JP4976761B2 - Laser processing device, laser processing condition setting device, laser processing condition setting method, laser processing condition setting program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser marking device or the like, a laser processing device that performs processing such as printing by irradiating a processing object with laser light, a laser processing condition setting device that sets processing conditions in the laser processing device, a laser processing condition setting method, The present invention relates to a laser processing condition setting program, a computer-readable recording medium, and a recorded device.

  The laser processing apparatus scans a laser beam within a predetermined region and irradiates the surface of a processing target (work) such as a component or product with a laser beam to perform processing such as printing or marking. An example of the configuration of the laser processing apparatus is shown in FIG. The laser processing apparatus shown in this figure includes a laser control unit 1, a laser output unit 2, and an input unit 3. The excitation light generated by the laser excitation unit 6 of the laser control unit 1 is irradiated to the laser medium 8 constituting the oscillator by the laser oscillation unit 50 of the laser output unit 2 to cause laser oscillation. The laser oscillation light is emitted from the emission end face of the laser medium 8, the beam diameter is enlarged by the beam expander 53, and is guided to the scanning unit 9. The scanning unit 9 reflects the laser beam L and polarizes it in a desired direction, and the laser beam L output from the condensing unit 15 is scanned on the surface of the workpiece W to perform processing such as printing.

  The laser processing apparatus includes a scanning unit 9 as shown in FIG. 2 in order to scan the laser output light on the workpiece. The scanning unit 9 includes X / Y-axis scanners 14a and 14b constituting a pair of galvanometer mirrors, and galvano motors 51a and 51b for rotating the galvanometer mirrors fixed to the rotation shafts. As shown in FIG. 2, the X / Y-axis scanners 14a and 14b are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other, and can scan the laser beam by reflecting it in the X and Y directions. Further, a condensing unit 15 is provided below the scanning unit 9. The condensing part 15 is comprised with the condensing lens for condensing so that a working area may be irradiated with a laser beam, and an f (theta) lens is used.

  On the other hand, not only a laser processing apparatus that performs processing in such a two-dimensional plane, but also laser processing that enables three-dimensional processing by adjusting the focal length of laser light in the height direction, that is, the Z-axis direction. Equipment has also been developed. FIG. 3 shows a laser processing apparatus that can change the focal length by adding a Z-axis scanner as an example of such a laser processing apparatus capable of three-dimensional processing. The Z-axis scanner includes an incident lens facing the laser oscillation unit side and an exit lens facing the laser exit side, and the lens is slid with a drive motor or the like to relatively change the distance between the lenses. The focal distance, that is, the working distance in the height direction can be adjusted.

  Such a laser processing apparatus can process some character string such as letters, numbers, logo marks, and figures on a plurality of processing objects. For example, the manufacturer name, model number, serial number, lot number, rank, etc. are printed on the surface of the IC chip. In this case, the same character string is not attached to all the processing objects, but the print content may be changed according to the processing objects. For example, when a serial number, lot number, date of manufacture, or the like including a variable whose value changes is added, printing is performed while increasing or decreasing the variable according to a predetermined rule. In general, serial numbers and the like are given in the order of printing. Therefore, the serial numbers of the objects to be processed are numbered in the order in which the laser processing apparatus prints.

Particularly in recent years, the importance of quality control such as detection, analysis, and tracking of defective products has been recognized, and it is required to add a serial number for quality control. For this reason, laser processing apparatuses are often introduced for the purpose of adding serial numbers to finished products. For this reason, some laser processing apparatuses have such a batch printing function (called a pallet printing function or the like) (Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-17047 A

  However, the conventional laser processing apparatus can only perform batch printing on a two-dimensional plane, and cannot perform batch printing on a three-dimensional workpiece surface. Further, in order to set batch printing on the processing surface of a three-dimensional workpiece, it is necessary to set for each element of batch printing, and the setting becomes extremely complicated. As described above, in order to save the setting work when there are a large number of print locations, it is conceivable to copy the setting of the processing conditions performed for one element. In conventional printing on a flat surface, since there is no information relating to the shape such as three-dimensional data, it is sufficient to simply copy the printed contents such as characters. However, in the case of printing on a three-dimensional printing surface, information on the three-dimensional shape of the processed surface is required. However, conventional copying cannot be handled because there is no concept of such shape information.

The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems. One object of the present invention is to provide a laser processing apparatus, a laser processing condition setting apparatus, a laser processing condition setting method, and a laser processing condition setting program that can easily set batch processing on a processing target surface having a three-dimensional shape. There is.

In order to achieve the above object, a laser processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention irradiates a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area with a laser beam to process it into a desired processing pattern. A laser processing apparatus capable of generating a laser beam, a laser beam scanning system for scanning a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator in a work area, and the laser oscillator unit and a laser controller for controlling the laser beam scanning system, as the processing condition for processing the desired processing pattern, a machined surface profile input means for inputting a three-dimensional shape information according to the processed surface processed content information a processing condition setting unit and a machining pattern input means for setting, according to the set processing condition in the processing condition setting unit, generates a laser processing data processed surface That the processed data generation unit is generated by the processed data generation unit, the three-dimensional shape information image of the laser processing data processed block is arranged which includes the processed content information processed surface having a three-dimensionally viewable As a copy function, the processing condition setting unit copies the set processing conditions displayed on the display unit and pastes them at a desired position on the display unit as new processing conditions. Content copy that can copy and paste only machining content information excluding 3D shape information from the set machining conditions, and copy and paste 3D shape information and machining content information from the set machining conditions comprising a shape copying possible to include a copy switching means capable of switching these contents copy the shape copy when a copy function is executed, the processing data generating It is in accordance with the machining pattern input means and processing conditions which are newly generated by copying by the copy function the set processing conditions by processing surface profile input means, that generates the laser processing data.

The laser processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is a laser processing apparatus capable of processing a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area by irradiating a laser beam into a desired processing pattern. A laser oscillation unit for generating laser light, a laser beam scanning system for scanning the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillation unit within the work area, and for controlling the laser oscillation unit and the laser beam scanning system As a processing condition for processing into a desired processing pattern, a laser control unit, a processing surface profile input means for inputting three-dimensional shape information corresponding to the processing target surface, and a processing pattern input means for setting processing content information are provided. A machining data setting unit that generates laser machining data of a surface to be machined according to the machining conditions set by the machining condition setting unit, the machining data setting unit, and the machining data Generated by the generation unit, and a three-dimensionally viewable display unit an image of laser processing data processed block is arranged which includes the processed content information processed surface having a three-dimensional shape information, the processing condition The setting unit can copy and paste only the machining content information excluding the 3D shape information from the set machining conditions, and the 3D shape information and the machining content information from the set machining conditions. At least one of shape copy means capable of copying and pasting, and the machining data generation unit copies the machining conditions set by the machining pattern input means and the machining surface profile input means by the copy function. accordance newly generated processing conditions Te, that generates the laser processing data.

  Further, the laser processing apparatus according to the third invention is a beam expander in which the laser beam scanning system includes an incident lens and an emission lens, and the incident lens and the emission lens are arranged on the optical axis of the laser beam emitted from the laser oscillation unit. A beam expander capable of adjusting the focal length of the laser light by changing the relative distance between the incident lens and the outgoing lens in a state where the optical axes are matched, and the laser light transmitted through the beam expander in the first direction. A beam expander comprising: a first mirror for scanning; and a second mirror for scanning the laser light reflected by the first mirror in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. And a Z-axis scanner capable of adjusting the relative distance between the incident lens and the outgoing lens along these optical axes. The laser beam scanning system includes these X-axis scanner, Y-axis scanner, and Z-axis scanner. X-axis laser light catcher Na, Y-axis, can be scannable constructed in the Z-axis direction.

  Furthermore, in the laser processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, the processing content is a character string, a symbol, or image data.

  Furthermore, in the laser processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the processing condition setting unit further emits laser light in accordance with a predetermined processing order with respect to each processing target surface with a plurality of processing target surfaces arranged. A batch print setting means for setting processing conditions in a batch processing mode for scanning and processing can be provided.

Furthermore, the laser processing data setting device according to the fifth aspect of the invention is a laser processing device capable of processing a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area by irradiating a laser beam into a desired processing pattern. Is a laser processing data setting device for setting processing data based on a desired processing pattern, in which three-dimensional shape information corresponding to a processing target surface is input as a processing condition for processing into a desired processing pattern A machining condition setting unit comprising a surface profile input unit and a machining pattern input unit for setting machining content information , and a machining for generating laser machining data of the machining target surface according to the machining conditions set by the machining condition setting unit a data generation unit is generated by the processed data generation unit, the processing block including the processing content information to the processed surface having a three-dimensional shape information And a three-dimensionally viewable display unit an image of laser processing data arranged, the processing condition setting unit, as a new machining conditions by copying the displayed configured machining conditions on the display unit As a copy function for pasting at a desired position on the display unit , from a set processing condition, a content copy that can copy and paste only processing content information excluding 3D shape information, and a set processing condition A shape copy capable of copying and pasting three-dimensional shape information and processing content information, and a copy switching means capable of switching between the content copy and the shape copy when executing a copy function, and generating the processing data The section is newly generated by copying the processing conditions set by the processing pattern input means and the processing surface profile input means by the copy function. Accordance Engineering conditions, that generates the laser processing data.

Furthermore, the laser processing data setting method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is a laser processing apparatus capable of processing a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area by irradiating a laser beam into a desired processing pattern. Is a laser processing data setting method for setting processing data based on a desired processing pattern, and as processing conditions for processing into a desired processing pattern, three-dimensional shape information and processing content information corresponding to the processing target surface And a desired machining condition from the set machining conditions on the display unit, and as information to be copied as a new machining condition from the selected machining condition, only machining content information, or a step of selecting one of the processing content information including 3-dimensional shape information, at a desired position, the desired position on the display unit the selected information of the selected processing conditions It may include a step of attaching to.

Furthermore, the laser processing data setting program according to the seventh invention is a laser processing apparatus capable of processing a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area by irradiating a laser beam to a desired processing pattern. Is a laser processing data setting program for setting processing data based on a desired processing pattern, and as processing conditions for processing to a desired processing pattern, three-dimensional shape information and processing content information corresponding to the processing target surface And a function to select a desired machining condition from the set machining conditions on the display section, and only the machining content information as information to be copied as a new machining condition from the selected machining condition , or a function of selecting one of the processing content information including 3-dimensional shape information, at a desired position, the display unit the selected information of the selected processing conditions Desired paste and a function to position can be implemented on a computer.

Furthermore, the laser processing data setting program according to the eighth aspect of the present invention can be processed into a desired processing pattern by irradiating the processing target surface of the processing target disposed in the work area with laser light. A laser processing data setting program for setting processing data based on a desired processing pattern for a laser processing apparatus, and processing conditions for processing into a desired processing pattern as three-dimensional shape information corresponding to the processing target surface A function for setting processing content information, a function for generating laser processing data of a processing target surface in accordance with the set processing conditions, and a function for displaying an image of the generated laser processing data on a display unit three-dimensionally If, from the configured processing conditions, and the copy and paste function only processing content information excluding the three-dimensional shape information at a desired position on the display unit, setting From already processing conditions, it is possible to realize the copy and paste function computer three-dimensional shape information and machining content information to a desired position on the display unit.

  Furthermore, a computer-readable recording medium or a recorded device storing a program according to an embodiment of the present invention stores the program. CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, flexible disk, magnetic tape, MO, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD + R, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, Blu-ray (registered) Trademarks), HD DVD and other magnetic disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, semiconductor memories and other media that can store programs. The program includes a program distributed in a download manner through a network line such as the Internet, in addition to a program stored and distributed in the recording medium. Further, the recorded devices include general-purpose or dedicated devices in which the program is implemented in a state where it can be executed in the form of software, firmware, or the like. Furthermore, each process and function included in the program may be executed by computer-executable program software, or each part of the process or hardware may be executed by hardware such as a predetermined gate array (FPGA, ASIC), or program software. And a partial hardware module that realizes a part of hardware elements may be mixed.

  According to the present invention, the machining conditions for the three-dimensional machining target surface can be copied only as needed, including the machining content or the shape of the machining target surface. Can greatly save labor. In particular, according to the second invention, since the content to be copied can be directly specified as either a copy of only the processing content or a copy including the shape of the surface to be processed, a copy operation is simplified without the need for a prior copy setting. It can be suitably used for applications that frequently switch copy functions. According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the copy function can be suitably used when setting a plurality of processing conditions related to the batch printing mode by the processing condition setting unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a laser processing apparatus, a laser processing condition setting apparatus, a laser processing condition setting method, and a laser processing condition setting program for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, the present invention is a laser processing apparatus, laser processing condition setting apparatus, a laser processing condition setting method, not specific to the following laser processing condition setting program. Further, the present specification by no means specifies the members shown in the claims to the members of the embodiments. In particular, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified, and are merely explanations. It is just an example. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and symbol indicate the same or the same members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and the plurality of elements are shared by one member, and conversely, the function of one member is constituted by a plurality of members. It can also be realized by sharing.

  In this specification, the connection between the laser processing apparatus and computers, printers, external storage devices and other peripheral devices for operation, control, input / output, display, and other processing connected thereto is, for example, IEEE 1394, RS- 232x, RS-422, RS-423, RS-485, USB, PS2, etc., serial connection, parallel connection, or 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T, etc. I do. The connection is not limited to a physical connection using a wire, but may be a wireless connection using radio waves such as IEEE802.1x, OFDM, etc., Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared rays, optical communication, or the like. Further, a memory card, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like can be used as a recording medium for storing observation image data or setting data.

  In the following embodiments, a laser marker will be described as an example of a laser processing apparatus embodying the present invention. However, in this specification, the laser processing apparatus can be used in general for laser application equipment regardless of its name. For example, laser processing such as laser oscillators and various laser processing apparatuses, drilling, marking, trimming, scribing, surface treatment, and laser processing, Other laser application fields as a light source, for example, a light source for high-density recording / playback of optical discs such as DVD and Blu-ray (registered trademark), a light source for communication, a printing device, a light source for illumination, a light source for display devices such as a display, It can be suitably used in medical devices and the like.

