JP2020013816A - Laser apparatus, laser apparatus extension kit, and method of changing laser output - Google Patents

Abstract

To easily change a laser output from a laser apparatus.SOLUTION: A laser apparatus 1 comprises a basic laser device 100 and at least one extension laser device 200. The basic laser device 100 has a structure in which a first laser module 102 for oscillating laser, a first power supply part 104 for supplying power to the first laser module 102, and a laser control part 106 for controlling the laser oscillation are housed in a first housing 108. The extension laser device 200 has a structure in which a second laser module 202 for oscillating laser and a second power supply part 204 for supplying power to the second laser module 202 are housed in a second housing 208. By connecting the extension laser device 200 to the basic laser device 100, it is possible to change a laser output from the laser apparatus 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser device, a laser device extension kit, and a method for changing a laser output.

  Laser processing machines are widely used as industrial processing tools. Generally, a laser device for generating a laser is externally attached to a laser processing machine. Regarding such a laser device, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a laser device having a structure in which various units constituting the laser device are vertically stacked in a housing.

JP-A-2-155283

  The present inventors have conducted intensive studies on laser devices and have found that conventional laser devices have room for improvement in responding to the demand for easily changing the laser output, particularly the maximum output of the laser. Reached.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of easily changing a laser output in a laser device.

  In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention is a laser device. The laser device has a structure in which a first laser module that oscillates a laser, a first power supply unit that supplies power to the first laser module, and a laser control unit that controls laser oscillation are housed in a first housing. A basic laser device, at least one additional laser device having a structure in which a second laser module that oscillates a laser, and a second power supply unit that supplies power to the second laser module are housed in a second housing. The laser output can be changed by connecting an additional laser device to the basic laser device.

  Another embodiment of the present invention also relates to a laser device. The laser device has a structure in which a laser module that oscillates a laser, a power supply unit that supplies power to the laser module, and a laser control unit that controls laser oscillation are housed in a housing. The laser output can be changed by connecting a laser device.

  Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a laser device extension kit. The laser device expansion kit has a structure in which a laser module that oscillates a laser and a power supply unit that supplies power to the laser module are housed in a separate housing from the existing laser device, and at least one additional laser is provided. The device includes a device, a combiner for connecting the existing laser device and the additional laser device, and an external lead-out fiber extending from the combiner.

  Still another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for changing a laser output. The changing method includes a basic laser having a structure in which a first laser module that oscillates a laser, a power supply unit that supplies power to the first laser module, and a laser control unit that controls laser oscillation are housed in a first housing. At least one additional laser device having a structure in which a second laser module that oscillates a laser and a second power supply unit that supplies power to the second laser module is housed in a second housing is connected to the device. including.

  According to the present invention, the output of the laser can be easily changed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the laser device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2A is a perspective view schematically showing a basic laser device. FIG. 2B is a perspective view schematically showing the additional laser device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a region including a manifold of the basic laser device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the laser device in a state where an additional laser device is connected to the basic laser device. FIG. 5A is a side view of the laser device. FIG. 5B is a front view of the laser device.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted as appropriate. Further, the scale and shape of each part shown in each figure are set for convenience in order to facilitate the description, and are not to be construed as being limited unless otherwise noted. In addition, when terms such as “first” and “second” are used in the present specification or claims, the terms do not indicate any order or importance unless otherwise specified, and a certain configuration may be used. It is for distinguishing from the other configuration. In each of the drawings, some of the members that are not important for describing the embodiments are omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the laser device according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the basic laser device and the additional laser device are not connected. FIG. 2A is a perspective view schematically showing a basic laser device. FIG. 2B is a perspective view schematically showing the additional laser device. As shown in FIG. 1, the laser device 1 includes a basic laser device 100 and at least one additional laser device 200.

(Basic laser device)
The basic laser device 100 mainly includes a first laser module 102, a first power supply unit 104, a laser control unit 106, and a first housing 108. The basic laser device 100 has a structure in which a first laser module 102, a first power supply unit 104, and a laser control unit 106 are housed in a first housing 108. The first housing 108 forms an outer shell of the basic laser device 100.

