JP2639215B2 - Laser processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a laser processing device such as a laser marker.

[Prior art]

Since the laser power of the laser marker fluctuates due to the deterioration of the driving lamp light source over time, the variation of the lamp at the time of new replacement, the contamination of the optical system, the change of the pressure and temperature of the lamp cooling water, the change of the ambient temperature, etc. Was measured, and for those with narrow marking conditions, the lamp current was manually adjusted to a predetermined value with a power meter while marking was stopped.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the above-described method of adjusting the laser power has drawbacks in that it requires labor and cannot cope with changes in lamp cooling water pressure, temperature, ambient temperature, and the like. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and maintains a constant marking quality by providing a laser processing apparatus that automatically controls laser power to a preset laser power value during laser processing. At the same time, it aims to save labor.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to solve the above problem, a laser processing apparatus according to claim 1) includes a laser reflecting mirror (2 or the like), a laser output mirror (3 or the like), and a laser generating unit (1) that generates a laser beam.
And a power detecting means (detector 6) for extracting a part of the laser light from the laser oscillating means and converting it into a laser power detection signal.
And the laser power detection signal (6a, and thus the amplifier output 7a)
And a laser output control means (controller 8, laser power control device 10 and the like) for comparing the laser oscillation means so as to match them with a set value (9a and the like) of the setting device 9 and the like. A laser processing apparatus for performing a predetermined operation by turning on and off the laser oscillation means (via an ON-OFF signal 21 or the like), wherein the laser output control means is turned off while the laser oscillation means is off. The control signal given to the laser oscillation means is maintained at a value immediately before the laser oscillator is turned off. "
Wherein the laser processing apparatus comprises "a detection signal holding means for holding the laser power detection signal immediately before the laser power oscillating means is turned off and for giving the laser power detection signal to the laser output control means". In the laser processing apparatus according to item 3), in the laser processing apparatus according to item 2), “the detection signal holding unit outputs the laser power detection signal from the power detection unit immediately before the laser oscillation unit is turned off (data A storage unit (for example, the storage unit 12) for holding and outputting the data based on the update command 22 or the like; and switching connection to the power detection unit side and the storage unit side according to ON / OFF of the laser oscillation unit, respectively. Switching means (switching switch) for switching the laser power detection signal given to the laser output control means by performing
11 etc.).

[Operation]

The laser generator is controlled by comparing the detected value of the laser power with the set value via the controller to keep the laser power constant and to turn on the laser generator while tracing the work surface with the laser beam in a one-stroke system. The marking is performed by turning off the laser generator. When the laser generator is off, the laser power is not changed when the laser generator is on.
The immediately preceding laser power detection value is stored and supplied to the controller instead of the actual laser power detection output to prevent fluctuation (disturbance) in the control output of the controller.