  In this specification, printing will be described as a representative example of processing. However, as described above, printing is not limited to printing processing, and it can be used in all types of processing using laser light such as melting, peeling, surface oxidation, cutting, and discoloration. it can. In addition, the term “printing” is used in a concept including various kinds of processing described above in addition to marking of characters, symbols, figures and the like. Further, in the present specification, the processing pattern is used to include hiragana, katakana, kanji, alphabets and numbers, symbols, pictograms, icons, logos, graphics such as barcodes and two-dimensional codes, and the like. In particular, in this specification, a character indicated by a character or symbol means a character that can be read by an optical reader such as OCR, and is a concept that includes numerals, symbols, hiragana and katakana, as well as numbers and symbols. The symbol means a bar code or a two-dimensional code. The two-dimensional code includes a QR code, a micro QR code, a data matrix (Data code), a Veri code, an Aztec code, a PDF417, a maxi code, and the like. In addition, there are RSS, composite code, and the like in which a linear code and a two-dimensional code are mixed. RSS is a space-saving symbol (Reduced Space Symbology), and RSS14, RSS Stacked, RSS Limited, RSS Expanded, and the like are used. Composite code (CC) is a decoding of a barcode and a stack type two-dimensional code. Various combinations can be used, and EAN / UPC (EAN-13, EAN-8) can be used as a base barcode. , UPC-A, UPC-E), EAN / UPC128, and RSS family (RSS14, RSS Limited, RSS Expanded) can be used. As additional information, a two-dimensional symbol of MicroPDF417 or PDF417 can be used. The present embodiment can also be applied to a combination of a barcode and a matrix type two-dimensional code such as a micro QR code.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the laser processing apparatus 100. A laser processing apparatus 100 shown in this figure includes a laser control unit 1, a laser output unit 2, and an input unit 3.
(Input unit 3)

The input unit 3 is connected to the laser control unit 1, inputs necessary settings for operating the laser processing apparatus, and transmits them to the laser control unit 1. The setting contents are operating conditions of the laser processing apparatus, specific printing contents, and the like. The input unit 3 is an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a console. In addition, a display unit 82 for confirming input information input by the input unit 3 and displaying the state of the laser control unit 1 and the like can be separately provided. As the display unit 82, a monitor such as an LCD or a cathode ray tube can be used. If a touch panel method is used, the input unit and the display unit can also be used. Accordingly, the necessary setting of the laser processing apparatus can be performed at the input unit without externally connecting a computer or the like.
(Laser controller 1)

  The laser control unit 1 includes a control unit 4, a memory unit 5, a laser excitation unit 6, and a power source 7. The setting contents input from the input unit 3 are recorded in the memory unit 5. The control unit 4 reads the setting contents from the memory when necessary, and operates the laser excitation unit 6 based on the print signal corresponding to the printing contents to excite the laser medium 8 of the laser output unit 2. The memory unit 5 can use a semiconductor memory such as a RAM or a ROM. Further, the memory unit 5 can be incorporated in the laser control unit 1, or a semiconductor memory card such as a detachable PC card or SD card, or a memory card such as a card-type hard disk can be used. The memory unit 5 composed of a memory card can be easily rewritten by an external device such as a computer. The contents set by the computer are written in the memory card and set in the laser control unit 1 so that the input unit is laser controlled. Settings can be made without connecting to the unit. In particular, a semiconductor memory is fast in reading and writing data and has no mechanical operation part, so it is resistant to vibrations and can prevent data loss accidents due to a crash like a hard disk.

Further, the control unit 4 scans the laser light L oscillated by the laser medium 8 on the print object (work) W so as to perform the set printing, and thus the scanning signal for operating the scanning unit 9 of the laser output unit 2. Is output to the scanning unit 9. The power source 7 applies a predetermined voltage to the laser excitation unit 6 as a constant voltage power source. The print signal for controlling the print operation is a PWM signal corresponding to one pulse of the laser light L that is oscillated by switching on / off of the laser light L according to the HIGH / LOW. Although the laser intensity of the PWM signal is determined based on a duty ratio corresponding to the frequency, the laser intensity may be changed depending on the scanning speed based on the frequency.
(Laser excitation unit 6)

The laser excitation unit 6 includes a laser excitation light source 10 and a laser excitation light source condensing unit 11 that are optically bonded. An example of the inside of the laser excitation unit 6 is shown in the perspective view of FIG. The laser excitation unit 6 shown in this figure has a laser excitation light source 10 and a laser excitation light source condensing unit 11 fixed in a laser excitation unit casing 12. The laser excitation unit casing is made of a metal such as brass having good thermal conductivity, and efficiently radiates the laser excitation light source 10 to the outside. The laser excitation light source 10 is composed of a semiconductor laser, a lamp or the like. In the example of FIG. 4, a laser diode array in which a plurality of semiconductor laser diode elements are arranged in a straight line is used, and laser oscillation from each element is output in a line. Laser oscillation enters the incident surface of the laser excitation light source condensing unit 11 and is output as laser excitation light condensed from the emission surface. The laser excitation light source condensing unit 11 is composed of a focusing lens or the like. Laser excitation light from the laser excitation light source condensing unit 11 is incident on the laser medium 8 of the laser output unit 2 through an optical fiber cable 13 or the like. The laser excitation light source 10, the laser excitation light source condensing unit 11, and the optical fiber cable 13 are optically coupled via a space or an optical fiber.
(Laser output unit 2)

The laser output unit 2 includes a laser oscillation unit 50. The laser oscillation unit 50 that generates the laser light L includes a laser medium 8, an output mirror and a total reflection mirror that are arranged to face each other at a predetermined distance along the optical path of the stimulated emission light emitted from the laser medium 8, and Apertures, Q switches, etc. arranged between The stimulated emission light emitted from the laser medium 8 is amplified by multiple reflection between the output mirror and the total reflection mirror, and the mode is selected by the aperture while being cut off in a short period by the operation of the Q switch, and the output mirror The laser beam L is output through The laser output unit 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a laser medium 8 and a scanning unit 9. The laser medium 8 is excited by the laser excitation light incident from the laser excitation unit 6 via the optical fiber cable 13 and is oscillated. The laser medium 8 employs a so-called end pumping excitation method in which laser excitation light is input from one end surface of the rod shape and is excited, and laser light L is emitted from the other end surface.
(Laser medium 8)

In the above example, a rod-shaped Nd: YVO ₄ solid laser medium is used as the laser medium 8. The wavelength of the semiconductor laser for excitation of the solid-state laser medium was set to 809 nm, which is the center wavelength of the Nd: YVO ₄ absorption spectrum. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and other solid-state laser media such as rare earth doped YAG, LiSrF, LiCaF, YLF, NAB, KNP, LNP, NYAB, NPP, GGG, etc. can also be used. Moreover, the wavelength of the laser beam L to be output can be converted into an arbitrary wavelength by combining a wavelength conversion element with the solid laser medium. Moreover, it is applicable also to what is called a fiber laser using a fiber as an oscillator instead of a bulk as a laser medium.

Furthermore, it is also possible to use a wavelength conversion element that does not use a solid laser medium, in other words, does not constitute a resonator that oscillates laser light, and performs only wavelength conversion. In this case, wavelength conversion is performed on the output light of the semiconductor laser. Examples of the wavelength conversion element include KTP (KTiPO ₄ ), organic nonlinear optical materials and other inorganic nonlinear optical materials such as KN (KNbO ₃ ), KAP (KAsPO ₄ ), BBO, LBO, and bulk polarization inversion elements ( LiNbO ₃ (Periodically Polled Lithium Niobate: PPLN), LiTaO ₃ or the like) can be used. Further, a semiconductor laser for an excitation light source of a laser by up-conversion using a fluoride fiber doped with rare earth such as Ho, Er, Tm, Sm, and Nd can be used. Thus, in this embodiment, various types can be appropriately used as a laser generation source.

Furthermore, the laser oscillation unit is not limited to a solid-state laser, and a gas laser using a gas such as CO ₂ , helium-neon, argon, or nitrogen as a medium can also be used. For example, when a carbon dioxide laser is used, the laser oscillation unit is filled with carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) inside the laser oscillation unit and has an electrode built in. The laser oscillation is based on a print signal given from the laser control unit. The carbon dioxide in the unit is excited to cause laser oscillation.
(Scanning system)

  Next, the laser beam scanning system of the laser processing apparatus is shown in FIGS. In these drawings, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the laser beam scanning system of the laser processing apparatus, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of FIG. 5 viewed from the reverse direction, and FIG. 7 is a side view. . The laser processing apparatus shown in these drawings is orthogonal to a beam expander 53 having a Z-axis scanner in which the optical path coincides with a laser oscillation unit that generates laser light L, an X-axis scanner 14a, and an X-axis scanner 14a. And a Y-axis scanner 14b arranged as described above. In this laser beam scanning system, the laser beam L emitted from the laser oscillation unit is scanned two-dimensionally in the work area WS by the X-axis scanner 14a and the Y-axis scanner 14b, and further in the height direction by the Z-axis scanner 14c. The working distance, that is, the focal length can be adjusted, and printing can be performed in a three-dimensional manner. In the figure, the fθ lens, which is a condensing lens, is not shown.

  In general, in a laser processing apparatus, an fθ lens is disposed between the second mirror and the work area in order to focus the laser light reflected by the second mirror (Y-axis scanner) so as to irradiate the work area. A condensing lens called is arranged. The fθ lens performs correction in the Z-axis direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the focal position is extended as it gets closer to the end of the work area WS and is corrected to be positioned on the processing surface of the work W.

  In the laser marker, for example, when it is desired to form a beam having a spot diameter smaller than about 50 μm, it is preferable to arrange an fθ lens. On the other hand, when a beam diameter larger than the small spot diameter described above and having a spot diameter of about 100 μm (usually used spot diameter) is adopted, the Z-axis assembly provided in the beam expander on the Z-axis scanner side is used. By moving the optical lens in the Z-axis direction, correction in the Z-axis direction that should be performed by the fθ lens can be performed as correction control. Thereby, when the spot diameter is large, the fθ lens can be omitted. In the example of FIG. 8 described above, correction in the Z-axis direction to be performed by the fθ lens can be performed by correction control of the Z-axis scanner.

Each scanner has a galvano mirror which is a total reflection mirror as a reflecting surface for reflecting light, a galvano motor for rotating with the galvano mirror fixed to the rotating shaft, and a position where the rotating shaft rotates. A position detector for outputting as a signal is provided. The scanner is connected to a scanner driving unit that drives the scanner. The scanner driving unit is connected to the scanner control unit, receives a control signal for controlling the scanner from the scanner control unit, and drives the scanner based on the control signal. For example, the scanner driving unit adjusts the driving current for driving the scanner based on the control signal. The scanner driving unit includes an adjustment mechanism that adjusts a temporal change in the rotation angle of each scanner with respect to the control signal. The adjustment mechanism is constituted by a semiconductor component such as a variable resistor that adjusts each parameter of the scanner driving unit.
(Z-axis scanner 14c)

  The Z-axis scanner 14c constitutes a beam expander 53 that adjusts the spot diameter of the laser light L and thereby adjusts the focal length. That is, by changing the relative distance between the entrance lens and the exit lens by the beam expander, the beam diameter of the laser light can be enlarged / reduced, and the focal position can also be changed. The beam expander 53 is arranged in front of the galvanometer mirror as shown in FIG. 5 and adjusts the beam diameter of the laser light L output from the laser oscillating unit, in order to effectively collect light on a small spot. At the same time, the focal position of the laser beam L can be adjusted. A method for adjusting the working distance by the Z-axis scanner 14c will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 are side views of the laser beam scanning system. FIG. 9 shows a case where the focal length of the laser beam L is increased, and FIG. 10 shows a case where the focal length is reduced. FIG. 11 shows a front view and a sectional view of the Z-axis scanner 14c. As shown in these figures, the Z-axis scanner 14c includes an incident lens 16 facing the laser oscillating unit and an exit lens 18 facing the laser emitting side, and the distance between these lenses changes relatively. It is possible. 9 to 11, the exit lens 18 is fixed, and the entrance lens 16 can be slid along the optical axis direction by a drive motor or the like. FIG. 11 omits the illustration of the exit lens 18 and shows the drive mechanism of the entrance lens 16. In this example, the movable element can be slid in the axial direction by a coil and a magnet, and the incident lens 16 is fixed to the movable element. However, the incident lens side can be fixed and the exit lens side can be moved, or both the entrance lens and the exit lens can be moved.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the distance between the entrance lens 16 and the exit lens 18 is made closer, the focal position becomes farther and the focal distance (working distance) becomes larger. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 10, when the distance between the incident lens 16 and the outgoing lens 18 is increased, the focal position approaches and the focal length becomes smaller.

The laser processing apparatus capable of three-dimensional processing, that is, processing in the height direction of the workpiece, is not limited to the method of adjusting the Z-axis scanner as shown in FIGS. Other methods such as moving the laser output unit or the marking head itself can be used.
(Distance pointer)

  In addition, in order to adjust the focal position at the center of the work area of the laser marker that can be three-dimensionally processed, a guide pattern indicating the irradiation position when the laser beam is scanned into the work area WS can be displayed. The laser beam scanning system of the laser marker shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 6 serves as a distance pointer and guide light optics for aligning the guide light source 60 and the guide light G from the guide light source 60 with the optical axis of the laser light scanning system. A half mirror 62 is provided as one form of the system, and a pointer light source 64 for irradiating pointer light P as a pointer light adjustment system, and a pointer scanner as a third mirror formed on the back surface of the Y-axis scanner 14b. The mirror 14d and the fixed mirror 66 that further reflects the pointer light P from the pointer light source 64 reflected by the pointer scanner mirror 14d and irradiates it toward the focal position. The distance pointer is adjusted by irradiating the pointer light P indicating the focal position of the laser light from the pointer light source 64 and irradiating the pointer light P almost at the center of the guide pattern displayed by the guide light G. The focal position of the laser beam is indicated.

In the above example, the laser beam scanning system is provided with a mechanism capable of adjusting the focal length of the laser beam, thereby enabling three-dimensional processing. However, by controlling the stage height so that the position of the stage on which the workpiece is placed can be adjusted in the vertical direction, the height of the stage is adjusted so that the focal point of the laser beam is connected to the work surface of the workpiece. Dimensional processing can also be performed. Also, by making the stage movable in the X-axis or Y-axis direction, the corresponding scanner of the laser beam scanning system can be omitted. These configurations can be suitably used not only in a form in which the workpiece is conveyed on the line but also in a form in which the work is placed on the stage and processed.
(System configuration of laser marker)

  Next, FIG. 12 shows a system configuration of a laser marker capable of three-dimensional printing. The laser processing system shown in this figure is connected to a marking head 150, a controller 1A that is connected to the marking head 150 and controls the marking head 150, and the controller 1A so that data communication is possible. A laser processing data setting device 180 that sets a print pattern as three-dimensional laser processing data; In the example of FIG. 12, the laser processing data setting device 180 installs a laser processing data setting program in a computer to realize a laser processing data setting function. The laser processing data setting device can use a programmable logic controller (PLC) connected with a touch panel, other dedicated hardware, etc. in addition to a computer. The laser processing data setting device can also function as a control device that controls the operation of the laser processing device. For example, a function as a laser processing data setting device and a function as a controller of a marking head including a laser output unit may be integrated into one computer. Further, the laser processing data setting device is constituted by a member different from the laser processing device, and can also be integrated into the laser processing device, for example, a laser processing data setting circuit incorporated in the laser processing device.

  Furthermore, various external devices 190 can be connected to the controller 1A as necessary. For example, an image recognition device such as an image sensor for confirming the type and position of a workpiece conveyed on the line, a distance measuring device such as a displacement meter for obtaining information on the distance between the workpiece and the marking head 150, and a device according to a predetermined sequence It is possible to install a PLC that controls the above, a PD sensor that detects the passage of a workpiece, and other various sensors, and to be connected so that data communication is possible.