  The first laser module 102, the first power supply unit 104, and the laser control unit 106 are not housed in one package, but are housed separately in the first housing 108. Further, the basic laser device 100 includes a first safety circuit unit 110, an operation unit 112, a display unit 114, a control power supply unit 116, a combiner 118, and an external lead-out fiber 120. Among these members, members other than the external lead-out fiber 120 are housed in the first housing 108. The external lead-out fiber 120 has one end connected to the combiner 118 in the first housing 108 and the other end drawn out of the first housing 108.

  In a state where the additional laser device 200 is not connected to the basic laser device 100, the combiner 118 and the external lead-out fiber 120 may not be mounted in the first housing 108. When the basic laser device 100 is used alone, the optical fiber 103 of the first laser module 102 is drawn out of the first housing 108 directly.

  The first laser module 102 is a unit that oscillates a laser. The first laser module 102 includes, for example, a fiber laser oscillator including a diode that generates pump light and an optical fiber 103 that generates and amplifies laser light. The first power supply unit 104 is a unit that supplies power to the first laser module 102.

  The laser control unit 106 is a unit that controls laser oscillation. The laser control unit 106 controls the driving of the first laser module 102 and also drives the second laser module 202 of the additional laser device 200 when the additional laser device 200 is connected to the basic laser device 100. Control. The laser control unit 106 controls laser oscillation in the first laser module 102 and the second laser module 202 based on a signal from an external control computer (not shown) or another external device.

  The first safety circuit unit 110 is a unit that cuts off and connects power supply from the first power supply unit 104 to the first laser module 102. The first safety circuit unit 110 is connected to an external power line, and switches the power supply state from the first power supply unit 104 to the first laser module 102 based on the state of the basic laser device 100 and an external signal. The operation unit 112 includes, for example, a switch that switches ON / OFF of a safety relay included in the laser device 1. The display unit 114 displays, for example, the state of driving / stopping the laser device 1 by turning on / off the light source. The control power supply unit 116 is a power supply that supplies power to the laser control unit 106, the first safety circuit unit 110, and the like.

  The combiner 118 is a mechanism that connects the first laser module 102 and the second laser module 202 when the additional laser device 200 is connected to the basic laser device 100. Further, the combiner 118 has a cooling mechanism for cooling heat generated by the laser beams sent from the first laser module 102 and the second laser module 202. The external lead-out fiber 120 extends from the combiner 118, is drawn out of the 118 first housing 108, and transmits the laser light generated by the laser device 1 to the laser processing machine.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the first case 108 has a dimension in the first direction A, the second direction B, and the third direction C which are orthogonal to each other, and the dimension in the first direction A is the second direction B. And one third or less of the smaller dimension of the third direction C, preferably one fourth or less, more preferably one fifth or less. In the present embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the lateral direction (width direction) in the front view of the basic laser device 100 is the first direction A, and the lateral direction (the depth direction in the front view) of the basic laser device 100 is the second direction. The third direction C is the direction B, and the vertical direction (height direction) of the basic laser device 100 when viewed from the front and the side is the third direction C.

  For example, the dimension in the first direction A is 150 mm to 250 mm, the dimension in the second direction B is 750 mm to 1200 mm, and the dimension in the third direction C is 1000 mm to 1400 mm. The first housing 108 may have casters (not shown) at the bottom. By providing the casters, the basic laser device 100 can be easily moved. When a caster is provided, the dimension of the first housing 108 in the third direction C is a dimension including the caster. Note that the posture of the laser device 1 is not particularly limited, and the laser device 1 can be used in any posture. Since the first housing 108 has the dimensions in the first direction A to the third direction C, the outer shape is flat and has a pair of main surfaces 108d facing each other. The first housing 108 of the present embodiment has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape in the first direction A.

  The inside of the first housing 108 has a four-layer structure. The lowermost first layer L1 houses a manifold 126 described later. A pipe connection opening (not shown) is arranged in a region corresponding to the first layer L1 on the back surface of the first housing 108. The first laser module 102 and the combiner 118 are accommodated in the second layer L2 immediately above the first layer L1. The first laser module 102 and the combiner 118 are arranged in a first direction A. The first laser module 102 has a flat shape and a pair of main surfaces facing each other. The first laser module 102 is arranged such that its main surface extends parallel to the main surface 108d of the first housing 108. In other words, the first laser module 102 is arranged such that the main surface extends in the second direction B and the third direction C.

