JP6196869B2 - Maintenance support device and maintenance support method for workpiece support member, and laser processing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a work support member maintenance support device, a maintenance support method, and a laser beam machine.

The work table of the processing machine is provided with a work support member that supports the work. When the processing machine is a laser processing machine, the workpiece support member is a skid having a plurality of sword mountains or a sword mountain-shaped pin.
Patent Document 1 describes an example of a laser processing machine in which a skid is used as a work support member and a plurality of skids are arranged in parallel on a work table.

JP 11-192572 A

By the way, the skid sword mountain is melted by the irradiation of the processing laser, and the height position of the tip may be lower than a predetermined height position. Conversely, spatter and scrap generated by laser processing may adhere to the tip of Kenzan, and the height of the tip may be higher than a predetermined height.
When such a height occurs in any of a number of swords, problems such as the height position of the work supported by the swords deviate from the specified height or the support posture of the work is inclined. obtain.
The shift in the support height position of the workpiece and the collapse of the support posture may affect the stability of the processing quality because the distance between the workpiece and the laser processing head does not become a specified distance.

In view of this, inspection work including maintenance judgments such as whether the work can be supported at a predetermined height position and in a predetermined posture and whether the work support member needs to be maintained or replaced is performed in a timely manner.
However, conventionally, this maintenance judgment has to rely on the skill and experience of the individual worker, and the judgment criteria may be different for each worker, and the judgment tends to be unstable. For this reason, it is desired to devise a technique for improving the stability of machining quality by highly stabilizing this maintenance judgment.

  Therefore, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a work support member maintenance support apparatus and maintenance support method, and a laser beam machine that further improve the stability of the machining quality.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration and procedure.
1) A sensor that measures the distance from the upper end of the workpiece support member that supports the workpiece, and outputs it as shape information;
A driving unit for performing a measurement operation for positioning the sensor above the work support member and moving the sensor at a predetermined height on a predetermined path along the shape of the work support member;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the driving unit;
With
The controller is
The first shape information, which is shape information in a state in which the workpiece support member has a regular shape, is compared with second shape information, which is shape information obtained by newly executing the measurement operation. A work support member maintenance support device, characterized in that a non-normal part whose difference in height exceeds a predetermined threshold is extracted and whether or not the number of non-normal parts is greater than or equal to a predetermined number is determined. It is.
As 2) the predetermined threshold value, the first threshold value used to the first shape information on the comparison of the high part towards the second shape information, and a second threshold value used for comparison of the lower part, but The work support member maintenance support apparatus according to 1), wherein the work support member maintenance support device is set and the second threshold value is larger.
3) In the above 1) or 2), the control unit displays a graphic showing the workpiece support member on the display unit, and displays the non-regular portion so as to be visible by superimposing the irregular part on the graphic. It is the maintenance assistance apparatus of the described workpiece support member.
4) a first measurement step of obtaining first shape information by measuring a height position of an upper end portion of the workpiece support member by a distance sensor when the workpiece support member supporting the workpiece has a regular shape;
After the first measurement step, a second measurement step for obtaining second shape information by measuring the height position of the upper end portion of the workpiece support member by the distance sensor;
A control section may compare the first shape information and the second shape information, the number of the non-regular portion is equal to or more than a predetermined number with the difference in height to extract the non-regular portion exceeding a predetermined threshold value A comparison step for determining whether there is,
It is the maintenance support method of the workpiece | work support member characterized by including these.
5) as the predetermined threshold value, the first threshold used for it is the comparison of high portions of the said relative first shape information the second shape information, and a second threshold value used for comparison of the lower part, the The work support member maintenance support method according to 4), characterized in that the second threshold value is set to a larger value.
6) The control unit includes a display step of displaying a graphic showing the workpiece support member on the display unit and displaying the non-regular part superimposed on the graphic so as to be visible. Alternatively, the work support member maintenance support method according to 5).
7) a workpiece support member for supporting the workpiece;
A machining head for irradiating the workpiece supported by the workpiece support member with a laser;
A sensor that is provided in the processing head, measures a distance from the upper end of the workpiece support member, and outputs the measured shape information;
A drive unit for performing a measurement operation for moving the sensor of the processing head above the workpiece support member and moving the sensor at a predetermined height along a predetermined path along the shape of the workpiece support member;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the drive unit,
The controller is
The first shape information, which is shape information in a state in which the workpiece support member has a regular shape, is compared with second shape information, which is shape information obtained by newly executing the measurement operation. A laser processing machine configured to extract a non-normal part having a difference in thickness exceeding a predetermined threshold and to determine whether or not the number of non-normal parts is a predetermined number or more.
8) as the predetermined threshold value, the first threshold used for it is the comparison of high portions of the said relative first shape information the second shape information, and a second threshold value used for comparison of the lower portion set The laser processing machine according to 7), wherein the second threshold value is a larger value.
9) The control unit displays a graphic showing the workpiece support member on the display unit, and displays the non-regular part superimposed on the graphic so as to be visible. 7) or 8) It is a laser processing machine of description.
10) The first shape information is obtained by measuring the height position of the upper surface of the work placed on the work support member by the distance sensor when the work support member supporting the work has a normal shape. Measuring steps;
After the first measuring step, a second measuring step for obtaining second shape information by measuring a height position of the upper surface of the workpiece placed on the workpiece supporting member by the distance sensor;
A control section may compare the first shape information and the second shape information, the number of the non-regular portion is equal to or more than a predetermined number with the difference in height to extract the non-regular portion exceeding a predetermined threshold value A comparison step for determining whether there is,
A work supporting member maintenance support method, comprising:

  According to the present invention, the effect of improving the stability of processing quality can be obtained.

It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the laser beam machine 53 of the Example which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a laser beam machine 53. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of the table base 3 of the laser beam machine 53 as viewed from above. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the waveform data J21a corresponding to the sword mountain 2a of the laser beam machine 53. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the non-regular part P1, P2 in the waveform data J21a. (A) is a figure for demonstrating the state of the non-regular part P1, (b) is a figure for demonstrating the state of the non-normal part P2. It is a figure explaining the example of the data table DT which the control part 52a of a laser beam machine produces with shape check operation | movement CD. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the procedure of evaluation operation | movement CD2 which the work support member maintenance assistance apparatus 53S of the Example which concerns on embodiment of this invention performs. It is a figure explaining the operation screen G1 displayed on NC apparatus 52 of the laser processing machine 53. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the screen of the workpiece support member maintenance level information displayed on the operation screen G1. It is a typical top view explaining blank check operation CD2. It is a top view explaining division of a measurement field in blank check operation CD2.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 by a laser processing machine 53 as a preferred example.
First, the configuration of the laser beam machine 53 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The laser processing machine 53 includes a main body 51 and an NC unit 52 that controls the main body 51.
The main body 51 includes a work table T for supporting the work W, a processing head 1 for irradiating the work W supported by the work table T with a laser L, and a laser oscillator for supplying the laser L to the processing head 1. H and two-dimensional movement of the machining head 1 in the XY coordinate system along the upper surface of the work table T and the Z-axis movement perpendicular to the work table T, and the signal exchange between the NC unit 52 Interface IF to perform.

The work table T has a table base 3.
On the table base 3, a plurality of skids 2 having a plurality of sword mountains 2 a are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of FIG. The height positions of the tip 2a1 of the sword mountain 2a are all adjusted to be the same height.
The workpiece W is supported by the tip 2a1 of each sword mountain 2a. That is, the skid 2 is the work support member SB.

The processing head 1 has a distance sensor 1a.
The distance sensor 1a is provided, for example, at or near the tip of the nozzle 1b from which the laser L emits. As the distance sensor 1a, for example, a capacitance type is used.
The distance sensor 1a includes measurement shape information S1 including distance data according to a vertical distance between the distance sensor 1a and the upper end 2a2 of the skid 2 when the machining head 1 is in a detection distance range immediately above the skid 2. Output.
When a distance sensor for keeping the distance between the machining head 1 and the workpiece W constant during machining is provided in the main body 51 in advance, the distance sensor may be used as the distance sensor 1a.

The NC unit 52 and the main body 51 can exchange signals by wired communication using the signal cable CB as in this embodiment, or wireless communication via a wireless communication unit (not shown).
The NC unit 52 includes a control unit 52a, a storage unit 52b, an input unit 52c, and a display unit 52d.
The control unit 52a of the NC unit 52 controls the operations of the laser oscillator H and the drive unit MC of the main body unit 51 via the interface IF.
On the other hand, the measurement shape information S1 output from the distance sensor 1a enters the control unit 52a, and the control unit 52a monitors the distance data included in the measurement shape information S1.

  The storage unit 52b stores information such as coordinates indicating the arrangement position of the skid 2, normal shape information J2A, and threshold value Zs (all of which will be described later). The machining program is also stored in the storage unit 52b.

Next, the coordinates of the skid 2 stored in the storage unit 52b will be described.
Specifically, in the storage unit 52b, the arrangement position of the skid 2 on the work table T is stored in advance as two-dimensional XY coordinates.