Laser processing data, which is setting information for printing planar print data in a three-dimensional form, is set by a laser processing data setting device 180. FIG. 13 shows a block diagram as an example of the laser processing data setting device 180. The laser processing data setting device 180 shown in this figure includes an input unit 3 for inputting various settings, a processing data generation unit 80K that generates laser processing data based on information input from the input unit 3, and a processing target A calculation unit 80 constituting an initial position setting means 80L for determining an initial position for arranging laser processing data on the surface, a display unit 82 for displaying setting contents and laser processing data after calculation, and various setting data And a storage unit 5A for storing. Further, the storage unit 5A includes a reference table 5a that holds a plurality of combinations of processing parameters in association with each other. The display unit 82 is a processing image display unit 83 that can display an image of the processing target surface in three dimensions, and an image of the marking head when the processing image display unit 83 displays the processing target surface image in three dimensions. Is provided. The input unit 3 is a machining surface profile input unit 3A for inputting profile information indicating the three-dimensional shape of the print surface of the workpiece as a machining condition setting unit 3C for inputting machining conditions for machining with a desired machining pattern. The processing pattern input means 3B for inputting print pattern information, the processing block setting means 3F capable of setting a plurality of processing blocks in the work area and setting the processing pattern for each processing block, and the block setting means 3F The function of the group setting means 3J for setting a machining group in which a plurality of set machining blocks are collected is realized. The storage unit 5A corresponds to the memory unit 5 in FIG. 1 and is a member that stores information such as profile information and print pattern information set by the input unit 3, and includes a storage medium such as a fixed storage device, a semiconductor memory, and the like. Available. In addition to providing a dedicated display, the display unit 82 may use a computer monitor connected to the system.
(Calculation unit 80)

  The calculation unit 80 functions as a processing data generation unit 80K for generating processing data for performing actual processing based on the processing conditions set by the processing condition setting unit 3C. If necessary, it is possible to realize a coordinate conversion means for converting the print pattern information from planar to three-dimensional spatial coordinate data so as to virtually match the print pattern with the print surface. The calculation unit 80 is configured by an IC such as an FPGA or LSI.

In the example of FIG. 13, the laser processing data setting device is configured by dedicated hardware, but these members can also be executed by software. In particular, as shown in FIG. 12, a laser processing data setting program can be installed in a general-purpose computer so as to function as a laser processing data setting device. In the example of FIG. 13, the laser processing data setting device and the laser processing device are separate devices, but they can also be integrated. For example, a laser processing data setting function can be added to the laser processing apparatus itself.
(Laser processing data setting program)

  Next, a procedure for generating a processing pattern based on character information input from the processing condition setting unit 3C using the laser processing data setting program will be described based on the user interface screens shown in FIGS. In the examples of user interface screens of these programs, it goes without saying that the layout, shape, display method, size, color scheme, pattern, etc. of each input field and button can be changed as appropriate. By changing the design, the layout can be made easier to display, easier to evaluate and judge, and easy to operate. For example, the detailed setting screen can be displayed as a separate window, or a plurality of screens can be displayed within the same display screen. On the user interface screens of these programs, ON / OFF operations for numerically provided buttons and input fields, designation of numerical values and command inputs, etc. are performed by the input unit 3 connected to the computer in which the program is incorporated. . In this specification, “pressing” includes not only physically touching and operating buttons, but also clicking or selecting with an input unit and pseudo-pressing. Input / output devices constituting the input unit or the like are connected to a computer by wire or wirelessly, or are fixed to the computer or the like. Examples of general input units include various pointing devices such as a mouse, keyboard, slide pad, track point, tablet, joystick, console, jog dial, digitizer, light pen, numeric keypad, touch pad, and accu point. These input / output devices are not limited to program operations, but can also be used for hardware operations such as laser processing equipment. Furthermore, a touch screen or a touch panel is used for the display itself of the display unit 82 that displays the interface screen, so that the user can directly input or operate the screen by hand, or voice input or other existing input is possible. Means can be used, or these can be used in combination.

  The laser processing data setting program can edit three-dimensional laser processing data. However, considering users who are not good at editing 3D data, a “2D editing mode” is available, which allows only setting on a plane and cannot be edited on 3D. It may be possible to switch to a possible “3D editing mode”. When such a plurality of editing modes are provided, an editing mode display field 270 indicating the current editing mode and an editing mode switching button 272 for switching the editing mode are provided. In the example of FIG. 14, the “2D editing mode” is set when the laser processing data setting program is started, and the editing mode display field 270 provided at the upper right of the screen indicates that the current editing mode is “2D editing in progress”. I am letting. By setting the two-dimensional editing mode, which is relatively easy to operate, as the default editing mode at the time of activation, even a user who is not good at editing three-dimensional laser processing data can operate without confusion. Further, the editing mode at the time of activation can be configured to be changeable by the user, and it can also be set so that a user who has mastered the operation can edit the three-dimensional laser processing data without switching the editing mode.

  The edit mode switching button 272 provided on the right side of the edit mode display field 270 displays “3D” characters indicating that switching to the 3D edit mode is possible. When the edit mode switch button 272 is pressed from this state, the mode is switched to “3D edit mode” and the display in the edit mode display field 270 is changed to “3D editing in progress” (FIG. 15 and the like). Further, the edit mode switching button 272 displays “2D” characters indicating that switching from the 3D editing mode to the 2D editing mode is possible. In this way, by providing a 2D editing mode in which 3D display and editing are restricted, it is possible to avoid 3D editing, which has a high threshold according to the user's ability and preference, so that only 2D editing can be performed, and operation difficulty can be reduced. . In other words, even a user who is not accustomed to advanced operations such as 3D CAD can switch to an environment that can be operated as easily as 2D CAD, thereby reducing the difficulty of operation and learning. It is also possible to shift to 3D editing depending on the degree. As described above, the laser processing data setting program can cope with a wide range of users while enabling high-level operations and suppressing complicated and sophisticated operations.

  The 2D editing mode shown in FIG. 14 and the 3D editing mode shown in FIG. 15 are substantially equal in appearance. In the 2D editing mode of FIG. 14, the “shape setting” tab 204i for setting a three-dimensional shape is grayed out and cannot be selected. By pressing the edit mode switching button 272 from the screen of FIG. 14 and switching to the 3D editing mode shown in FIG. 15, the “shape setting” tab 204i can be selected. In this way, by changing the items that can be set with almost no change in the user interface of the program between the 2D editing mode and the 3D editing mode, the transition from the 2D editing mode to the 3D editing mode or vice versa can be easily performed. It can be done smoothly.

  As described above, since this laser machining data setting program uses almost the same interface as the 2D editing mode even in the 3D editing mode, the setting and editing work of the 3D laser machining data is also performed using the 2D laser machining data. It can be done in almost the same way as the setting of. Also in the 3D editing mode, first, the character size and shape of the print pattern are designated from the same user interface as in the 2D editing mode. Next, three-dimensional shape information necessary for the three-dimensional laser processing data is added to the setting of the two-dimensional print pattern. At this time, the user can set the actual print data while switching between the two-dimensional display viewed from the front in the printing direction, that is, the laser light irradiation direction, and the three-dimensional display viewed from an arbitrary direction. This provides a simple user interface that allows a user who has only experienced two-dimensional print data creation to easily create three-dimensional laser processing data.

  An example of the processing condition setting unit 3C will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15 show an example of a user interface screen of the laser processing data setting program. An edit display field 202 for displaying an image of a processing pattern to be printed on the work is shown on the left side of the screen, and a specific example is shown on the right side. A printing pattern input field 204 for specifying various data as processing conditions is provided. In the print pattern input field 204, a “basic setting” tab 204h, a “shape setting” tab 204i, and a “detailed setting” tab 204j can be switched as tabs for selecting setting items. In the example of FIG. 14, a “basic setting” tab 204h is selected, and a processing type designation field 204a, a character data designation field 204d, a character input field 204b, and a detailed setting field 204c are provided. The processing type designation field 204a designates whether the operation as a printing pattern including a character string, a symbol, a logo, a pattern, an image such as a figure, or a processing machine is performed as a processing pattern type. In the example of FIG. 14, a character string, a logo / diagram, and a processing machine operation are selected from the processing type designation field 204a by radio buttons. The character data designation field 204d designates the type of character data. Here, any one of a character, a barcode, a two-dimensional code, and an RSS / composite code (CC) is selected from a pull-down menu. Further, according to the type of the selected character data, a more detailed type is selected in the type designation field 204q. For example, if you select a character, select a font type. If you select a barcode, select CODE39, ITF, 2 of 5, NW7, JAN, Code 28, etc. RSS-14, RSS-14 CC-A, RSS Stacked, RSS Stacked CC-A, RSS Limited, RSS Limited CC- Specifies an RSS code type such as A or an RSS composite code type. In the character input field 204b, character information to be printed is input. The inputted character is printed as it is as a character string when a character is selected in the character data designation field 204d. On the other hand, when a symbol is designated, a processing pattern in which a character string input according to the type of the selected symbol is encoded is generated. The machining pattern may be generated by the machining data setting unit in addition to the machining condition setting unit 3C. In this example, the calculation unit 80 performs. The detailed setting column 204c switches the tabs and designates details of printing conditions such as a “printing data” tab 204e, a “size / position” tab 204f, and a “printing conditions” tab 204g.

  In the example of FIG. 14, the QR code is designated in the character data designation field 204d, and the cell size, print line width, error correction rate, version, etc. are designated numerically on the “print data” tab 204e. In addition, automatic mode, black and white reversal, password, etc. can be specified as necessary.

When the processing machine operation is selected from the processing type designation field 204a, the processing type can be selected from a pull-down menu. You can choose. In the processing machine operation, a segment coordinate designation field 278 is provided as a machining content instead of a character input field, and a locus such as a straight line or an arc is designated by coordinates. FIG. 66 shows a setting screen when a broken line is selected as the processing type as an example of the processing machine operation. FIG. 67 shows a setting screen when a clockwise circle / ellipse is selected, and FIG. 68 shows a setting screen displayed in a three-dimensional shape by further switching to 3D editing.
(Processing block setting means)

  As described above, the print pattern information relating to one print block is set. A plurality of print blocks can be set. That is, a plurality of printing blocks can be set in the processing area, and printing can be performed under different printing conditions. In addition to setting a plurality of printing blocks for one work or a processing (printing) target surface, it is also possible to set each of a plurality of printing blocks for a plurality of works existing in the processing area.

  The machining block is set by machining block setting means. In the example of FIG. 14, a block number selection field 216 is provided above the print pattern input field 204 as one form of the processing block setting unit. The block number selection field 216 is provided with a number display field for displaying a block number, and a “>” button, a “>>” button, a “<” button, and a “<<” button as number designation means. When the “>” button is pressed, the block number is incremented by 1, and a new print block can be set. Similarly, when changing the setting of a set printing block, the user can select the block number by operating the “>” button and call the setting of the corresponding printing block. If the “>>” button is pressed, the program jumps to the last block number. If the “<” button is further pressed, the block number is returned by one, and if the “<<” button is pressed, the program jumps to the first block number. Furthermore, a block number can be designated by directly inputting a numerical value in the numerical value display field of the block number selection field 216. In this way, a print block is selected in the block number selection field 216, and print pattern information is designated for each print block. In this example, the block number can be set from 0 to 255.

  FIG. 15 shows an example in which three print blocks are set. The QR code set in FIG. 14 is displayed as the block number 000, the bar code is displayed as the block number 001, and the character string is displayed as the block number 002. In the example of FIG. 15, a barcode is designated in the character data designation field 204d, and the barcode height, narrow width, print line width, thin / thickness ratio, etc. are designated numerically on the “print data” tab 204e. In addition, the presence / absence of check digit, black / white inversion, etc. can be designated as necessary.

  In addition, regarding the arrangement of the print blocks, adjustment of the arrangement position (centering with respect to the central axis, right alignment, left alignment, etc.), the stacking order when a plurality of print blocks overlap, and the layout such as alignment can be set. For example, FIG. 16 shows an example in which each print block is moved to the center position in the horizontal direction of the screen. Similarly, alignment can be performed at the center in the vertical direction. In this way, the arrangement of the plurality of print blocks can be automatically adjusted.

Furthermore, the arrangement of each print block can be specified by coordinates or the like. In the example of FIG. 16, for the character string of block number 002, the X and Y coordinates of the block coordinates are designated by numerical values from the “size / position” tab 204f. From this screen, the character height, character width, character spacing, etc. can be specified as the character size. Further, as the block shape, horizontal writing, vertical writing, cylinder inner circumference, outer circumference, etc. at the time of three-dimensional printing are designated.
(Print block setting list)

The print block set in this way can display a list of setting items as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 15, by selecting “Block List” from the “Edit” menu, the block list screen 217 of FIG. 17 is displayed in a separate window. From this list screen, set print blocks can be deleted, or new print blocks can be added by copying. Alternatively, a desired print block may be selected and the setting items may be adjusted.
(Batch change of 3D shape)

Furthermore, it is possible to provide a batch change function for changing the shapes of a plurality of print blocks at once. As an example, let us consider a case where it is desired to change all of these three print blocks composed of two cones and a sphere as shown in FIG. 69 into a cylindrical shape. When a “3D shape batch change” button 274 provided at the bottom of the toolbar at the left end of the setting screen in FIG. 69 is pressed, a 3D shape batch change screen 275 in FIG. 70 is displayed. On the 3D shape batch change screen 275, a list of currently set print blocks is displayed, showing the respective coordinate positions, figure types, character strings, and the like. From this screen, a print block to be changed is selected by a check box, and a desired shape is designated in a batch change shape designation column 276. In the example of FIG. 70, a plane, cylinder, sphere, cone, 3D processing machine, ZMAP, and the like are prepared as pull-down menus in the batch change shape designation field 276. At the same time, when it is desired to specify the changed block shape, the check box in the “Change block shape all at once” column 277 is turned on, and the changed details are input. In the example of FIG. 70, “Cylinder” is designated in the collective change shape designation field 276 as the changed shape, and the diameter and the arrangement surface are input for the changed block shape. When “OK” is pressed after the setting is completed, the print blocks are collectively converted into a cylindrical shape having the same diameter as shown in FIG. In this way, the change work can be facilitated by converting the shapes of a plurality of print blocks at once, and the labor of changing the setting for each print block can be saved. This is particularly effective when it is desired to convert the shape of a large number of printing blocks into the same shape, and this saves a great amount of labor.
(Print group)