  That is, the first housing 108 and the first laser module 102 are arranged such that the surfaces including the shortest side face in the same direction. In the present embodiment, the surface including the shortest side is arranged so as to face downward. Similarly, combiner 118 also has a flat shape, and is arranged such that a surface including the shortest side faces downward.

  The first power supply unit 104 and the laser control unit 106 are accommodated in the third layer L3 immediately above the second layer L2. The first power supply unit 104 is arranged along the main surface 108d of the first housing 108 so as to be aligned with the first laser module 102. Further, in the present embodiment, the first power supply unit 104 and the first laser module 102 overlap when viewed from the third direction C. Note that the laser control unit 106 may take the above-described positional relationship with the first laser module 102.

  The first safety circuit unit 110, the operation unit 112, the display unit 114, and the control power supply unit 116 are accommodated in the fourth layer L4 immediately above the third layer L3. These are housed in one package. In the first housing 108, the units housed in the second to fourth layers L2 to L4 are electrically connected.

  A door (not shown) that can be opened and closed is provided in a region corresponding to each unit on the front surface of the first housing 108. With each door open, each unit can be inserted into and removed from the first housing 108. A seal member for dustproofing and waterproofing is provided on the periphery of the door. A front cover 122 (see FIG. 5B) that covers each door is provided on the front of the first housing 108. The front cover 122 has a slit 124 for ventilating inside and outside the first housing 108.

  Further, the basic laser device 100 includes a manifold 126. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a region including a manifold of the basic laser device. The manifold 126 has a flow path for supplying a coolant such as cooling water to the first laser module 102 from outside the first housing 108 and a flow path for discharging the coolant from the first laser module 102 to the outside of the first housing 108. It is a flow path block which comprises.

  The manifold 126 has an upstream supply port 126a and a downstream supply port 126b. The upstream supply port 126a is connected to a refrigerant supply pipe (not shown) laid outside the first housing 108. The upstream supply port 126a and the refrigerant supply pipe are connected via a pipe connection opening of the first housing 108. The downstream supply port 126b is connected to the first laser module 102. A supply channel (not shown) is provided in the manifold 126. The supply channel has one end connected to the upstream supply port 126a and the other end connected to the downstream supply port 126b.

  Further, the manifold 126 has an upstream discharge port 126c and a downstream discharge port 126d. The upstream outlet 126c is connected to the first laser module 102. The downstream discharge port 126d is connected to a refrigerant discharge pipe (not shown) laid outside the first housing 108. The downstream discharge port 126d and the refrigerant discharge pipe are connected via a pipe connection opening of the first housing 108. A discharge channel (not shown) is provided in the manifold 126. The discharge channel has one end connected to the upstream discharge port 126c and the other end connected to the downstream discharge port 126d.

  The refrigerant is supplied to the first laser module 102 via the upstream supply port 126a, the supply flow path, and the downstream supply port 126b, and is supplied via the upstream discharge port 126c, the discharge flow path, and the downstream discharge port 126d. It is discharged outside the first housing 108. Thereby, the first laser module 102 is cooled. Therefore, the manifold 126 constitutes a water cooling mechanism for cooling the first laser module 102. The first power supply unit 104 is air-cooled by air flowing from outside the first housing 108. Other units may be air-cooled or water-cooled.

  Note that the first housing 108 may be connected to the laser control unit 106 and house a control computer for checking the laser state and writing parameters. The control computer can be constituted by a general-purpose computer such as a PC (Personal Computer). Further, the control computer may be arranged outside the first housing 108.

(Laser unit for expansion)
As shown in FIG. 1, the additional laser device 200 includes a second laser module 202, a second power supply unit 204, and a second housing 208 as main components. The additional laser device 200 has a structure in which the second laser module 202 and the second power supply unit 204 are accommodated in the second housing 208. The second housing 208 forms an outer shell of the additional laser device 200. The first housing 108 and the second housing 208 are separate housings independent of each other. Further, the additional laser device 200 includes a second safety circuit unit 210. The second safety circuit section 210 is housed in the second housing 208.