A specific example will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the table base 3 as viewed from above. Here, the posture of the table base 3 is such that two adjacent sides are parallel to the X axis and the Y axis that respectively define a two-dimensional plane. The origins (X0, Y0) of the X axis and the Y axis are set at the lower left corner of the table base 3 in this example.

  A plurality of skids 2 are arranged on the table base 3 so as to extend in the X-axis direction and are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. In this example, five skids 21 to 25 are arranged. In this XY coordinate system, the left end of the skid 21 is indicated by coordinates (X1, Y1), and the right end is indicated by coordinates (X2, Y1).

The control unit 52a performs the shape check operation CD of the workpiece support member SB in a state where the workpiece W is not placed on the skid 2, for example, before the start of laser processing. The laser oscillator H is in a state where no laser is output. The execution program for the shape check operation CD is stored in the storage unit 52b in advance.
In this shape check operation CD, when the work support member SB is the skid 2, the distance sensor 1a measures the shapes of the plurality of sword mountains 2a so as to be grasped by the X coordinate and the Z coordinate.

A schematic operation example of the shape check operation CD will be described.
First, the control unit 52a gives an instruction to the driving unit MC, and the distance sensor 1a is located immediately above the position of the left end (X1, Y1) of one of the skids 2 (skid 21 in this example). In this way, the machining head 1 is moved.
The height position of the distance sensor 1a is a position where at least the tip 2a1 of the sword mountain 2a can be measured. For example, the tip 2a1 of the sword hill 2a having the correct shape is located at the center of the measurement range in the height direction of the distance sensor 1a. To do.
Next, the control unit 52 a instructs the drive unit MC to move the machining head 1 along the skid 21. In this movement, the distance sensor 1a is maintained at a constant height. That is, the position of the distance sensor 1a is linearly moved from (X1, Y1) to (X2, Y1) at a constant height. This movement on the predetermined route is also referred to as a measurement operation.

Along with this measurement operation, the distance sensor 1a measures the vertical distance between the upper end 2a2 including the tip 2a1 of the sword mountain 2a and the distance sensor 1a for the skid 21, and includes measurement shape information including the distance data Dk. S1 is output. The control unit 52a generates waveform data J21a corresponding to the sword mountain 2a based on the measurement shape information S1 (see FIG. 4).
The control unit 52a stores the measurement shape information S1 including the distance data Dk and the shape information J21 of the skid 21 in which the generated waveform data J21a is associated with the X coordinate in the storage unit 52b.

The shape information J21 of the skid 21 is information including coordinates (Xk, Zk) in the waveform data J21a, where the height position of the X coordinate at an arbitrary coordinate Xk is the Z coordinate Zk.
In FIG. 4, for reference, the normal shape of the sword mountain 21a of the skid 21 is shown together with the X coordinate. As apparent from FIG. 4, the magnitude of the Z coordinate Zk in the shape information J21 corresponds to the unevenness in the shape of the sword mountain 21a.

  After executing the shape check operation CD of the skid 21, the control unit 52a sequentially executes the shape check operation CD of the skids 22 to 25. Thereby, shape information J21-J25 is obtained and memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 52b.

  The movement path of the machining head 1 relative to the skids 21 to 25, which is instructed by the control unit 52a, is not limited. It is efficient and preferable to perform measurement along a moving path that can execute the shape check operation CD in a short time.

In the storage unit 52b, measurement shape information S1A including distance data DkA obtained by measuring the skids 21 to 25 having a normal shape with the distance sensor 1a in advance, and waveform data J21Aa to 25Aa based on the measurement shape information S1A are X-coordinates. The normal shape information J21A to J25A (first shape information) associated with each other is stored.
The control unit 52a compares the shape information J21 to J25 (second shape information) obtained by the shape check operation CD with the normal shape information J21A to J25A (first shape information).
For example, the control unit 52a compares the coordinates of the waveform data (second waveform data) in the shape information J21 to J25 with the coordinates of the normal waveform data (first waveform data) in the normal shape information J21A to J25A. .

In this comparison, for example, a portion where the waveform data J21a in the shape information J21 indicated by P1 in FIG. 5 is lower than the waveform data J21Aa in the normal shape information J21A (referred to as an irregular portion P1). Is extracted.
In this case, it is found that the shape of the sword mountain 2a corresponding to the coordinates (Xk1, Y1) of the non-normal part P1 is lower than the normal shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, it is assumed that the sword mountain 2a is melted by laser irradiation.
The control unit 52a sets the maximum value (difference) obtained by subtracting the Z coordinate of the waveform data J21Aa in the normal shape information J21A from the Z coordinate of the waveform data J21a in the shape information J21 in the extracted non-normal part P1 as the maximum difference ΔZ1. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 52b. The maximum difference ΔZ1 of the non-normal part P1 lower than the normal height is a negative value.