It is also possible to set a print group in which a plurality of print blocks are collected, and to set print conditions such as an output value of laser light and a scanning speed for each print group. This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 57 shows a state in which a plurality of print blocks are set by the block setting means 3F and displayed in a two-dimensional form in the edit display column 202, and FIG. 58 shows a state in which this is switched to a three-dimensional display. Show. In the above example, only one line of data can be printed in one printing block as shown in FIG. For this reason, when it is desired to print a plurality of lines, it is possible to set a plurality of print blocks and arrange these print blocks side by side. In the example of FIGS. 57 and 58, a cylindrical print block B1 (block number 000) of the character string “abcde” is set in the upper stage and a column shape of the character string “ABCDE” is set in the lower stage of the cylindrical workpiece. A printing block B2 (block number 001) is set, and these are stacked one above the other. Printing conditions are set for these printing blocks B1 and B2. For this reason, conventionally, the user has individually set printing conditions for each printing block. However, in this case, since the printing blocks 1 and 2 are printing on the same workpiece, there are many common items as printing conditions such as laser beam output and scanning speed. Conventionally, the same printing conditions have to be individually set for these, and the work is complicated. In particular, as the number of print blocks increases, the setting takes time. In order to deal with such a problem, a plurality of print blocks are collectively set as a print group, and print condition setting can be performed in units of print groups. Specifically, print group setting is performed by the group setting means 3J.
(Group setting means 3J)

  In the example shown in FIG. 59 as the group setting means 3J, a group setting field 250 is provided in the print pattern input field 204. More specifically, the check box of the “group setting” column 251 of the group setting column 250 is turned ON to select a print block to be grouped, and the group number is specified in the group number specifying column 252. To select a print block, for example, as shown in FIG. 60, a range is specified from the edit display column 202 to include a print block to be selected with a pointing device such as a mouse, or left click with the mouse while holding down the CTRL key. Means such as this can be used as appropriate. After selecting the print blocks to be grouped in this way, grouping is set by pressing the “group” button 253 in the group setting field 250. Also, as shown in FIG. 61, after specifying a plurality of print blocks to be grouped by range specification or mouse click, the “group” menu 257 is selected from the right-click menu 256 of the mouse, and “group” is selected. . The group number is incremented by 1 from 000 each time a new group is set and is automatically given. In this example, up to 254 groups can be set. When grouping is performed in this way, printing conditions and the like can be collectively performed in units of groups. In the example of FIG. 59, the print blocks B1 and B2 are designated with the edit display field 202 displayed two-dimensionally, and set as the print group G1 (group number 000) in the group setting field 250 of the print pattern input field 204. . Thus, a frame GW that surrounds the two-stage character string is displayed so as to indicate the range of the print group G1 in the edit display field 202. 61 and 62 show how the frame display changes from the frame BW of the print block to the frame GW of the print group. In this way, the frame displayed in units of print blocks changes to a frame GW indicating a print group. As a result, the entire character strings “abcde” and “ABCDE” can be handled like a single print block, and the output value of laser beam, scanning speed, adjustment of print block size and offset position, etc. can be collectively processed. Can be set.

  In addition to displaying the print block and the print group in the same manner, the frame may be displayed differently. For example, the print block and the print group can be distinguished by displaying the frame BW indicating the print block with a thin line and the frame showing the print group GW with a thick line. These can also be distinguished by changing the line pattern to a solid line, a broken line, etc., or changing the line display color to green, blue or red.

  Such group setting work is preferably performed in a state where the edit display field 202 is in a two-dimensional display as shown in FIG. This is because the printing block can be simply displayed in the display by the plan view, and the selection is easy. However, as shown in FIG. 63, the edit display field 202 can be set so that it can be displayed in a three-dimensional display (details will be described later). Usability can be improved by enabling the group to be set from both two-dimensional and three-dimensional states.

  In order to cancel the grouping, the “group cancel” button 254 is pressed from the group setting field 250 in FIG. 59 or “group cancel” is selected from the grouping menu 257 in FIG. As a result, the print blocks once grouped can be disassembled again, which is useful when it is desired to set individual print conditions for a part of the group.

  Note that the print group not only groups adjacent print blocks, but also groups print blocks at distant positions. For example, as shown in FIG. 64, when printing three sets of character strings “abcde” and “ABCDE” arranged in two columns on the side of a can-shaped workpiece, a print block B3 of the character string “abcde”; The three blocks B4 and B5 are collectively set as the print block G2, and the three print blocks B6, B7, and B8 of the character string “ABCDE” are collectively set as the print block G3. Thus, the print density for the character string “abcde” and the print density for the character string “ABCDE” can be set independently. The same character string has the same darkness and the different character strings have different darkness. Now you can print. As described above, the grouping can be arbitrarily set according to the ease of setting the printing conditions, in addition to collecting images such as adjacent character strings and logos.

The above describes an example of setting a plurality of print blocks for one work arranged in the work area. However, when a plurality of works are arranged in one work area, each work is The grouping can be set as appropriate even when individual printing is set. In FIG. 65, when three works W1 to 3 are arranged in the work area, different printing is performed for each work, and the character strings “abcde” and “ABCDE” are arranged in two rows for the work W1. The example which grouped the thing is shown. In this example, the same printing conditions can be set for the workpiece W2 and the workpiece W3. In this way, groups can be set for any combination of multiple workpieces and multiple printing blocks, making it easy to make appropriate settings according to the printing purpose and application, and the burden of user setting work. Can be reduced.
(Work profile information)

Next, returning to FIG. 14, a procedure for setting workpiece profile information will be described. The example of FIG. 14 shows an example of printing on a planar workpiece. In this laser processing data setting program, the processing target surface is not limited to a planar shape, and a three-dimensional processing target surface can be set. Profile information relating to the three-dimensional shape of the workpiece surface to be machined is set from the machining surface profile input means 3A in FIG. The following method can be considered as a method for specifying the profile information.
(1) A method of drawing and specifying a workpiece from a program that can input a three-dimensional shape

The shape of the workpiece is drawn and specified from the program. For example, drawing tools such as planes and straight lines such as existing three-dimensional CAD, three-dimensional modeling tools, and drawing software are prepared, and a user directly draws a three-dimensional shape. This method can be easily used by a user accustomed to drawing a three-dimensional shape, but has a problem that a threshold is high for a user who is not good at such drawing.
(2) Method for allowing the user to input parameters for specifying the shape of the workpiece in an interactive format

Like the wizard method, it is a method for specifying a shape by allowing a user to specify necessary information interactively. This method has the advantage that it is easy to use because knowledge about three-dimensional drawing is not required. For example, the shape of the workpiece is designated, and parameters for specifying the shape are designated. Specifically, the shape of the workpiece is presented as an option in advance, and an input parameter setting item for specifying the shape is further presented and input according to the selected shape. For example, if the surface to be processed is an inclined surface, the coordinate position of the reference point, the direction of the normal vector, and the like are designated. In the case of a cylinder, the coordinate position of the reference point, the cylinder radius, the direction of the cylinder center axis, and the like are designated. Or if it is spherical, the coordinate position of the central point, the radius of the sphere, etc. are designated.
(3) A method of inputting and converting a 3D data file created in advance into the shape of the workpiece

A work data file created in advance by another program such as three-dimensional CAD is converted and used. In this method, since already created data can be used, work shape designation work can be greatly saved. Various general-purpose formats such as DXF, IGES, STEP, STL, and GKS can be used as the readable data file format. It is also possible to directly input a special format of a specific application such as DWG for conversion.
(4) A method for acquiring the shape of a workpiece by actually reading it with an image recognition device such as an image sensor.

  The workpiece is read by an image sensor or the like, and data is automatically acquired by a method such as image recognition.

  Of these, the methods (2) and (3) are adopted here. Specifically, a means for selecting from basic figures prepared in advance and a means for inputting a file in which a 3D shape is recorded can be used. This state will be described with reference to FIGS. When the tab for selecting the setting item of the print pattern input field 204 is switched from the “2D setting” tab 204h to the “3D setting” tab 204i on the screen of FIG. 14, the screen shown in FIG. . In the profile designation field 205 in FIG. 18, one of a basic figure, ZMAP, and processing machine operation is selected with a radio button.

In the method of selecting from the basic figure, the shape of the basic figure prepared in advance is selected. Basic figures include planes, cylinders, spheres, cones, and the like. In the example of FIG. 18, as a default screen, a basic figure is selected in the profile designation field 205, and “plane” is selected in the shape selection field 206 provided below the default screen. Here, when a cylinder is selected as shown in FIG. 19, the display in the edit display column 202 is switched from a planar shape to a cylindrical shape. That is, since the XY coordinate plane view of the QR code printed on the cylindrical workpiece is displayed, the QR code is deformed and displayed so as to become narrower toward the right side of the QR code.
(3D display)

  In addition, the processing target surface can be displayed three-dimensionally. In this example, the display format of the edit display field 202 can be switched between two-dimensional display and three-dimensional display. When a display switching button (3D) 207 provided on the screen of FIG. 19 is pressed, the edit display field 202 is switched to three-dimensional display as shown in FIG. 20, and the 3D shape of the processing target surface can be confirmed three-dimensionally. When the display switching button (2D) 207 is pressed from the screen of FIG. 20, the screen is switched to the screen of FIG. Thus, every time the display switching button 207 is pressed, the 2D display and the 3D display are switched, and the display of the display switching button 207 is switched to 2D and 3D indicating the other display form accordingly. Also in the 3D display screen of FIG. 20, the region of the processing pattern is displayed surrounded by a frame K as in the 2D display screen of FIG. 19.

In the example of FIG. 20, the display switching button 207 for 2D display and 3D display is provided on the floating toolbar. The floating toolbar can be moved to any position. Further, the display / non-display of the floating toolbar may be switched, or the floating toolbar may be incorporated into a normal toolbar.
(Height of basic figure)

  As described above, when the basic figure is selected and converted into three-dimensional data, the two-dimensional processed data is set so that the height of the basic figure is the same as the height set in the two-dimensional print data. . An example of displaying the laser processing data converted into the three-dimensional data on the processing image display unit is shown in FIG. As described above, by matching the height of the processed data with the height of the basic figure, when the three-dimensional display is performed, it becomes easy to visually grasp the height required for printing the basic figure, and the visibility is improved. Also, as shown in FIG. 22, when setting a plurality of print blocks, layout such as vertical stacking and alignment of basic figures becomes easy. In particular, since the basic figure is a virtual figure, it can be displayed at any height. However, if it is shortened, the entire print image cannot be displayed. It becomes unclear. Therefore, in this embodiment, the image of the print block can be easily grasped by setting the height of the basic figure to the same height as the print data. In particular, as shown in FIG. 22, when a plurality of prints are performed on a cylindrical workpiece, the interval between the print blocks can be easily grasped. Further, a function of automatically calculating and displaying the interval between the print blocks may be provided. The height of the laser processing data or the height of the basic figure indicates the Y direction when viewed from the XY plane as shown in FIG. The width of the laser processing data or the width of the basic figure indicates the X direction when viewed from the XY plane.

  Furthermore, in addition to making the basic figure the same in the printing block, a slight margin can be set. FIG. 23 shows an example of three-dimensional display of laser processing data with a margin set. Thus, by setting the height of the basic figure higher than the height of the printing block, margins are set above and below the printing block. Such a margin can be used not only to set a margin for positioning and processing accuracy during printing processing, but also to adjust the spacing and positional relationship with other printing blocks arranged above and below.

  Further, the margin can be set not only in the height direction but also in the width direction. An example of the processing condition setting unit 3C for setting a margin is shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 24, a margin setting field 204P is provided in the print pattern input field 204, the check box in the “set margin” field is turned ON, and a margin can be set with a desired numerical value. In addition to specifying the margin width as an absolute value, it can also be specified as a relative value such as a ratio (for example, 10%) to the height of the print block. In accordance with the set margin, the processed image in the edit display field 202 is updated, and the user can quickly confirm the result of reflecting the setting contents.

  The margin can be set by the size of the margin as shown in FIG. 23 (a), or can be set as the height of the basic figure as shown in FIG. 23 (b). Also, the height and width of the basic figure can be set larger than the print block, and the arrangement position of the print block arranged here can be adjusted. For example, the print block is centered and arranged in the height direction with respect to the set basic figure, or the relative position such as right alignment and left alignment in the width direction is designated, and the position 50 mm from the top, The absolute value, coordinates, angle, etc. can be specified such that the lower left corner of the print block is positioned at −90 ° from the horizontal plane. Furthermore, the basic figure itself can be displayed in the same shape as the workpiece. FIG. 25 shows an example in which a printing block is set on a can-shaped workpiece WK. In this example, a basic figure detail designation field 204Q is provided, and the height and diameter of the basic figure are set so as to match the shape of the can-shaped workpiece. Furthermore, by designating which position of the workpiece WK is to be printed in the printing block position setting field 204R, the workpiece WK and the printing blocks arranged on the surface thereof are displayed on the processing image display section, The user can visually grasp the printing state.

Although the example in the three-dimensional display has been described above, the same applies to the two-dimensional display. That is, as shown in FIG. 19 and the like, even in a plan view display, the height of the basic figure can be displayed with the same height as the print block, or an appropriate margin can be displayed, which is suitable for checking the layout. is there.
(Default position for print start position)

  A default position when the two-dimensional print data is transformed into a three-dimensional shape such as a columnar shape or pasted on a three-dimensional workpiece is preset by the initial position setting means 80L. The initial position setting unit 80L determines an initial position at which the laser processing data is arranged on the processing target surface when the three-dimensional laser processing data is displayed on the processing image display unit. In the example shown in FIG. 19, the start angle θ is set to −90 °. Here, the start angle is defined as positive in the clockwise direction with reference to a YZ plane shown in FIG. 44 described later. Thereby, it can be arranged with excellent visibility and printing accuracy.

  The above describes the default position for a conical workpiece, but a default reference position can be set for each basic figure for generating three-dimensional laser processing data. FIG. 26 shows initial positions when a cylindrical shape, a conical shape, and a spherical shape are selected as the basic figure of the workpiece. These basic figures are figures that can be selected in the above-described shape selection field 206 in FIG. The coordinate axes are based on XYZ coordinates with the plane in the work area as the XY plane and the height direction as the Z axis. FIG. 26A shows a cylindrical shape with a radius R, and the reference positions of the laser processing data are X = 0, Y = 0, and θ = 90 °. In addition, when a conical (radius = R) basic figure shown in FIG. 26B is selected, the reference positions of the laser processing data are X = 0, Y = 0, and θ = 90 °. Similarly, when a sphere (radius = R) shown in FIG. 26C is selected as a basic figure, the reference positions are X = 0, Y = 0, and θ = 90 °. As described above, by setting the default start angle θ to 90 °, it is possible to obtain an advantage that the laser processing data is arranged at a place where it is easily printed and the visibility of the laser processing data is further improved.

  When a new print block is created, the print start position of the print block coincides with the origin of the laser beam from the marking head as shown in FIG. For this reason, the default position at the time of new creation can be set to the best position with respect to the marking head.