  The second laser module 202 is a unit that oscillates a laser. As an example, like the first laser module 102, the second laser module 202 includes a fiber laser oscillator including a diode and an optical fiber 203. The second power supply unit 204 is a unit that supplies power to the second laser module 202. The second safety circuit unit 210 is a unit that cuts off and connects power supply from the second power supply unit 204 to the second laser module 202. Similarly to the first safety circuit unit 110, the second safety circuit unit 210 changes the state of power supply from the second power supply unit 204 to the second laser module 202 based on the state of the additional laser device 200 or a signal from the outside. Switch. The first safety circuit unit 110 and the second safety circuit unit 210 operate independently or synchronously. For example, when the laser apparatus 1 is abnormal, the first safety circuit section 110 and the second safety circuit section 210 synchronize and cut off the power supply from each power supply to each laser module. In addition, if necessary during normal operation, one safety circuit unit can cut off the power supply from the power supply circuit to the laser module independently of the other safety circuit unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the second housing 208 has a dimension in the first direction A, the second direction B, and the third direction C orthogonal to each other, and the dimension in the first direction A is the second direction B. And one third or less of the smaller dimension of the third direction C, preferably one fourth or less, more preferably one fifth or less. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the lateral direction (width direction) in the front view of the additional laser device 200 is referred to as a first direction A, and the lateral direction (the depth direction in the front view) of the additional laser device 200 in the side view. The vertical direction (height direction) in the front view and the side view of the additional laser device 200 is the third direction C.

  The dimension of the additional laser device 200 in the first direction A is preferably ２〜 to ／ of the dimension of the basic laser device 100 in the first direction A. The dimensions of the additional laser device 200 in the second direction B and the third direction C are substantially the same as those of the basic laser device 100. For example, the size of the additional laser device 200 in the first direction A is 75 mm to 165 mm, the size in the second direction B is 750 mm to 1200 mm, and the size in the third direction C is 1000 mm to 1400 mm. The second housing 208 may have casters at the bottom similarly to the first housing 108. Since the second housing 208 has the dimensions in the first direction A to the third direction C, the outer shape is flat and has a pair of main surfaces 208d facing each other. The second housing 208 of the present embodiment has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is flatter in the first direction A than the first housing 108.

  The inside of the second housing 208 has a four-layer structure like the first housing 108. The manifold 126 is housed in the lowermost first layer L1. The second laser module 202 is accommodated in the second layer L2 immediately above the first layer L1. The second laser module 202 has a flat shape and a pair of main surfaces facing each other. The second laser module 202 is arranged such that its main surface extends parallel to the main surface 208d of the second housing 208. That is, the second housing 208 and the second laser module 202 are arranged such that the surfaces including the shortest side face in the same direction. In the present embodiment, the surface including the shortest side is arranged so as to face downward.

  The second power supply unit 204 is accommodated in the third layer L3 immediately above the second layer L2. The second power supply unit 204 is arranged along the main surface 208d of the second housing 208 so as to be aligned with the second laser module 202. In the present embodiment, the second power supply unit 204 and the second laser module 202 overlap when viewed from the third direction C. The second safety circuit section 210 is accommodated in the fourth layer L4 immediately above the third layer L3. In the second housing 208, the units housed in the second to fourth layers L2 to L4 are electrically connected.

  A door (not shown) that can be opened and closed is provided in a region corresponding to each unit on the front surface of the second housing 208. With each door open, each unit can be inserted into and removed from the second housing 208. A seal member for dustproofing and waterproofing is provided on the periphery of the door. A front cover 222 (see FIG. 5B) that covers each door is provided on the front surface of the second housing 208. The front cover 222 has a slit 224 for ventilating inside and outside the second housing 208.

  Further, the additional laser device 200 includes a manifold similarly to the basic laser device 100. The connection mode between the second laser module 202 and the manifold in the additional laser device 200 is the same as the connection mode between the first laser module 102 and the manifold 126, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that only the basic laser device 100 may include a manifold, and the additional laser device 200 may be configured to supply / discharge the coolant via the manifold of the basic laser device 100.

(Change of laser output)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the laser device 1 in a state where the additional laser device 200 is connected to the basic laser device 100. When the additional laser device 200 is connected to the basic laser device 100, the first safety circuit unit 110 and the second safety circuit unit 210 are connected by the power line 226. Thus, the second safety circuit unit 210 can receive power supply from the control power supply unit 116. Further, the second safety circuit unit 210 is also connected to the operation unit 112 and the display unit 114.