On the other hand, it is assumed that the waveform data J21a in the shape information J21 indicated by P2 in FIG. 5 has a portion whose height is higher than the waveform data J21Aa in the normal shape information J21A (referred to as a non-normal portion P2). .
In this case, it is found that the shape of the sword mountain 2a corresponding to the coordinates (Xk2, Y1) of the non-normal part P2 is higher than the normal shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is assumed that the spatter generated by laser processing is a part welded to the sword mountain 2a.
The controller 52a sets the maximum value (difference) obtained by subtracting the Z coordinate of the waveform data J21Aa in the normal shape information J21A from the Z coordinate of the waveform data J21a in the shape information J21 in the extracted non-normal part P2 as the maximum difference ΔZ2. It memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 52b. The maximum difference ΔZ2 in the non-normal part P2 higher than the normal height is a positive value.

With the execution of the shape check operation CD of the skids 21 to 25, the control unit 52a creates a data table DT as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and stores it in the storage unit 52b. Each content of the data table DT shown in FIG. 7 is an example and is not limited.
The control unit 52a executes an evaluation operation CD2 for determining whether or not the maintenance of the skid 2 is necessary based on the occurrence state of the non-regular portion obtained by referring to the data table DT. When it is determined that maintenance is necessary, the laser beam machine 53 outputs an alarm according to an instruction from the control unit 52a, and prompts the operator to perform maintenance work.

In the data table DT, for example, for each generated non-normal part, information such as the skid in which the generated non-normal part exists, the coordinates of the non-normal part, the maximum difference, and the determination result are stored.
The storage unit 52b stores predetermined threshold values Zs1 and Zs2 set in advance.
The threshold value Zs1 (first threshold value) is a value indicating the maximum value of the difference allowed when the non-normal part is higher than the normal height (in the case of convexity).
The threshold value Zs2 (second threshold value) is a value indicating the maximum value of the difference allowed when the non-normal part is lower than the normal height (in the case of being concave).
In the evaluation operation CD2, the control unit 52a compares the absolute value with the threshold value Zs1 or the threshold value Zs2 according to the sign (positive / negative) of the maximum difference of the extracted non-normal part.
Hereinafter, an example of an execution procedure of the evaluation operation CD2 will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that n portions (n is a positive integer) are extracted from the non-regular portion.
In this procedure, when an arbitrary irregular part Pk is a convex part and the absolute value of the maximum difference ΔZk exceeds the threshold value Zs1, it is counted as the number of convex irregular parts, and the count number N is Increment.
Further, when an arbitrary non-normal part Pk is a concave part and the absolute value of the maximum difference ΔZk exceeds the threshold value Zs2, it is counted as the number of non-normal parts that become concave, and the count number M is incremented. .

A procedure example of the evaluation operation CD2 is as follows (see FIG. 8).
(1) First, the control unit 52a sets k = 1, N = 0, and M = 0 as initial settings (Step 1).

(2) The controller 52a determines whether ΔZk is positive (Step 2).

(3) If it determines with positive, the control part 52a will determine whether the absolute value exceeds threshold value Zs1 (Step A1).
If it determines with exceeding, the control part 52a will increment the count number N (StepA2). Further, the controller 52a increments k (Step A3).
If it is determined that the number does not exceed, the control unit 52a does not increment the count number N and executes (Step A3).

(4) The control unit 52a determines whether or not k exceeds n (Step A4).
If it determines with not exceeding, the control part 52a will return to (Step2) and will perform the comparison of the following non-regular part.
If it is determined that the value has exceeded, the control unit 52a determines whether or not the value of the count number N at this point is equal to or greater than 1 which is the first predetermined number, that is, the non-normal part where the sword mountain 2a is convex. Presence / absence is determined (Step A5).

(5) If it is determined that the count number N is not 1 or more, the control unit 52a determines whether the count number M exceeds a predetermined value Ms at this time (Step A6).
If it is determined that the number has exceeded, the control unit 52a executes the alarm action CD4 (Step 3). The predetermined value Ms is a positive integer.
If it is determined that it has not exceeded, the controller 52a ends the evaluation operation CD2.