  By setting the position of the apex of the cylinder or the like as the default position for starting printing in this way, it is easy to print from the marking head of the laser marker located above the workpiece, and a high-precision printing result can be obtained by default. Further, the top of the cylinder has high visibility of the printed content, and the relative position between the marking head and the workpiece can be easily grasped. In particular, when flat print data is deformed into a three-dimensional shape, there is a risk of losing sight of the deformed position. By setting a position with high visibility as the default position, such a situation can be avoided and operability is improved. Good print settings. In particular, in the setting that the non-printable area is not displayed as will be described later, when the laser processing data is applied to the non-printable area at the default position, there is a problem that the laser processing data is not displayed in the initial state. For this reason, by setting the position with high printing accuracy in the initial state, there is a high possibility that laser processing data can be displayed, and a layout having excellent visibility and processing accuracy can be set as a default.

  In addition to setting the default reference position according to the basic shape, the initial position can be uniformly determined for the basic shape. Such an example is shown in FIGS. FIG. 28 shows a right-aligned layout in which laser processing data is arranged right-justified with respect to the basic shape. In contrast, FIG. 29 shows a left-justified layout arranged left-justified with respect to the basic shape, and FIG. 30 shows a centering layout arranged in the center of the basic shape. For example, when printing character strings having different lengths, left-justification and numerical data are right-justified so that the user can easily read. In this manner, an appropriate layout pattern can be selected according to the printing purpose and application.

  Further, the initial position can be laid out in consideration of the non-printable area. For example, from the work area, in a state where a processable area is determined in advance by excluding a non-printable area for the basic shape or a printable area that may cause printing failure, the processable area is right-justified, left-justified, A central arrangement or the like can be performed. As a result, it is possible to avoid the possibility of the initial position being unprintable or defective printing, and a reliable printing result can be obtained. Or, if the laser processing data is larger than the processable area, the automatic placement is stopped, the laser processing data is not displayed in the processing image display section, the non-printable area is shown in red, or the automatic placement is impossible. This message may be displayed to prompt resetting.

  Alternatively, the initial position can be designated by the user. As shown in FIG. 31, (a) after the laser processing data is converted into the designated basic shape, (b) the user adjusts the initial position, and (c) determines the initial position. 80L stores and sets the initial position after (d) as the stored state. The adjustment of the initial position can be designated by a numerical value, or can be designated by the user by dragging the mouse from the three-dimensional display screen. In addition, the user setting of the initial position can be uniformly applied to all basic shapes in addition to being stored for each basic shape. It is also possible to store a plurality of initial positions and switch between them depending on the application. With this method, the user can designate an appropriate initial position for each application, so that flexible and appropriate arrangement can be realized. Such setting data can be called up and used by saving it with a name.

Alternatively, the initial position can be determined according to the irradiation angle of the laser beam. For example, as shown in FIG. 32, when laser light is irradiated from a single marking head to a plurality of workpieces or a plurality of print target surfaces, depending on the positional relationship, angle, etc. between the marking head and the print target surface. Printable area is different. In such a case, instead of setting the initial position uniformly on each print target surface, it is possible to achieve a layout with improved printing accuracy and visibility by setting an appropriate initial position according to the printable area. Become.
(Adjustment of print start position)

  Further, from such a default initial position, the user can appropriately adjust the initial position so that the laser processing data is arranged at a desired position. FIG. 33 shows an example of such manual adjustment of the print start position. FIG. 33A shows an example in which laser processing data is centered and arranged in a cylindrical shape as a default position, and FIG. 33B shows an example in which the print start position is moved to the right side in FIG. Show. Such adjustment of the arrangement position of the laser print data is performed by operating an arrangement parameter along the surface of the basic figure. As the arrangement parameter, for example, the user designates the print start angle in the arrangement parameter setting field 208 provided in the “3D setting tab” 204i in FIG. Furthermore, the coordinate position of the print block can also be specified as an offset amount in the XYZ coordinates. By changing the arrangement position of the print data from these, the irradiation angle of the laser beam is changed, so that the print data may be arranged in an area where the printing accuracy is not good. For this reason, the user can adjust to the position where the printing result is the best by adjusting the arrangement position arbitrarily.

Note that the start angle θ specified in the arrangement parameter setting field 208 is maintained even if the position, posture, angle, etc. of the workpiece, such as the offset amount in the XYZ coordinates, is changed. In particular, by specifying the start angle θ as −90 ° as a default print start position, visibility and print quality can be maintained.
(3D viewer 260)

  In the above example, the edit display field 202 is switched to either 2D display or 3D display. However, there are cases where it is desired to display two-dimensional display and three-dimensional display of the same workpiece side by side. In order to meet such a demand, a three-dimensional viewer 260 that opens in a separate window is prepared. FIG. 34 shows an example in which a three-dimensional viewer 260 is displayed. In the example of FIG. 19 above, a three-dimensional screen call button for opening the three-dimensional viewer 260 is provided on the floating toolbar. When the two-screen display button 207C constituting the three-dimensional screen call button is pressed in the state where the two-dimensional display is performed in the edit display field 202 as shown in FIG. 19, the three-dimensional viewer 260 is displayed in another window as shown in FIG. Is displayed. The three-dimensional viewer 260 can be dragged and placed at an arbitrary position. You can also change the window size. Further, as will be described later, operations such as changing the posture and angle of the work W displayed on the three-dimensional viewer 260, rotating, and changing the magnification can be made possible.

As shown in FIG. 20, in the state where the three-dimensional display is performed in the edit display field 202, it is not necessary to open the three-dimensional display screen, so the two-screen display button 207C of the floating toolbar for calling the three-dimensional viewer 260 is grayed out. Therefore, it cannot be selected, and erroneous operation is prevented. However, when it is desired to display the two-dimensional display on a separate screen, a separate two-dimensional viewer field can be displayed. Note that these displays are merely examples, and it goes without saying that the layout, size, positional relationship, and the like of each column can be arbitrarily changed. For example, each field including the setting field may be displayed in a separate window. As described above, the edit display column 202, the three-dimensional viewer 260, and the like can be used as the processing image display unit 83 that displays the 3D shape image of the processing target surface on the display unit 82.
(3D display when setting the work area)

  When the work area (printing area) is set to a three-dimensional workpiece and the printing area including the workpiece shape is displayed three-dimensionally, the printing area can be printed appropriately on the workpiece as follows. It is configured so that it can be visually observed that it is in a proper position.

  First, for the workpiece, when the laser beam is emitted from the emission position of the marking head of the laser marker, the angle formed by the laser beam and the print target surface is within a predetermined angle range (a predetermined angle range in which it can be determined that printing can be appropriately performed). In some cases, printing is possible, but there is a possibility that the print quality may be deteriorated (when the angle is equal to or less than the predetermined angle), and color classification is performed on the print target surface. Specifically, the angle range in which it can be determined that printing can be appropriately performed is not colored, and printing is possible, but the angle range in which print quality may be degraded is colored red. As a result, it is possible to visually check from the three-dimensional display screen whether the set print area is set to an appropriate range or which part of the print area is red (angle range where print quality may be degraded). Can be determined.

  Also, when looking at the print area set on the workpiece from the laser emission position of the marking head, if the work surface of the workpiece (print area setting area) is located on the back side, it is determined that printing is impossible and the workpiece is set. The print area (print contents) is not displayed on the 3D display screen. As a result, the user can quickly grasp the state (positional relationship, etc.) of the print area that he / she has set for the workpiece and can easily correct the position of the print area.

  Also, it is not limited to means for displaying on a three-dimensional display screen, but “an angle range that can provide an optimal printing state” by any method, “a printing defect area” that indicates a printing quality deterioration angle range, “an unprintable area”, etc. A visually observable method can be adopted as appropriate. For example, text on the user interface screen indicating that it corresponds to “angle range that can provide the optimal print state”, “printing failure area”, “printing impossible area”, etc., voice, warning sound, dialog Boxes can also be used. It is also possible to display only one of the items. For example, for a user who only needs to be able to print regardless of print quality, it is sufficient to provide only information on the “non-printable area”.

  In this way, in the 3D printing, printing may be impossible or impossible depending on the shape of the workpiece and the positional relationship between the workpiece and the marking head. A sufficient area may arise. Therefore, a printable area can be calculated based on these factors in advance, and when laser processing data is set in the non-printable area, a warning can be issued to the user to prompt the user to reset it. . Such a calculation can be performed by the calculation unit 80. The processing unit 80 is unable to irradiate a laser beam in the work area and cannot be processed, or a processing defect area detecting means for detecting a processing defect area where the processing is defective. Highlight processing means for performing highlight processing for displaying the processing failure area detected by the condition adjustment means and the processing failure area detection means in a manner different from the processable area, and processing by the processing condition setting unit 3C When setting a pattern, it is possible to realize a function such as a setting warning means for issuing a warning by detecting that some kind of processing is performed in an area including a processing defect area.

Furthermore, in the above-described example, the angle for distinguishing between “the angle range in which the optimum print state can be provided” and “the print quality degradation angle range” is used, in addition to the configuration in which the default value is used on the device side, An input item may be set on the user interface so that the user can reset the input. Specifically, machining is limited depending on the angle at which the laser beam is applied to the workpiece surface, and machining becomes more difficult as the angle θ between the laser beam and the normal of the printing surface approaches 90 °. As a result, the machining accuracy decreases. The upper limit of θ (the processing limit angle) is called a critical angle, and is normally 60 °. This numerical value can be fixed and can be adjusted by the user.
(Non-printable area)

In the edit display field 202, it is also possible to display an area that cannot be printed due to a cause such as an angle or a shadow in the processing target surface. In the example of FIG. 20, it is possible to print in the vicinity of the side surface of the cylinder, but the defective printing area where the printing angle is shallow and printing is poor is shown in red.
In addition, since it is located on the back side when viewed from the laser irradiation point, it is impossible to physically irradiate the laser beam and printing is impossible, that is, when the work is viewed from directly above the XY plane, the work target surface of the work is on the back side. The area to be positioned is set as a non-printable area. When the set processing pattern is applied to an unprintable area and printing is impossible, the processing pattern is not displayed in the edit display column 202, and the user can be prompted to reset. For example, if the print pattern wraps around the set print target surface, the processing pattern is hidden and printing is possible, but it is out of the angular range (print defective area) where optimum printing is possible Is displayed in red. In this way, instead of simply classifying the printable and impossible types, the print quality degradation is displayed step by step in a plurality of categories such as a print failure area and a non-printable area as a range where optimum printing is not possible. Thus, detailed information can be presented to the user, and more appropriate layout and arrangement can be studied. In the example of FIGS. 35 and 36, since a part of the processing pattern covers the non-printable area, the barcode that is the processing pattern is not displayed in the edit display column 202. Therefore, the printing position is adjusted so that the processed pattern is positioned in the printable area. For example, by adjusting the print start angle in the in-screen layout setting field 208 in the “3D setting tab” 204i in FIG. 35 and changing the default value from −90 ° to −120 °, as shown in FIG. The processing pattern barcode is displayed. In this way, settings such as the print start position and range, the narrow width of the barcode, and the print line (bar) width are adjusted so that printing can be performed correctly. Note that the processing pattern display ON / OFF and threshold value in the edit display field 202 can be arbitrarily set.

The display function of the non-printable area is turned on / off from the “laser parameter setting” screen of FIG. On this screen, the display function of the non-printable area can be turned off by turning off the “display” check box in the non-printable area display function setting field. In addition, on the “laser parameter setting” screen of FIG. 37, other laser parameters are set. Specifically, the focal position, the effective range in the Z direction, the effective angle (critical angle), and the like can be confirmed and adjusted.
(Change of viewpoint of 3D display screen)

  On the 3D display screen, the viewpoint can be arbitrarily changed. FIGS. 38 to 45 show examples in which the printing surface for printing the QR code shown in FIG. 19 on a cylindrical workpiece is displayed on the 3D display screen from various viewpoints. When the display switching button (3D) 207 of the floating toolbar is pressed from the 2D display screen of FIG. 19, the screen is switched to the 3D display screen of FIG. By operating the scroll bar 209 from this 3D display screen, the viewpoint of the 3D display screen can be freely changed as shown in FIGS. FIG. 38 is a perspective view of the work area as viewed obliquely from above, and FIG. 39 shows an example in which the work area is rotated from the state of FIG. 38 and the workpiece is displayed from the back side. In order to change the viewpoint, in addition to using a scroll bar, the work may be rotated by dragging an arbitrary point on the 3D display screen with a mouse.

  Further, when the “scroll bar movement / rotation switching” provided in the floating toolbar is pressed, the use of the scroll bar is switched from the rotation of the workpiece to the movement of the screen. When the horizontal scroll bar is operated from the screen of FIG. 38, the visual field can be translated from side to side while maintaining the display angle of the three-dimensional display, as shown in FIGS. Further, when the vertical scroll bar is operated, the visual field can be moved in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. Thus, by using the scroll bar by switching between screen movement and rotation, even a user unfamiliar with 3D display operation can change the field of view relatively easily.

Further, the 3D display screen can be switched to display from a specified viewpoint. In the example of FIG. 38, a “display position” change field 207B is provided in the floating toolbar, and the viewpoint can be changed to a specified display such as an XY plane. For example, FIG. 43 shows an example in which the print surface is displayed on the XY plane, and a plan view corresponding to the 2D display screen shown in FIG. 19 is displayed. 44 shows a display example on the YZ plane, and FIG. 45 shows a display example on the ZX plane. In addition, the viewpoint of display can be changed from each screen by operating a scroll bar. As described above, even in the three-dimensional display, it is possible to quickly switch to a display screen viewed from a specified direction, which is useful for display change, restoration, confirmation, and the like.
(Display of laser emission direction)

Furthermore, the display of the laser emission direction can also be displayed on the 3D display screen. In the example of FIG. 38, the marking head of the laser marker is displayed as an icon-like image MK in the edit display field 202, and the locus of the laser light LK emitted from the marking head is displayed in a straight line. As a result, the direction of printing can be indicated, so that the relationship with the non-printable area can be easily understood. The marking head image MK can be switched between display and non-display. FIG. 46 shows an example of a setting screen 210 for displaying / hiding the marking head image MK as a setting screen for performing various settings. In this way, display / non-display can be easily switched by turning ON / OFF the check box in the “display laser marker” column. As described above, the marking head image MK functions as the head image display means 84 that three-dimensionally displays the position with the marking head when displaying the three-dimensional image of the processing target surface on the processing image display unit 83.
(Display of coordinate axes)

  Further, by displaying the coordinate axis of the work area, it is possible to easily confirm the coordinate position. In the example of FIG. 38 etc., the XYZ coordinate axes of the work area are displayed. By displaying these coordinate axes in different colors, the XYZ coordinate axes can be easily distinguished even when the display is rotated. In the example of FIG. 38 and the like, the marking head is positioned on the origin of the XY coordinates so that the Z axis coincides with the locus of the laser beam of the marking head. As a result, the positional relationship of the marking head in the coordinate space can be imaged easily by the user.