  Further, the second laser module 202 and the laser control unit 106 are connected by a signal line 228. Thereby, the laser control unit 106 can control the driving of the first laser module 102 and the second laser module 202. The laser control unit 106 can appropriately change the balance between the laser output from the first laser module 102 and the laser output from the second laser module 202.

  Further, the optical fiber 203 of the second laser module 202 is joined to the optical fiber 103 of the first laser module 102 by welding or the like in the combiner 118. The optical fiber 103 and the optical fiber 203 gathered in the combiner 118 are connected to the external lead-out fiber 120. The external lead-out fiber 120 extends outside from the first housing 108 and is connected to, for example, an external laser beam machine. When the basic laser device 100 does not include the combiner 118 and the external lead-out fiber 120 in advance, the combiner 118 and the external lead-out fiber 120 are housed in the first housing 108 when the additional laser device 200 is connected. Is done.

  As described above, by connecting the additional laser device 200 to the basic laser device 100, the output of the laser in the laser device 1 can be changed. That is, by connecting the additional laser device 200 to the basic laser device 100, the maximum output of the laser in the laser device 1 (the maximum intensity of the laser that can be output by the laser device 1) is increased by the maximum output of the basic laser device 100 and the additional power. The output can be increased up to the total output with the maximum output of the laser device 200.

  The maximum laser output from the basic laser device 100 alone and the maximum laser output from the additional laser device 200 alone may be the same or different. Therefore, the combination of the first laser module 102, the first power supply unit 104, and the first safety circuit unit 110 and the combination of the second laser module 202, the second power supply unit 204, and the second safety circuit unit 210 have the same maximum output. And may correspond to different maximum outputs.

  Further, two or more additional laser devices 200 may be connected to the basic laser device 100. FIG. 5A is a side view of the laser device 1. FIG. 5B is a front view of the laser device 1. FIG. 5B shows a state in which three additional laser devices 200 are connected to the basic laser device 100. When two or more additional laser devices 200 are connected to the basic laser device 100, each additional laser device 200 is connected in parallel to the basic laser device 100. The electrical and optical connection between each additional laser device 200 and the basic laser device 100 is the same as the case where one additional laser device 200 is connected to the basic laser device 100.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 5B, the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200 are arranged such that the first housing 108 and the second housing 208 are arranged in the first direction A. As described above, the first housing 108 and the second housing 208 have a thin shape in the first direction A. That is, in the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200, the dimension in the first direction A intersecting with the surface in contact with each other is １ ／ of the smaller dimension of the second direction B and the third direction C in which the surface extends. It is as follows. Therefore, in the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200, the main surface 108d of the first housing 108 and the main surface 208d of the second housing 208 abut. Thereby, workability when adding the additional laser device 200 can be improved.

  Further, since the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200 have a flat shape, the installation area of the laser device 1 can be reduced. Also, due to the small installation area, the laser device 1 may be installed such that the main surface 108d of the first housing 108 or the main surface 208d of the second housing 208 is in contact with or close to the laser processing machine. it can. Accordingly, even when the laser apparatus 1 is provided along with the laser processing machine, it is possible to secure the flow line of the worker around the laser processing machine. Further, since the laser device 1 according to the embodiment has a small installation area and can be installed so as to be in contact with or close to the laser processing machine, a space for laying the laser device 1 and the laser processing machine is small. Efficiency can be improved.

  As described above, the laser device 1 according to the present embodiment has a basic laser device 100 having a structure in which the first laser module 102, the first power supply unit 104, and the laser control unit 106 are housed in the first housing 108. And at least one additional laser device 200 having a structure in which the second laser module 202 and the second power supply unit 204 are housed in the second housing 208. The laser device 1 can change the laser output by connecting the additional laser device 200 to the basic laser device 100.

  In a conventional laser device, cabinets having sizes corresponding to the maximum outputs of the lasers are allocated. In a mode in which a cabinet of a different size is used for each laser output, the entire apparatus needs to be replaced when it is desired to obtain a higher laser output than an existing laser apparatus. For this reason, the cost required for changing the laser output tends to increase.