(6) If it is determined in (Step A5) that the count number N is 1 or more, that is, there is a non-regular part exceeding the threshold value Zs1, the control unit 52a executes the alarm action CD4 (Step 3), and thereafter Evaluation operation CD2 is terminated.

(7) If it is determined in (Step 2) that it is not positive, the controller 52a determines whether or not the absolute value exceeds the threshold value Zs2 (Step B1).
If it determines with exceeding, the control part 52a will increment the count number M (StepB2). Furthermore, the control unit 52a increments k (Step B3).
If it is determined that the number does not exceed, the control unit 52a executes (Step B3) without incrementing the count number M.

(8) The controller 52a determines whether or not k exceeds n (Step B4).
If it determines with not exceeding, the control part 52a will return to (Step2) and will perform the comparison of the following non-regular part.
If it is determined that the number has exceeded, it is determined whether or not the value of the count number M at this point is equal to or greater than a predetermined number Ms (second predetermined number), that is, the non-regular part where the sword mountain 2a is concave. It is determined whether or not the number is larger than a predetermined number Ms (Step B5).

(9) If it is determined that the count number M is not greater than or equal to the predetermined value Ms, it is determined whether or not the count number N is equal to or greater than 1 at this time (Step B6).
If it is determined that it has exceeded, the alarm operation CD4 is executed (Step 3), and then the evaluation operation CD2 is terminated.
If it is determined that it does not exceed, the evaluation operation CD2 is terminated.

(10) When it is determined in (Step B5) that the count number M is equal to or greater than the predetermined number Ms, that is, the non-regular portion exceeding the threshold value Zs2 is present in the predetermined number Ms, the alarm action CD4 is executed (Step 3) Thereafter, the evaluation operation CD2 is terminated.

As is clear from the above-described procedure example, the laser beam machine 53 measures the tip shape of the workpiece support member when the laser beam machining is not being performed.
When there are one or more places where the tip shape is convex, there is a high possibility that the workpiece W to be supported is supported higher than the regular height or is tilted with respect to the regular posture. Therefore, maintenance is supported by outputting an alarm and encouraging the operator to perform maintenance work.
When the number of places where the tip shape is concave is equal to or greater than the predetermined value Ms, the work W to be supported is supported lower than the normal height, or is supported with an inclination with respect to the normal posture. Because there is a possibility, an alarm is output to prompt the worker to perform maintenance work.
Since there are a plurality of sword mountains 2a, when there are few places where the tip shape is concave, there is a high possibility that the work can be supported without any trouble as usual. Therefore, a predetermined value Ms is introduced and is usually set to an arbitrary integer of 2 or more.
On the other hand, when there is even one sword mountain 2a and the workpiece W is placed on the sword mountain 2a, the posture is always inclined with respect to the normal posture. Therefore, in (Step A5), the criterion is 1 or more. It is said.
That is, the number of locations where the tip shape is convex is compared with the count number N, with the first predetermined number being 1. Further, for the number of locations where the tip shape is concave, the second predetermined number Ms is compared with the count number M as an integer larger than the first predetermined number.

The above-described shape check operation CD and evaluation operation CD2 are performed by the cooperation of the distance sensor 1a, the drive unit MC, the control unit 52a, and the storage unit 52b, and maintenance is performed by prompting the worker to perform maintenance work. Is supporting.
That is, the distance sensor 1a, the drive unit MC, the control unit 52a, and the storage unit 52b constitute a work support member maintenance support device 53S (see FIG. 2), and the shape check operation CD and the evaluation operation CD2 are maintenance support operations. It is executed as CD5.
In the above example, the members of the maintenance support device 53S are diverted from the members that the laser processing machine 53 originally has, but may be provided independently as the maintenance support device 53S.

The maintenance support operation CD5 by the maintenance support device 53S is urged to be executed by an operator at a preset timing. For example, when the power of the laser processing machine 53 is turned on, or when processing for a long time is completed.
As shown in FIG. 9, a maintenance support operation execution button G1a may be displayed on the operation screen G1 displayed on the display unit 52d so that the operator can appropriately execute the operation.

  The alarm action CD4 is, for example, an alarm sound output, an audio output of alarm contents, an alarm text display on the display unit 52d, or the like.

  In the maintenance support device 53S, the control unit 52a executes the maintenance determination of the work support member SB based on a preset criterion. As a result, the judgment criteria are not different for each worker, and the maintenance judgment is highly stabilized. Therefore, the stability of the processing quality is improved.