Moreover, ON / OFF of the display of a coordinate axis can also be switched. By turning ON / OFF the check box in the “display axis” column from the setting screen of FIG. 46, the display / non-display of the coordinate axis can be easily switched. In this example, the display / non-display of the XYZ coordinate axes is set in a lump, but the display may be individually switched on / off for the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis. In addition to the XYZ coordinate axes, an arbitrary reference line can be displayed. For example, when printing is performed on the side surface of a cylindrical workpiece, a reference line can be displayed on the side surface along the longitudinal direction in order to clarify the reference position. One or a plurality of reference lines can be set at an arbitrary position, and a vector direction, coordinates, and the like are designated.
(Marking head icon)

  The marking head in the figure is displayed in an icon shape imitating the shape of the marking head. The shape and color follow the actual marking head. However, the color on the back side of the marking head is preferably displayed in a color different from that on the front side. In FIG. 39 described above, the back surface of the marking head image MK is white, and is colored in a color different from the gray color on the top surface of the marking head image MK shown in FIG. Accordingly, even if the viewpoint of the 3D display screen is changed and the print surface is rotated to display from the back side, the user can easily grasp that the back side is observed. In the example of FIG. 39, the color is white, but it is needless to say that the color may be different. Further, each display color may be arbitrarily designated and changed by the user. FIG. 47 shows a screen example for changing the color scheme of the 3D display screen. In addition to the color scheme, a display pattern such as a solid line, a broken line, etc., such as a line pattern or a solid hatching pattern, can be changed. FIG. 48 shows an example of a display change screen on the 2D display screen, and FIG. 49 shows an example of a color arrangement change screen on the 2D display screen. From these screens, the user can set a desired color, pattern, display / non-display, and the like.

  Thus, the image of the marking head of the laser marker is displayed together with the processing target surface in a three-dimensional manner, so that the user can visually grasp the positional relationship between the two. For this reason, an image of setting contents can be easily confirmed, and setting errors can be reduced. In this example, the display of the marking head image is also updated in accordance with the movement of the processing surface and the change of the viewpoint. In the example of FIG. 39 and the like, the display magnification such as enlargement / reduction can be changed in 2D display, but the magnification is fixed in 3D display. The items that can be changed are limited in consideration of a user who is unfamiliar with the operation for 3D display. However, it is needless to say that the image of the workpiece can be enlarged / reduced even in 3D display, and the marking head image can be enlarged / reduced accordingly. Note that the size of the marking head image may be fixed regardless of the enlargement / reduction of the workpiece. Since the display of the marking head is intended to confirm the positional relationship, the size of the marking head can be fixed so that the position of the marking head is not lost during the reduced display.

Further, since the above example describes the printing in a state where the workpiece is stationary, in the 3D display, the work area is mainly displayed. However, as will be described later, it is also possible to use a printable laser marker for a moving workpiece, and in such moving printing, it is possible to display 3D in a wider range than the work area for stationary printing. . That is, in the case of moving printing, since the printable area can be substantially widened, the print setting can be easily confirmed by displaying the entire wide printable area in 3D. In particular, when a long work is transported in the longitudinal direction, the whole work is easily grasped by displaying the whole work on one screen. Needless to say, the entire screen can be displayed by scrolling the screen as necessary.
(Layout of printing blocks)

Furthermore, the laser processing data setting program has a function of adjusting the arrangement of the processing target surface. In the example of FIG. 50, when the “block shape / arrangement” tab 211 in the detail setting column 204c is selected while the “3D setting” tab 204i is selected, the coordinates, rotation angle, and block shape details of the print block are displayed. Can be specified. Thereby, arrangement | positioning of a process target surface can be changed arbitrarily. In addition, for details of the block shape, when a cylindrical processing target surface is specified as shown in FIG. 50, it is possible to specify the cylinder radius and whether the printing surface is the inner surface or the outer surface of the cylinder in the “block shape” column 212. .
(Laser processing data setting procedure)

  A procedure for setting the printing condition from the processing condition setting unit 3C and generating the processing pattern by the processing data generation unit 80K using the above laser processing data setting program will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S21 of FIG. 51, a processing pattern is set. Here, a character string is input from the processing condition setting unit 3C, and the type of symbol to be encoded is specified. In the example of FIG. 14, a character string is selected in the processing type designation field 204a, “012345” is entered as a character string from the character input field 204b, and a symbol is entered from the “character data type” field in the character data designation field 204. “Barcode” is specified as the type of “CODE”, and “CODE39” is specified as the detailed type of the barcode. Based on the information specified in this way, the calculation unit 80 generates a machining pattern. Here, since a barcode is selected instead of a character string, a barcode is generated and an image of the barcode is displayed in the edit display column 202.

  In this example, the arithmetic unit 80 automatically generates a symbol as a processing pattern based on the character information input from the processing condition setting unit 3C. However, it is also possible to input a symbol directly. For example, it is possible to adopt means such as selecting and inputting image data of already created symbols in the processing condition setting unit, or pasting symbols created by other programs from the processing condition setting unit.

  In step S22, profile information is input from the machining condition setting unit 3C. In the example of FIG. 14, the tab of the print pattern input field 204 is switched from the “2D setting” tab 204h to the “3D setting” tab 204i, and the basic figure is selected from the profile designation field 205 of FIG. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 19, the display of the edit display column 202 is switched from a planar shape to a cylindrical shape. Further, when the display format of the edit display field 202 is switched to 3D display, the 3D shape of the processing target surface can be confirmed three-dimensionally as shown in FIG.

  In this manner, the print pattern information is designated in step S21, and the plan view of this machining pattern is displayed in the edit display column 202. Then, in step S22, the profile information is designated and converted into a three-dimensional machining pattern for editing. By confirming in the display column 202, a change in the machining pattern can be visually confirmed. The order of step S21 and step S22 may be interchanged. That is, the print pattern information can be specified after the shape of the surface to be processed is specified first.

  As described above, after the three-dimensional spatial coordinate data is obtained as the processing data, adjustment work is performed as necessary. For example, adjustment of the layout and fine adjustment in the height direction (z direction) can be mentioned. For fine adjustment, means such as slide adjustment with a bar provided on the program and rotation of a mouse wheel can be used.

  After the final laser processing data is generated by the above procedure and the setting operation is completed, the obtained laser processing data is transferred from the laser processing data setting program to the controller 1A of the laser processing apparatus shown in FIG. To execute the transfer, a “transfer / read” button 215 provided at the lower left of the screen of the laser processing data setting program is pressed. As a result, the setting data is transferred to the memory in the controller 1A, expanded and changed, and the new printing conditions are reflected.

  The laser processing apparatus performs printing processing based on the laser processing data. Further, test printing may be performed prior to the start of actual processing. Thereby, it can be confirmed in advance whether or not printing of a desired printing pattern can be obtained. Further, the laser processing data can be reset based on the test print result.

In the above example, an example in which one print pattern is designated for one work has been described. However, a plurality of print patterns can be designated for one work by repeating the same procedure. Further, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which only one workpiece is displayed on one screen of the laser processing data setting program, and a plurality of workpieces can be displayed on one screen and a print pattern can be designated for each workpiece.
(Setting method for moving printing)

Further, the laser processing apparatus can be configured to perform printing not only for a stationary work but also for a moving work by calculating an appropriate condition in the machining data generation unit 80K. As an example, a printing setting method for moving a planar workpiece will be described with reference to FIG. In the two-dimensional moving printing, a moving workpiece is printed on a two-dimensional printing target surface. In the case of such printing, (1) the printing content to be printed is determined, (2) the plane moving processing conditions are set, (3) printing is started, and (4) the XY coordinates of the printing content are further set. In addition, coordinates corresponding to the amount of movement of the workpiece are added. In the example of FIG. 52A, the character string “ABC” is designated as the print content. Further, the processing conditions for plane movement include a moving direction, a moving condition, a printing range, and the like. Hereinafter, the plane moving processing conditions will be sequentially described.
(Direction of movement)

The moving direction of the workpiece is designated as the moving direction which is one of the plane moving machining conditions. In this example, since the workpiece to be printed moves from left to right, this moving direction is designated from the moving machining condition setting unit. FIG. 53 shows a machining line condition setting screen 240 as an example of the moving machining condition setting unit. In this figure, the “movement / printing direction” tab 241 is selected to set the XY movement direction and / or the Z movement direction of the workpiece. In this example, the marking head of the laser processing apparatus is shown in a plan view and a side view, and the direction of the workpiece line and the moving direction are designated for the marking head. By selecting from such visual display examples, the user can easily grasp the mutual positional relationship, and can easily set and reduce setting errors. In the example of FIG. 52, when the printing direction is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the marking head, the upper or lower direction is selected according to the moving direction of the workpiece. After selection, “ABC”, which is the print content, is displayed side by side in the vertical direction.
(Movement conditions)

The movement condition designates movement at a predetermined speed (open control without feedback) or feedback control by an encoder. Here, it is selected whether the workpiece is moved at a constant speed or controlled by an encoder.
(Print range)

  The printable range is determined by the movable range of the scanner provided corresponding to the X direction and the Y direction, and the maximum printable range is displayed in the edit display column 202 shown in FIGS. This part is set to correspond to this. The user can automatically set a print range by setting a print target character or the like in the edit display field 202.

  When these plane movement processing conditions are designated, the XY coordinate position after the start of printing and the ON / OFF of the laser beam at each coordinate position can be calculated. The XY coordinates can be calculated by adding the workpiece movement amount to the coordinates in the movement direction of the workpiece to the XY coordinates corresponding to the characters of the print contents. In the example of FIG. 52, since the workpiece moves in the X direction, the movement speed of the workpiece is added only for the X coordinate, and the Y coordinate is maintained.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the example in which the plane moves, and three-dimensional moving printing such as a rotating body can also be performed. In this case, as in the above-described plane movement printing, (1) the printing contents to be printed are determined, (2) the processing conditions for rotational movement are set, (3) printing is started, and (4) the printing contents are further determined. A coordinate corresponding to the movement amount of the work is added to the XY coordinate.
(Defocus amount setting)

  The above machining data generation unit generates machining data based on the machining conditions set by the machining condition setting unit 3C so that the basic setting conditions coincide with the three-dimensional machining target surface. However, it is also possible to set the defocus amount so that it does not coincide with the processing target surface.

  In order to intentionally set a specific defocus amount for the print surface, the defocus amount is designated with respect to a basic setting condition in which the print surface is focused. FIG. 54 shows an example of a processing parameter setting screen for performing such setting. In FIG. 54, a defocus setting field 204o for specifying a defocus value is provided in the processing parameter setting field 204n, and the user inputs a desired value. For example, if a positive value is input as the defocus value, the focal position is set at a position away from the laser processing apparatus by a value set from the printing surface. Conversely, if a negative value is input, the focal position is set closer to the laser processing apparatus by a value set further than the printing surface.

  Further, as setting items when setting the machining conditions, machining parameters such as a spot diameter as a defocus amount of the laser beam, a workpiece material, and the like can be set. At this time, by automatically changing other machining conditions in accordance with the change of one designated machining parameter, the user can easily create a condition by changing only a specific set item. In the screen of the laser processing data setting program shown in FIG. 54, in the lower part of the “detailed setting” tab 204j on the right side of the screen, a setting column for a working distance, a spot diameter as a laser beam defocus amount, and a workpiece to be processed is provided. ing. Since the working distance is determined by the laser processing apparatus, it is usually set automatically. The defocus amount designates an offset amount from the focal position (working distance) of the laser beam. The spot diameter is specified as a ratio based on the spot diameter at the focal position. Furthermore, the workpiece to be machined is adjusted to the power density of the laser beam suitable for machining the selected workpiece by selecting the material and machining purpose of the workpiece to be machined from the options. In this example, black printing on iron, black printing on stainless steel, ABS resin, polycarbonate resin, phenolic resin work materials, and processing purposes such as resin welding and surface roughening are listed. Select the radio button according to the purpose.

  These setting items are related to each other. That is, by adjusting the defocus amount, the power density of the laser beam can be adjusted, but the spot diameter also changes at the same time. Further, when the material of the workpiece and the processing purpose are selected, the power density of the laser beam that matches the purpose is selected, so the spot diameter as the defocus amount changes. For this reason, when it is desired to adjust the power density of the laser beam while maintaining the spot diameter constant, conventionally, not only setting the spot diameter but also searching for a combination of processing parameters that does not change the spot diameter. It was necessary to adjust other setting items such as the light output value and scanning speed. This work involves repeated trial and error of adjusting each item value while observing the result of actually scanning the workpiece with laser light and finding the optimum combination of machining parameters, which is extremely complicated and laborious. It takes.

Therefore, a combination of other machining parameter values that should be changed corresponding to one machining parameter is registered in the reference table 5a in advance, and when adjusting one machining parameter, the reference table 5a is referred to, By extracting a combination of other processing parameters to be performed and automatically setting this value, it is possible to change only necessary setting items. Specifically, when any one of the spot diameter as the laser beam defocus amount and the workpiece to be processed is set from the screen of FIG. 54, corresponding values are automatically input to the other setting items. Even if the defocus amount is changed from this state, other processing parameters (for example, laser output and scanning speed) are automatically adjusted so that the spot diameter and the workpiece to be processed are maintained constant. Thereby, since the user can change only a desired item rapidly, it can adjust to a desired process result very easily.
(Continuous change in defocus amount)

  Furthermore, the processing parameters can be continuously changed during laser processing. Thereby, it can process into a processing pattern as shown in FIG. FIG. 55A is a cross-sectional view showing an example in which an inclined surface is formed in the engraving process of the workpiece surface, and FIG. 55B is a plan view in which a handwritten logo is printed on the workpiece surface. Such processing can be realized by setting the spot diameter as a defocus amount of the laser beam to be continuously changed. At this time, the machining data generation unit also continuously adjusts other machining parameters so as to follow the continuous change of the spot diameter in the same manner as described above, and the automatic adjustment is performed so that only the designated setting items are continuously changed. The As a result, the setting items that do not need to be changed, such as the processing position and size, are processed so that the previous values are maintained, and processing conditions that change only the setting items desired by the user can be easily set.

  FIG. 56 shows an example of a setting screen for setting such a continuous change in laser processing. In the example of FIG. 56, when the check box in the “perform continuous change” column is turned ON, the screen is switched to the continuous change setting screen. Here, the range where the continuous change is performed is designated by the coordinate position. When the check box of a setting item to be changed is turned ON, a range input field is displayed, and a numerical value can be designated. In the example of FIG. 56, the defocus amount check box is selected, and the defocus amount at the start position and the defocus amount at the end position are designated. The designated defocus amount is automatically set so as to continuously change evenly within the designated range. It is also possible to specify only the start value or the end value, and specify the increment / decrement of change and the rate of change. When the defocus amount is set, the numerical value corresponding to the spot diameter column is also referred to from the reference table 5a and automatically input to the input column. In this way, when any setting item is specified, the corresponding value is automatically input to the other setting items, so the user is not aware of the correlation between the processing parameters of each setting item. It is possible to change to desired processing conditions by setting only necessary items.