  Alternatively, in a conventional laser device, a common cabinet is allocated to a maximum output of a laser in a predetermined range. In a mode in which a common cabinet is used within a predetermined laser output range, when the maximum output that can be handled by the cabinet is not required, there is a useless space in the cabinet, which is a factor of lowering the space efficiency of the laser device. Was. In addition, when a common cabinet is used, it is necessary to previously mount a high-capacity power supply unit and a safety circuit unit in order to increase the laser output in the future, which has been a factor of cost increase.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the maximum laser output of the entire laser device 1 can be easily increased only by externally attaching the additional laser device 200 to the basic laser device 100. Therefore, the maximum output of the laser can be easily changed. Further, an increase in cost can be suppressed as compared with a case where the entire basic laser device 100 is replaced in order to increase the maximum output of the laser.

  In addition, the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200 each house constituent units of each device in separate housings. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a space for mounting the constituent units of the other laser device in the housing of each laser device. Therefore, the space efficiency of the laser device 1 can be improved.

  The basic laser device 100 includes a first laser module 102 and a corresponding first power supply unit 104. The additional laser device 200 includes a second laser module 202 and a corresponding second power supply unit 204. The basic laser device 100 includes a first safety circuit unit 110 corresponding to the first power supply unit 104, and the additional laser device 200 includes a second safety circuit unit 210 corresponding to the second power supply unit 204. That is, each laser device includes a power supply unit and a safety circuit unit adapted to the output of each laser module.

  Therefore, it is not necessary to previously mount a high-capacity power supply unit or a safety circuit unit on the basic laser device 100 in preparation for the enhancement of the laser output. Therefore, waste of the apparatus can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Further, a laser module, a power supply unit, and a safety circuit unit required for increasing the laser output are mounted on the additional laser device 200 side. Therefore, the laser output can be easily changed only by making an optical connection and an electrical connection between the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200 without changing the device configuration of the basic laser device 100. can do.

  Further, the additional laser device 200 does not include the laser control unit 106, the operation unit 112, the display unit 114, and the control power supply unit 116, and these are provided only in the basic laser device 100. That is, the laser control unit 106, the operation unit 112, the display unit 114, and the control power supply unit 116 are shared by the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200. Therefore, the additional laser device 200 can be downsized.

  In addition, the basic laser device 100 includes a combiner 118 that connects the first laser module 102 and the second laser module 202, and an external guiding fiber 120 that extends from the combiner 118. Thus, the additional laser device 200 can be easily connected to the basic laser device 100.

  In the present embodiment, the basic laser device 100 and the additional laser device 200 are arranged such that the first housing 108 and the second housing 208 are arranged in the first direction A. The first housing 108 and the second housing 208 have dimensions in the first direction A, the second direction B, and the third direction C that are orthogonal to each other, and the dimension in the first direction A is the dimension in the second direction B. And one third or less of the smaller one of the dimensions in the third direction C.

  Thereby, the installation space of the laser device 1 can be reduced. Further, by reducing the installation space of the laser device 1, the degree of freedom in installing the laser device 1 can be increased. As a result, space efficiency when laying the laser apparatus 1 and the laser processing machine can be improved. In particular, in an actual use condition of the laser device 1, the space efficiency is reduced by setting the smallest dimension in the first direction A to be 1/3 or less of the second smallest dimension in the second direction B or the third direction C. It can be more reliably improved.

  The present embodiment also includes provision of the basic laser device 100 alone. That is, one embodiment of this embodiment includes a laser module that oscillates a laser (first laser module 102), a power supply unit that supplies power to the laser module (first power supply unit 104), and a laser that controls laser oscillation. The control unit 106 has a structure accommodated in a housing (first housing 108), and the laser output can be changed by connecting an additional laser device 200 in another housing (second housing 208). A certain laser device (basic laser device 100).

  The present embodiment also includes the provision of a laser device extension kit including the additional laser device 200, the combiner 118, and the external lead-out fiber 120. In other words, another mode of this embodiment is that a laser module (second laser module 202) that oscillates a laser is provided in a housing (second housing 208) different from the existing laser device, and power is supplied to the laser module. At least one additional laser device 200 having a structure accommodating a power supply unit (second power supply unit 204) for supplying the laser beam, a combiner 118 for connecting the existing laser device and the additional laser device 200, and a combiner 118 This is a laser device extension kit including an external lead-out fiber 120 extending from the laser device.