The controller 52a may provide the worker with the following detailed maintenance information (work support member maintenance level information) in the alarm operation CD4 or in response to a request from the worker.
The maintenance information is generated by the control unit 52a so that the necessary degree of maintenance of the skid 2 can be visually grasped, and is displayed and provided by the display unit 52d.
Here, the threshold values Zs1 and Zs2 are set in, for example, two stages. If the threshold value exceeds a large threshold value, replacement is required (maintenance required). Maintenance preparation target).

FIG. 10 is a screen example showing the work support member maintenance level information displayed in the sub area G2 in the operation screen G1.
In the sub-area G2, N skids 2A1 to 2AN arranged on the table base 3 are displayed as a top view screen. This display may be a schematic figure that can grasp N skids 2A1 to 2AN.

The control unit 52a superimposes and displays the portions corresponding to the non-regular portions PA1 and PA2 extracted by the maintenance support operation CD5 on the graphic displayed as the skid. Specifically, the blinking display makes it possible for the operator to immediately see the place to be maintained. Whether the irregularity is convex or concave can be determined by changing the blinking interval or color.
When it is determined that the skid 2A2 needs to be replaced based on a predetermined criterion, the control unit 52a displays the replacement skid in red, for example (indicated in FIG. 10).

  Further, if it is determined that the skid 2A4 needs to be maintained (sputter removal, etc.) or is about to be replaced soon, according to a predetermined standard, it is displayed as a warning skid, for example, in yellow (hatched in FIG. 10) ) In addition, the location can be easily identified by blinking the uneven part of Kenzan.

Further, the control unit 52a determines the shape and the support position of the workpiece W1 to be supported in the next machining from the machining program, and determines whether or not the extracted non-regular portion has an influence on the support of the workpiece W1.
For example, in FIG. 10, the non-normal parts PA2 and PA3 have an influence on the workpiece W1 to be processed next, but the non-normal parts PA1 are not affected because they are outside the support range.
In this case, the control unit 52a generates work support member maintenance level information ignoring the non-regular part PA1.

The controller 52a displays the number of replacement skids (G2a in FIG. 10). Further, since the warning skid is a skid that needs to be replaced soon, the number of the warning skids is displayed to prompt the operator to arrange the skid (G2b in FIG. 10).
With these displays, the operator can grasp the number of skids to be arranged, so that the arrangement can be made smoothly.

In the evaluation operation CD2 in the maintenance support operation CD5, the threshold values Zs1 and Zs2 are selectively set according to, for example, the plate thickness, shape, or material of the workpiece to be processed next, the support position on the work table T, and the like. It should be possible.
In this case, the settable threshold values Zs1 and Zs2 are stored in a threshold table created in advance and stored in the storage unit 52b.
When the irregular portion Pk has the same maximum difference ΔZk between the convex portion and the concave portion, the influence on the workpiece inclination is usually significantly larger in the convex portion. Therefore, the threshold value Zs1 as an allowable value used for the evaluation of the convex portion may be made smaller than the threshold value Zs2 as the allowable value used for the evaluation of the concave portion. Thereby, the stability of processing can be obtained more efficiently.
Taking the plate thickness as an example, the thinner the plate thickness, the higher the processing speed. That is, the moving speed of the machining head is increased. Therefore, by reducing the threshold values Zs1 and Zs2 that are allowable values, the followability to the workpiece is ensured and the processing stability is improved.
Conversely, the thicker the plate, the harder it is to increase the processing speed. That is, since the moving speed of the machining head is relatively low, the machining stability can be substantially achieved even if the allowable threshold values Zs1 and Zs2 are set larger.

A setting example according to the plate thickness t of the threshold value Zs1 that can be stored in the threshold value table is as follows. The unit is mm.
For 0 <t ≦ 1.5, Zs1 ≦ 1.0
For 1.5 <t ≦ 3.2, Zs1 ≦ 2.0
In 3.2 <t ≦ 6.0, Zs1 ≦ 3.0
In 6.0 <t, Zs1 ≦ 4.0
The controller 52a grasps the thickness t of the workpiece to be machined next from the machining program, and sets the threshold values Zs1 and Zs2 with reference to the threshold value table.

As described above, in the maintenance support device 53S, the control unit 52a provides the worker with work support member maintenance level information for supporting maintenance work of the work support member.
Specifically, the work support member maintenance level information includes information specifying the maintenance target and maintenance target preparation skids, information indicating the sword ridges of the maintenance target and maintenance preparation targets, the number of skids required and the required maintenance. One of the number of skids to be prepared for maintenance is included.
Thereby, the maintenance work and the maintenance preparation work of the worker are speeded up, and the stable maintenance work is performed without different judgment depending on the worker.