  In the example of FIG. 56, “RSS & CC (RSS / composite code)” is selected in the character data designation field 204d, and the composite code is displayed in the edit display field 202 and the three-dimensional viewer 260. In “RSS & CC”, an RSS code or a composite code in which a micro PDF code is added above the RSS code can be set. In this example, “RSS-14 CC-A” is selected as the composite code in the type designation field 204q. In order to facilitate the input of delimiters, other control codes, special character codes, external characters, etc. necessary for inputting additional information in the character input field 204b, a second floating toolbar 296 having these input buttons is provided. It can also be provided. As a result, the user can easily perform a special code input operation.

As described above, the setting items such as the material of the workpiece to be machined, the machining content, the finishing state, and the machining time can be easily changed in a short time by freely changing the beam diameter of the laser beam.
(Save / Load settings)

Furthermore, the processing parameters of the processing conditions once set can be saved as setting data and recalled when necessary. For example, by selecting “Save As” from the File menu and saving the setting information with an arbitrary name, the saved setting data can be recalled when performing the same processing on the same workpiece in the future. As a result, the time and labor required for the setup change can be greatly simplified. Moreover, by registering frequently used settings in advance, even if a beginner can use them, machining conditions can be easily set. Also, by making adjustments based on the setting conditions of registered / stored data, the labor of setting can be greatly saved. As described above, enabling the reuse of the setting information can greatly contribute to labor saving of the setting work.
(Processing conditions)

The processing conditions include processing content information indicating the processing content and three-dimensional shape information for transforming the processing content into a three-dimensional shape according to the shape of the processing target surface. The processing content is a character string, a bar code, a symbol such as a two-dimensional code, or image data such as a logo. In a batch processing mode such as pallet printing, variables such as a manufacturing date and a serial number may be included in the processing content. As the variable, in addition to a predetermined value specified at the time of processing, such as a processing date and time, a value that is incremented according to a processing position, a processing order, or the like such as a serial number is used. By adding such information to the workpiece, three-dimensional printing corresponding to traceability can be realized.
(Copy of processing conditions)

  Such machining conditions are set from the machining condition setting unit 3C. Further, when the machining conditions are set by the machining condition setting unit 3C, a copy function for copying the set machining conditions and pasting them as new machining conditions can be used. The copy function includes a content copy that copies only the machining content information excluding the 3D shape information from the selected copy processing conditions, and a shape copy that copies the 3D shape information and the machining content information. Can be selected by the copy switching means. FIG. 72 shows a copy switching field 282 for selecting a copy method on the palette / counter setting screen 280 as an example of such copy switching means. From the pull-down menu in the copy switching field 282, either “print content copy” indicating content copy or “copy together with shape” indicating shape copy is selected. Depending on the setting on the palette / counter setting screen 280, when copying the machining conditions, either content copying or shape copying is executed.

  The content copy can be used for the purpose of copying so that the printed content of the plane is pasted on the work as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the shape copy, as shown in FIG. 74, the three-dimensional print contents are copied for each shape and pasted as a new print block.

  In order to execute the copy function in the processing condition setting unit 3C, for example, in the example of FIG. 72, the copy button 283 provided on the tool bar is pressed in a state where the copy destination print block is selected with the mouse. As a result, the setting content of the copy source is extracted, and when the paste button 284 is pressed, a new print block in which the setting content is copied is pasted in the edit display field 202. At this time, the pasting position can be designated with a mouse or the like.

  Further, regardless of the setting contents on the palette / counter setting screen 280, the contents copy or the shape copy may be selected when copying. For example, when specifying the copy source in advance and specifying the copy destination, display “Select and Paste Shape” from the right-click menu of the mouse, and select either “Copy Print Contents” or “Copy All Shapes”. You may comprise so that it may select and paste.

  Furthermore, as a copy button for executing the copy function, a “print content copy” button and a “copy for each shape” button are prepared separately, or as a paste button, a “print content paste” button and a “paste each shape” Buttons can be prepared individually. Thus, the user can appropriately select a desired copy without setting a copy function in advance. If both copies need to be switched frequently, the copy function can be selected quickly, which is convenient. Thus, the copy switching means for switching the copy function can be appropriately selected from various configurations depending on the application and purpose.

In this way, the user can easily duplicate the set processing conditions, and this can greatly contribute to labor saving, especially when setting a large number of printing blocks. Of course, since the detailed printing conditions can be changed for a new printing block that is pasted and set, the printing conditions can be set efficiently.
(Batch processing mode)

  The batch machining mode is a machining operation mode in which a plurality of machining target surfaces are arranged and a predetermined machining content is scanned and processed with a laser beam according to a certain machining order on each machining target surface. In particular, the printing of the same or similar processing contents by arranging a plurality of workpieces in a rectangular or square grid pattern or offset shape is called pallet printing in this specification. Pallet printing is used for printing company names and model numbers on aligned ICs, and for serial number numbering. Such pallet printing is often performed by static machining in which a workpiece is machined while still. For example, the belt conveyor of the production line is stopped and printing is performed collectively on the workpieces placed on the conveyor or pallet. However, the present embodiment can also be applied to the case of moving processing in which a workpiece is processed while being conveyed on a line.

In batch processing using a conventional laser marker capable of two-dimensional printing, printing is set by copying a plurality of printing contents on one plane. On the other hand, as a method for setting palette printing with a laser marker capable of three-dimensional printing according to the present embodiment, a plurality of planar print information is copied and pasted on one three-dimensional workpiece as shown in FIG. A method (copying the contents of printing) and a method of copying one three-dimensional printing object for each solid shape as shown in FIG. 74 (copying for each shape) can be considered. These setting methods will be described sequentially.
(Printed content copy)

In the case of pallet printing in which the printed contents of a plane are pasted and copied in a three-dimensional shape, the printed contents are copied. First, as shown in FIG. 75, the print contents for one set are pasted to the print target. Then, as shown in FIG. 76, the number of settings to be copied is specified in the palette printing settings. In the example of FIG. 76, three print blocks of 1 row × 3 columns are used.
(Copy with each shape)

On the other hand, in the case of pallet printing in which three-dimensional printing contents are copied for each shape, copying for each shape is used. First, as shown in FIG. 77, a set printing shape and printing content are set. Next, as shown in FIG. 78, the number of settings to be copied is specified in the palette printing settings. In the example of FIG. 78, six print blocks (workpieces) of 2 rows × 3 columns are set. As described above, both the setting for copying the planar content to one three-dimensional shape and the setting for copying the printing content accompanied by the three-dimensional shape can be realized, and various print requests can be handled.
(Pallet printing)

In pallet printing, a processing character string including variables that change individually can be included in the processing content. Hereinafter, the setting procedure of pallet printing will be described. As one form of batch print setting means for setting pallet printing, the priority print direction in pallet printing is set from the priority print direction setting field 286 on the palette / counter setting screen 280 of FIG. In this example, ON / OFF of pallet printing can also be selected from the priority printing direction setting field 286. In other words, when “No Pallet Printing” is selected from the pull-down menu, the palette printing function can be turned off. When another item is selected from the pull-down menu, the palette printing function is turned on. In the example of FIG. 79, one of “horizontal direction priority”, “vertical direction priority”, and “order designation” is selected. In the priority in the horizontal direction, the scanning pattern of the laser beam is determined so that the printing proceeds in the horizontal direction. Similarly, in the vertical direction priority, the laser beam is scanned in the column direction. Further, in order designation, the printing order is individually set. FIG. 80 illustrates a collective print setting unit for palette printing in which “horizontal direction priority” is selected.
(Pallet setting)

  Various settings in pallet printing are performed on a pallet printing tab 287 provided on a pallet / counter setting screen 280 which is a collective printing setting unit. FIG. 80 shows an example of the pallet print tab 287. In the pallet print tab 287, the vertical and horizontal numbers of works arranged in a matrix are set. The user designates m rows × n columns of the matrix in which the workpieces are arranged from the pallet print tab 287. In addition, a laser processing data setting program can detect that the setting is not correctly performed on the setting screen, and a warning can be issued. For example, an error message such as “The appropriate print range has not been set!” Or “Please set with the print range of XX” is displayed to prompt the user to reset.

When order designation is selected, the printing order can be individually set for each element. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 81 and 82. FIG. FIG. 81 shows the pallet print tab 287 in a state where the order designation is selected in the priority print direction setting field 286. In the individual setting column 288 provided on the right side of the screen, the number of rows and columns of the work for specifying the printing order is designated. In this example, the same 8 rows × 5 columns are designated as the workpiece rows × columns. When the order designation is selected, the “print order designation” button 289 switches from the gray-out state to the selectable state. When the “print order designation” button 289 is pressed, a print order designation screen 290 shown in FIG. 82 is displayed. From this screen, the user can specify the printing order for each element number of the workpiece. A jump button 291 for jumping to a designated work is also provided for cases where the number of works is large. In this way, printing can be performed in an arbitrary order designated by the user. For example, the printing order can be adjusted when printing serial numbers.
(Counter setting)

  Further, the batch print setting means sets a variable of the processed character string corresponding to the workpiece. On the palette / counter setting screen 280, a counter setting tab 292 is provided on the right side of the palette printing tab 287. FIG. 83 shows an example of the contents of the counter setting tab 292. When the processing character string includes a continuously changing variable such as a serial number, the serial number is set to increase or decrease with the processing order. For example, a processing character string variable at the processing start position is set as an initial value using a counter, and the counter is incremented by 1 each time processing proceeds from the processing start position, and the printed serial number is incremented by one. The actual value of the counter does not need to match the value of the processed character string, and only the increment and decrement may be referred to using the counter. In this way, by adding or subtracting a predetermined tolerance every time one workpiece is processed, the workpieces can be sorted in descending order or ascending order. The variable is not limited to a decimal number, and can be set to a binary number, a hexadecimal number, a binarized hexadecimal number, or the like. In the embodiment of the present invention, the variable can be set to any of binary numbers to 36 numbers.

  Further, in order to obtain a desired processing pattern, a desired pattern may be selected from a plurality of processing pattern templates. The processing pattern template is a template constituting the processing pattern, and various patterns and processing orders are set in advance. Each processing pattern template defines a processing order from a predetermined processing start point. The processing start point is set at the upper left, for example. It is not necessary to fix the machining start point, and it can be changed to any position such as upper right or lower left. As a processing pattern, for example, a Z-shaped processing pattern progresses from the beginning to the end in one line, and when reaching the end, returns to the beginning when proceeding to the next line, and again toward the end. It repeats the action of moving forward. In addition, the S-shaped machining pattern advances from the beginning of the line to the end of the line, and when it reaches the end of the line, it moves to the end of the line when proceeding to the next line, and proceeds from the end of the line toward the beginning of the line. When reaching, the next line repeats the operation of moving from the beginning to the end again. In general, the S-shaped machining pattern has the advantage that the return operation is not required at the time of a line break, so that the processing is shortened and the time required for machining can be shortened. There are also spiral processing patterns. As these processing patterns, a pattern in which the vertical, horizontal, or upside-down positions are interchanged, and a pattern in which the spiral rotation direction is reversed clockwise and counterclockwise are also conceivable. The processing pattern can be selected for the purpose of shortening the processing time and optimizing the work efficiency. By selecting a machining pattern that can be machined particularly efficiently, there is an advantage that an optimum operation with reduced work time can be realized.

  Furthermore, a processing pattern can also be set according to the request | requirement in a post process. For example, a process of picking up a workpiece and stacking and packing it is considered as a subsequent process after the laser processing is completed. The workpiece is picked up by holding and sucking with a robot arm or a robot hand. The robot arm picks up workpieces in a preset order and places them on a tray or the like. However, the order of pick-up set in the robot arm and the order in which the workpieces laser-processed by the laser processing apparatus are not necessarily matched, and inconvenience may arise if these orders do not match. In particular, when serial numbers and control numbers are assigned consecutively for the purpose of quality control and the like, the serial numbers of the packed workpieces are not aligned with the serial numbers, which makes tracking difficult. Therefore, it is necessary to consider that the processing character strings are placed in the order.

  In this case, if the operation of the robot arm is fixed and the operation procedure cannot be changed by the user, or if the change operation is difficult, it is necessary to print in accordance with the operation of the robot arm. Specifically, if the robot arms print in the order in which the workpieces are stacked, they are arranged in the order of serial numbers after packing. The user can arbitrarily set the printing order according to such a purpose.

  As an embodiment different from the above, it is also possible to individually set the order of printing and the order of printed character strings. In other words, the processing pattern is set so that the processing character strings such as the serial number are arranged in accordance with the post-process by the robot arm or the like, while the printing order is not the serial number order, and the order in which the printing work can be performed efficiently To do. In this case, since the printing order and the serial number do not necessarily match, the processing pattern setting unit sets a processing pattern that holds the serial number arrangement order and the printing order as individual information. The control unit 8 prints the processing pattern in accordance with the printing order, and the processing pattern to be printed is configured so that the arrangement order of the serial numbers is not suitable for the printing order but is suitable for the subsequent process.

  The processing pattern can be selected from the preset processing pattern templates as described above, or the user can create a unique processing pattern template and add a new template to the selection candidates.