  The present embodiment also includes the provision of a method for changing the laser output. That is, in another mode of the present embodiment, the first laser module 102 that oscillates a laser, the first power supply unit 104 that supplies power to the first laser module 102, and the laser control unit 106 that controls laser oscillation are provided. A second laser module 202 that oscillates a laser and a second power supply unit 204 that supplies power to the second laser module 202 are provided to the basic laser device 100 having a structure housed in the first housing 108. This is a method of changing the laser output, including connecting at least one additional laser device 200 having a structure accommodated in the laser output.

  The embodiment of the invention has been described above in detail. The above-described embodiments are merely specific examples for implementing the present invention. The contents of the embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and many design changes such as changes, additions, and deletions of constituent elements are made without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the claims. Is possible. In the above-described embodiment, such contents that can be changed in design are emphasized with notations such as “of the present embodiment” and “in the present embodiment”. The design change is allowed even for the contents without the. Also, any combination of components included in the embodiments is effective as an aspect of the present invention. A new embodiment obtained by a design change or a combination of components has the effects of the components to be combined and the modifications.

  In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement of each unit in the first housing 108 and the second housing 208 can be appropriately changed. When the first housing 108 and the second housing 208 do not need to have a dustproof and waterproof structure, the bush and the seal member can be omitted. Further, in the embodiment, the first laser module 102 and the second laser module 202, which are main heating elements, are water-cooled, and the first power supply unit 104 and the second power supply unit 204 are air-cooled. Not limited. For example, all units may be water-cooled or air-cooled.

  Note that any combination of the above-described components and any conversion of the expression of the present invention among methods, apparatuses, systems, and the like are also effective as embodiments of the present invention.

  Reference Signs List 1 laser device, 100 basic laser device, 102 first laser module, 104 first power supply unit, 106 laser control unit, 108 first housing, 110 first safety circuit unit, 118 combiner, 120 external leading fiber, 200 extension Laser device, 202 second laser module, 204 second power supply unit, 208 second housing, 210 second safety circuit unit.

Claims (7)

A basic laser device having a structure in which a first laser module that oscillates a laser, a first power supply unit that supplies power to the first laser module, and a laser control unit that controls laser oscillation are housed in a first housing. ,
A second laser module that oscillates a laser, and at least one additional laser device having a structure in which a second power supply unit that supplies power to the second laser module is housed in a second housing;
A laser device wherein the laser output can be changed by connecting the additional laser device to the basic laser device. The basic laser device,
A combiner for connecting the first laser module and the second laser module;
An external lead-out fiber extending from the combiner,
The laser device according to claim 1, comprising: The basic laser device has a first safety circuit unit that cuts off and connects power supply from the first power supply unit to the first laser module,
3. The laser device according to claim 1, wherein the additional laser device includes a second safety circuit unit that cuts off and connects power supply from the second power supply unit to the second laser module. 4. The basic laser device and the additional laser device are arranged such that the first housing and the second housing are arranged in a first direction,
The first housing and the second housing may be arranged such that, in the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction orthogonal to each other, the dimension in the first direction is equal to the dimension in the second direction and the third dimension. 4. The laser device according to claim 1, wherein the dimension of the laser device is one-third or less of a smaller dimension of the directions. 5.   A laser module that oscillates a laser, a power supply unit that supplies power to the laser module, and a laser control unit that controls laser oscillation have a structure housed in a housing, and are connected to an additional laser device in a separate housing. A laser device capable of changing the output of the laser by performing the operation. In a separate housing from the existing laser device, a laser module that oscillates a laser, and having a structure in which a power supply unit that supplies power to the laser module is housed, at least one additional laser device,
A combiner for connecting the existing laser device and the additional laser device,
An external lead-out fiber extending from the combiner,
A laser device expansion kit comprising:   A basic laser device having a structure in which a first laser module for oscillating a laser, a power supply unit for supplying power to the first laser module, and a laser control unit for controlling laser oscillation is housed in a first housing, A second laser module that oscillates light, and a second power supply unit that supplies power to the second laser module is connected to at least one additional laser device having a structure housed in a second housing. How to change the laser output.

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