The laser beam machine 53 described above is preferably capable of simply inspecting the state of the workpiece support member SB as described below.
Specifically, a blank check operation CD2 corresponding to the shape check operation CD is executed in a state where a workpiece (blank material) before processing is placed on the skid 2 of the workpiece support member SB.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 11, a workpiece Wb, which is a blank material, is placed on the skid 2 of the table base 3 before laser processing. Then, above the workpiece Wb, the machining head 1 is moved along a predetermined route RT (for example, a route indicated by a one-dot chain line) while maintaining the distance sensor 1a at a certain height with respect to the table base 3.
Along with this movement, the vertical distance between the upper surface of the workpiece Wb and the distance sensor 1a is measured, and measurement shape information S1w (second shape information) including the distance data Dkw is obtained.
On the other hand, the workpiece WbA having the same specifications is placed on the regular-shaped skid 2 in advance, and in this state, the vertical distance between the upper surface of the workpiece WbA and the distance sensor 1a is measured, and the distance data DkwA is obtained. The regular shape information S1wA (first shape information) to be included is obtained.
The control unit 52a compares the measured shape information S1w and the normal shape information S1wA, similarly to the case where the shape check operation CD is executed before the processing is executed, and determines the non-normal portion where the height difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Extract and output the result.
Further, it is determined whether or not the number of the non-regular parts is a predetermined number or more, and the result is output.
Thereby, the presence or absence of a part where the workpiece support member SB is higher than the standard and the approximate location in the case where it exists can be grasped, and stable maintenance of the workpiece support member SB including the skid 2 can be performed. it can.

In this simple inspection, it is possible to detect the inclination of the workpiece WbA and the region higher than the normal height when the skid 2 has a portion higher than the normal height.
Then, when the difference from the normal height is larger than a predetermined threshold, or when the number of large portions exceeds the predetermined number, the control unit 52a outputs an alarm action or the like that alerts the operator. Execute.
Further, during the machining, a coping operation for causing the machining head 1 to stably follow the workpiece Wb, such as making the moving speed of the machining head 1 slower than specified, is executed.

  In this simple inspection, the measurement area may be divided into a plurality of areas, and a determination result may be obtained by comparing each measurement area with a threshold value. FIG. 12 shows an example of division. In this example, the measurement region is divided into 15 by three rows 1 to 3 and five columns A to E.

The number of divisions may be varied according to the thickness of the workpiece Wb.
Specifically, the thick workpiece Wb is difficult to bend, and when one point of the skid 2 is high, the height of a relatively wide range of the workpiece Wb is high.
Accordingly, even if the number of divisions is reduced and the area of one region is widened, a region having a high height can be detected, so that the inspection efficiency can be improved.
On the other hand, the thin work Wb is easy to bend, and when one point of the skid 2 is high, the work Wb is locally deformed and becomes high, but the other part may be in a normal state. is there. Therefore, by increasing the number of divisions and reducing the area of one region, the detection accuracy of a region having a high height can be improved.
Further, the shape of the divided area may be set to an arbitrary shape other than the rectangle shown in FIG. 12 according to the shape of the workpiece Wb.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the configuration and procedure described above, and may be another modified example without departing from the gist of the present invention.

The control unit 52a includes the distance data Dk of the skids 21 to 25 output from the distance sensor 1a in the shape check operation CD, the distance data DkA of the skids 21 to 25 having normal shapes measured in advance by the distance sensor 1a, May be compared.
When the distance indicated by the distance data Dk is shorter than the distance indicated by the distance data DkA at a certain X coordinate in the comparison between the distance data Dk and the distance data DkA, the control unit 52a skids 21-25 at the X coordinate. Is determined to be higher than the regular shape. When the distance indicated by the distance data Dk is longer than the distance indicated by the distance data DkA, it is determined that the skids 21 to 25 at the X coordinate are low.

  The shape measuring method of the sword mountain 2a is not limited to the method using the above-mentioned non-contact type distance sensor. For example, a contact type distance sensor may be used.

