenser lens by the moving means;
The adjustment method of the laser processing machine which consists of.

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