【Example】

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of a laser marker according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an example of marking based on the apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 is a laser generator, 2 is a reflecting mirror, and 3 is an output mirror, and a laser is generated by a laser oscillating means composed of the three. The laser generator 1 starts and stops the laser output according to the given ON-OFF signal 21. Reference numeral 4 denotes a positioning mirror which reflects a laser beam LB output from the laser generator 1 via the output mirror 3 and impinges the laser beam LB on a workpiece 5 to be marked.
Is a mirror that positions the position of
The attitude (reflection angle) is controlled by a galvanometer (not shown) for X and Y positioning. Reference numeral 6 denotes a detector for extracting a part of the laser beam from the reflecting mirror 2 during laser marking of a solid line portion described later in FIG. 2, that is, during laser oscillation, and detecting the power intensity thereof. The output 6a further increases. The output of the amplifier 7a is increased by the changeover switch 11 on the one hand.
Is input to the controller 8 via the a contact of
Given to 12. The controller 8 compares the detection output 6a, that is, the amplification output 7a thereof, with the set value 9a of the setter 9, and supplies an adjustment signal 8a to the laser power control device 10 so that the two coincide with each other. The laser power output from the laser generator 1 via the device 10 is controlled to be constant. The storage unit 12 stores the amplifier output 7a at the input timing of the given data update command 22, and outputs the stored value to the contact b of the changeover switch 11. The changeover switch 11 is a switch that is switched to the contacts a and b in synchronization with the start and stop of laser oscillation based on the ON-OFF signal 21. While the laser oscillation is stopped (the dotted line in FIG. 2), the signal from the detector 6 and therefore the amplifier output 7a is lost. Therefore, when the laser oscillation is turned off, the changeover switch 11 is brought into contact with the contact b in advance in synchronization with this. That is, switching to the storage unit 12 side prevents disturbance of laser power due to sudden change (loss) of the input signal of the controller 8. Note that the data update command 22 to the storage unit 12 is output in synchronization with the ON-OFF signal 21 to the laser generation unit 1 and the switching signal of the changeover switch 11, and is stored when the changeover switch 11 is switched to the contact b side. The section 12 stores the amplifier output 7a immediately before the switching, that is, immediately before the laser generating section 1 is turned off. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the marking of the laser marker in FIG. That is, when marking the characters A, B, and C as shown in FIG.
The laser beam LB is moved onto the work 5 via the path indicated by the arrow including the dotted line and the solid line (in a so-called one-stroke form) while passing through P1 and P2. Here, the solid line indicates that the laser generator 1 is ON.
The laser generating unit 1 is turned off and the positioning mirror 4 is operated during this period, but the laser beam LB is not irradiated onto the work 5. In FIG. 2, in order to improve the rising characteristic of the initial laser power, a point P0 other than the work 5 is irradiated with a laser for a certain time to temporarily turn off the laser oscillation. At this time, the laser power detection signal 6a Therefore, while the amplifier output 7a is held in the storage unit 12 (that is, the input of the adjuster 8 remains constant even when the changeover switch 11 is switched from the contact a to the contact b),
Move the marking point to point P1, where laser oscillation
When the switch is turned on, the changeover switch 11 is switched from the contact point b to the contact point a, that is, the laser power detection input to the controller 8 is switched from the hold input to the real input, and the solid line is marked. Things.

【The invention's effect】

According to the present invention, a laser oscillating means including a laser reflecting mirror 2, a laser output mirror 3, and a laser generating unit 1 for generating a laser beam; A power detector 6 for conversion; and a laser output control means for comparing the laser power detection signal 6a, and therefore the amplifier output 7a, with a set value 9a of a setting device 9 and controlling the laser oscillation means so that the two coincide with each other. A laser processing device that includes a controller 8, a laser power control device 10, and the like, and performs a predetermined operation by turning on and off the laser oscillation means via the ON-OFF signal 21. While the means is off, the control signal given to the laser oscillation means by the laser output control means is kept at the value immediately before the laser oscillation means, so that the intensity of the laser obtained from the laser oscillation means It can be automatically kept constant regardless of the deterioration of the light source with time or environmental change without obtaining it. Even if the laser oscillation means is turned on and off for marking, the input fluctuation of the power controller will not be affected. Since there is no power output, the power output does not fluctuate in an unstable manner and a high quality marking can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a laser marker as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of marking based on the apparatus of FIG. 1: Laser generator, 2: Reflector mirror, 3: Output mirror, 4: Mirror for positioning, 5: Workpiece, LB: Laser beam, 6: Detector, 7: Amplifier, 8: Adjuster, 9 setting device , 10: Laser power control device, 1
1: Changeover switch, 12: Storage unit, 21: ON-OFF signal, 22: Data update command.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A laser oscillating means comprising a laser reflecting mirror, a laser output mirror and a laser generator for generating laser light, and a power for extracting a part of the laser light from the laser oscillating means and converting it into a laser power detection signal. A detecting means, and a laser output control means for comparing the laser power detection signal with a set value and controlling the laser oscillating means so that the two coincide with each other. A laser processing apparatus for performing a laser processing, wherein a control signal given to the laser oscillation means by the laser output control means is kept at a value immediately before the laser oscillation means while the laser oscillation means is off. 2. A laser processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser processing device holds said laser power detection signal immediately before said laser oscillation means is turned off and supplies said laser power detection signal to said laser output control means while said laser oscillation means is turned off. A laser processing apparatus comprising means. 3. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said detection signal holding means holds a laser power detection signal from said power detection means immediately before said laser oscillation means is turned off. A storage means for outputting, and a laser power detection signal to be supplied to the laser output control means by switching connection to the power detection means side and the storage means side in accordance with ON / OFF of the laser oscillation means, respectively. A laser processing apparatus comprising: a switching unit.