The laser processing apparatus, laser processing condition setting apparatus, laser processing condition setting method, and laser processing condition setting program of the present invention irradiate a three-dimensional surface having a three-dimensional shape with laser irradiation, such as marking, drilling, trimming, scribing, and surface treatment. The processing to be performed can be widely applied to the setting of a three-dimensional shape. Although an example of a laser marker capable of three-dimensional printing has been described, the present invention can be suitably applied to a laser marker capable of two-dimensional printing.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the laser processing apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a transparent perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the X * Y-axis scanner in a scanning part. It is a transparent perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a X * Y * Z-axis scanner. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the laser excitation part of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the marking head containing the laser beam scanning system of a laser processing apparatus. It is the perspective view which looked at FIG. 5 from the back direction. It is the side view which looked at FIG. 5 from the side. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state from which the focus position of the laser beam of a laser processing apparatus changes in a work position. It is a side view which shows the laser beam scanning system in the case of lengthening a focal distance. It is a side view which shows the laser beam scanning system in the case of shortening a focal distance. It is the front view and sectional drawing which show a Z-axis scanner. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the laser marker which can be three-dimensionally printed. It is a block diagram which shows a laser processing data setting apparatus. It is an image figure which shows an example of the user interface screen of a laser processing data setting program. It is an image figure which shows an example of the process block setting means which sets a some printing block. It is an image figure which shows a mode that the layout of a printing block is adjusted. It is an image figure which shows the setting list of a printing block. It is an image figure which shows the state switched to "3D setting" in FIG. It is an image figure which shows the state which selected the cylinder in FIG. It is an image figure which shows the state which switched the edit display column from FIG. 19 to three-dimensional display. It is the image figure which displayed the basic figure matched with the height of the laser processing data three-dimensionally. It is the image figure which displayed the state which set the some process block in three dimensions. It is an image figure which shows the basic figure which set the margin in the height direction. It is an image figure which shows the process condition setting part which sets a margin. It is an image figure which shows the process condition setting part which sets a basic figure. It is an image figure which shows an initial position at the time of selecting cylindrical shape, cone shape, and spherical shape as a basic figure of a workpiece | work. It is an image figure which shows the default printing start position of the newly created printing block. It is an image figure which shows the state which set the initial position so that laser processing data may be arrange | positioned right-justified. It is an image figure which shows the state which set the initial position so that laser processing data may be arrange | positioned left-justified. It is an image figure which shows the state which set the initial position so that laser processing data may be arrange | positioned in the center. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure which a user designates an initial position. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which determines an initial position according to the irradiation angle of a laser beam. It is an image figure which shows the example which adjusts a printing start position manually. It is an image figure which shows the state which displayed the three-dimensional image of the process target surface with the three-dimensional viewer. It is an image figure which shows the area which cannot be printed in a 3D display screen. FIG. 36 is an image diagram showing a state in which the print start angle is adjusted in FIG. 35. It is an image figure which shows the display setting screen of 3D display screen. It is the image figure which displayed the 3D display screen from diagonally upward. It is the image figure which displayed the 3D display screen of FIG. 38 from the back side. It is the image figure which moved and displayed the 3D display screen of FIG. 38 to the left. It is the image figure which moved and displayed the 3D display screen of FIG. 38 to the right. It is the image figure which moved and displayed the 3D display screen of FIG. It is the image figure which displayed the 3D display screen of FIG. 38 on XY plane. It is the image figure which displayed the 3D display screen of FIG. 38 on the YZ plane. It is the image figure which displayed the 3D display screen of FIG. 38 on the ZX plane. It is an image figure which shows various setting screens. It is an image figure which shows the setting screen which sets the color scheme in a 3D display screen. It is an image figure which shows the setting screen which sets the display in a 2D display screen. It is an image figure which shows the setting screen which sets the color scheme in a 2D display screen. It is an image figure which shows the state which changed the arrangement | positioning of the workpiece | work from FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure which sets a printing condition and produces | generates a process pattern. FIGS. 52A and 52B are schematic diagrams for explaining condition settings relating to two-dimensional moving printing, in which FIG. 52A is a perspective view and FIG. 52B is a plan view. It is an image figure which shows the example of a screen which sets a moving direction in a moving process condition setting part. It is an image figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a process parameter. FIG. 55A is a cross-sectional view in which an inclined surface is formed in the engraving process of the workpiece surface, and FIG. It is an image figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a defocus setting amount. It is an image figure which shows the state which displayed the several printing block in two dimensions. FIG. 58 is an image diagram showing a state in which the print block of FIG. 57 is displayed in a three-dimensional manner. It is an image figure which shows the state which displays a printing block in two dimensions. FIG. 60 is an image diagram showing a state in which a print group is set with a mouse from the screen of FIG. 59. FIG. 60 is an image diagram illustrating a state in which a print group is set from a right-click menu from the screen of FIG. 59. FIG. 60 is an image diagram showing a state in which a print group is set from the screen of FIG. 59. FIG. 60 is an image diagram showing a state in which the print block of FIG. 59 is displayed in a three-dimensional manner. It is an image figure which shows the example which sets a printing group with respect to the printing block in a distant position. It is an image figure which shows the example which sets a printing group with respect to a some workpiece | work. It is an image figure which shows the setting screen at the time of selecting a broken line as a processing machine operation | movement. It is an image figure which shows the setting screen at the time of selecting a clockwise circle and an ellipse as a processing machine operation | movement. FIG. 68 is an image diagram showing a setting screen in which FIG. 67 is switched to a 3D editing screen and displayed in a three-dimensional shape. It is an image figure which shows the several printing block of batch change object. FIG. 70 is an image diagram showing a 3D shape batch change screen of the print block of FIG. 69. FIG. 70 is an image diagram showing a state in which the print blocks of FIG. 69 are collectively changed to a cylindrical shape. It is an image figure which shows a copy switching means. It is explanatory drawing explaining content copy. It is explanatory drawing explaining shape copy. It is an image figure which shows the state which designates a copy source by content copy. It is an image figure which shows the state which performed content copy. It is an image figure which shows the state which designates a copy source with a shape. It is an image figure which shows the state which performed shape copy. It is an image figure which shows a pallet counter setting screen. It is an image figure which shows the setting screen of the palette printing tab which designated the horizontal direction priority. It is an image figure which shows the setting screen of the palette printing tab in order designation | designated. It is an image figure which shows a printing order designation | designated screen. It is an image figure which shows the horizontal direction priority setting screen of a counter setting tab.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Laser processing apparatus 1 ... Laser control part; 1A ... Controller; 2 ... Laser output part 3 ... Input part; 3A ... Process surface profile input means; 3B ... Process pattern input means 3C ... Process condition setting part; Setting means; 3J ... Group setting means 4 ... Control part; 5 ... Memory part; 5A ... Storage part; 5a ... Reference table 6 ... Laser excitation part; 7 ... Power source; 8 ... Laser medium; 9 ... Scanning part 10 ... Laser excitation Light source; 11 ... Laser excitation light source condensing part 12 ... Laser excitation part casing; 13 ... Optical fiber cable 14 ... Scanner; 14a ... X-axis scanner; 14b ... Y-axis scanner 14c ... Z-axis scanner: 14d ... Scanner mirror for pointer 15 ... Condensing part; 16 ... Incident lens; 18 ... Outgoing lens 50 ... Laser oscillation part; 51, 51a, 51b ... Galvano motor 52 ... S 53 ... Beam expander 60 ... Guide light source; 62 ... Half mirror; 64 ... Pointer light source; 66 ... Fixed mirror 80 ... Arithmetic unit; 80K ... Processing data generation unit 80L ... Initial position setting means 82 ... Display section;
83 ... Processing image display section 84 ... Head image display means 86 ... Laser irradiation warning means 150 ... Marking head 180 ... Laser processing data setting device 190 ... External device 202 ... Edit display field 204 ... Print pattern input field 204a ... Processing type designation field 204b ... Character input field 204c ... Detailed setting field 204d ... Character data specification field 204e ... "Print data" tab 204f ... "Size / position" tab 204g ... "Print condition" tab 204h ... "2D setting" tab 204i ... "3D setting""Tab 204j ..." Detail setting "tab 204k ... Machining parameter setting field 204l ... Machining parameter setting field 204m ... Defocus setting field 204n ... Machining parameter setting field 204o ... Defocus setting field 204q ... Type designation field 204P ... Margin setting field 204Q ... Basic figure details designation field 204 ... Print block position setting field 205 ... Profile designation field 206 ... Shape selection field 207 ... Display switching button 207B ... "Display position" change field 207C ... Two-screen display button 208 ... In-screen arrangement setting field 209 ... Scroll bar 210 ... Marking head Image display / non-display setting screen 211 ... "Block shape / placement" tab 212 ... "Block shape" column 215 ... "Transfer / read" button 216 ... Block number selection column 217 ... Block list screen 240 ... Machining line condition setting screen 241 ... "Movement / printing direction" tab 250 ... Group setting field 251 ... "Group setting" field 252 ... Group number designation field 253 ... "Group" button 254 ... "Group release" button 256 ... Right click menu 257 ... “Group” menu 260... 3D viewer 270 ... edit mode display field 272 ... edit mode switching button 274 ... "3D shape batch change" button 275 ... 3D shape batch change screen 276 ... batch change shape designation field 277 ... "block shape batch change" field 278 ... line segment Coordinate designation field 280 ... Pallet / counter setting screen 282 ... Copy switching field 283 ... Copy button 284 ... Paste button 286 ... Priority print direction setting field 287 ... Pallet print tab 288 ... Individual setting field 289 ... "Print order designation" button 290 ... Print order designation screen 291 ... Jump button 292 ... Counter setting tab 296 ... Second floating toolbar L, L '... Laser light;
G: Guide light; P: Pointer light W, W1-W3, WK: Workpiece;
WS ... Work area K ... Frame MK ... Marking head image LK ... Laser beam BW ... Print block frame GW ... Print group frames B1-B8 ... Print blocks G1-G3 ... Print group KS ... Inclined surface LG ... Logo

Claims (8)

A laser processing apparatus capable of processing a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area by irradiating a laser beam and processing it into a desired processing pattern,
A laser oscillation unit for generating laser light;
A laser beam scanning system for scanning a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillation unit within a work area;
A laser control unit for controlling the laser oscillation unit and the laser beam scanning system;
A machining condition setting unit comprising machining surface profile input means for inputting three-dimensional shape information corresponding to a machining target surface and machining pattern input means for setting machining content information as machining conditions for machining into a desired machining pattern ,
In accordance with the processing conditions set in the processing condition setting unit, a processing data generation unit that generates laser processing data of the processing target surface,
A display unit capable of three-dimensionally displaying an image of laser processing data generated by the processing data generation unit and arranged with a processing block including the processing content information on a processing target surface having the three-dimensional shape information ;
With
As the copy function, the processing condition setting unit copies the set processing condition displayed on the display unit and pastes it at a desired position on the display unit as a new processing condition.
Content copy that can copy and paste only machining content information excluding 3D shape information from the set machining conditions,
Shape copy that can copy and paste 3D shape information and processing content information from the set processing conditions,
Provided with a copy switching means capable of switching between content copying and shape copying when executing the copy function ,
The processing data generating unit in accordance with the machining pattern input means and processing conditions which are newly generated by copying by the copy function the set processing conditions by processing surface profile input means, Rukoto generate the laser processing data A laser processing apparatus characterized by the above. A laser processing apparatus capable of processing a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area by irradiating a laser beam and processing it into a desired processing pattern,
A laser oscillation unit for generating laser light;
A laser beam scanning system for scanning a laser beam emitted from the laser oscillation unit within a work area;
A laser control unit for controlling the laser oscillation unit and the laser beam scanning system;
A machining condition setting unit comprising machining surface profile input means for inputting three-dimensional shape information corresponding to a machining target surface and machining pattern input means for setting machining content information as machining conditions for machining into a desired machining pattern ,
In accordance with the processing conditions set in the processing condition setting unit, a processing data generation unit that generates laser processing data of the processing target surface,
A display unit capable of three-dimensionally displaying an image of laser processing data generated by the processing data generation unit and arranged with a processing block including the processing content information on a processing target surface having the three-dimensional shape information ;
With
The processing condition setting unit
Content copying means capable of copying and pasting only processing content information excluding 3D shape information from the set processing conditions;
Shape copying means capable of copying and pasting 3D shape information and processing content information from the set processing conditions;
At least provided with any one of,
The processing data generating unit in accordance with the machining pattern input means and processing conditions which are newly generated by copying by the copy function the set processing conditions by processing surface profile input means, Rukoto generate the laser processing data A laser processing apparatus characterized by the above. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The laser beam scanning system is
A beam expander including an incident lens and an exit lens, the optical axis of the incident lens and the exit lens being aligned with the optical axis of the laser light emitted from the laser oscillation unit; A beam expander that can adjust the focal length of the laser light by changing the relative distance of
A first mirror for scanning the laser light transmitted through the beam expander in a first direction;
A second mirror for causing the laser beam reflected by the first mirror to scan in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction;
With
The beam expander constitutes a Z-axis scanner capable of adjusting the relative distance between the incident lens and the outgoing lens along these optical axes;
The laser beam scanning system is configured such that the X-axis scanner, the Y-axis scanner, and the Z-axis scanner can scan the laser beam in the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions. The laser processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The processing condition setting unit further performs processing conditions in a collective processing mode in which a plurality of processing target surfaces are arranged and a predetermined processing content is scanned with a laser beam according to a predetermined processing order on each processing target surface. A laser processing apparatus comprising a collective print setting means for setting. Processing data is set based on a desired processing pattern with respect to a laser processing apparatus capable of irradiating a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area with a laser beam and processing the processing target surface into a desired processing pattern. A laser processing data setting device for
A machining condition setting unit comprising machining surface profile input means for inputting three-dimensional shape information corresponding to a machining target surface and machining pattern input means for setting machining content information as machining conditions for machining into a desired machining pattern ,
In accordance with the processing conditions set in the processing condition setting unit, a processing data generation unit that generates laser processing data of the processing target surface,
A display unit capable of three-dimensionally displaying an image of laser processing data generated by the processing data generation unit and arranged with a processing block including the processing content information on a processing target surface having the three-dimensional shape information ;
With
As the copy function, the processing condition setting unit copies the set processing condition displayed on the display unit and pastes it at a desired position on the display unit as a new processing condition.
Content copy that can copy and paste only machining content information excluding 3D shape information from the set machining conditions,
Shape copy that can copy and paste 3D shape information and processing content information from the set processing conditions,
Provided with a copy switching means capable of switching between content copying and shape copying when executing the copy function ,
The processing data generating unit in accordance with the machining pattern input means and processing conditions which are newly generated by copying by the copy function the set processing conditions by processing surface profile input means, Rukoto generate the laser processing data A laser processing data setting device characterized by the above. Processing data is set based on a desired processing pattern with respect to a laser processing apparatus capable of irradiating a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area with a laser beam and processing the processing target surface into a desired processing pattern. A laser processing data setting method for
A step of setting three-dimensional shape information and processing content information corresponding to a processing target surface as processing conditions for processing into a desired processing pattern;
Select the desired machining conditions from the set machining conditions on the display ,
A step of selecting, from the selected processing conditions, only processing content information or processing content information including 3D shape information as information to be copied as a new processing condition;
Pasting the selected information of the selected processing condition at a desired position on the display unit at a desired position ;
A laser processing data setting method comprising: Processing data is set based on a desired processing pattern with respect to a laser processing apparatus capable of irradiating a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area with a laser beam and processing the processing target surface into a desired processing pattern. A laser processing data setting program for
A function for setting three-dimensional shape information and processing content information corresponding to a processing target surface as processing conditions for processing into a desired processing pattern;
A function for selecting a desired machining condition on the display from the set machining conditions;
A function of selecting only machining content information or machining content information including 3D shape information as information to be copied as a new machining condition from the selected machining conditions;
A function of pasting the selected information of the selected processing conditions at a desired position on the display unit;
A computer-implemented laser processing data setting method. Processing data is set based on a desired processing pattern with respect to a laser processing apparatus capable of irradiating a processing target surface of a processing target disposed in a work area with a laser beam and processing the processing target surface into a desired processing pattern. A laser processing data setting program for
A function for setting three-dimensional shape information and processing content information corresponding to a processing target surface as processing conditions for processing into a desired processing pattern;
A function for generating laser processing data of the processing target surface according to the set processing conditions,
A function to display an image of the generated laser processing data three-dimensionally on the display unit;
A function of copying and pasting only processing content information excluding 3D shape information from the set processing conditions to a desired position on the display unit;
A function of copying and pasting 3D shape information and machining content information to a desired position on the display unit from the set machining conditions;
A computer-implemented laser processing data setting method.