The workpiece support member is not limited to a skid having a sword mountain or a sword mountain pin. For example, a brush may be used.
When the work support member is a brush, the distance sensor 1a may be an optical distance sensor, for example.
The NC unit 52 may be built in and integrated with the main body unit 51.
The laser oscillator H may be a separate body.
The workpiece support member maintenance device is not limited to being provided in the laser processing machine as described above, and may be provided in other types of processing machines.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Processing head, 1a Distance sensor, 1b Nozzle 2, 21-25, 2A1-2AN Skid 2a Kenzan, 2a1 tip part, 2a2 Upper end part 3 Table base 51 Main body part, 52 NC part 52a Control part, 52b Storage part, 52c Input unit 52d Display unit 53 Laser processing machine, 53S Maintenance support device CD shape check operation, CD2 evaluation operation, CD4 alarm operation CD5 maintenance support operation DT data table G1 operation screen, G1a maintenance support operation execution button, G2 subarea H laser oscillator J2A, J21A to J25A Normal shape information J21 to J25 Shape information J21a to J25a, J21Aa Waveform data MC Drive unit M, N count number, Ms predetermined number (second predetermined number)
P1, P2, Pk, PA1, PA2 Non-regular part SB Work support member S1 Measurement shape information T Work table, t Thickness W, W1 Work Zs, Zs1, Zs2 Threshold, ΔZ1, ΔZ2 Maximum difference

Claims (10)

A sensor that measures the distance to the upper end of the workpiece support member that supports the workpiece, and outputs it as shape information;
A driving unit for performing a measurement operation for positioning the sensor above the work support member and moving the sensor at a predetermined height on a predetermined path along the shape of the work support member;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the driving unit;
With
The controller is
The first shape information, which is shape information in a state in which the workpiece support member has a regular shape, is compared with second shape information, which is shape information obtained by newly executing the measurement operation. A work support member maintenance support device, characterized in that a non-normal part whose difference in height exceeds a predetermined threshold is extracted and whether or not the number of non-normal parts is greater than or equal to a predetermined number is determined. . As the predetermined threshold, the first threshold used for it is the comparison of high portions of the said relative first shape information the second shape information, and a second threshold value used for comparison of the lower portion, it is set The work support member maintenance support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second threshold value is larger.   The said control part displays the figure which shows the said workpiece | work support member on a display part, and superimposes the said non-regular part on the said figure, and is displayed so that it can visually recognize. Maintenance support device for workpiece support members. A first measuring step for obtaining first shape information by measuring a height position of an upper end portion of the workpiece supporting member by a distance sensor when the workpiece supporting member supporting the workpiece has a regular shape;
After the first measurement step, a second measurement step for obtaining second shape information by measuring the height position of the upper end portion of the workpiece support member by the distance sensor;
A control section may compare the first shape information and the second shape information, the number of the non-regular portion is equal to or more than a predetermined number with the difference in height to extract the non-regular portion exceeding a predetermined threshold value A comparison step for determining whether there is,
A work supporting member maintenance support method, comprising: As the predetermined threshold value, sets a first threshold used for it is the comparison of high portions of the said relative first shape information the second shape information, and a second threshold value used for comparison of the lower part, the The work support member maintenance support method according to claim 4, wherein the second threshold value is set to a larger value.   The control unit includes a display step of displaying a graphic indicating the workpiece support member on the display unit and displaying the non-regular part superimposed on the graphic so as to be visible. The work support member maintenance support method according to claim 5. A workpiece support member for supporting the workpiece;
A machining head for irradiating the workpiece supported by the workpiece support member with a laser;
A sensor that is provided in the processing head, measures a distance from the upper end of the workpiece support member, and outputs the measured shape information;
A drive unit for performing a measurement operation for moving the sensor of the processing head above the workpiece support member and moving the sensor at a predetermined height along a predetermined path along the shape of the workpiece support member;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the drive unit,
The controller is
The first shape information, which is shape information in a state in which the workpiece support member has a regular shape, is compared with second shape information, which is shape information obtained by newly executing the measurement operation. A laser processing machine configured to extract a non-regular portion having a difference in thickness exceeding a predetermined threshold and to determine whether or not the number of the non-normal portion is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. As the predetermined threshold value, the a first threshold value used for comparison of the higher part towards the first said relative shape information second shape information, it is set a second threshold value used for comparison of the low portion 8. The laser beam machine according to claim 7, wherein the second threshold value is a larger value.   The said control part displays the figure which shows the said workpiece | work support member on a display part, and superimposes the said non-regular part on the said figure, and displays it so that visual recognition is possible. Laser processing machine. A first measurement step for obtaining first shape information by measuring a height position of an upper surface of a work placed on the work support member by a distance sensor when the work support member supporting the work has a regular shape. When,
After the first measuring step, a second measuring step for obtaining second shape information by measuring a height position of the upper surface of the workpiece placed on the workpiece supporting member by the distance sensor;
A control section may compare the first shape information and the second shape information, the number of the non-regular portion is equal to or more than a predetermined number with the difference in height to extract the non-regular portion exceeding a predetermined threshold value A comparison step for determining whether there is,
A work supporting member maintenance support method, comprising:

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